Joseph Staples

Associate Professor
Joseph Staples
207-780-5552

106A Bailey Hall, Gorham campus

Education

  • PhD Biological Science, Illinois State University
  • MS Environmental Forest Biology & Chemical Ecology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
  • BS Environmental Forest Biology SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Research Interests

My research explores topics in environmental entomology, arthropod vectors of disease, general forest ecology, and methods in teaching STEM fields.

Department of Environmental Science and Policy College of Science, Technology, and Health

Dr. Staples conducts research in the areas of environmental entomology, integrated pest management, forest ecology, and education. He collaborates with researchers from across the University of Maine System and with individuals from local and national organizations including the Maine Medical Center Vector-Borne Disease laboratory, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation. Dr. Staples is a graduate of the Scholar Educator Program at Illinois State University and has taught more than thirty courses in biology, environmental science, and general education. A self-described “tinkerer,” Dr. Staples enjoys developing new methods and technologies to better monitor and measure the natural world. Education and mentoring are common themes throughout Dr. Staples’ research. He is a strong advocate of experiential education and a research-based approach to teaching.

Expertise

  • Entomology
  • Forest Ecology
  • Chemical Ecology
  • Environmental Physiology

Selected Publications

Patent: Staples, Joseph Knight. Title: System and Apparatus for Illuminating A Specimen. U.S. Patent No. 9,557,551.Publication date: Jan 31, 2017

Butler, R. G., Lage, C., Dobrin, S. E., Staples, J. K., Venturini, E., Frank, J., & Drummond, F. A. (2021). Maine’s Bumble Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)—Part 2: Comparisons of a Common (Bombus ternarius) and a Rare (Bombus terricola) Species. Environmental Entomology.

Butler, R. G., Lage, C., Dobrin, S. E., Staples, J. K., Venturini, E., Frank, J., & Drummond, F. A. (2021). Maine’s Bumble Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Assemblage—Part 1: Composition, Seasonal and Regional Distribution, and Resource Use. Environmental Entomology.

Smith, M.K., Toth, E.S., Borges, K., Dastoor, F., Johnston, J., Jones, E.H., Nelson, P.R., Page, J., Pelletreau, K., Prentiss, N., Roe, J.L., Staples, J.K, Summers, M., Trenckmann, E., and Vinson, E. 2018. Using Place-Based Economically Relevant Organisms to Improve Student Understanding of the Roles of Carbon Dioxide, Sunlight, and Nutrients in Photosynthetic Organisms (2018). CourseSource   https://doi.org/10.24918/cs.2018.1    

Sanford, R. M., J. K. Staples and S. A. Snowman. (2017) The Draw-An-Ecosystem Task as an Assessment Tool in Environmental Science Education.  Science Education and Civic Engagement: An International Journal 9:1. SENCER. Winter 2017. 

Sanford, R. M., Staples, J. K. (2015) The Northern Forest Canoe Trail course. Science Education and Civic Engagement: An International Journal. Summer 2015.

Elias S.P., Lubelczyk C.B., Rand P.W., Staples J.K., St Amand T.W., Stubbs C.S., Lacombe E.H., Smith L.B., Smith R.P. Jr.  (2013) Effect of a botanical acaricide on Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) and nontarget arthropods. Journal of Medical Entomology 50(1):126-36.

Staples J. K., Bartelt R. J., Cosse. A. A., Whitman D. W.  (2009) Sex Pheromone of the Pine False Webworm Acantholyda erythrocephala (Hymenoptera: Pamphiliidae) Journal of Chemical Ecology. 35:1448-60.

Staples, J. K., (2008).  Natural Resource Inventory of Malaga Island, Phippsburg, Maine.  For: Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Topsham Maine

Staples J. K., B. S. Krall, R. J. Bartelt, and D. W. Whitman. (2002) Chemical Defense in the Plant Bug Lopidea robiniae (Uhler). Journal of Chemical Ecology.  28: 601-615

Joseph Staples
207-780-5552

106A Bailey Hall, Gorham campus

Education

  • PhD Biological Science, Illinois State University
  • MS Environmental Forest Biology & Chemical Ecology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
  • BS Environmental Forest Biology SUNY, College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Research Interests

My research explores topics in environmental entomology, arthropod vectors of disease, general forest ecology, and methods in teaching STEM fields.