Dennis LaPointe
Specialty: Wildlife Disease, vector-borne avian disease, mosquito ecology, avian ectoparasites, Hawaiian passerines, aquatic invertebrates, field investigations, diagnostics, identification
Research Interests: Wildlife disease and conservation biology; ecology of arthropod vectors of disease and ectoparasites; evolution of host-vector-pathogen interactions; parasite mediated sexual selection in birds; climate change and vectored disease; West Nile virus; invasive biology of mosquitoes; Wolbachia pipientis in vector and disease control; aquatic invertebrate ecology; native insect conservation; zoonotic disease; control/management of vector borne disease
Personal Interests: House maintenance, grocery shopping, yard and pet care, child rearing and personal financing
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2000 Entomology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI
M.S. 1982 Entomology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA,
1991 Education, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
B.S. 1978 Entomology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 43
Genetic diversity of Wolbachia endosymbionts in Culex quinquefasciatus from Hawai`i, Midway Atoll, and Samoa
Incompatible insect techniques are potential methods for controlling Culex quinquefasciatus and avian disease transmission in Hawai‘i without the use of pesticides or genetically modified organisms. The approach is based on naturally occurring sperm-egg incompatibilities within the Culex pipiens complex that are controlled by different strains of the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis (wPi
Authors
Carter T. Atkinson, William Watcher-Weatherwax, Dennis Lapointe
Effects of Climate and land use on diversity, prevalence, and seasonal transmission of avian hematozoa in American Samoa
The indigenous forest birds of American Samoa are increasingly threatened by changing patterns of rainfall and temperature that are associated with climate change as well as environmental stressors associated with agricultural and urban development, invasive species, and new introductions of avian diseases and disease vectors. Long term changes in their distribution, diversity, and population size
Authors
Carter T. Atkinson, Ruth B. Utuzurrum, Joshua O. Seamon, Mark A. Schmaedick, Dennis Lapointe, Chloe Apelgren, Ariel N. Egan, William Watcher-Weatherwax
Avian disease and mosquito vectors in the Kahuku unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and Ka`u Forest Reserve
While avian disease has been well-studied in windward forests of Hawai‘i Island, there have been few studies in leeward Ka‘u. We surveyed four altitudinal sites ranging from 1,200 to 2,200 m asl in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (Kahuku) and three altitudinal sites ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 m asl in the Ka‘u Forest Reserve (Ka‘u) for the prevalence of avian disease and presen
Authors
Jacqueline Gaudioso, Dennis Lapointe, Carter T. Atkinson, Ariel N. Egan
Will a warmer and wetter future cause extinction of native Hawaiian forest birds?
Isolation of the Hawaiian archipelago produced a highly endemic and unique avifauna. Avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum), an introduced mosquito-borne pathogen, is a primary cause of extinctions and declines of these endemic honeycreepers. Our research assesses how global climate change will affect future malaria risk and native bird populations. We used an epidemiological model to evaluate future
Authors
Wei Liao, Oliver Elison Timm, Chunxi Zhang, Carter T. Atkinson, Dennis LaPointe, Michael D. Samuel
Book review: Mosquito eradication: The story of killing Campto
In 1826, the paradise that was the Hawaiian Islands was changed forever when the first mosquito species was accidentally introduced to the island of Maui. Though it has not lived up to its potential as a vector of human disease in the islands, Culex quinquefasciatus and the avian pathogens it transmits laid waste to perhaps the world's most remarkable insular avifauna. Today the lowland native for
Authors
Dennis Lapointe
Distribution and prevalence of knemidokoptic mange in Hawai`i `Amakihi on the island of Hawaii
Knemidokoptic mange was first observed on two Hawai‘i ‘Amakihi (Hemignathus virens) mist netted in Manuka Natural Area Reserve (NAR) on the Island of Hawai‘i in June 2007. Microscopic examination of skin scrapings from lesions of the infested individuals revealed the scaley-leg mite, Knemidokoptes jamaicensis. Continued surveillance at Manuka NAR (2007-2009) documented a 24% (15/63) prevalence of
Authors
Jacqueline Gaudioso, Dennis LaPointe, Carter T. Atkinson, Chloe Apelgren
Changing climate and the altitudinal range of avian malaria in the Hawaiian Islands: an ongoing conservation crisis on the island of Kaua'i
Transmission of avian malaria in the Hawaiian Islands varies across altitudinal gradients and is greatest at elevations below 1500 m where both temperature and moisture are favorable for the sole mosquito vector, Culex quinquefasciatus, and extrinsic sporogonic development of the parasite, Plasmodium relictum. Potential consequences of global warming on this system have been recognized for over a
