A5006971818- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Gut microbiota and health
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Clinical practice guidelines implementation
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Dermatological diseases and infestations
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- SMEs Development and Digital Marketing
- Reproductive tract infections research
- Public Health and Nutrition
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Dietary Effects on Health
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Probiotics and Fermented Foods
Middle Tennessee State University
2024
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
2020-2023
Shippensburg University
2018-2021
Rider University
2018
ABSTRACT Reptiles and amphibians (herptiles) are some of the most endangered threatened species on planet numerous conservation strategies being implemented with goal ensuring recovery. Little is known, however, about gut microbiome wild herptiles how it relates to health these populations. Here, we report results from characterization both a broad survey herptiles, correlation between fungus Basidiobolus , bacterial community supported by deeper, more intensive sampling Plethodon glutinosus...
Landscape-scale alterations that accompany urbanization may negatively affect the population structure of wildlife species such as freshwater turtles. Changes to nesting sites and higher mortality rates due vehicular collisions increased predator populations particularly immature turtles mature female We hypothesized proportions adult in a will correlate with landscape urbanization. As collaborative effort Ecological Research Education Network (EREN), we sampled turtle 11 states across...
Abstract Disease results from interactions among the host, pathogen, and environment. Inoculation trials can quantify these players explain aspects of disease ecology to inform management in variable dynamic natural environments. White-nose Syndrome, a caused by fungal Pseudogymnoascus destructans ( Pd ), has severe population declines several bat species North America. We conducted first experimental infection trial on tri-colored bat, Perimyotis subflavus , test effect temperature humidity...
Abstract Plasticity in heat tolerance provides ectotherms the ability to reduce overheating risk during thermal extremes. However, tolerance–plasticity trade‐off hypothesis states that individuals acclimated warmer environments have a reduced plastic response, including hardening, limiting their further adjust tolerance. Heat hardening describes short‐term increase following shock remains understudied larval amphibians. We sought examine potential between basal and plasticity of amphibian,...
The gut microbiome is known to influence and have regulatory effects in diverse physiological functions of host animals, but only recently has the relationship between thermal biology microbiota been explored. Here, we examined how early-life manipulations larval amphibians influenced their critical maximum (CTmax) at different acclimation temperatures. We stripped resident from egg masses wild-caught wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) via an antibiotic wash, then inoculated eggs with pond...
Abstract The host microbiome is integral to metabolism, immune function, and resilience against pathogens. However, reliance on relative abundance (RA) estimate host-associated microbiomes introduces compositional biases, while limited tools for absolute (AA) quantification hinder broader applications. To address these challenges, we developed DspikeIn ( https://github.com/mghotbi/DspikeIn ), an R package paired with a versatile wet-lab methodology AA quantification. Using RA compare core...
ECR Spotlight is a series of interviews with early-career authors from selection papers published in Journal Experimental Biology and aims to promote not only the diversity researchers (ECRs) working experimental biology but also huge variety animals physiological systems that are essential for ‘comparative’ approach. Jason Dallas an author on ‘ Cross-species gut microbiota transplantation predictably affects host heat tolerance’, JEB. conducted research described this article while PhD...
Abstract Emerging infectious diseases are increasingly recognized as a significant threat to global biodiversity conservation. Elucidating the relationship between pathogens and host microbiome could lead novel approaches for mitigating disease impacts. Pathogens can alter by inducing dysbiosis, an ecological state characterized reduction in bacterial alpha diversity, increase pathobionts, or shift beta diversity. We used snake fungal (SFD; ophidiomycosis), system examine how emerging...
Plastics, particularly polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE), are pervasive in ecosystems degrade slowly, leading to the formation of microplastics nanoplastics, which pose environmental health risks. The gut microbiota Tenebrio molitor larvae (mealworms) can plastics, making them a potential model for studying microbial plastic digestion. This study investigated how rearing T. on PS- or PE-supplemented diets over three generations affected composition degradation. Larvae were reared wheat...
Thermal performance of immunity has been relatively understudied in ectotherms, especially the context invasive species or relation to other fitness-related traits and thermoregulatory patterns field. For reptiles, thermal biology is a primary factor determining physiological population viability, suboptimal conditions may limit expansion exotic along edges their invasion fronts. This study examined ecology sprinting Mediterranean geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus) at northern edge front...
The gut microbiota is known to influence and have regulatory effects in diverse physiological functions of host animals, but only recently has the relationship between thermal biology been explored. Here, we examined how early-life manipulations larval amphibians influenced their critical maximum (CTmax) at different acclimation temperatures. We removed resident microbiome on outside wild-caught wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) egg masses via an antibiotic wash, then either maintained eggs...
Long-term species surveys are effective tools for identifying changes in population demography which is of particular importance those threatened habitats such as grasslands. Due to their cryptic nature, snakes can benefit greatly from these types but multiyear rare Pennsylvania and the surrounding region. We conducted coverboard grassland specialist Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor) over eight years separated into two sampling periods (2008-2012 2015-2017) across a...
Abstract The thermal tolerance–plasticity trade-off hypothesis states that acclimation to warmer environments increases basal tolerance in ectotherms but reduces plasticity coping with acute stress characterized as heat hardening. We examined the potential between and hardening plasticity, measured critical maximum (CT max ) of a larval amphibian, Lithobates sylvaticus , response differing temperatures (15° 25°C) periods (3 or 7 days). A treatment applied 2 hours before CT assays induced...
Intraguild predation can play a significant role in structuring species composition with intraguild prey under both competitive and predatory pressure from predators. How are able to persist at sites their predators is complex issue empirical evidence not always supporting theoretical models, indicating need for more situ research. A prominent grassland predator the south central region of Pennsylvania, Coluber constrictor (Northern Black Racer), co-occurs potential snakes including...