Dr. Oren Pearlson

• Environmental Science
• Earthworm taxonomy
• Earthworm influence on soil & plants
• Molecular Biology

Together with Dr. Tomas Pavlíček from The Institute of Evolution, Haifa University, we are continuing our work on three questions in the field of Earthworms:

1.   Evaluating the extent, role and characteristic features of the hybridization occurring among earthworms and other annelid taxa.

2.  Testing for occurrence of inbreeding depression in local populations. This objective is based on the preliminary data indicating occurrence of the autohomoploid hybridization in earthworms.
3.  Evaluating the role of hybridization on earthworm taxonomy and phylogeny.

Post-Doctorate Research 2012-2013:

I have conducted a Post-Doctorate research in the laboratory of “Molecular Ecology & Endocrinology” in Migal – Galilee technology Center, under the supervision of Prof. Gad Degani. 

My research focused on two different fields: 

1.  On the fish community in the Jordan River and its three sourcing rivers: Dan, Hazbani and Snir. The questions I seek to find answers to are if and how do the human leisure activity in the rivers affect the fish community? and are differences in the ecology parameters in the rivers has an effect on the genetic structure of the different fish species. 

Post-Doctorate Research 2013-2014:

I have conducted a Post-Doctorate research in the Institute of Evolution, Haifa University, under the supervision of Dr. Tomas Pavlíček. 
We were working on three questions:

1.  To evaluate extent, role and characteristic features of the hybridization occurring among earthworms and other annelid taxa.
2.  To test for occurrence of inbreeding depression in local populations. This objective is based on the preliminary data indicating occurrence of the autohomoploid hybridization in earthworms.
3.   To evaluate the role of hybridization on earthworm taxonomy and phylogeny.

Academic Institutions: Tel Hai College
1999 – Present:    Environmental Biotechnology Lab.
1999 – Present:    Fermentation Lab.
2001 – Present:    From Cell to Organism Lab.
2005 – Present:    Environmental Biotechnology course.
2008 – 2014   :    From Cell to Organism course – vertebrates.
2008 – 2014   :    Introduction to Ecology course.

2015 – Present:    Introduction to Ecology - Field Laboratory.

2014 – 2021:    Evolution of Digestive Systems.

2021 - Present: Organism Biology.

2013 – Present:  Zoology Lab. - Vertebrate. 

2013 – Present:  Zoology Lab. - Invertebrate. 

Research Grants:

2013 –2016: “Biological diversity in the conifer forest in Israel: The use of different bioindicators to examine the effects of forest management”. PI. From JNF (KKL). 445,000 NIS (127,150$). In Collaboration with Dr. Tomáš Pavlíček  (Institute of Evolution, Haifa University), Dr. Jean-Jacques Martinez (Tel Hai College), Dr. Ori Fragman-Sapir (Jerusalem Botanical Gardens), Dr. Yagil Osem (Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center).

2014 – 2015:  "Earthworms survey in planted coniferous forest". PI. From “HaMaarag” - Israel’s National Ecosystem Assessment Program. 10,000 NIS (2860$). In Collaboration with Dr. Tomáš Pavlíček  (Institute of Evolution University of Haifa).

2016 – 2018: “Biological diversity in the conifer forest in Israel: The use of different bioindicators to examine the effects of forest management”. PI. From Israel Land Authority. 400,000 NIS (105,270$). In Collaboration with Dr. Tomáš Pavlíček  (Institute of Evolution, Haifa University), Dr. Jean-Jacques Martinez (Tel Hai College), Dr. Ori Fragman-Sapir (Jerusalem Botanical Gardens), Dr. Yagil Osem (Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center), Prof. Segula Masaphy (Tel Hai College), Dr. Yael Mandelik (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem).

2002, M.Sc. Thesis - The fate of organic pollutants during sewage sludge composting.
Suprvisors: Prof. Carlos dosoretz, Prof. Yitzhak Hadar.

