A5003020323- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Plant and animal studies
- Radioactive contamination and transfer
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Marine animal studies overview
- Insect and Pesticide Research
Oklahoma State University
2011-2023
United States Geological Survey
2021
Auburn University
2021
Oklahoma State University Oklahoma City
2005-2019
University of Central Oklahoma
2011
University of California, Riverside
2002
Texas Tech University
1987-2000
University of Idaho
1992-1996
Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
1994
The Black Rat (Rattus rattus) spread out of Asia to become one the world's worst agricultural and urban pests, a reservoir or vector numerous zoonotic diseases, including devastating plague. Despite global scale inestimable cost their impacts on both human livelihoods natural ecosystems, little is known genetic diversity Rats, timing directions historical dispersals, risks associated with contemporary movements. We surveyed mitochondrial DNA Rats collected across range as first step towards...
Abstract Sexual selection operates by acting on variation in mating success. However, since acts whole-organism manifestations (i.e., performance) of underlying morphological traits, tests for phenotypic effects sexual should consider whole-animal performance as a substrate selection. Previous studies have revealed positive relationships between and survival, that is, natural selection, but none explicitly tested whether may influence reproductive success (through more matings), Performance...
Limited information from existing data sets and the tremendous amount of diversity in number kind within chiropteran family Vespertilionidae (about one-third all bat species) have hampered efforts to provide adequate assessments long-standing genealogic hypotheses (e.g., monophyly five subfamilies). We generated approximately 2.6 kilobase pairs mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence ecompassing three adjacent genes (12S rRNA, tRNAVal, 16S rRNA) for 120 vespertilionids representing 110 species,...
Molecular phylogenies challenge the view that bats belong to superordinal group Archonta, which also includes primates, tree shrews, and flying lemurs. Some molecular studies microbat monophyly instead support an alliance between megabats representative rhinolophoid microbats from families Rhinolophidae (horseshoe bats, Old World leaf-nosed bats) Megadermatidae (false vampire bats). Another study ostensibly contradicts these results supports traditional monophyly, inclusive of rhinolophoids...
Success of the cattle industry in Latin America is impeded by common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, through decreases milk production and mass gain increased risk secondary infection rabies. We used ecological niche modeling to predict current potential distribution D. rotundus future species for years 2030, 2050, 2080 based on A2, A1B, B1 climate scenarios from Intergovernmental Panel Climate Change. then combined present day with density estimates identify areas where are at higher...
Good-genes hypotheses predict that development of secondary sexual characters can be an honest advertisement heritable male quality. We explored this hypothesis using a cervid model (adult, white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus) to determine whether antler could provide signal male's genetic quality and condition adversaries. compared antler, morphometric, hormonal, parasitic data collected from hunter-harvested deer characteristics the Mhc-DRB (Odvi), most widely studied gene major...
The role of rodents in the epidemiology zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has been a subject considerable debate. Seroprevalence studies suggest widespread HEV commensal Rattus spp. rats, but experimental transmission largely unsuccessful and recovery genotype 3 RNA from wild rats never confirmed. We surveyed R. rattus norvegicus across United States several international populations by using hemi-nested reverse transcription PCR approach. isolated liver tissues 35 446 examined. All...
Abstract We examined demographics, dispersal, sex‐related behaviour, group structure, and genetic similarities of female feral pigs Sus scrofa on the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area in southern Texas from June 1993 to December 1995. Cumulative seasonal ranges core areas were calculated for 18 representing three distinct sounders. Simultaneous pairs radio locations used assess behavioural associations among pigs, DNA fingerprinting was determine similarity. Behavioural spatial largely...
To evaluate higher-level affinities of Hepatozoon species within Apicomplexa, we sequenced the 18S rRNA gene from 2 parasites (Hepatozoon americanum and canis) dogs 1 catesbianae) bullfrogs. Sequences other apicomplexans among Sarcocystiidae, Eimeriidae, Theileriidae, Plasmodiidae, Cryptosporiidae, Babesiidae, a Perkinsus dinoflagellates were obtained GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Plasmodium, Cryptosporidium, form monophyletic group distinct representatives apicomplexan...
