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DR. GEORGE W. BENZ
Professor

Dr. George W. Benz

CONTACT:
E-mail: gbenz@mtsu.edu
Phone: (615) 898-5021
Fax: (615) 898-5093

Office Location:
Haynes House, Rm. 3

Mail Address:
Department of Biology
P.O. Box 60
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
U.S.A. 37132

EDUCATION:

  • Ph.D. Zoology (Parasitology), The University of British Columbia
  • M.Sc. Renewable Natural Resources Conservation (Fisheries Science), The University of Connecticut
  • B.Sc. Biology, The University of Connecticut

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
I have broad interests in applied and basic biology and have worked on funded research involving a wide variety of subjects: parasites, freshwater mussels, freshwater turtles, and fishes. Primarily, however, I study the taxonomy, systematics, phylogeny, co-evolution, life history, and ecology of ectoparasites of fishes, most often focusing on parasites that infect sharks and rays. I also study the biology of fishes, often with regards to host-parasite relationships. My current research in this area deals with movements and feeding strategies of sleeper sharks. I am also interested in the husbandry of fishes, and I serve as a periodic consultant for various aquariums regarding the diagnosis and treatment of infectious pathogens.

OTHER ACTIVE APPOINTMENTS:

  • Assoc. Ed., Journal of Parasitology
  • Assoc. Ed., Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria
  • Adjunct Scientist, Mote Marine Laboratory
  • Res. Assoc., Nat’l. Marine Fisheries Serv.
  • Dir. Emer., TN Aquarium Research Institute
  • Adj. Fac., Warnell School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia

DISSEMINATION RECORD:

  • Publications: 101 total authored, co-authored or edited (62 peer-reviewed journal publications, 12 book or proceedings chapters, 3 books/booklets, 5 book reviews and comments, 12 technical reports, 7 popular articles)
  • Presentations: 141 total authored or co-authored (62 invited keynotes or lectures, 79 contributed papers)

