John J. Gilbert
Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences
Research Interests:
I. Primarily, the biology and ecology of freshwater and planktonic monogonont rotifers: environmental and endogenous control of sexual reproduction and diapause in life cycles; developmental polymorphisms (polyphenisms); food niches and predators determining positions of species in food webs; interactions with cladocerans.
II. The biology of freshwater sponges.
Contact
Department(s)
Biological Sciences
Education
- B.A. with Honors in Biology, Williams College, 1959
- Ph.D. in Biology, Yale University, 1963
Selected Publications
Gilbert, J.J. 2026. Body size and developmental response of a rotifer to the predator Asplanchna. J. Plankton Res. 48: https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbag015
Gilbert, J.J. 2025. Timing of sexual reproduction in rotifer life cycles: generation-based models for environmental and endogenous control. J. Plankton Res. 47: https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbaf063
Gilbert, J.J. and J.V. Trout-Haney. 2025. Gigantism in the rotifer Asplanchna brightwellii: dietary control, reproduction, propensity for sex and ecological significance. J. Plankton Res. 47: https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbaf017
Gilbert, J.J. and J.V. Trout-Haney. 2025. Sexual reproduction in the rotifer Asplanchna brightwellii from a temporary habitat: tests for transgenerational and population-density effects. Freshwat. Biol. 70: https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.70099
Gilbert, J.J. 2023. Epiphanes brachionus spinosa from a temporary habitat in the Chihuhuan Desert: morphological response to Asplanchna and control of sexual reproduction. Freshwat. Biol. 68: 2175–2183.
Gilbert, J.J. 2022. Food niches of planktonic rotifers: diversification and implications. Limnol. Oceanogr. 67: 2218–225.
Gilbert, J.J. 2020. Variation in the life cycle of monogonont rotifers: commitment to sex and emergence from diapause. Freshwat. Biol. 65: 786–810.
Riessen, H.P. and J.J. Gilbert. 2019. Divergent developmental patterns of induced morphological defenses in rotifers and Daphnia: ecological and evolutionary context. Limnol. Oceanogr. 64: 541–55.
Gilbert, J.J. 2018. Morphological variation and its significance in a polymorphic rotifer: environmental, endogenous, and genetic controls. BioScience 68: 169–181.
Gilbert, J.J. 2017. Non-genetic polymorphisms in rotifers: environmental and endogenous controls, development, and features for predictable or unpredictable environments. Biological Reviews 92: 964–992.
Gilbert, J.J. 2017. Spine development in two taxa of Brachionus calyciflorus from Lake Littra, Australia: constitutive and induced defenses against Asplanchna. J. Plankton Res. 39: 962–971.
Gilbert, J.J. 2026. Body size and developmental response of a rotifer to the predator Asplanchna. J. Plankton Res. 48: https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbag015
Gilbert, J.J. 2025. Timing of sexual reproduction in rotifer life cycles: generation-based models for environmental and endogenous control. J. Plankton Res. 47: https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbaf063
Gilbert, J.J. and J.V. Trout-Haney. 2025. Gigantism in the rotifer Asplanchna brightwellii: dietary control, reproduction, propensity for sex and ecological significance. J. Plankton Res. 47: https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbaf017
Gilbert, J.J. and J.V. Trout-Haney. 2025. Sexual reproduction in the rotifer Asplanchna brightwellii from a temporary habitat: tests for transgenerational and population-density effects. Freshwat. Biol. 70: https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.70099
Gilbert, J.J. 2023. Epiphanes brachionus spinosa from a temporary habitat in the Chihuhuan Desert: morphological response to Asplanchna and control of sexual reproduction. Freshwat. Biol. 68: 2175–2183.
Gilbert, J.J. 2022. Food niches of planktonic rotifers: diversification and implications. Limnol. Oceanogr. 67: 2218–225.
Gilbert, J.J. 2020. Variation in the life cycle of monogonont rotifers: commitment to sex and emergence from diapause. Freshwat. Biol. 65: 786–810.
Riessen, H.P. and J.J. Gilbert. 2019. Divergent developmental patterns of induced morphological defenses in rotifers and Daphnia: ecological and evolutionary context. Limnol. Oceanogr. 64: 541–55.
Gilbert, J.J. 2018. Morphological variation and its significance in a polymorphic rotifer: environmental, endogenous, and genetic controls. BioScience 68: 169–181.
Gilbert, J.J. 2017. Non-genetic polymorphisms in rotifers: environmental and endogenous controls, development, and features for predictable or unpredictable environments. Biological Reviews 92: 964–992.
Gilbert, J.J. 2017. Spine development in two taxa of Brachionus calyciflorus from Lake Littra, Australia: constitutive and induced defenses against Asplanchna. J. Plankton Res. 39: 962–971.