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
Feral Pigs, Introduced Mosquitoes, and the Decline of Hawai'i's Native Birds
Hematozoa of forest birds in American Samoa - Evidence for a diverse, indigenous parasite fauna from the South Pacific
Effects of chronic avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) infection on reproductive success of Hawaii Amakihi (Hemignathus virens)
Fine-scale population genetic structure of a wildlife disease vector: The southern house mosquito on the island of Hawaii
Host population persistence in the face of introduced vector-borne diseases: Hawaii amakihi and avian malaria
Comparative susceptibility of introduced forest-dwelling mosquitoes in Hawai'i to avian malaria, Plasmodium relictum
Modeling the population dynamics of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culcidae), along an elevational gradient in Hawaii
Bottlenecks and multiple introductions: Population genetics of the vector of avian malaria in Hawaii
Science and Products
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Feral Pigs, Introduced Mosquitoes, and the Decline of Hawai'i's Native Birds
The introduction of mosquitoes, avian pox, and avian malaria to the Hawaiian Islands has had a profound effect on the geographical distribution and population number of highly susceptible Hawaiian honeycreepers, and likely contributed to the extinction of several species. While the mosquito vector (disease-carrier) is most closely associated with human activity, in remote Hawaiian rain forests, feAuthorsDennis A. LaPointeHematozoa of forest birds in American Samoa - Evidence for a diverse, indigenous parasite fauna from the South Pacific
Introduced avian diseases pose a significant threat to forest birds on isolated island archipelagos, especially where most passerines are endemic and many groups of blood-sucking arthropods are either absent or only recently introduced. We conducted a blood parasite survey of forest birds from the main islands of American Samoa to obtain baseline information about the identity, distribution and prAuthorsC. T. Atkinson, R.C. Utzurrum, J.O. Seamon, Amy F. Savage, D.A. LapointeEffects of chronic avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) infection on reproductive success of Hawaii Amakihi (Hemignathus virens)
We studied the effects of chronic avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) infections on the reproductive success of a native Hawaiian honeycreeper, Hawaii Amakihi (Hemignathus virens). Chronic malaria infections in male and female parents did not significantly reduce reproductive success as measured by clutch size, hatching success, fledging mass, number of nestlings fledged, nesting success (daily suAuthorsA.M. Kilpatrick, D.A. Lapointe, C. T. Atkinson, B.L. Woodworth, J.K. Lease, M.E. Reiter, K. GrossFine-scale population genetic structure of a wildlife disease vector: The southern house mosquito on the island of Hawaii
The southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, is a widespread tropical and subtropical disease vector. In the Hawaiian Islands, where it was introduced accidentally almost two centuries ago, it is considered the primary vector of avian malaria and pox. Avian malaria in particular has contributed to the extinction and endangerment of Hawaii's native avifauna, and has altered the altitudinalAuthorsN. Keyghobadi, D. LaPointe, R.C. Fleischer, D.M. FonsecaHost population persistence in the face of introduced vector-borne diseases: Hawaii amakihi and avian malaria
The past quarter century has seen an unprecedented increase in the number of new and emerging infectious diseases throughout the world, with serious implications for human and wildlife populations. We examined host persistence in the face of introduced vector-borne diseases in Hawaii, where introduced avian malaria and introduced vectors have had a negative impact on most populations of Hawaiian fAuthorsB.L. Woodworth, C. T. Atkinson, D.A. Lapointe, P.J. Hart, C.S. Spiegel, E.J. Tweed, C. Henneman, J. LeBrun, T. Denette, R. DeMots, K.L. Kozar, D. Triglia, Dan Lease, A. Gregor, T. Smith, D. DuffyComparative susceptibility of introduced forest-dwelling mosquitoes in Hawai'i to avian malaria, Plasmodium relictum
To identify potential vectors of avian malaria in Hawaiian native forests, the innate susceptibility of Aedes albopictus, Wyeomyia mitchellii, and Culex quinquefasciatus from 3 geographical sites along an altitudinal gradient was evaluated using local isolates of Plasmodium relictum. Mosquitoes were dissected 5-8 and 9-13 days postinfective blood meal and microscopically examined for oocysts and sAuthorsD.A. Lapointe, M.L. Goff, C. T. AtkinsonModeling the population dynamics of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culcidae), along an elevational gradient in Hawaii
We present a population model to understand the effects of temperature and rainfall on the population dynamics of the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus Say, along an elevational gradient in Hawaii. We use a novel approach to model the effects of temperature on population growth by dynamically incorporating developmental rate into the transition matrix, by using physiological ages ofAuthorsJorge A. Ahumada, Dennis LaPointe, Michael D. SamuelBottlenecks and multiple introductions: Population genetics of the vector of avian malaria in Hawaii
Avian malaria has had a profound impact on the demographics and behaviour of Hawaiian forest birds since its vector, Culex quinquefasciatusthe southern house mosquito, was first introduced to Hawaii around 1830. In order to understand the dynamics of the disease in Hawaii and gain insights into the evolution of vector-mediated parasite–host interactions in general we studied the population geneticAuthorsDina M. Fonseca, Dennis A. LaPointe, Robert C. Fleischer - News