2012, Ph.D. Thesis - Ecology and Genetic Variance of the Banded Newt Triturus vittatus vittatus in Northern Israel.
      Suprvisor: Prof. Gad Degani

Published articles in refereed journals:

Jackson K., Hurvitz A., Yom Din S., Goldberg G., Pearlson O., Degani G. and Levavi-Sivan B. 2006. Anatomical, hormonal and histological descriptions of captive Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) with intersex gona General and Comparative Endocrinology. 148:359–367. Impact Factor of 2.487. Category Name: ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM 44/93 (2006, JCR). No. of Citations, 23.
Pearlson O., Jackson K., and Degani. G. 2007. The Gonadal Cycle in Males and Females of Triturus vittatus vittatus (Urodela) from the Southern Limit of Its Distribution. Progrese şi Perspective in Medicina Veterinară” - Lucrări ştiinţifice. 50:227- 233.
Pearlson O. and Degani. 2007. Triturus v. vittatus (Urodela) Larvae in Various Breeding Sites In Israel. Progrese şi Perspective in Medicina Veterinară” - Lucrări ştiinţifice. 50:214-226.
Goldberg T., Pearlson O., Nevo E., and Degani G. 2007. Mitochondrial DNA analysis of Salamandra infraimmaculata larvae from habitats in northern Israel. Progrese şi Perspective in Medicina Veterinară” - Lucrări ştiinţifice. 50:23-31.
Pearlson O. and Degani G., 2007. Molecular DNA Variation among Triturus vittatus vittatus (Urodela) from Different Breeding Sites at the Southern Limit of Its Distribution. Acta Herpetologica 2:69-77. Impact Factor of 0.488 (2010, SCI). Available at: http://www.fupress.net/index.php/ah/article/view/2219/2140
Pearlson O. and Degani. G., 2008. The life history of Triturus v. vittatus (Urodela) in various habitats. Asiatic Herpetological Research. 11:91–95. Impact Factor of 0.294 (2011, SCI). Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259932507_30_Pearlson_O_Degani_G_2008_The_Life_History_of_Triturus_v_vittatus_Urodela_in_various_habitats_Asiatic_Herpetological_Research_1191-95
Goldberg T., Pearlson O., Nevo E., and Degani G. 2009. Sequence analysis of mitochondrial DNA in Salamandra infraimmaculata larvae from populations in Israel. South American Journal of Herpetology. 4:268-274. Impact Factor of 0.83 (2010, RG).
Pearlson O., Blaustein B., Snir S., Goldberg G. and Degani G. 2010. Molecular variation in Triturus vittatus vittatus (Urodela) from breeding sites near the southern extremity of its distribution revealed by DNA sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and control region. Current Herpetology. 29:11-22. Impact Factor of 0.51. (2010, RG). No. of Citations, 1. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247887192_Molecular_Variation_in_Triturus_Vittatus_Vittatus_Urodela_from_Breeding_Sites_Near_the_Southern_Extremity_of_Its_Distribution_Revealed_by_DNA_Sequencing_of_Mitochondrial_Cytochrome_b_Gene_and_Control_
Pearlson O. and Degani G. 2011. Water and ecological conditions of striped newt, Triturus v. vittatus (Urodela), breeding sites at various altitudes near the southern limit of its distribution. Herpetologica Romanica. 5:27-42.
Pavlíček T., Cohen T., Yadav Sh., Glasstetter M., Král P., Pearlson O., 2016. Aneuploidy Occurrence in Oligochaeta. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. 1: 57-63. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/311981662_Aneuploidy_Occurrence_in_Oligochaeta
Csuzdi C., Pearlson O. & Pavlíček T. 2017. New Acanthodrilus species from New Caledonia (Clitellata, Megadrili, Acanthodrilidae). Journal of Natural History, 51:31-32. Impact Factor of 0.834. Category Name: BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION 35/54; ECOLOGY 123/153 (2017, JCR). Available at: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00222933.2017.1355500
Lone AR., Tiwari N., Thakur SS.,  Pearlson O., Pavlíček T. and Yadav S. 2020. Exploration of four new Kanchuria sp. of earthworms (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) from the North Eastern Region of India using DNA bar-coding approach. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity, 13:268-281. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japb.2020.02.004

Pavlíček T., Szederjesi T., Pearlson O., and Csuzdi C. 2023. Biodiversity and distribution of earthworms in the biogeographic province of the Levant. Zoology in the Middle East, 69:394–409. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09397140.2023.2279360

Chapters in Edited book:

Pavlíček T., Pearlson O., Cohen T., Mısırlıoğlu M., Yadav S., Král P. and Glasstetter M. 2017. Earthworms: Types, Roles and Research. Chap. One: Evolution and Life of Oligochaetes. Editor, Horton C. G. Nova Science Publishers Inc. N.Y. USA.

