Our Research covers a broad range of topics including aspects of ecology, evolution, natural history, and physiology. We address questions using a variety of different species of ectotherms, including amphibians, reptiles, and stream fishes. In general we are interested in how organisms deal with and respond to spatial and temporal variation in environmental characteristics. Below you will find a general description of some of our major areas of focus.
Collared Lizard Ecology and Ozark Glade Conservation
Ozark glades are unique ecosystems comprised of islands of exposed bedrock in a forest of hardwood forest. These habitats harbor a diverse community of desert adapted organisms and are threatened by historic fire suppression and land use changes. Casey Brewster and I have been working in this system for many years and recent partnerships promise to expand this work in both applied and basic research directions. Please stay tuned to stay abreast of exciting developments and projects aimed at restoring and conserving these amazing ecosystems.
This research focuses on the interactions between Collared Lizards (as keystone predators) and their prey (grasshoppers and Prairie Lizards). We are addressing questions from the perspectives of both predator and prey species combining a broad range of approaches.
Ozark glades are unique ecosystems comprised of islands of exposed bedrock in a forest of hardwood forest. These habitats harbor a diverse community of desert adapted organisms and are threatened by historic fire suppression and land use changes. Casey Brewster and I have been working in this system for many years and recent partnerships promise to expand this work in both applied and basic research directions. Please stay tuned to stay abreast of exciting developments and projects aimed at restoring and conserving these amazing ecosystems.
This research focuses on the interactions between Collared Lizards (as keystone predators) and their prey (grasshoppers and Prairie Lizards). We are addressing questions from the perspectives of both predator and prey species combining a broad range of approaches.
Thermal ecology, individual-based modeling, and conservation
We are developing a series of individual-based models to simulate lizard activity on realistic thermal and prey availability landscapes to gain a mechanistic understanding of Collared Lizard ecology and to generate a tool useful for ongoing reintroduction and habitat restoration projects. This work is taking on new directions by implementing emerging remote sensing technologies and radio telemetry. Stay tuned for exciting developments coming soon!!
We are developing a series of individual-based models to simulate lizard activity on realistic thermal and prey availability landscapes to gain a mechanistic understanding of Collared Lizard ecology and to generate a tool useful for ongoing reintroduction and habitat restoration projects. This work is taking on new directions by implementing emerging remote sensing technologies and radio telemetry. Stay tuned for exciting developments coming soon!!
Thermal biology of stream fishes (in collaboration with Ginny and Reid Adams)
Temperature varies drastically within and among streams in association with a host of different biotic and abiotic variables. Aquatic organisms are typically thought to conform to the thermal conditions within a stream. Streams provide an excellent template to study how plasticity and local adaptation interact to generate variation in thermal traits. We are approaching this work from methodological, population, and community perspectives.
Ecology and physiology of life history variation
We are interested in the roles ecology (population density, prey abundance, prey size, mortality) and physiology (immune function, metabolic demands, hormones) play in generating and regulating variation in life history phenotypes. Past work focused on comparisons among watersnake populations that differ in the abundance and density of prey resources. Current work is examining patterns of energy cycling and variation in energy budgets across various geographic scales in Sceloporus.
We are interested in the roles ecology (population density, prey abundance, prey size, mortality) and physiology (immune function, metabolic demands, hormones) play in generating and regulating variation in life history phenotypes. Past work focused on comparisons among watersnake populations that differ in the abundance and density of prey resources. Current work is examining patterns of energy cycling and variation in energy budgets across various geographic scales in Sceloporus.
Maternal/environemntal Effects
Such maternal/environmental effects include phenotypic modifications in response to things like maternal nutrition (body composition/condition), incubation temperature, and maternal transfer of hormones. Such factors can modify offspring phenotypes and these modified phenotypes can influence the fitness of hatchlings. The consequences of these plastic phenotypes depend on the environmental context. We are studying such effects from multiple levels of biological organization, including morphology, whole animal and cellular physiology, physical performance, through to fitness in the field.
Such maternal/environmental effects include phenotypic modifications in response to things like maternal nutrition (body composition/condition), incubation temperature, and maternal transfer of hormones. Such factors can modify offspring phenotypes and these modified phenotypes can influence the fitness of hatchlings. The consequences of these plastic phenotypes depend on the environmental context. We are studying such effects from multiple levels of biological organization, including morphology, whole animal and cellular physiology, physical performance, through to fitness in the field.
Research collaborators
Casey Brewster - Former student, Instructor at Northwest Arkansas Community College and research associate at the University of Arkansas
Tim Clay - Former graduate student, now Assistant Professor at Nicholls State
Lori Neuman-Lee - (Crotaphytus and Sceloporus research) Assistant Professor, Arkansas State University
Ginny and Reid Adams - (Fish thermal tolerance) both colleagues and Professors at UCA.
Casey Brewster - Former student, Instructor at Northwest Arkansas Community College and research associate at the University of Arkansas
Tim Clay - Former graduate student, now Assistant Professor at Nicholls State
Lori Neuman-Lee - (Crotaphytus and Sceloporus research) Assistant Professor, Arkansas State University
Ginny and Reid Adams - (Fish thermal tolerance) both colleagues and Professors at UCA.
