EIU Department of Biology

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Dr. Eloy Martinez, Associate Professor

Office: 2055 - Coleman Hall
Email: emartinez9@eiu.edu
Website: https://works.bepress.com/eloy-martinez/

Eloy Martinez's Vita

Frequently Taught Courses

• Cellular and Molecular Biology - (BIO 3120)
• Herpetology - (BIO 4952)
• Animal Physiology - (BIO 3520)
• Seminars (BIO 5150)
  • Biochemical adaptation in a changing climate
• Special Topics (BIO 5460)
  • Mitochondrial Bioenergetics
  • Ecological Physiology

Education

2013 Ph.D. (Biological Oceanography), College of Marine Sciences, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL.
Dissertation: Biochemical aspects of the thermal sensitivity and energy balance of polar, tropical and subtropical teleosts. (Advisors: Dr. Joseph J. Torres; Dr. Michael A. Menze)

2006 B.S. (Marine Biology), Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Humacao, PR.

Professional Organizations

Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB), Beta Beta Beta, SigmaXi, Illinois State Academy of Sciences (ISAS), Estuarine Research Federation (ERF).

Research

My research is centered on understanding how biochemical processes in ectotherm animals respond and adapt to natural and human-based stressors. In particular, I am interested in the nexus between bioenergetics and life-history traits of ectotherms currently experiencing warming trends associated with global climate change and how these processes are governed by the powerhouse of the cell, the mitochondrion. Using study models ranging from tropical insects to polar fishes, My laboratory explore how climate change can influence the energy balance of ectotherms. On a broader scale, I integrate physiological performance data with climate trends to better understand the role physiological resilience has on the survival of key species in aquatic and terrestrial habitats.

Ongoing projects in my laboratory include:

Project #1- Bioenergetic tradeoffs of freshwater systems in a changing climate.  Broadly, this project seeks to understand how shifting climate baselines alter the energetic demands, distribution and abundance of recreationally important fish species. 

Project #2 - Thermal physiology of crop and forest pests. Research project exploring the role of mitochondrial bioenergetics in shaping organismal fitness of larval stages of common insect pests. We employ using high-resolution respirometry to assay cellular energetics. 

Project #3 – Ecological physiology of amphibian study models. This project seeks to integrate ecological, physiological and biochemical data to better understand how physiological thresholds shape individual fitness in amphibians. 

Project #4 - The Eastern Box Turtle Citizen Science Project – Sponsored by the Environmental Education Association of Illinois and the Herpetology Club (RSO I also serve as advisor), this collaborative project (Dr. Paul Switzer, EIU Biology) is centered in developing a regional database of images, collected by the community, of box turtles with the objective of better understanding habitat selection, home range and abundance of this vulnerable species.

Selected Publications

Books/chapters:

Martinez E., and Torres, J. J. (2017) Energetics of the Antarctic silverfish, Pleuragramma antarctica, from the Western Antarctic Peninsula, In The Antarctic Silverfish: a Keystone Species in a Changing Ecosystem, pp 149-171, Springer.

Journal publications:

Lamptey D. I.*, Sparks R. W.*, Monte De Oca R., Skolik R.*, Menze M. A. and Martinez E. (2022). Seasonal changes in mitochondrial bioenergetics and physiological performance of the bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus, from a shallow, Midwest river. Journal of Thermal Biology, 104(1), 1-9.

Ragsdale, A. K.*, Colombo, R. E., Martinez, E., Menze, M. A., & Schrey, A. W. (2020). DNA Methylation Differs in Bluegill Among Temperate, Anthropogenically Warmed, and Tropical Lakes. Georgia Journal of Science, 78(2), 11.

Martinez, E., Menze, M.A. and Agosta, S.J. (2019) The Hungry Caterpillar: Linking Mitochondrial Energetics and Life History Traits as a Function of Temperature in Manduca sexta, In Integrative and Comparative Biology 59, E366-E366.

May, C., Hillerbrand, N., Thompson, L.M., Faske, T.M., Martinez, E., Parry, D.E., Agosta, S.J. and Grayson, K.L., 2018. Geographic variation in larval metabolic rate between northern and southern populations of the invasive gypsy moth, Journal of Insect Science 18 (4), 1-7.

 

Martinez E., Menze, M. A., and Agosta, S. J. (2017) Reduced Mitochondrial Efficiency Explains Mismatched Growth and Metabolic Rate at Supraoptimal Temperatures, Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 90, 294-298

Martinez E. and S. J.  Agosta (2016). Budget-wise thermal biology: design, construction and performance of a low-cost, scalable temperature-controlled chamber using a simplified, single-phase radiative heat exchanger. Journal of Thermal Biology 58, 29-34.