Authors
Carter T. Atkinson, Ruth B. Utzurrum, Dennis A. LaPointe, Richard J. Camp, Lisa H. Crampton, Jeffrey T. Foster, Thomas W. Giambelluca
Avian disease assessment in seabirds and non-native passerines birds at Midway Atoll NWR
Midway Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands supports the largest breeding colony of Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) in the world and is a proposed site for the translocation of endangered Northwestern Hawaiian Island passerine birds such as the Nihoa finch (Telespiza ultima), Nihoa millerbird (Acrocephalus familiaris kingi), or Laysan finch (Telespiza cantans). On the main Hawaiia
Authors
Dennis A. LaPointe, Carter T. Atkinson, John L. Klavitter
Next-generation sequencing reveals cryptic mtDNA diversity of Plasmodium relictum in the Hawaiian Islands
Next-generation 454 sequencing techniques were used to re-examine diversity of mitochondrial cytochrome b lineages of avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) in Hawaii. We document a minimum of 23 variant lineages of the parasite based on single nucleotide transitional changes, in addition to the previously reported single lineage (GRW4). A new, publicly available portal (Integroomer) was developed fo
Authors
S.I. Jarvi, M.E. Farias, D.A. Lapointe, M. Belcaid, C. T. Atkinson
Modeling future conservation of Hawaiian Honeycreepers by mosquito management and translocation of disease-tolerant Amakihi
Avian malaria is an important cause of the decline of endemic Hawaiian honeycreepers. Because of the complexity of this disease system we used a computer model of avian malaria in forest birds to evaluate how two proposed conservation strategies: 1) reduction of habitat for mosquito larvae and 2) establishment of a low-elevation, malaria-tolerant honeycreeper (Hawaii Amakihi) to mid-elevation fore
Authors
Peter H. F. Hobbelen, Michael D. Samuel, Dennis Lapointe, Carter T. Atkinson
Ecology and conservation biology of avian malaria
Avian malaria is a worldwide mosquito-borne disease caused by Plasmodium parasites. These parasites occur in many avian species but primarily affect passerine birds that have not evolved with the parasite. Host pathogenicity, fitness, and population impacts are poorly understood. In contrast to continental species, introduced avian malaria poses a substantial threat to naive birds on Hawaii, the G
Authors
Dennis A. LaPointe, Carter T. Atkinson, Michael D. Samuel
Analysis of the trap gene provides evidence for the role of elevation and vector abundance in the genetic diversity of Plasmodium relictum in Hawaii
Background: The avian disease system in Hawaii offers an ideal opportunity to investigate host-pathogen interactions in a natural setting. Previous studies have recognized only a single mitochondrial lineage of avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) in the Hawaiian Islands, but cloning and sequencing of nuclear genes suggest a higher degree of genetic diversity. Methods: In order to evaluate genetic
Authors
Margaret E.M. Farias, Carter T. Atkinson, Dennis A. LaPointe, Susan I. Jarvi
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 43
Genetic diversity of Wolbachia endosymbionts in Culex quinquefasciatus from Hawai`i, Midway Atoll, and Samoa
Incompatible insect techniques are potential methods for controlling Culex quinquefasciatus and avian disease transmission in Hawai‘i without the use of pesticides or genetically modified organisms. The approach is based on naturally occurring sperm-egg incompatibilities within the Culex pipiens complex that are controlled by different strains of the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis (wPi
Authors
Carter T. Atkinson, William Watcher-Weatherwax, Dennis Lapointe
Effects of Climate and land use on diversity, prevalence, and seasonal transmission of avian hematozoa in American Samoa
The indigenous forest birds of American Samoa are increasingly threatened by changing patterns of rainfall and temperature that are associated with climate change as well as environmental stressors associated with agricultural and urban development, invasive species, and new introductions of avian diseases and disease vectors. Long term changes in their distribution, diversity, and population size
Authors
Carter T. Atkinson, Ruth B. Utuzurrum, Joshua O. Seamon, Mark A. Schmaedick, Dennis Lapointe, Chloe Apelgren, Ariel N. Egan, William Watcher-Weatherwax
Avian disease and mosquito vectors in the Kahuku unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and Ka`u Forest Reserve
While avian disease has been well-studied in windward forests of Hawai‘i Island, there have been few studies in leeward Ka‘u. We surveyed four altitudinal sites ranging from 1,200 to 2,200 m asl in the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (Kahuku) and three altitudinal sites ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 m asl in the Ka‘u Forest Reserve (Ka‘u) for the prevalence of avian disease and presen
Authors
Jacqueline Gaudioso, Dennis Lapointe, Carter T. Atkinson, Ariel N. Egan
Will a warmer and wetter future cause extinction of native Hawaiian forest birds?
