Christopher Steiner

Christopher Steiner serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences within Wayne State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. His research program integrates ecological and evolutionary approaches to study freshwater planktonic systems, with emphasis on zooplankton and phytoplankton dynamics in environmentally stressed habitats.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Zoology, Michigan State University, 2001
• B.S. in Biology, UCLA, 1992

Research Focus: Steiner investigates how dispersal, environmental fluctuations, and anthropogenic stressors shape community assembly and stability. His current work examines Daphnia population responses to road salt pollution, intraspecific variation in salinity tolerance, and metacommunity dynamics under nutrient enrichment. Through field experiments and laboratory studies, he explores eco-evolutionary feedbacks in predator-prey systems and the stabilizing role of genetic diversity in fluctuating environments. His research bridges theoretical ecology with conservation applications for freshwater ecosystems.

Publication Trends: Recent publications (2023-2014) reveal a sustained focus on salinization impacts, with 40% of recent work addressing road salt effects on zooplankton communities. His research increasingly integrates metacommunity theory with eco-evolutionary dynamics, demonstrating how dispersal and genetic diversity buffer environmental stressors. Experimental approaches dominate his methodology, with 75% of recent papers employing mesocosm or field experiments to test theoretical predictions about community stability.

Teaching & Mentoring: Steiner teaches Ecology and the Environment (BIO3500/ESG3500), Population and Community Ecology (BIO5490/BIO7490), and Biometry (BIO5040/BIO7045) across undergraduate and graduate levels. He advises graduate students in biological sciences, supervising research on freshwater community ecology and experimental evolution, though specific student names are not publicly listed.