Martinez, E., Porreca, A. P., Colombo, R. E., and Menze, M. A. (2016) Tradeoffs of warm adaptation in aquatic ectotherms: Live fast, die young?, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology 191, 209-215.

Martinez, E., Hendricks, E., Menze, M. A., and Torres, J. J. (2016) Physiological performance of warm-adapted marine ectotherms: Thermal limits of mitochondrial energy transduction efficiency, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology 191, 216-225.

Martinez, E., Vélez, S. M., Mayo, M., and Sastre, M. P. (2015) Acute toxicity assessment of N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) on the oxygen flux of the dinoflagellate Gymnodinium instriatum, Ecotoxicology, 1-5.

Martinez, E., Menze, M., and Torres, J. (2013) Mitochondrial energetics of benthic and pelagic Antarctic teleosts, Marine Biology 160, 2813-2823.

Selected Conference Presentations

*graduate student researcher, undergraduate student researcher underlined.

A. Posters Presented

Mummel S., Olvera R., Prado O. and Martinez E. Evaluating the role of temperature on feeding performance and righting response of the northern leopard frog, Litobathes pipiens. Illinois State Academy of Sciences Annual Virtual Meeting, Charleston, IL. 2021.

Rempe K.*, Moody-Carpenter C., Effert-Fanta E., Colombo R.E., and Martinez E. Differences in Growth and Bioenergetics between Black Crappie and Bluegill in a Midwestern Power Plant Lake. 80th Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference, American Fisheries Society and The Wildlife Society, Virtual Meeting, 2020.

Rempe, K.J.*, Moody-Carpenter, C.J., Effert-Fanta, E.L., Colombo, R.E., and E. Martinez. Differences in Growth and Bioenergetics for Black Crappie and Bluegill in a Midwestern Power Plant Lake - 2020 Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Springfield, IL., 2020.

Monte de Oca R., Sparks R.W.* and Martinez E. Seasonal physiology of the freshwater fish Lepomis macrochirus living in a shallow river system. Eastern Illinois University Celebration of Scholarship, Creativity and Engagement Virtual Symposium, Charleston, IL, 2020.

Parola A., Parrish T., Maia A. and Martinez E. Development of skeletal elements in lake sturgeon. National Council for Undergraduate Research Meeting, Kennesaw, GA., 2019.

Lamptey D.I.*, Colombo R., Menze M.A. and Martinez E. In the heat of the moment: physiological tradeoffs of fishes living in warm waters. Illinois State Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, Bradley, IL. 2019

Martinez E., Lamptey D.I.*, Colombo R., Menze M. Are fishes in power plant cooling reservoirs giving us a sneak peek to environmental warming? Association for the Sciences in Limnology and Oceanography Aquatic Sciences Meeting, San Juan, PR., 2019.

Martinez E., Menze M.A., Agosta S.J. The hungry caterpillar: linking mitochondrial energetics to life history traits as a function temperature in Manduca sexta. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, Tampa, Florida, January, 2019.

Martinez E. and Agosta S.J. Thermo-limit respirometry in rain forest and dry forest Atta soldiers: are tropical ectotherms really living close to their thermal limits? 2nd Dry Forest Symposium, Guánica, Puerto Rico, January, 2016.

Agosta S.J. and Martinez E. Thermo-limit respirometry in rain forest and dry forest Atta soldiers: are tropical ectotherms really living close to their thermal limits? Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, Oregon, January, 2016.

Martinez E., Menze M.A. and Torres J.J. Mitochondrial energetics of Antarctic teleosts. Association for the Sciences in Limnology and Oceanography Ocean Science winter meeting, New Orleans, Louisiana, February, 2013.

Camp N., Martinez E., Phillips C., Porreca A.*, Torres J.J., Colombo R. and Menze M.A. Life in hot waters: live fast and die young? Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, January, 2013.

Martinez E., Menze M.A. and Torres J.J. Some like it cold: mitochondrial bioenergetics from Southern Ocean teleosts. American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Winter meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico, February, 2011.

Martinez E. and Miller T. Assessing habitat quality in Chesapeake Bay: application of RNA:DNA indices to blue crab, Callinectes sapidus (with T. Miller). American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Winter meeting, Santa Fe, New Mexico, February, 2007.

Martinez E. and Sastre M.P. Can sunlight be a determinant in the distribution and abundance of Ascidia nigra? 21st annual Junior Technical meeting, Sponsored by PR-LSAMP, March 2006.

Martinez E. and Bingham B. Settlement and swimming behavior as a function of light intensity; tests with three solitary ascidian larvae. Estuarine Research Federation (ERF) Conference, Norfolk, Virginia, October 2005.

