Contact Information

bille@pcadmin.ctc.edu

360.417.6246

Center of Excellence
Peninsula College
1502 East Lauridsen Blvd.
Port Angeles, WA 98362

Education

Ph.D., University of California, Davis, 1987. Microbiology
M.A., San Jose State University, 1982. Biology
B.A., San Jose State University, 1979. Wildlife Zoology

Experience

2009-present Executive Director of the PC Center of Excellence

2004-2009 Senior Vice President for Instruction, Peninsula College and Executive Director of the PC Center of Excellence

2002-2004 Senior Vice President for Instruction, Peninsula College

2001-2002 Associate Vice President For Academic Planning and Budgets, Professor of Earth Systems Sciences and Policy, California State University, Monterey Bay. 

1998-2001 Director of Academic Affairs (Chief Academic Officer), Associate Professor of Microbiology, Penn State University, York Campus.

1990-1998 Microbiology Faculty, Malaspina University College (Canada);  Biology Department Chair; 8/91-8/93.

1987-1990 Assistant Professor of Fish and Shellfish Pathology, University of Alaska Fairbanks-Juneau Center of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Fisheries Department Chairman 1/88-1/90. Contracted Fish Pathologist/Virologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (1/88-7/88).

Teaching

I have taught many different courses covering such topics as microbiology, microbial ecology, microbial physiology and genetics, emerging infectious diseases, pathogenic microbiology, pathology, immunology, allied health microbiology, evolution, general biology for majors, general biology for non-majors, and tropical ecology.

One of my favorite teaching opportunities is serving as a research mentor for students, and have supervised 18 undergraduate and 7 graduate students theses projects. I have also developed undergraduate research programs at Peninsula College, Penn State York, Malaspina University College, and University College of Belize.

Research

My research focuses on characterizing the microbial communities of different aquatic and soil habitats, using these characteristics as indicators of habitat variation and change due to environmental perturbations. Currently, I have projects in the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State and in the lowland Atlantic forests and Cloud Forests of Costa Rica.  My work in Costa Rica has resulted in development of a new research  and education consortium in Costa Rica with partners including INBio (the National Biodiversity Institute), La Selva Research Station, Tropical Science Center, EARTH University, and Laguna del Lagarto Lodge. This consortium was recently accepted as a subgroup on Research and Monitoring for the San Juan La Selva Biological Corridor Commission.

Funding Received

I have received about $2.5 million in grants from NASA, NSF, State Board of Community and Technical Colleges of WA, Pennsylvania Dept of Education, Penn State University, Canadian International Development Agency, BC Centre of Coastal Health, National Science and Research Council of Canada, Western Regional Aquaculture Consortium, Alaska SeaGrant. Projects I have been funded to work on are as follows:

-Characterize and compare nutrient chemistry, microbial functional and genetic diversity, productivity in soils and water of different habitats in relation to habitat health and biodiversity in Costa Rican forests, and forests, watersheds, and the nearshore in the North Olympic Peninsula of Washington State

-Examined the variations in nutrient chemistry, microbial functional and genetic diversity in soils of Pennsylvania forests with and without Black Locust trees.

-Examined the variations in chemistry, microbial functional and genetic diversity in soils from the Rio Bravo Conservation area of Belize.

-Examined the Macal River watershed in Belize, Central America for evidence of eutrophication and fecal contamination.

-Examined different watershed in BC for bacteriological and virological evidence of fecal contamination by culture and pcr technology.

-Conducted a survey of coyotes, racoons, wolves, and wolverines for canine parvovirus and canine distemper virus using pcr technology.

-Conducted a survey of cougars for feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus.

-Identified a retrovirus, SLV (Salmon Leukemia Virus), and proved it to be the etiologic agent of plasmacytoid leukemia (PL) of Chinook salmon. Identified and characterized the SLV proteins, and developed polyclonal antisera against several SLV proteins that we are using as a preliminary assay for SLV/PL infections. Currently testing a randomly primed pcr procedure for rapid diagnosis of SLV in fish.

-Enhancement of serum interferon levels in trout and salmon as a means of protection against SLV/PL, Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHNV) and Erythrocytic Necrosis Virus (ENV), Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus (IPNV).

-Characterization of a new picornavirus and a new reovirus from salmonids.

-Seasonal and geographic distribution and pathogenesis of the kidney coccidian Goussia sp. in walleye Pollock from Alaska to British Columbia.

-Phenotypic, serologic, biochemical and pathogenic properties of different salmonid isolates of IHNV (rhabdovirus) from Alaska, Washington, and British Columbia.

-Characterization of the DNA from five salmonid herpesviruses.

-Phenotypic, serologic and biochemical properties of IPNV (birnavirus) and IPNV-like isolates collected world-wide from fish and shellfish.

-Biochemical and serologic characterization of 15 different isolates of IPNV collected around the world.

-Biochemical and serologic characterization of the 5 salmonid Herpesviruses, SHV, HPV, OMV, YTV and NeVTA.

-Histopathologic examination of walleye Pollock for evidence of disease agents.

-Seasonal distribution and elucidation of the life cycle of the dinoflagellate parasite causing "Bitter Crab Disease" in Alaskan Tanner crabs.

