Faculty/Staff Directory
First Name
Michael
Last Name
Henshaw
Email
henshawm@gvsu.edu
Title
Associate Professor
Website
Office Address
3390H Kindschi Hall of Science
Office Phone
616-331-2118
Areas of Expertise
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Animal Behavior, Molecular Ecology
Professional Societies
American Arachnology Association
Society for Integrative and
Comparative Biology
Courses Taught at GVSU
BIO 352, Animal Behavior lecture & lab
BIO 495, Perspectives
in Biology, capstone lecture/discussion
BIO 120, General Biology I
lecture
BIO 121, General Biology II lab
BIO 272, Insect
Biology and Diversity lecture & lab
Research Interests
I am a behavioral ecologist working at the interface of ecology, evolution, genetics, and behavior. My projects with students focus on the jumping spider Phidippus audax. Recent and current projects include investigations of the genetic structure of populations, which can reveal aspects of their evolutionary history, examinations of their overwintering strategies, including their capacity to supercool (cool below 0 Celsius without freezing), and a variety of behavioral studies. Students who work in my lab will initially contribute by helping to care for spiders in the lab. Students who seek aditional responsibility collaborate with others in the group to collect data, including morphological measurements, measures of thermal performance or stress, genetic data and behavioral observations. Ideally all students should present an aspect of their work to the GVSU community, and in some cases, the broader scientific community. Student ideas for projects are welcome!
Education
Ph.D. in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Rice University,
2000
M.A. Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Rice University,
1998
B.S. Biology, Grand Valley State University, 1994
Select Publications
Henshaw M, Book EC, Skinner M, Kowal E, Johnson S, Longo N, Kern A, Smith C, Hamilton S, Kayfish A. In Press. Cold tolerance strategy, supercooling, and cold hardening in three populations of the jumping spider Phidippus audax (Araneae: Salticidae). Journal of Arachnology.
Martin AM, Vonhof MJ, Henshaw M, Dreyer JM, Munster SK, Russell AL. 2023. Genetic structure of the vulnerable tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) across its eastern range. Acta Chiropterologica. 24(2): 299-314.
Miller SA, Legan AW, Henshaw M, Ostevik K, Samuk K, Uy FM, Sheehan MJ. 2020. Evolutionary dynamics of recent selection on cognitive abilities. PNAS. 6: 3045-3052.
Henshaw M, Woller-Skar M, Pence AN. 2015. Multiple queens and biased sex ratios in the independent-founding Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville, 1831 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) wasps. Austral Entomology, 54(1): 100-109.
Recent Presentations
Henshaw MT, Kern A, Book E, Smith C, Skinner M, Kowal E, Longo N, Hamilton S, Kayfish A, Johnson S. 2023. Cold-Tolerance & Supercooling in Northern vs. Southern Phidippus audax Jumping Spiders (Salticidae). Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology 2023, Austin, TX.
Book E, Smith C, Kowal E, Henshaw MT. 2021. Cold-Tolerance & Supercooling in Northern vs. Southern Phidippus audax Jumping Spiders (Salticidae). Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference, virtual.
Henshaw MT, Kern A, Book E, Smith C, Skinner M, Kowal E, Longo N, Hamilton S, Kayfish A, Johnson S. 2020. Cold-Tolerance & Supercooling in Northern vs. Southern Phidippus audax Jumping Spiders (Salticidae). Annual Meeting of the American Arachnology Society, virtual.
Henshaw MT, Kayfish A, Hamilton S. 2018. Supercooling in the jumping spider Phidippus audax. Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference, Kellogg Biological Station, Kalamazoo, MI.
Henshaw MT, Hamel E. 2018. Springers do Jerry Springer: Paternity Testing in Jumping Spiders to Assess Mating Frequency, Midwest Ecology & Evolution Conference, Kellogg Biological Station, Kalamazoo, MI.
Henshaw MT, Kayfish A, Hamilton S. 2018 Supercooling in the jumping spider Phidippus audax, Grand Valley State University Student Scholar’s Day, Allendale, MI.
Henshaw MT, Hamel E. 2018. Springers do Jerry Springer: Paternity Testing in Jumping Spiders to Assess Mating Frequency, Grand Valley State University Student Scholar’s Day, Allendale, MI.
Henshaw MT, Rogness N, Kloska A, Johnson A. 2017. A Statistical Consulting Experience: Modeling Genetic Differences In Paper Wasps. Grand Valley State University Student Scholar’s Day, Allendale, MI.
Henshaw MT, Beltz B. 2017. Evidence for genetic differentiation in the bold jumping spider, Phidippus audax. Grand Valley State University Student Scholar’s Day, Allendale, MI.
Henshaw MT, Noordyke E, Kayfish A, Martin S. 2017. A Behavioral Study of Phidippus audax: Preference for Height, Connected Location, and Grid Location. Midwestern Ecology and Evolution Conference, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL.
Henshaw MT, Hamel E. 2017. Springers do Jerry Springer: Paternity testing in jumping spiders to assess mating frequency. Midwestern Ecology and Evolution Conference, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL.
Henshaw MT, Beltz B. 2016. Population Genetics Structure of the Bold Jumping Spider, Phidippus audax: evidence for distinct forms. 20th International Congress of Arachnology, Golden, CO. (Abstract reviewed prior to acceptance)
Henshaw MT, Noordyke E, Kayfish A, Martin S*. 2016. A Behavioral Study of Phidippus audax: Preference for Height, Connected Location, and Grid Location. Grand Valley State University Student Scholar’s Day, Allendale, MI.
Henshaw MT, Anderson K, Gailbraith C, Shaver N. 2016. A Review of Over Wintering in Phidippus audax. Grand Valley State University Student Scholar’s Day, Allendale, MI.
Henshaw MT, Hamel E, Williams Z, Gauthier C. 2016. Substrate Preferences and Use in the Jumping Spider, Phidippus audax. Grand Valley State University Student Scholar’s Day, Allendale, MI.
Henshaw MT. 2015. Population genetic structure in the Bold jumping spider, Phidippus audax, mirrors morphological differences. Annual Meeting of the American Arachnology Society, Mitchell, SD.
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