Dr. Ofer Mokady
Ph.D.: Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University , 1994
Phone: (Office) +972-3-640- 6358
(fax) +972-3-640- 7304
E-mail: mokady@post.tau.ac.il
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Member's portrait
  Personal Information
  Research Interests
  Full Publications
  Students and Lab Members
  Courses
  CV

Personal Information
 
Education
Ph.D. Zoology (with distinction) Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University
Supervisors: Prof. Y. Loya (Tel Aviv University), Dr. B. Lazar (Interuniversity Institute of Eilat).
Title of Thesis: Bioerosion-agents in the coral reef: Specific interactions between corals and their eroders, and the rate of bioerosion.
1989-1994
B.Sc. Biology with magna cum laude.
On the basis of first year accomplishments- accepted to a special curriculum designed for outstanding students.
Tel Aviv University, Israel 1985-1988
Postdoctoral study Department of Biology, Yale University. Supervisor: Prof. Leo W. Buss. 1994 -1996
 

Research Interests
My laboratory focuses on several research topics within the field of molecular ecology. We use molecular data to analyze questions ranging from phylogenetic reconstruction, through the analysis of parentage in wild populations, to the development of environmental monitoring markers at the level of gene-expression. In addition, we study aspects of developmental biology in the marine hydrozoan Hydractinia. This animal, which is cultured in the laboratory throughout its complete life cycle, also serves as a model in which to study invertebrate allorecognition.

The laboratory is equipped for extracting and handling nucleic acids from different sources. Consequently, a lot of the work being done in the laboratory is in collaboration with other labs, mainly from the Department of Zoology.
 
 

Students and Lab Members

Ph.D. STUDENTS

Vered Jacobi
Upstream and downstream regulation of homeobox-containing genes in Hydractina .
Sharon Gild
Allorecognition in Hydractinia - a molecular approach.
Lee Koren
Ecology of rock hyrax.
Tamar Feldstein
Biomonitoring of Marine Pollution: Biochemical and Molecular Markers .
M.Sc. STUDENTS
Ilil Atad
The establishment of the Lessepsian migrant Cellana rota (Gastropoda) in the Mediterranean Sea.
Alon Rothschild
Molecular biomonitoring of toxic metals in the Kishon.




Courses
1999- Introduction to Evolution (B.Sc. mandatory course)
1996- Methods in environmental quality studies, Ecological systems (M.Sc. mandatory courses); Molecular ecology, Biological aspects of environmental quality (elective courses).


Full Publications

Jacoby, V., Kramarsky-Winter, E., Loya, Y., Mokady, O. 2004. The dynamics of multiple mouth formation in Fungia         granulosa: Possible patterning mechanisms. Hydrobiologia 530/531: 275-281.


Shefer, S., Abelson, A., Mokady, O., Geffen, E. 2004. Red- to Med-Sea bioinvasion: natural drift through the Suez Canal , or anthropogenic transport? Mol. Ecol. 13: 2333-2343

Werner, N.Y., Mokady, O . 2004. Swimming out of Africa: mitochondrial DNAevidence for late Pliocene dispersal of a cichlid from Central Africa to the Levant. Biol. J. Lin. Soc. 82: 103-109.

Dorchin, N., Freidberg, A. Mokady, O . 2004. Phylogeny of the Baldratiina (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) inferred from morphological, ecological and molecular data sources, and evolutionary patterns in plant-galler relationships. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 30: 503-515.

Gild, S., Frank, U., Mokady, O . 2003. Allogeneic interactions in Hydractinia : is the transitory chimera beneficial? Int. J. Dev. Biol. 47: 433-438.

Bresler, V., Abelson, A., Fishelson, L., Feldstein, T., Rosenfeld, M., Mokady, O . 2003. Marine molluscs in environmental monitoring. I. Cellular and molecular responses. Helgoland Mar. Res. 57: 157-165.

Bresler, V., Mokady, O ., Fishelson, L., Feldstein, T., Abelson, A. 2003. Marine molluscs in environmental monitoring. II. Experimental exposure to selected pollutants. Helgoland Mar. Res. 57: 206-211.

Feldstein, T., Kashman, Y., Abelson, A., Fishelson, L., Mokady, O ., Bresler, V., Erel, Y. 2003. Marine molluscs in environmental monitoring. III. Trace metals and organic pollutants in animal tissue and sediments. Helgoland Mar. Res. 57: 212-219.

Frank, U., Mokady, O . 2002. Coral biodiversity and evolution: recent molecular contributions. Can. J. Zool. 80: 1723-1734.

Appelbaum, L., Achituv, Y., Mokady, O . 2002. Speciation and the establishment of zonation in an intertidal barnacle: Specific settlement vs. selection. Mol. Ecol. 11: 1731-1737.

Fishelson, L., Bresler, V., Abelson, A., Stone, L., Gefen, E., Rosenfeld, M., Mokady, O . 2002. The two sides of man-induced cjanges in littoral marine communities: Eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea as an example. Sci. Total Environ. 296: 139-151.

Koren, L., Mokady, O., Karaskov, T., Klein, J., Koren, G., Geffen, E. 2002. A novel method for determining hormonal levels in wildlife using hair. Animal Behaviour 63: 403-406.

Fuchs, M.A., Mokady, O .,Frank, U. 2002 The ontogeny of allorecognition in a colonial hydoid and the fate of early established chimeras. Int. J. Dev. Biol. 46: 699-704.

Mokady, O ., Brickner, I. 2001. Host-associated speciation in a coral-inhabiting barnacle. Mol. Biol. Evol., 18: 975-981.