Selected peer-reviewed publications—

  • Benz, G. W., Z. Kabata, and S. A. Bullard. 2000. Margolisius abditus n. gen., n. sp. (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae) from gill lamellae of a remora (Remora remora) collected in the Gulf of California. J. Parasitol. 86: 241-244.
  • Bullard, S. A., G. W. Benz, and J. S. Braswell. 2000. Dionchus postoncomiracidia (Monogenea: Dionchidae) from the skin of blacktip sharks, Carcharhinus limbatus (Carcharhinidae). J. Parasitol. 86: 245-250.
  • Bullard, S. A., G. W. Benz, R. M. Overstreet, E. H. Williams, Jr., and J. Hemdal. 2000. Six new host records and an updated list of wild hosts for Neobenedenia melleni (McCallum) (
  • Bullard, S. A., S. Frasca, Jr., and G. W. Benz. 2000. Skin lesions caused by Dermophthirius penneri (Monogenea: Microbothriidae) on wild-caught blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus). J. Parasitol. 86: 618-622.
  • Dippenaar, S. M., G. W. Benz, and P. A. S. Olivier. 2000. Kroyeria deetsi n. sp. (Kroyeriidae: Siphonostomatoida), a parasitic copepod infecting gills of spinner sharks, Carcharhinus brevipinna (Müller & Henle, 1839), in the Indian Ocean. African Zoology 35(2): 185-192.
  • Benz, G. W., A. Kingman, and J. D. Borucinska. 2001. Gillnet survival and healing by a porbeagle, Lamna nasus. The Canadian Field-Naturalist 115(3): 506-509.
  • Benz, G. W., B. E. Smith, and S. A. Bullard. 2001. Kroeyerina deetsorum n. sp. (Copepoda: Kroyeriidae) from the olfactory sacs of Atlantic sharpnose sharks (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) captured in the Gulf of Mexico and northwestern Atlantic and first report of copepodids representing Kroyeriidae. J. Parasitol. 87: 1279-1290.
  • Bullard, S. A., S. Frasca, Jr., and G. W. Benz. 2001. Gill lesions associated with Erpocotyle tiburonis (Monogenea: Hexabothriidae) on wild and aquarium-held bonnethead sharks (Sphyrna tiburo). J. Parasitol. 87: 972-977.
  • Dippenaar, S. M., P. A. S. Olivier, and G. W. Benz. 2001. Kroyeria sphyrnae Rangnekar, 1957 (Copepoda, Siphonostomatoida, Kroyeriidae): first description of the male, supplementary remarks on the female, new geographic record for the species, and a key to Kroyeria males. Crustaceana 74: 883-894.
  • Vennemann, T. W., E. Hegner, G. Cliff, and G. W. Benz. 2001. Isotopic composition of recent shark teeth as a proxy for environmental conditions. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 65: 1583-1599.
  • Benz, G. W., J. D. Borucinska, and S. A. Greenwald. 2002. First descriptions of early- and middle-stage copepodids of Anthosoma crassum (Dichelesthiidae: Siphonostomatoida) and lesions on shortfin makos (Isurus oxyrinchus) infected with A. crassum. J. Parasitol. 88: 19-26.
  • Benz, G. W., J. D. Borucinska, L. F. Lowry, and H. E. Whiteley. 2002. Ocular lesions associated with attachment of the copepod Ommatokoita elongata (Lernaeopodidae: Siphonostomatoida) to corneas of Pacific sleeper sharks Somniosus pacificus captured off Alaska in Prince William Sound. J. Parasitol. 88: 474-481.
  • Benz, G. W., K. Nagasawa, and J. Wetmore. 2002. New host and ocean records for the parasitic copepod Bobkabata kabatabobbus (Lernaeosoleidae: Poecilstomatoida). Pacific Science 56: 259-262.
  • Braswell, J. S., G. W. Benz, and G. B. Deets. 2002. Taeniacanthodes dojirii n. sp. (Copepoda: Poecilostomatoida: Taeniacanthidae), from Cortez electric rays (Narcine entemedor: Torpediniformes: Narcinidae) captured in the Gulf of California, and a phylogenetic analysis of and key to species of Taeniacanthodes. J. Parasitol. 88: 28-35.
  • Benz, G. W., H. F. Mollet, D. A. Ebert, C. R. Davies, and S. R. Van Sommeran. 2003. Five species of parasitic copepods (Siphonostomatoida: Pandaridae) from the body surface of a white shark captured in Morro Bay, California. Pacific Science 57: 39-43.
  • Benz, G. W., R. Hocking, A. Kowunna, Sr., S. A. Bullard, and J. C. George. 2004. A second species of Arctic shark: Pacific sleeper shark Somniosus pacificus from Point Hope, Alaska. Polar Biology 27: 250-252.
  • Bullard, S. A., S. M. Dippenaar, E. R. Hoffmayer, and G. W. Benz. 2004. New locality records for Dermophthirius carcharhini (Monogenea: Microbothriidae) and Dermophthirius maccallumi and a list of hosts and localities for species of Dermophthirius. Comp. Parasitol. 71: 78-80.
  • Dippenaar, S. M., P. A. S. Olivier, and G. W. Benz. in press. Schistobrachia jordaanae n. sp. (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Lernaeopodidae) from gill filaments of a diamond ray (Gymnura natalensis) captured in the Indian Ocean, and a key to species of Schistobrachia, Dendrapta and Brianella. J. Parasitol.
  • Skomal, G. B., and G. W. Benz. 2004. Ultrasonic tracking of Greenland sharks, Somniosus microcephalus, under Arctic ice. Marine Biology 145: 489-498.
  • Frasca, S., Jr., V. L. Kirsipuu, S. Russell, S. A. Bullard, and G. W. Benz. In press. Opercular lesion in wild black drum, Pogonias cromis, associated with attachment of the sea louse Sciaenophilus tenuis (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Caligidae). Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria.
  • Benz, G. W. 2005. Taxonomic status of Penicillus Kumar et Hameed, 1993 and its only species, P. indicus Kumar et Hameed, 1993 (Pennellidae, Siphonostomatoida, Copepoda). Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 35: 139-141.
  • Benz, G. W. 2006. A new genus and species of hyponeoid (Copepoda) from the olfactory sac of a gulper shark Centrophorus sp. (Squaliformes: Centrophoridae) captured off Madagascar. Journal of Parasitology 92: 1207-1210.
  • Benz, G. W., K. Nagasawa, A. Yamaguchi, B. C. McMeans, and A. McElwain. 2006. New host and ocean records for Driocephalus cerebrinoxius (Sphyriidae, Siphonostomatoida) and a reconsideration of phylogeny within Sphyriidae. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria 36: 1-9.
  • Benz, G. W., B. E. Smith, S. A. Bullard, and J. S. Braswell. 2007. New genus and species of eudactylinid (Siphonostomatoida, Copepoda) from gill lamellae of ornate eagle rays, Aetomylaeus vespertilio (Myliobatidae), collected in the Beagle Gulf off northern Australia. Journal of Parasitology 93: 32-38.
  • Benz, G. W., E. R. Hoffmayer, W. B. Driggers III, D. Allen, L. E. Bishop, and D. A. Brown. 2007. First record of a sleeper shark in the western Gulf of Mexico and comments on taxonomic uncertainty within Somniosus (Somniosus). Bulletin of Marine Science 80: 343-351.

