Biology

Anthony L. Swinehart

Professor of Biology; Curator of the D. M. Fisk Museum of Natural History

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“I believe that biology is an integral part of a true liberal arts education. For the non-major, it is not only practical, but beautiful. For the majors, it is all these things as well, but I feel that it is especially important that they receive a practical and technical education in the discipline that will serve them in acquiring immediate employment or acceptance into graduate school.”

Faculty Information

Additional Faculty Information for Anthony L. Swinehart

Education

Ph.D., Purdue University

M.S., Central Michigan University

B.A., Goshen College

Memberships

Indiana Academy of Science

Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture

Sigma Xi Honor Society of Scientific Research

Beta Beta Beta Honor Society of Biology, Faculty Member

Sigma Zeta Honor Society, Faculty Member

Society of Catholic Scientists

Graduate Committee Service

Spriggs, Thomas M., M.S. Phytoremediation of Copper using Wetland Macrophytes, Department of Civil Engineering, Purdue University, 1998.

Guenther, Cameron B., Ph.D. Fish Assemblage Structure, Movement, and Patch Dynamics in Small Fragmented Streams. Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, Purdue University, 2005.

Awards and Honors

Certificate of Membership, Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture

Certificate of Membership, Sigma Xi Honor Society of Scientific Research

Turner Foundation Doctoral Fellowship, Purdue University

Society of Sigma Xi Graduate Research Competition, Award of Merit

Minter Conservation Biology Scholarship

Lewis and Elizabeth Fidler Scholarship

Samuel W. Witmer Biology Scholarship

Dekko Internship in Environmental Education

Achievement in Science Award, United States Marines

Achievement in Science Award, United States Air Force

Achievement in Science Award, South Bend Audubon Society

Elkhart City-Wide Science Fair, Best High School Project

Northern Indiana Regional Science and Engineering Fair, first place

Professional Activities

Editorial Board, the Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, Ecology Section (2013-2015)

Board of Directors, Saint Joseph River Watershed Initiative (1999-2001)

Chairman, Education Outreach Committee, Department of Botany, Purdue University (1998)

Manuscript reviewer, Wetlands (1996)

Manuscript reviewer, Madroño: A West American Journal of Botany (2002)

Manuscript reviewer, the Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science (2001 to present)

Manuscript reviewer, Wetlands Ecology and Management (2012)

Participant – Bryophyte taxonomy seminar taught by Norton Miller, Humboldt Research Institute, Maine (1997)

Participant – Second International Symposium on the Biology of Sphagnum and the Fourth Annual Canadian Peatland Restoration Workshop

Courses Taught

BIO 102 Biological Science

BIO 200 Evolution & Biological Diversity

BIO 301: Invertebrate Zoology

BIO 318: Historical Geology

BIO 350: Conservation Biology

BIO 364: Freshwater Biology

BIO 368: Marine Biology

BIO 592: Junior Research

BIO 593: Senior Thesis

BIO 597: Biological Illustration

BIO 597: Field Methods in Vertebrate Paleontology

BIO 597: Introduction to Museum Techniques for Natural History Collections

Conference and Seminar Presentations

Kiledal, A. & A. L. Swinehart. The Potential Role of Hypolimnetic Gases,Temperature, and Hydrostatic Pressure on the Mortality and Taphonomy of Freshwater Fishes, presented at the 128th Annual Meetings of the Indiana Academy of Science, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2016.

Hubbard, C. & A. L. Swinehart. Re-examination of an 80-Year-Old Peat Core from Bacon’s Swamp Reveals New Understanding of the Natural History of Indiana’s Southernmost Sphagnum Bog, presented at the 128th Annual Meetings of the Indiana Academy of Science, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2016.

Bender, S. & A.L. Swinehart. Seventeen Years of Change in Two Sphagnum Bogs in Noble County, Indiana, presented at the 126th Annual Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2011.

Swinehart, A.L. Multidisciplinary Applications of Pleistocene and Holocene Macrofossils and Macroremains in Ecological Research, presented at Purdue University, Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, West Lafayette, Indiana, 2008.

Swinehart, A.L. Multidisciplinary Applications of Pleistocene and Holocene Macrofossils and Macroremains in Ecological Research, presented at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2008.

Swinehart, A.L. Recent Notable Discoveries on the palaeoecology of Wetlands in the Southern Great Lakes Region, presented at the American Fisheries Society, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, 2004.

Swinehart, A.L. Recent Notable Discoveries on the Palaeoecology of Wetlands in the southern Great Lakes Region, presented at the Department of Geological Sciences Seminar, Indiana University – Purdue University, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2004.

