Makani Fisher (Native Hawaiian)
Doctoral Student
Field of Study
Entomology
Home Town
Orem, Utah
Education
2018 – M.S., Biology, Brigham Young University, Utah
2016 – B.S., Biology, Brigham Young University, Utah
Research Focus
The evolutionary history of lichen feeding in tiger moths and its implications in tri-trophic between lichens, the moths, and bats.
Major Advisor
Dr. Stephen Cameron, Entomology
Selected Presentations
Fisher, M.L., Nelson, C.R., Leavitt, S.D., and Zaspel, J.M., Host preference and selective sequestration in the lichen-feeding tiger moths (Erebidae: Arctiinae: Lithosiini). Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. St. Louis, Missouri. November 2019.
Fisher, M.L., Nelson, C.R., and Leavitt, S.D., Pick your poison, the decision of what’s for dinner for the lichenivorous caterpillars of Cisthene angelus (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae). American Bryological and Lichenological Society Annual Meeting, Nederland, CO. August 2018.
Fisher, M.L., Mower R., and Nelson, C.R., Spongillafly Biology in Utah (Neuroptera: Sisyridae: Climacia californica). Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting. Denver, CO. November 2017.
Fisher, M.L., Nelson, C.R., Zaspel, J.M. and Leavitt S.D., Metabolomics, Feeding Behavior, and Host Association of western North American Cisthene. The Lepidopterists’ Society Annual Meeting. Tucson, AZ. August 2017.
Fisher, M.L., Nelson, C.R., Baum E., Robinson, D., and Widdison, R., Western North America Odonata Nymphs: Freshwater Invertebrate Identification Guide (FIIG). Dragonfly Society of the Americas Annual Meeting. Provo, UT. July 2016.
Fisher, M.L. and Nelson, C.R., Identifying Plecoptera nymphs of western North American using the Freshwater Invertebrate Identification Guide (FIIG). North America Plecoptera Symposium. Provo, UT. May 2016.
Selected Publications
Hale, E., Fisher, M.L., Keuler, R., Smith, B., and Leavitt, S.D., (2019) A biogeographic connection between Antarctica and montane regions of western North America highlights the need for further study of lecideoid lichens, The Bryologist 122(2), 315-324, https://doi.org/10.1639/0007-2745-122.2.315
Fisher, M.L., Mower, R.C., and Nelson, C.R., (2019) Climacia californica Chandler, 1953 (Neuroptera: Sisyridae) in Utah: taxonomic identity, host association and seasonal occurrence, Aquatic Entomology 40(4),317-327, DOI: 10.1080/01650424.2019.1652329
Professional Organization Membership:
The Lepidopterists’ Society (Lepsoc)
America Bryological and Lichenological Society (ABLS)
Entomological Society of America (ESA)
Honors, Grants, Awards and Activities:
2019, NSF Internship in Scientific Communication at the Milwaukee Public Museum
2019, 2nd place in Oral Presentation Student Competition for the President’s Prize, ESA
2019, Summer Award for Upper Division and Graduate Students, Charles Redd Center
2019, Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund Award, American Museum of Natural History
2019, SysEB Student Research Travel Award, ESA
2018, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship Recipient,
2018, AGRE Diversity Research Assistantship
2018, Student Travel Award to present at annual meeting, ABLS
2018, 6th Place out of 34 at BYU Grad Expo campus wide graduate competition
2016 – 2017, Biannual Scholarship, BYU
2017, Summer Award for Upper Division and Graduate Students, Charles Redd Center
2017, Accepted caterpillar photo in the 2017 National Insect Salon, ESA
2017, Elwood Christensen-Graduate Presentation Award, BYU
2017, Mather Travel Award to present at annual meeting, LepSoc
2016, S. Paul and Hilda F. Stewart Scholarship, BYU
2015, Life Science Annual Fund Scholarship, BYU
