Walter J. Diehl
		Professor
		Education B.S. Biology, College of William and Mary M.S. Zoology, University of South Florida Ph.D. Botany, University of South Florida
		Statement of Research Interests		Contact Information
		My interests include the physiological ecology and physiological genetics of invertebrates. I have also collaborated on studies with lower vertebrates and viruses. Regardless of the organism, I am interested in examining the genetic and non-genetic components of physiological response to the environment and the role of natural selection in maintaining polymorphisms. My undergraduate and graduate students and I have studied the effects of environmental variation on the physiology, population genetics and/or heterosis for growth in earthworms, deep-sea crabs and toads/frogs. Recently we have studied the interactive effects of temperature, moisture, and genotype on growth, fecundity, and survivorship in the earthworm Eisenia andrei. Currently, we are examining the effects of fluctuating environments and ontogeny on allozyme heterosis in these earthworms. We are also examining the effects of inbreeding vs. outcrossing on allozyme heterosis between the sibling species Eisenia andrei and Eisenia fetida. New directions for research include comparing replacement vs. synonymous nucleotide substitutions within vs. between clades (1) for all genes in primate immunodeficiency viruses and (2) for allozyme loci in earthworms. Much of this work has been funded by the National Science Foundation.		104 Harned Hall 662.325.7576 662.325.7939 Fax wjdiehl@ra.msstate.edu Lab Web Page
		Selected Publications
		McElroy, T.C. and Diehl, W.J. Ontogenetic change in relative performance of allozyme genotypes influences detection of heterosis in the earthworm Eisenia andrei.  Heredity (in press).
		McElroy, T.C. and Diehl, W.J. 2001. Heterosis in two closely related species of earthworm (Eisenia fetida and Eisenia andrei). Heredity 87: 598-608.
		Hranitz, J.M. and Diehl, W.J. 2000. Allozyme variation and population genetic structure during the life-history of Bufo woodhousii fowleri (Amphibia: Anura). Biochem. System. Ecol. 28:15-27.
		McElroy, T.C., Presley, M.L., and Diehl, W.J. 1999. Genotypes of multiple allozyme loci interact with an experimental environment to affect survivorship in earthworms (Eisenia andrei). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 123A:241-247.
Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, 130 Harned Hall, Lee Blvd., Mississippi State, MS 39762