Swinehart, A.L. Recent Notable Discoveries on the Palaeoecology of Wetlands in the Southern Great Lakes Region, presented at Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 2004.

Swinehart, A.L. The Role of Wetlands in Reconstructing Late-Pleistocene and Holocene Palaeoevironments, presented at the Biology Department seminar, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, 2004.

Cauley, Peter & A. L. Swinehart. Application of Fish Operculum Morphometry to Palaeoenvironmental Interpretation, presented at the 119th Annual Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, Anderson University, Anderson, Indiana, 2003.

Cizek, Caroline & A.L. Swinehart. Spatial and Temporal Migration Patterns of Microcrustaceans in a Northern Michigan Kettle Lake, presented at the 117th Annual Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2001.

Hall, Philip & A.L. Swinehart. Two Years of Secondary Succession of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities in Rockwell Lake, Lake County, Michigan, presented at the 117th Annual Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2001.

Zeiler, Sarah & A.L. Swinehart. The Role of Substrate Type and Forest Canopy Cover on the Diversity and Abundance of Macroinvertebrates in a Northern Michigan Headwater Stream, presented at the 117th Annual Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2001.

Swinehart, A.L. Rising from the Bogs: Prehistoric Life in Northern Indiana, presented at the Elkhart County Historical Museum Lecture Series, Bristol, Indiana, 2001.

Mandrelle, J. J. & A. L. Swinehart. Palaeoecology and Proposed Diet of the Aker Mastodont, Marshall County, Indiana, presented at the 116th Annual Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, Richmond, Indiana, 2000.

Baltzer, B. M. & A. L. Swinehart. A Limnological Investigation of a Northern Michigan Kettle Lake with Special Emphasis on the Ecology of Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens), presented at the 116th Annual Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, Richmond, Indiana, 2000.

Guenther, C. B. & A. L. Swinehart. Benthic Macroinvertebrate Diversity and Abundance along Environmental Gradients in Rockwell Lake, Lake County, Michigan, presented at the 116th Annual Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, Richmond, Indiana, 2001.

Belsley, K. J. & A. L. Swinehart. Population Ecology of Tamarack (Larix laricina) and Northern White-Cedar (Thuja occiddentalis) in a Forested Peatland in Northern Michigan, presented at the 116th Annual Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, Richmond, Indiana, 2001.

Swinehart, A.L. The Germination of Old Seeds: Application of the Herbarium to Conservation Biology, presented at the 115th Fall Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, Indiana, 1999.

Swinehart, A.L., N.G. Miller, J.O. Farlow & J. A. Sunderman. Palaeoenvironment of the Pipe Creek Sinkhole (Tertiary: Hemphilian) as Indicated by Plant Fossils, presented at the 115th Fall Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, University of Southern Indiana, Evansville, Indiana, 1999.

Swinehart, A.L. The Development and Ecology of Peatlands in Indiana, presented at Hope College Biology Seminar Series, Holland, Michigan, 1999.

Farlow, J.O., J.A. Sunderman, J.A. Holman, A.L. Swinehart & J.J. Havens. Pipe Creek Jr. Sinkhole, a Late-Tertiary Terrestrial Biota from Grant County, Indiana, presented at the Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1998.

Swinehart, A.L. Summary of the Natural History and Ecology of Egypt and Recommendations for Study of the New Valley (Toshka) Irrigation Project, presented at Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, 1998.

Swinehart, A.L. The Development and Ecology of Peatlands in Indiana, presented at the Biology Department Seminar Series, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 1998.

Farlow, J.O., J.A. Sunderman, J.J. Havens, J.A. Holman, A.L. Swinehart & M. Fortelius. The Pipe Creek Jr. Locality: A Diverse Pre-Wisconsinan Terrestrial Biota from Grant County, Indiana, presented at the Annual Fall Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, Saint Joseph’s College, Rensselaer, Indiana, 1997.

Swinehart, A.L. & R. L. Richards. Palaeoecology of the Wilkinson Giant Beaver Locality, Whitley County, Indiana, presented at the Annual Fall Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, St. Joseph’s College, Rensselaer, Indiana, 1997.

Swinehart, A.L. Restoration of a Degraded Tamarack Bog in Northern Indiana: An Historical and Palaeoecological Approach, presented at the Fourth Annual Canadian Peatland Restoration Workshop, International Association of Bryologists, Universitè Laval, Quebec City, Canada, 1996.