-Identification of anisakid nematodes from fish out of San Francisco Bay and correlation with water quality parameters.

Selected Publications (20 others available on request)

Data analyzed, manuscripts being developed:

Eaton, WD, Eppler, E., Mangiamelli, S., S. Wilmot, B, Barry, D. Diversity of the ITS region and 16s rRNA gene of cyanobacteria  and the nifH gene within the biofilm community above, below and between the Elwha Dams. In preparation for submission to Applied and Environmental Microbiology,  March, 2009.

Campbell, B., Hauge, J.B., Barry, D., Eaton, W.D. Biological, structural, and nutrient diversity within old growth and secondary growth habitats in the Northern Zone of Costa Rica. In preparation for submission to Mesoamericana, March, 2009.

Eaton, W.D., Campbell, B, Russell, A., Barry, D. 2008. Effects of tree species on carbon and nitrogen cycle parameters and microbial diversity in planted and managed parcels in the lowland tropical forests of La Selva. In preparation for submission to Biology and Fertility of Soils, March, 2009.

Eaton, W.D., Hennen, J., Lee, J., Barry, D. Genetic diversity of the soil microbial community structure along two floodplain gradients within the Elwha River watershed. In preparation for submission to Biology and Fertility of Soils, March, 2009.

Manuscripts  Submitted:

Eaton, W.D., MacDonald, S., Roed, M., Clark, D.A., Lawrence, D.L., Barry, D. Seasonal and Habitat-Based Variations In The Microbial Community Structure Within Two Soil Types From Old Growth Forests In Costa Rica. Submitted to Journal of Tropical Ecology, December, 2008.

Eaton, W.D., Giles, E., Barry, D. 2008. A comparison of the soil microbial community structure between tropical secondary forests along a chronological gradient since harvesting. Ready to be submitted to Biology and Fertility of Soils in December, 2008.

Eaton, W.D., Roed, M., Chassot, O., Barry, D.  Preliminary analysis of the microbial diversity, abundance and activity within forest soils from 6 different life zones in the Monteverde area of Costa Rica. Submitted to Biotropica, February, 2009.

Eaton, W., B. Wilmot, E. Epler, S. Mangiamelli, and D. Barry.  The first use of microbial community structure as an indicator of impact of two dams on the Elwha River (Washington). Submitted to Ecological Restoration, December, 2008.

Published Articles:

Eaton, W.D. and Farrell, R.J. 2008. Chemical physical, catabolic, genetic characteristics of soil from five intact and three converted habitats in Belize. In print, Mesoamericana, December, 2008.

Eaton, W.D. and Farrell, R.J. 2004. Catabolic and genetic microbial indices, and levels of nitrate, ammonium and organic carbon in soil from the Black Locust (Robina pseudo-acacia) and Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) trees in a Pennsylvania forest. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 39:209-214.

Eaton, W.D. 2001. Microbial and nutrient activity in soils from three different subtropical forest habitats in Belize, Central America during the transition from dry to wet season. Applied Soil Ecology, 16(3):219-227.

Kleiner, K.W., J.M. Mann and W.D. Eaton. 2000. Does it matter who your neighbor is? The effect of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) on the growth of neighboring trees. 76th Annual Meeting, Pennsylvania Academy of Science, Journal of PAS 73 (Suppl):163.

Eaton, W.D., Van Zinderen Bakker, Hoch, M., Palacio, V. 1999.  Nutrient and Microbial Analysis of Watersheds From the Macal River Area of Belize Above and Below The Mollejon Dam. Mesoamericana, 4(4):132-137.

Kent ML, Eaton WD, Casey JW. 1997. Plasmacytoid leukemia of chinook salmon. Leukemia  Apr;11 Suppl 3:170-1.

Eaton, W.D., Folkins, B., and Kent, M.L. 1994. Biochemical and histological evidence of plasmacytoid leukemia and the salmon leukemia virus (SLV) in wild-caught chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) from British Columbia expressing plasmacytoid leukemia. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms,19: 147-151.

Eaton, W.D., Folkins, B., Kent, M.L., Dawe, S., Newbound, G.C., and Zinkl, J. 1994. Preliminary analysis of the polypeptides of the salmon leukemia virus (SLV) and evidence for development of a bimodal viremia following SLV infection.  Veterinary Microbiology, 42:217-227.

Eaton, W.D., Folkins, B., Bagshaw, J., Traxler, G., Kent, M.L. 1993. Isolation of a retrovirus in two fish cell lines developed from chinook salmon with plasmacytoid leukemia. Journal of General Virology, 74:2299-2302.

Love, D.C., Rice, S.D., Moles, D.A., and Eaton, W.D. 1993. Seasonal prevalence and intensity of bitter crab dinoflagellate infection and host mortality in Alaskan Tanner crabs Chionoecetes bairdi from Auke Bay, Alaska, USA. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, vol 15:1-7.

Eaton, W.D. and Kent, M.L. 1992. A retrovirus in chinook salmon with plasmacytoid leukemia and evidence for the etiology of the disease. Cancer Research, 52:6496-6500.