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Kaius Helenurm

Kaius Helenurm
Professor
Biology, College of Arts & Sciences
UCL Churchill-Haines Labs 171A
Phone: 605-677-6174
Teaching Interests:
Conservation Biology, Environmental Science, Evolution of Disease
Research Interests:
Conservation genetics of plants; Plant evolution on island systems
Education:
  • Ph D, Population Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, 1989
  • M.Sc., Botany, University of British Columbia, 1983
  • B.Sc., Biology, University of Toronto, 1979
Grants:
  • MRI: Aquisition of Genetic Instrumentation for a New Core Facility at the University of South Dakota, National Science Foundation, (2009 - 2012)
  • The role of isolation in species diversification; insights into dispersal and evolution of endemic Lotus from the California Channel Islands , NSF, (2009 - 2012)
  • Dissertation Research: Comparative phylogeography of Eriogonum (Polygonaceae) endemic to California’s Channel Islands , NSF, (2009 - 2011)
  • Acquisition of a Genetic Analyzer by University of South Dakota Evolutionary Genetics Research Group, National Science Foundation, (2002 - 2005)
Publications:
  • McGlaughlin, M. E., Riley, L., Wallace, L. E., Helenurm, K., (2011), Isolation of microsatellite loci from endangered members of Lotus (Fabaceae) subgenus Syrmatium., Conservation Genetics Resources, vol. 3, pp. 117-121.
  • Riley, L., McGlaughlin, M. E., Helenurm, K., (2011), Microsatellite primers for the narrowly endemic shrub Eriognoum giganteum (Polygoncaeae), Americam Journal of Botany, vol. 98, pp. 352-355.
  • Riley, L., McGlaughlin, M. E., Helenurm, K., (2011), Isolation of microsatellite loci from Rhamnus pirifolia, Conservation Genetics Resources, vol. 3, pp. 471-474.
  • Riley, L., McGlaughlin, M. E., Helenurm, K., (2010), Genetic diversity following demographic recovery in the insular endemic plant Galium catalinense subspecies acrispum., Conservation Genetics, vol. 11, pp. 2015-2025.
  • Wallace, L. E., Helenurm, K., (2009), Has herbivory negatively impacted genetic variability in the flora of the California Channel Islands? Insights from Crossosoma californicum (Crossosomataceae)., International Journal of Plant Sciences, vol. 170, pp. 311-322.
  • Furches, M. S., Wallace, L. E., Helenurm, K., (2009), High genetic divergence characterizes populations of the endemic plant Lithophragma maximum (Saxifragaceae) on San Clemente Island., Conservation Genetics, vol. 10, pp. 115-126.
  • McGlaughlin, M. E., Riley, L., Helenurm, K., (2009), Isolation of microsatellite loci from the endangered plant Galium catalinense subspecies acrispum (Rubiaceae). , Molecular Ecology Resources, vol. 9, pp. 984-986.
  • McGlaughlin, M. M., Wallace, L. E., Helenurm, K., (2008), Isolation of microsatellite loci from the endangered plant Sibara filifolia (Brassicaceae)., Molecular Ecology Notes, vol. 8, pp. 367-369.
  • Wallace, L. E., Helenurm, K., (2006), Characterization of microsatellite loci in polyploid Lavatera assurgentiflora ssp. assurgentiflora and ssp. glabra (Malvaceae)., Molecular Ecology Notes, vol. 6, pp. 331-333.
  • Wallace, L. E., Furches, M. S., Helenurm, K., (2006), Polymorphic microsatellite loci in Lithophragma maximum (Saxifragaceae), an endemic plant of San Clemente Island., Molecular Ecology Notes, vol. 6, pp. 459-461.
  • Helenurm, K., West, R., Burckhalter, S., (2005), Allozyme variation in the endangered insular endemic Castilleja grisea., Annals of Botany, vol. 95, pp. 1221-1227.
  • Helenurm, K., Hall, S. S., (2005), Dissimilar patterns of genetic variation in two insular endemic plants sharing species characteristics, distribution, habitat, and ecological history., Conservation Genetics, vol. 6, pp. 341-353.
  • Helenurm, K., (2003), Genetic diversity in the rare insular endemic Sibara filifolia (Brassicaceae)., Madrono, vol. 50, pp. 181-186.
  • Helenurm, K., Dodd, S. C., (2002), Genetic diversity in Delphinium variegatum (Ranunculaceae): a comparison of two insular endemic subspecies and their widespread mainland relative., American Journal of Botany, vol. 89, pp. 613-622.
  • Helenurm, K., (2001), High levels of genetic polymorphism in the insular endemic herb Jepsonia malvifolia., Journal of Heredity, vol. 92, pp. 427-432.
  • Dodd, S. C., Helenurm, K., (2000), Dodd, S.C. and K. Helenurm. Floral variation in Delphinium variegatum (Ranunculaceae)., Madrono, vol. 47, pp. 116-126.
  • Helenurm, K., (1998), Outplanting and differential source population success in Lupinus guadalupensis., Conservation Biology, vol. 12, pp. 118-127.
Awards and Honors:
  • Richard and Sharon Cutler Faculty Award in Liberal Arts, College of Arts & Sciences, 2004
  • Sigma Xi (Full Member), Sigma Xi, 1997
  • NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship, NSERC, Canada, 1989
  • Washington University Research Fellowship, Washington University in St. Louis, 1983
  • University of British Columbia Graduate Fellowship, University of British Columbia, 1982
Presentations:
  • McGlaughlin, M. E., Helenurm, K. (2012, January). A tale of two islands - divergence among populations of the endangered plant Sibara filifolia: implications for management and ex-situ conservation. Presented at the CNPS 2012 Conservation Conference, San Diego, CA.
  • Riley, L., McGlaughlin, M. E., Helenurm, K. (2011, July). Phylogeography of two California Channel Island endemic Eriogonum (Polygonaceae). Presented at the Botany 2011, St. Louis, MO.
  • McGlaughlin, M. E., Bresowar, G., Helenurm, K., Wallace, L. (2011, July). Isolation among islands as a driver of divergence in the endemic Lotus (Fabaceae) of the California Channel Islands. Presented at the Botany 2011, St. Louis, MO.
  • Wheeler, G., McGlaughlin, M. E., Helenurm, K., Wallace, L. (2011, July). A comparison of nucleotide and microsatellite diversity for understanding intraspecific evolutionary patterns in two California-endemic Lotus species. Presented at the Botany 2011, St. Louis, MO.
  • Wallace, L. E., McGlaughlin, M. M., Helenurm, K. (2010, August). Island hopping and evolutionary divergence of endemic Lotus on the California Channel Islands. Presented at the Botany 2010, Providence, RI.
  • Riley, L., McGlaughlin, M. M., Helenurm, K. (2010, June). The phylogeography of two California Channel Island endemic buckwheats (Eriogonum spp.). Presented at the Evolution 2010, Portland, OR.