Swinehart, A.L. & G.R. Parker. Palaeoecological Reconstruction of Holocene Peatland Development in Northern Indiana, presented at the Sigma Xi Graduate Research Competition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, March 14, 1996.

Swinehart, A.L. & G.R. Parker. The History and Ecology of Tamarack Bogs in Indiana and Prospects for the Restoration of Degraded Sites, presented at the Annual Fall Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, 1996.

Swinehart, A.L. & G.R. Parker. Palaeoecological Reconstruction of Holocene Peatland Development in Northern Indiana, presented at the First Annual Forestry & Natural Resources Symposium, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 1996.

Swinehart, A.L. & G.R. Parker. A Preliminary Analysis of the Formation, Distribution, and Natural History of Indiana’s Remnant Basin-Type Peatlands, presented at the Annual Fall Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, Indiana-Purdue University at Indianapolis, Indiana, 1995.

Swinehart, A.L. The Formation, Distribution, and Natural History of Indiana’s Remnant Basin-Type Peatlands, presented at the Central Michigan University Biology Seminar Series, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, 1995.

Swinehart, A.L. An Ecological Investigation of Three Sphagnum-Bogs in Noble County, Indiana: Remnant Communities of a Region in Transition, presented at the Goshen College Biology Department Seminar Series, Goshen, Indiana, 1994.

Swinehart, A.L. & D.E. Wujek. Accelerated Senescence Following Anthropogenic Disturbance in a Tamarack Bog, presented at the Annual Fall Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 1993.

Swinehart, A.L. Palaeolimnological Report of a Newly Discovered Alkaline Bog, presented at the Annual Fall Meeting of the Indiana Academy of Science, University of Evansville, Evansville, Indiana, 1991.

Publications

Swinehart, A.L. & G.D. Starks. A Record of the Natural History and Anthropogenic Senescence of an Indiana Tamarack Bog. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, 103 (1994): 225-239.

Swinehart, A.L. Palaeoecology of an Alkaline Peatland in Elkhart County, Indiana. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, 104 (1995): 43-46.

Swinehart, A.L. Subfossils of the Boreal Mosses Calliergon Trifarium and Meesia Triquetra in an Indiana Peatland. The Ohio Journal of Science 95 (1995): 278-280.

Wujek, D.E. & A.L. Swinehart. Studies on Silica-Scaled Chrysophytes from Northern Indiana. The Michigan Botanist 34 (1995): 59-66.

Swinehart, A.L. Bogs: Time Capsules from Indiana’s Past. Outdoor Indiana Magazine, 61 (1996): 20-25.

Swinehart, A.L. Fishes of the Inland Waters of Beaver Island, Charlevoix County, Michigan. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, 105 (1996): 207-216.

Swinehart, A.L & M.E. Jacobs. Natural History and Conservation of the Endangered Kankakee Globe Mallow (Iliamna remota) in Indiana. Rhodora Journal, 100(901) (1998): 82-87.

Swinehart, A.L. & R.E. Andrus. New Records for Sphagnum and other Peatland Bryophytes from Indiana. Northeastern Naturalist, 5(3) (1998): 189-198.

Swinehart, A.L. & J.A. Holman. Subfossils of the Common Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) from a Holocene Peat Deposit in Northern Indiana. The American Midland Naturalist Journal, 142 (1998): 191-193.

Swinehart, A.L. & G.R. Parker. Palaeoecology and Development of Peatlands in Indiana. The American Midland Naturalist Journal, 143 (2000): 267-297.

Farlow, J. O., J. A. Sunderman, J. J. Havens, A. L. Swinehart, J. A. Holman, R. L. Richards, N.G. Miller, R. A. Martin, R. M. Hunt, Jr., G. W. Storrs, B. B. Curry, R. H. Fluegemann, M. R. Dawson, and M. E. T. Flint. The Pipe Creek Sinkhole Biota, a Diverse Late-Tertiary Continental Fossil Assemblage from Grant County, Indiana. The American Midland Naturalist Journal, 145 (2001): 367-378.

Swinehart, A.L. & R. L. Richards. Palaeoecology of a Northeast Indiana Wetland Harboring Remains of the Pleistocene Giant Beaver (Castoroides ohioensis). Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, 110 (2001): 151-166.

Swinehart, A.L., G.R. Parker & D.E. Wujek. The Structure and Composition of Vegetation in the Lake-Fill Peatlands of Indiana. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, 110 (2001): 51-78.

Swinehart, A.L. & G.R. Parker. The Relationship between Glacial Geologic Processes and Peatland Distribution in Indiana. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science 111 (2002): 21-31.