Sultan, A., Abelson, A., Bresler, V., Fishelson, L., Mokady, O. 2000. Biomonitoring marine environmental-quality at the level of gene-expression - testing the feasibility of a new approach. Wat. Sci. Tech., 42: 269-274.

Mokady. O. , Mizrahi, L., Perl-Treves, R. Achituv, Y. 2000. The different morphs of Chthamalus anisopoma - a phenotypic response? Direct molecular evidence. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 243: 295-304.

Mokady, O. , Loya, Y., Achituv, Y., Geffen, E., Graur, D., Rozenblatt, S., Brickner, I. 1999. Speciation versus phenotypic plasticity in coral inhabiting barnacles - Darwin's observations in an ecological context. Journal of Molecular Evolution, 49: 367-375.

Mokady, O. , Loya, Y., Lazar, B. 1998. Ammonium contribution from boring bivalves to their coral host - a mutualistic symbiosis? Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 169: 295-301.

Mokady, O. , Dick, M.H., Lackschewitz, D., Schierwater, B., Buss, L.W. 1998. Over a half-a-billion years of head conservation? Expression of an ems class gene in Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 95: 3673-3678.

Mokady, O. , Buss, L.W. 1997. Genetics of allorecognition in Hydractinia . Genetics, 145: 861.

Mokady, O. , Lazar, B., Loya, Y. 1996. Echinoid bioerosion as a major structuring force of Red Sea coral reefs. Biol. Bull., 190: 367-372.

Mokady, O. , Buss, L.W. 1996. Transmission genetics of allorecognition in Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa). Genetics, 143: 823-827.

Mokady, O. 1996. Occam's Razor, invertebrate allorecognition and Ig superfamily evolution. Research in Immunology, 147: 241-246.

Mokady, O. , Rozenblatt, S., Graur, D., Loya, Y. 1994. Coral-host specificity of Red Sea Lithophaga bivalves: interspecific and intraspecific variation in 12S mitochondrial ribosomal RNA. Mol. Mar. Bio. Biotechnol., 3: 158-164.

Mokady, O. , Bonar, D.B., Arazi, G., Loya Y. 1993. Spawning and development of three coral-associated Lithophaga species in the Red Sea. Mar. Biol., 115:245-252.

Brickner, I., Kramarsky-Winter, E., Mokady, O. , Loya, Y. 1993. Speciation in the coral-boring bivalve Lithophaga purpurea : evidence from ecological, biochemical and SEM analysis. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 101: 139-145.

Mokady, O. , Arazi, G., Bonar, D.B., Loya, Y. 1992. Settlement and metamorphosis specificity of Lithophaga simplex Iredale (Bivalvia: Mytilidae), on Red Sea corals. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 162: 243-251.

Mokady, O. , Bonar, D.B., Arazi, G., Loya, Y. 1991. Coral host specificity in settlement and metamorphosis of the date mussel Lithophaga lessepsiana (Vaillant, 1865). J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 146: 205-216.

Klein, R., Mokady, O. , Loya, Y. 1991. Bioerosion in ancient and contemporary corals of the genus Porites : patterns and palaeoenvironmental implications. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 77: 245-251.

THESIS

Mokady, O. 1993. Bioerosion-agents in the coral reef: Specific interactions between corals and their eroders, and the rate of bioerosion. Ph.D. thesis, Tel Aviv University. [English, Hebrew abs.].

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

Mokady, O. , Sultan, A. 1998. A gene-expression based, marine biomonitoring system: developing a molecular tool for environmental monitoring. Proceedings of The Kriton Curi International Symposium on Environmental Management in the Mediterranean Region, 1: 113-121.

Mokady, O. , Brickner, I., Kramarsky-Winter, E., Loya, Y. 1997. Coral-host specificity of Red Sea Lithophaga bivalves - an interdisciplinary approach. Proc. 8th Coral Reef Sym., 2: 1337-1340.



CV
Academic Education
Ph.D. Zoology (with distinction) Department of Zoology, Tel Aviv University
Supervisors: Prof. Y. Loya (Tel Aviv University), Dr. B. Lazar (Interuniversity Institute of Eilat).
Title of Thesis: Bioerosion-agents in the coral reef: Specific interactions between corals and their eroders, and the rate of bioerosion.
1989-1994
B.Sc. Biology with magna cum laude.
On the basis of first year accomplishments- accepted to a special curriculum designed for outstanding students.
Tel Aviv University, Israel 1985-1988
Postdoctoral study Department of Biology Yale University. Supervisor: Prof. Leo W. Buss 1994 -1996.

POSITIONS
2002/3 Visiting Professor at Pomona College, Claremont, CA, USA
2001- Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Nature Conservation Research, Tel Aviv University .
1996-2001 Lecturer at the Institute for Nature Conservation Research, Tel Aviv University .

TEACHING

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
2004 The Porter School for Environmental Studies.
2003 The Tel Aviv University Internal Fund for Research Encouragement.
2002 The Porter School for Environmental Sciences.
2000 Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) grant #Fr-1364/2-1; 2 years.
2000 Israel Nature and National Park Protection Authority.
2000 United Nations Organization (UNO) grant #00-1-88
1999 MARS2 - German Israeli Cooperation in Marine Sciences (GR1656MARS2).
1999 The Israel Science Foundation (577/99).
1999 The Tobias Landau Foundation.
1998 DAAD award for a study and research visit in Germany.
1998 US-ISrael Binational Science Foundation (BSF) research grant #97-334.
1997 The Landau Foundation award.
1995 The NSF/Sloan PostDoctoral Fellowship in Molecular Evolution.
1994 The Wolfson Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellowship - declined.
1994 The Rothschild Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellowship.
1992 Landau award for Ph.D. students.

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