Nic Tippery
Professor, Ad Hoc Program Specialist

Education:
BA (Biology and Classics): University of Dallas
Ph.D. (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology): University of Connecticut

Research:
My research interests include aquatic plant evolution, invasive species biology, plant developmental morphology, and plant reproductive biology. Students who work with me frequently undertake projects that involve DNA extraction, amplification, and sequencing. I also oversee the UWW herbarium, and students may help to maintain the herbarium or do Independent Study projects using preserved plant specimens.

Molecular species identification:
Students can work on projects that aim to identify or characterize plant species using molecular (DNA) data. Recent projects have seen students explore genetic diversity in the invasive plants Phragmites and giant knotweed (Reynoutria), and identify invasive Hydrilla and watermilfoil (Myriophyllum) plants. DNA tools provide an independent method for identifying plants that may be difficult to recognize using morphological methods.

Website for information about plant genetic testing

Primary Courses:
BIOLOGY 200 - Writing in Biology
BIOLOGY 251 - Introduction to Genetics
BIOLOGY 351 - The Plant Kingdom
BIOLOGY 353 - Plant Taxonomy
BIOLOGY 359 - Aquatic Plant Biology

Recent publications (*asterisks indicate student authors):

Tippery, N.P., Sabol, M.M.*, Koehler, J.G.*, Topol, C.E.*, and K. Crossgrove. 2025. Assessing the genetic composition of invasive knotweeds (Reynoutria; Polygonaceae) using data from the first intron and second exon of the nuclear LEAFY gene. Invasive Plant Science and Management 18: 1-12.
[ DOI: 10.1017/inp.2024.36 ]

Harms, N.E., Purcell, M., Hong, S.H., Stutz, S., Zhang, J., Harlow, M., Liu, C., and N.P. Tippery. 2024. Native and invaded-range surveys provide mixed support for enemy-release of Nymphoides peltata in the invaded range. Aquatic Botany 195: 103803.
[ DOI: j.aquabot.2024.103803 ]

Tippery, N.P., Moreland, J.*, Wild, T.*, Bugbee, G.J., Stebbins, S.E., Mickley, J.G., Franck, A.R., Wefferling, K.M., and M.J. Warman. 2024. Toward a comprehensive phylogeny of North American bladderworts (Utricularia, Lentibulariaceae). Aquatic Botany 195: 103794.
[ DOI: j.aquabot.2024.103794 ]

Tippery, N.P. and M.J. Warman. 2024. Potamogeton wrightii (Potamogetonaceae) naturalized in Ohio, U.S.A. Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 18: 225-232.
[ DOI: 10.17348/jbrit.v18.i1.1351 ]

Foley IV, J.R., Stebbins, S.E., Doherty, R., Tippery, N.P., and G.J. Bugbee. 2024. Northern hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata subsp. lithuanica): discovery and establishment outside the Connecticut River. Invasive Plant Science and Management 17: 55–59.
[ DOI: 10.1017/inp.2024.4 ]

Tippery, N.P., Gonzalez-Socoloske, D., Leliaert, F., Thompson, T.A.*, Scatigna, A.V., and V.C. Souza. 2024. Systematics and biogeography of Bacopa (Plantaginaceae). Plant Systematics and Evolution 310: 7.
[ DOI: 10.1007/s00606-023-01884-w ]