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Past Graduate Students: Graziella V. DiRenzo I am interested in epizootic and enzootic disease dynamics. My research currently focuses on how Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has affected amphibian population dynamics. I am also interested in understanding why certain species are selected out of populations more readily and why, as well as understanding the role of environmental reservoirs. Broadly, I am interested in amphibian ecology, disease dynamics, community structure, species and disease interactions, and amphibian conservation. I am also really interested in using hierarchical models to account for imperfect detection of Bd on frogs and frogs in the environment. For more information, check out my Professional website, C.V., BISI website, and Google Scholar Profile. My email: [email protected] Carly R. Muletz [email protected] @Carlybacter My research focuses on how evolutionary and ecological factors shape the skin bacterial community of Plethodon salamanders and how bacterial community structure influences disease outcome of the salamander host. This is important because host associated microbial communities can be predictive or diagnostic of disease, but yet we do not know what processes generate and maintain the structure of these microbial communities. I have three main objectives for my dissertation: 1) to characterize the entire skin bacterial community on three Plethodon species to understand how these communities are influenced by the evolutionary history and environmental conditions of the salamander hosts, 2) to identify which cutaneous, culturable bacteria inhibit the growth of a fungal pathogen from three Plethodon species to determine if there are bacteria that may offer protection against fungal infection, and 3) to determine how temperature and pathogen exposure affect cutaneous bacterial community structure of Plethodon cinereus to understand how bacterial communities respond to stressors and influence disease out Brooke L. Talley Currently: Reptile and Amphibian Conservation Coordinator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission My scientific interests are herpetology, disease ecology, and natural history. My PhD research focused on the historic and current distribution of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) in Illinois. I identified ecological, environmental and evolutionary factors that contributed to Bd infection intensity and prevalence in amphibians currently as well as historically. For more information, check out her website and C.V. My email: [email protected] Nicole Angeli M.S. 2012 UMaryland CONS Currently: PhD Student, Fitzgerald Lab, Texas A&M http://people.tamu.edu/~nangeli/ Edward Kabay M.S. 2012 UMaryland CONS Currently: High School Teacher in North Carolina Nicholas Caruso M.S. 2011 UMd Environmental variable associated with population changes of Plethodontid salamanders in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA. Currently: PhD Student, Rissler Lab, U. Alabama http://carusonm.weebly.com/ Kurt Regester Ph.D. 2007. SIUC Ecosystem significance of ambystomatid salamanders: energy flow, habitat subsidies, and trophic interactions associated with their complex life cycles. Currently: Assistant Professor, Clarion University, PA http://www.clarion.edu/33940/ Sarah Becker M.S. 2009 SIUC Thermal ecology and habitat use of amphibians in the last outpost in Central America Currently: St. Louis University, Nursing School Sandra Galeano @SandraPGaleano M.S. 2009. SIUC Temporal patterns of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infection occurrence in amphibian reservoirs in Central America. For more information, check out her website here. Currently: Ph.D. Student, Harms Lab, LSU Forrest Brem M.S. 2006. SIUC Differences in infection by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis among sites, species, and environmental and ecological variables in Central Panama. Currently: Lecturer, University of Memphis. Mason Ryan M.S. 2005. SIUC The population biology of Craugastor punctariolus in central Panama. @mjryan42frogs Currently: Ph.D. Student, Poe Lab, U. New Mexico. Robin Rossmanith M.S. 2005. SIUC The effects of food supplementation on a group of Neotropical Frogs. Jeanne Robertson M.S. 2002. SIUC Gene flow in Centrolene prosoblepon, a Neotropical glassfrog. Currently: Assistant Professor Cal State Northridge. http://www.csun.edu/~bd46942/robertson/cv.html Lani Witters M.S. 2002. SIUC The spatial arrangement of stream amphibians in a tropical montane environment. Currently: Pueblo Community College Adam Ringia M.S. 2002. SIUC The development and early life history of the cave salamander, Eurycea lucifuga, in a southeastern Missouri cave. Anthony Ranveste M.S. 2002. SIUC Examining the role of larval anurans in the benthic community of an upland Panamanian stream. Post Doctoral Researchers: Tate S. Tunstall Email: [email protected] Currently: Bioinformatics Postdoc, San Diego Zoological Park I am interested in using both models and experimental data to investigate how host and pathogen diversity affects disease outbreaks. I am currently looking at how differing growth rates and host tolerance can affect outbreaks of the amphibian chytrid, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, in communities in Panama. Rebecca McCaffery (2010-11) Currently: Researcher at US Park Service Olympic WA Rebecca is working with us on analyzing our Mark-recapture data. We are interested in comparing vital rates in pre-Bd populations with rates from post-Bd populations, to better understand why populations do not recover. Chad Montgomery (2005-06) Chad is working with us on a study of snake diets from El Cope, and how the loss of amphibian prey impacted these predators. He is at Truman State University: http://www.truman.edu/majors-programs/academic-departments/about-biology-department/biology-faculty-staff/?fac=chadmont Peter Murphy (2000-02) Peter worked with us on studying transmission of Bd under various field conditions in relation to UV and temperature. |