Joseph Spagna Professor • Department of Biology View CV My research is in the evolution of arthropods- the most diverse animal group on the planet. My specialties are spiders, ants, and the evolution of their locomotion systems. I work with students from the both Biology Department and Honors College at WPU on advanced projects in physiology, behavior, and evolution to understand the patterns and processes that gave us the biodiversity we see today. My teaching covers evolutionary biology, ecology, and biodiversity at all levels, from freshmen to graduate students. My lab is currently funded by a National Science Foundation grant, and I invite interested students to come talk to me about biological research. Professional Interests Evolution, phylogenetics, entomology, biomechanics, adaptation, biodiversity. Other Interests Music & Performing ArtsPublic PolicyYouth Sports Spanish Degrees PhD Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, CA BA Biology and Philosophy, Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CA Specialization Biology- Evolution of Arthropod locomotion systems Representative Publications The life aquatic with spiders (Araneae): repeated evolution of aquatic habitat association in Dictynidae and allied taxa; , Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society; Volume zlz139, 2019 https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz139/5660963 Phylogenetics of a small caddisfly genus (Thremmatidae: Oligophlebodes): comparison among multiple hypotheses from DNA barcode data; , Zoosymposia; Volume 14, 2019 Bulletin of the New Jersey Academy of Science v.62 issue 1; Editor: Joseph Spagna; New Jersey Academy of Science; Volume 62, 2021 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355484972_Bulletin_of_the_New_Jersey_Academy_of_Science_Vol_62_Issue_1 Fellowships, Grants and Research ARTS: Taxonomy and Molecular Systematics of Mesh Web Spiders (Araneae: Dictynidae) Grant Notable Courses Taught Evolution BIO4440/5440Field Entomology BIO3330Honors Literature Seminar BIO3950Bioseminar BIO4800Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior BIO2490General Biology II BIO1640Field Biology BIO1300Human Biology BIO1200 Email 973 720 2793 4039 Hennings Science East By appointment