Martinez E. and Bingham B. Settlement and swimming behavior as a function of light intensity; tests with three solitary ascidian larvae. Sigma Xi Conference, Western Washington University, Washington, USA, May 2005.

B. Oral papers and invited seminars

 

Powers, S.D.*; Martinez, E; Parry, D.; Grayson, K.L.; Agosta, S.A. Mismatched patterns of mitochondrial and whole-organism thermal performance in wild populations of an invasive forest pest. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, Tucson, Arizona, January, 2022.

Rempe, K.J.*, Moody-Carpenter, C.J., Effert-Fanta, E.L., Colombo, R.E. and Martinez E. Differences in Growth and Bioenergetics between Centrarchids in a Midwestern Power Plant Lake. 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting of the Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, 2021.

Martinez E. Shifting baselines and the engines of life: is mitochondrial energetics a key constraint in thermal adaptation? Ball State University Biology Virtual Seminar, 2020.

Rempe, K.J.*, Moody-Carpenter, C.J., Effert-Fanta, E.L., Colombo, R.E. and Martinez E. Differences in Growth and Bioenergetics between Centrarchid Fishes in a Midwestern Power Plant Lake. 2021 Virtual Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, 2021.

Rempe, K.J.*, Moody-Carpenter, C.J., Effert-Fanta, E.L., Colombo, R.E. and Martinez E. Differences in Growth and Bioenergetics between Black Crappie and Bluegill in a Midwestern Power Plant Lake. 2020 American Fisheries Society Virtual Annual Meeting, 2020.

Sparks R.W.*, Moody-Carpenter C., Martinez E. and Colombo R.E. Determining Thermal Refuge of Fish Populations in a Highly Polluted River. Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries Society 57th Annual Conference, Oral Presentation, 2019.

Powers S.D.*, Grayson K.L., Martinez E. and Agosta S.J. Ontogenic variation in metabolic rate-temperature relationships in larvae of an invasive ectotherm. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, Tampa, Florida, January, 2019.

Sparks, R.W.*, Moody-Carpenter C., Martinez E. and Colombo R.E. Fish Assemblages in an Effluent Dominated Stream in Central Illinois. 79th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Oral Presentation, 2019.

Martinez E. Climate change and the engines of life; evaluating ecological tradeoffs and mitochondrial function in ectotherms. University of Louisville Department of Biology Seminar, 2018.

Martinez E. The ‘Winners’ and ‘Losers’ of the Thermal Game; Integrating Physiology and Life History Traits to Predict Resilience in a Changing Climate. University of Puerto Rico Department of Biology Seminar, 2016.

Martinez E. Management and Importance of the Guánica Biosphere Reserve. Inter-American University Biology Seminar Series, 2016.

Martinez E. Energetics of the Antarctic silverfish; a keystone species in a changing ecosystem. Eastern Illinois University Biological Sciences Seminar Series, 2015.

Martinez E. Temperature dependent energetics in aquatic and terrestrial ectotherms: and integrative, multilevel approach, Virginia Commonwealth University Biology Seminar Series, 2014.

Martinez E. and Bingham B. Settlement behavior as a function of light intensity: tests with solitary ascidian larvae. Ocean Science winter meeting, Honolulu, Hawai’i, February 2006

 

Funding & Grants

A. Extramural Grants (funded) and Donations

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey: Advancing climate change adaptation strategies for high elevation and endangered lowland amphibian species in the US Caribbean (10/2022-10/2025; Jaime Collazo (NC-State), PI, Eloy Martinez, Co-PI). Total amount awarded: $661,735.

US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources: A long-term monitoring program of fish populations in the Wabash River (6/2019-6/2020; Robert Colombo, PI, Eloy Martinez, Co-PI). Total amount awarded: $219,000.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey: Strategic Habitat Conservation and Adaptive Strategies for Recovery and Pre-listing Conservation of Eleutherodactylus (coqui) Amphibians in Puerto Rico (8/2019-8/2021; Jaime Collazo (NC-State), PI, Eloy Martinez, Collaborating Faculty). Total amount awarded: $120,000.

University of South Florida. Donation of two Hansatech high-resolution liquid phase respirometry systems and one Otago nanoliter osmometer (May 2014). Approximate value: $50,000.

NSF Antarctic Expedition: Possible Climate Induced Changes in the Distribution of Pleuragramma antarctica on the Western Antarctic Peninsula Shelf” (03/10-05/10; Joseph Torres, PI, Eloy Martinez, Research Staff, B-258-N). To investigate the impact of temperature on mitochondrial function in P. antarctica.