Analysis of mtDNA sequence variation (2,548 bp from ND2, cytb, and part the control region) indicates that genus Cyprinodon began diverging in Late Miocene a common ancestor with Megupsilon, monotypic on Mesa del Norte Mexico. The geographic pattern variation, estimates divergence time, suggests by end occurred Atlantic Coast West Indies to near western margin North America via ancestral Rio Grande Colorado River systems. Phylogeographic structure within major complexes supports variety...
Natural recolonization by large carnivores has rarely been documented. American black bears (Ursus americanus) recently (1988-present) recolonized portions of their former range in western Texas. We used mtDNA sequence data (n = 144 bears) from 7 populations southwestern New Mexico, Texas, and northern Mexico to test predictions regarding metapopulation structure the species this region source Six variable nucleotides were detected, resulting 5 haplotypes. Although within-site diversity...
A paucity of useful characters, morphological convergence, and potential rapid radiation has hindered systematists in elucidating evolutionary relationships within Vespertilioninae. In this study >8,500 base pairs digenomic DNA for 111 taxa were sequenced analyzed using maximum-parsimony Bayesian phylogenetic methods to construct trees reexamine hypotheses supergeneric Results these analyses validate monophyly Vespertilioninae with the exclusion Myotis support recognition 6 tribes:...
The genus Myotishas undergone significant taxonomic revision since the advent of DNA sequencing techniques. Prior morphological examination indicated as many 4 subgenera correlated with foraging strategies. Recent studies using mitochondrial (mtDNA) sequence data have questioned validity these and that several taxa may require reevaluation to their position within Vespertilionidae. Nevertheless, no study has used large-scale nuclear examine relationships Myotis. We generated 4,656 base pairs...
Weapons used in combat between males are usually attributed to sexual selection, which operates via a fitness advantage for with weapons of better ‘quality’. Because the performance capacity morphological traits is typically considered direct target Darwin's intrasexual selection hypothesis can be modified predict that variation reproductive success should explained by relevant combat. Despite such straightforward prediction, tests this conspicuously lacking. We show territorial male...
This study was designed to estimate the impact of pollution resulting from meltdown Reactor 4, Chornobyl, Ukraine, on taxonomic diversity and abundance small mammals in surrounding area. Trap sites included most radioactive areas within 10-km exclusion zone, a site 30-km zone that received minimal pollution, five outside zone. Within zones, 355 specimens representing 11 species were obtained, whereas 224 12 obtained It is concluded small-mammal fauna not presently reduced at sites. Specimens...
Results of recent molecular studies cast doubt on the validity superorder Archonta, suborders Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera, infraorder Yinochiroptera has even led some to consider novel alternatives for evolution flight echolocation in mammals. At present, higher-level relationships within Chiroptera still is without consensus, much this controversy related how bats are other mammals also among family-level lineages Chiroptera. Although superficially manifests itself as differences...
Anaplasma marginale (order Rickettsiales, family Anaplasmataceae), a tick-borne pathogen of cattle, is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions the world. Many geographic isolates A. occur United States have been identified by major surface protein 1a (MSP1a), which varies sequence molecular weight due to different numbers tandem 28- 29-amino-acid repeats. The present study was undertaken examine genetic variations among obtained during 2001 from infected cattle east-central Oklahoma,...
We studied 75 individuals of the Plains pocket gopher, Geomys bursarius, from eastern New Mexico, where subspecies major and knoxjonesi hybridize. Each individual was examined for chromosome number, ribosomal DNA, mitochondrial three protein systems which reference parental populations were fixed alternative alleles. Twenty indistinguishable major, 14 knoxjonesi, 41 had genotypes composed combinations character states that distinguish two types. The types appear to represent discrete genetic...
Biological invasions result in novel species interactions, which can have significant evolutionary impacts on both native and invading taxa. One concern with is hybridization among lineages that were previously isolated, but make secondary contact their invaded range(s). Black rats, consisting of several morphologically very similar genetically distinct taxa collectively six continents, are arguably the most successful mammalian invaders planet. We used mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences,...
Resolving phylogenetic relationships within Vespertilionidae has been difficult, with large data sets (>100 taxa, >7 kilobases) resolving portions of the phylogeny but leaving intertribal Vespertilioninae unresolved. As a result evolutionary history most speciose chiropteran family is largely unknown. The presence short internodes followed by long terminal branches relative to other phylogenies suggests that rates DNA substitution and lineage diversification could be inhibiting resolution....