Isolation of the Hawaiian archipelago produced a highly endemic and unique avifauna. Avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum), an introduced mosquito-borne pathogen, is a primary cause of extinctions and declines of these endemic honeycreepers. Our research assesses how global climate change will affect future malaria risk and native bird populations. We used an epidemiological model to evaluate future
Authors
Wei Liao, Oliver Elison Timm, Chunxi Zhang, Carter T. Atkinson, Dennis LaPointe, Michael D. Samuel
Book review: Mosquito eradication: The story of killing Campto
In 1826, the paradise that was the Hawaiian Islands was changed forever when the first mosquito species was accidentally introduced to the island of Maui. Though it has not lived up to its potential as a vector of human disease in the islands, Culex quinquefasciatus and the avian pathogens it transmits laid waste to perhaps the world's most remarkable insular avifauna. Today the lowland native for
Authors
Dennis Lapointe
Distribution and prevalence of knemidokoptic mange in Hawai`i `Amakihi on the island of Hawaii
Knemidokoptic mange was first observed on two Hawai‘i ‘Amakihi (Hemignathus virens) mist netted in Manuka Natural Area Reserve (NAR) on the Island of Hawai‘i in June 2007. Microscopic examination of skin scrapings from lesions of the infested individuals revealed the scaley-leg mite, Knemidokoptes jamaicensis. Continued surveillance at Manuka NAR (2007-2009) documented a 24% (15/63) prevalence of
Authors
Jacqueline Gaudioso, Dennis LaPointe, Carter T. Atkinson, Chloe Apelgren
Changing climate and the altitudinal range of avian malaria in the Hawaiian Islands: an ongoing conservation crisis on the island of Kaua'i
Transmission of avian malaria in the Hawaiian Islands varies across altitudinal gradients and is greatest at elevations below 1500 m where both temperature and moisture are favorable for the sole mosquito vector, Culex quinquefasciatus, and extrinsic sporogonic development of the parasite, Plasmodium relictum. Potential consequences of global warming on this system have been recognized for over a
Authors
Carter T. Atkinson, Ruth B. Utzurrum, Dennis A. LaPointe, Richard J. Camp, Lisa H. Crampton, Jeffrey T. Foster, Thomas W. Giambelluca
Avian disease assessment in seabirds and non-native passerines birds at Midway Atoll NWR
Midway Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands supports the largest breeding colony of Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) in the world and is a proposed site for the translocation of endangered Northwestern Hawaiian Island passerine birds such as the Nihoa finch (Telespiza ultima), Nihoa millerbird (Acrocephalus familiaris kingi), or Laysan finch (Telespiza cantans). On the main Hawaiia
Authors
Dennis A. LaPointe, Carter T. Atkinson, John L. Klavitter
Next-generation sequencing reveals cryptic mtDNA diversity of Plasmodium relictum in the Hawaiian Islands
Next-generation 454 sequencing techniques were used to re-examine diversity of mitochondrial cytochrome b lineages of avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) in Hawaii. We document a minimum of 23 variant lineages of the parasite based on single nucleotide transitional changes, in addition to the previously reported single lineage (GRW4). A new, publicly available portal (Integroomer) was developed fo
Authors
S.I. Jarvi, M.E. Farias, D.A. Lapointe, M. Belcaid, C. T. Atkinson
Modeling future conservation of Hawaiian Honeycreepers by mosquito management and translocation of disease-tolerant Amakihi
Avian malaria is an important cause of the decline of endemic Hawaiian honeycreepers. Because of the complexity of this disease system we used a computer model of avian malaria in forest birds to evaluate how two proposed conservation strategies: 1) reduction of habitat for mosquito larvae and 2) establishment of a low-elevation, malaria-tolerant honeycreeper (Hawaii Amakihi) to mid-elevation fore
Authors
Peter H. F. Hobbelen, Michael D. Samuel, Dennis Lapointe, Carter T. Atkinson
Ecology and conservation biology of avian malaria
Avian malaria is a worldwide mosquito-borne disease caused by Plasmodium parasites. These parasites occur in many avian species but primarily affect passerine birds that have not evolved with the parasite. Host pathogenicity, fitness, and population impacts are poorly understood. In contrast to continental species, introduced avian malaria poses a substantial threat to naive birds on Hawaii, the G
Authors
Dennis A. LaPointe, Carter T. Atkinson, Michael D. Samuel
Analysis of the trap gene provides evidence for the role of elevation and vector abundance in the genetic diversity of Plasmodium relictum in Hawaii
Background: The avian disease system in Hawaii offers an ideal opportunity to investigate host-pathogen interactions in a natural setting. Previous studies have recognized only a single mitochondrial lineage of avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) in the Hawaiian Islands, but cloning and sequencing of nuclear genes suggest a higher degree of genetic diversity. Methods: In order to evaluate genetic
Authors
Margaret E.M. Farias, Carter T. Atkinson, Dennis A. LaPointe, Susan I. Jarvi