Selected popular articles—

  • Benz, G. W., and R. J. Van Nostrand. 2002. Fish parasites. Pp. 15-18. In: A fisheries guide to lakes and ponds of Connecticut. (R. P. Jacobs and E. B. O’Donnell princ. authors). Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Hartford, CT.
  • Benz, G. W. 2003. What is a fish? Pp. 3-8. In: Grzimek’s animal life encyclopedia, 2nd edition, vol. 4, fishes I. Hutchins, M., D. A. Thoney, P. V. Loiselle, and N. Schlager (eds.), Gale Group. Farmington Hills, MI.
  • Benz, G. W. 2003. Squaliformes (dogfish sharks). Pp. 151-159. In: Grzimek’s animal life encyclopedia, 2nd edition, vol. 4, fishes I. Hutchins, M., D. A. Thoney, P. V. Loiselle, and N. Schlager (eds.), Gale Group. Farmington Hills, MI.
  • Benz, G. W., and S. A. Bullard. 2004. Metazoan parasites and associates of chondrichthyans with emphasis on taxa harmful to captive hosts. Pp. 325-416. In: The elasmobranch husbandry manual: captive care of sharks, rays and their relatives. Smith, M., D. Warmolts, D. Thoney, and R. Hueter (eds.). Special Publication, Ohio Biological Survey, Columbus, OH.

Selected book chapters—

  • Benz, G. W., and S. A. Bullard. 2004. Metazoan parasites and associates of chondrichthyans with emphasis on taxa harmful to captive hosts. Pp. 325-416. In: The elasmobranch husbandry manual: captive care of sharks, rays and their relatives. Smith, M., D. Warmolts, D. Thoney, and R. Hueter (eds.). Special Publication, Ohio Biological Survey, Columbus, OH.
  • Benz, G. W., and R. J. Van Nostrand. 2002. Fish parasites. Pp. 15-18. In: A fisheries guide to lakes and ponds of Connecticut. (R. P. Jacobs and E. B. O’Donnell princ. authors). Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Hartford, CT.
  • Benz, G. W. 2003. What is a fish? Pp. 3-8. In: Grzimek’s animal life encyclopedia, 2nd edition, vol. 4, fishes I. Hutchins, M., D. A. Thoney, P. V. Loiselle, and N. Schlager (eds.), Gale Group. Farmington Hills, MI.
  • Benz, G. W. 2003. Squaliformes (dogfish sharks). Pp. 151-159. In: Grzimek’s animal life encyclopedia, 2nd edition, vol. 4, fishes I. Hutchins, M., D. A. Thoney, P. V. Loiselle, and N. Schlager (eds.), Gale Group. Farmington Hills, MI.

Selected books/proceedings and booklets—

  • Benz, G. W., and D. E. Collins (eds.). 1997. Aquatic Fauna in Peril: The Southeastern Perspective. Special Publication 1, Southeast Aquatic Research Institute, Lenz Design and Communications, Decatur, GA, 554 p.
  • Williamson, D. F., G. W. Benz, and C. M. Hoover (eds.). 1999. Proceedings of the Symposium on the Harvest, Trade and Conservation of North American Paddlefish and Sturgeon, May 7-8, 1998, Chattanooga, TN. TRAFFIC North America and World Wildlife Fund, Washington, DC, 293 p.

PAST PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

  • Director, Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute (1997-2003)
  • Chief Research Scientist, Tennessee Aquarium (1994-2003)
  • Curator of Fishes, Tennessee Aquarium (1992-1994)
  • Supervisor of Laboratory and Biological Services, Tennessee Aquarium (1991-1992)
  • Fisheries Biologist, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (1980-1985)


2007 Middle Tennessee State University, a Tennessee Board of Regents institution
1301 East Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37132-0001 USA +1.615.898.2300

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Middle Tennessee State University, in its educational programs and activities involving students and employees, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or age. Furthermore, the university does not discriminate against veterans or individuals with disabilities.