Swinehart, A.L. & G.R. Parker. The Potential Role of Lake-Basin Morphometry in the Formation and Development of Peatlands in Indiana. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science 111 (2002): 32–44.

Swinehart, A.L. An Illustrated Catalogue of Macroscopic Subfossils from Holocene Wetland Deposits in Northern Indiana. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science 111 (2002): 117-139.

Swinehart, A.L., R.L. Richards, W.H.R. Petty, R.D. Hall & A.K. Anderson. Palaeoecological Interpretation of Pollen, Macrofossils, Polygonal Fissures, and Taphonomy of the Shafer Mastodont Locality, Warren County, Indiana. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, 114 (2005): 83-104.

Swinehart, A.L., J. Napieralski & N.M. Geist. Middle-Wisconsinan Gravel and Wood from a Well-drilling in West-central Indiana. The American Midland Naturalist Journal, 159 (2008): 445-456.

Bender, S. R., A. L. Swinehart, J. P. Boardman. Seventeen Years of Change in Two Sphagnum Bogs in Noble County, Indiana. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, 121 (2013): 110-120.

Biography

My interests are diverse and include aquatic ecology, ecological succession, palaeoecology, palaeontology, restoration ecology, native species inventories, and curation of natural history collections. I guess I would be classified best as an “old school” natural historian. I have always been fascinated with nature, especially fossils and all things aquatic. I have been actively studying the natural world since I was seven years old, and there is hardly a day that has gone by from that time to the present that has not involved some biological or palaeontological activity. My profession is also my hobby. My other hobbies include restoring antique farm tractors and equipment, metal detecting, fishing, model railroading, and college football.

My goal of becoming a biology professor was set when I was about nine years old. It was strengthened by the influence of my undergraduate mentor, Dr. Jonathan N. Roth. The role model that he provided as a good scientist, a person of faith, and a person of good character was significant to the realization of my goal. And his influence inspired me to turn my attention to a small, undergraduate, liberal arts college, where, like him, I could be more to my students than just a source of information. Now that I have become a professor at such a place, I continue my academic pursuits, but I also work to become a better teacher, leader, role model, friend, and mentor for my students in much the same way that Dr. Roth was a friend and very important mentor to me.

I joined the Hillsdale College faculty in 1998. I most enjoy the independence, the life-long learning, and experiencing the wonders of nature all over again—vicariously—through the eyes and reactions of my students. I feel a great sense of personal satisfaction in being an instrument of their discoveries and their ultimate successes.

I believe that biology is an integral part of a true liberal arts education. For the non-major, it is not only practical, but beautiful. For the majors, it is all these things, as well, but I feel that it is especially important that they receive a practical and technical education in the discipline that will serve them in acquiring immediate employment or acceptance into graduate school.

My classes are taught in traditional lecture format. I believe very strongly that, in addition to learning subject material, college students should also be responsible and accountable—being able to come to class regularly and process and transcribe visually and orally presented material. My lecturing style is relatively informal, because I like to actively engage the students with questions. I believe this not only helps the students process material analytically, but it also gives them needed mental breaks during exposure to a lot of lecture material. I recognize that individuals learn and process information in different ways. One element of all my courses is “experiential learning.” This includes weekend field trips, laboratories that focus on original discovery and research, and lectures enhanced by audio-visual aids and “show and tell.” I try to give students a sense of ownership in their laboratory projects and discoveries.

In addition to rigorous coursework in biology which includes a solid foundation in evolution as well as cognate courses in chemistry, physics, and mathematics, biology majors at Hillsdale College are required to devise, conduct, write, and publicly defend a baccalaureate thesis based on original research and data collection (not a library paper, systematic review, or meta-analysis). Students who choose to work in my laboratory conduct investigations in aquatic ecology, ecological succession, aquatic palaeoecology, plant ecology, fisheries biology, fish ecology, taphonomy, and palaeontology. Research projects have been conducted in locations ranging from Wyoming and South Dakota to Michigan, Indiana, Massachusetts, and Florida. Students who have worked in my laboratory have received numerous awards at scientific meetings for their research presentations. Some have published their theses in peer-reviewed journals. Graduates receive master’s and doctoral degrees in biology at top universities or gain employment immediately after graduation.

Students conducting their research under my supervision work in the Palaeoecology Laboratory in Dow Science Room 303 as well as in the Aquatic Biology Research Laboratory in the Strosacker Science Center, Room 244.