Refereed conference proceedings:

Pavlíček, T., Hadid Y., Cohen T., Glasstetter M., Snir S., Mısırlıoğlu M., Pearlson O., Yadav Sh., Csuzdi Cs. and Král P. 2014. “Opening Pandora’s Box”: II. Segmentation and evolution of hermaphroditic annelids. Advances in Earthworm Taxonomy VI (Annelida: Oligochaeta) Proceedings of the 6th International Oligochaeta Taxonomy Meeting (6th IOTM), Palmeira de Faro, Portugal, April 22-25, 2013. Zoology in the Middle East, 2014. 038–049, Kasparek Verlag, Heidelberg. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270158143_Opening_Pandora's_Box_II_Segmentation_and_evolution_of_hermaphroditic_annelids

Dr. Oren Pearlson CV

Active Participation in Conferences:

1. Pearlson O., Blaustein L., Goldberg D. and Degani G. 2005. Molecular DNA Variation and Mitochondrial Sequence Analysis of Triturus Vittatus Vittatus (Urodela) from Breeding Sites at Various Altitudes in the Southern Limit of its Distribution. FISEB Federation of the Israel Societies For Experimental Biology, February 7-10, 2005 Eilat, Israel.
2. Goldberg T., Pearlson O. and Degani G. 2005. Molecular DNA Variation and Mitochondrial Sequence Analysis of Salamandra Infraimmaculata Populations from Various Habitats in Xeric Area. Israel Society for Ecology and Environmental Quality Sciences, International Conference, May 30 – June 1, 2005, Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel.
3. Pearlson O., Blaustein L., Goldberg D. and Degani G. 2005. Ecological and Genetic Characterization of Triturus Vittatus Vittatus (Urodela) from Breeding Sites at Various Altitudes in the Southern Limit of its Distribution. Herpetology Seminar, October 20, 2005, Sde Boker, Israel.
4. Pearlson O., Blaustein L., and Degani G. 2006. Development of the Banded Newt, Triturus vittatus vittatus (Urodela) in Breeding Sites of Various Environmental Conditions. 42nd meeting of The Zoological Society of Israel, January 1, 2006, Rehovot, Israel.
5. Pearlson O. and Degani G. 2007. The Biology and Life History of Triturus v. vittatus (Urodela) at Various Habitats and Breeding Sites. 14th European Congress of Herpetology, September 19-23, 2007, Porto Portugal.
6. Pearlson O., Jacson K. and Degani G. 2007. Gonadal cycle in males and females of Triturus vittatus vittatus (Urodela) from the southern limit of its distribution. 43ed meeting of The Zoological Society of Israel, December 17, 2007, Rannana, Israel
7. Pearlson O., Gertman O. and Degani G. 2008. Genetic Variation in Triturus vittatus vittatus from Different Populations as Determined by Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism. Documenting, Analyzing and Managing Biodiversity in the Middle East. October 20-23, 2008, Aqaba, Jordan.
8. Degani G, Yom-Din S., Goldberg T. and Pearlson O. 2009. Genetic Variation among Various Populations of Spadefoot Toads (Pelobates syriacus, Boettger, 1869) at Breeding Sites in Northern Israel. 11th International Congress on the Zoogeography and Ecology of Greece and Adjacent Regions. September 21-25, 2009, Natural History Museum of Crete (NHMC) (University of Crete).
9. Degani G., Yom-Din S., Goldberg T. and Pearlson O. 2009. Molecular DNA Variation in Rana ridibunda from Various Breeding Sites in Northern Israel. 11th International Congress on the Zoogeography and Ecology of Greece and Adjacent Regions. September 21-25, 2009, Natural History Museum of Crete (NHMC) (University of Crete).
10. Degani G. and Pearlson O. 2010. Ecology and Conservation Genetics of the Endangered Banded Newt Triturus vittatus vittatus in Northern Israel. 7th Ser European Conference on Restoration Ecology, 23-27 August 2010, Avignon, France.
11. Pearlson O., Cohen T., Osem Y., Zangy E., Zoref C. and Pavlíček T. 2016. Earthworm populations in mature Pinus halepensis forest subjected to different forestial thinning treatments. 7th International Oligochaeta Taxonomy Meeting (7th IOTM), 6-13 November 2016. University of Rennes, Biology Station Paimpont, France.
12. Pearlson O., Vorobyov A., Pavlíček T. 2018. Preliminar Data on Genetic Structure of Earthworm Populations from different Regions in Israel, in Dendrobaena veneta  and Aporrectodea rosea. 1st International Earthworm Congress (IEC 1), Shanghai, China. June 24-29, 2018.