A5103164248- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Plant and animal studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
- Advanced Chemical Sensor Technologies
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Venomous Animal Envenomation and Studies
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Reproductive biology and impacts on aquatic species
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Study of Mite Species
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Insect Pheromone Research and Control
James Madison University
2017-2024
ORCID
2024
Office of Diversity and Inclusion
2021
Monell Chemical Senses Center
2012-2015
Washington and Lee University
2014-2015
Oregon State University
2009-2014
Washington State University
2006-2008
Smithsonian Institution
1984
Burmese pythons ( Python molurus bivittatus ) are native to southeastern Asia, however, there is an established invasive population inhabiting much of southern Florida throughout the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. Pythons have severely impacted species and ecosystems in represent one most intractable invasive-species management issues across globe. The difficulty stems from a unique combination inaccessible habitat cryptic resilient nature that thrive subtropical environment Florida,...
TAS1R taste receptors and their associated heterotrimeric G protein gustducin are involved in sugar amino acid sensing cells the gastrointestinal tract. They also strongly expressed testis sperm, but functions these tissues were previously unknown. Using mouse models, we show that genetic absence of both TAS1R3, a component sweet receptors, α-subunit GNAT3 leads to male-specific sterility. To gain further insight into this effect, generated model humanized form TAS1R3 susceptible inhibition...
Vertebrates indicate their genetic sex to conspecifics using secondary sexual signals, and signal expression is often activated by hormones. Among vertebrate signaling modalities, the least known about how hormones influence chemical signaling. Our study species, red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis), a model for studying hormonal control of signals because males completely rely on female pheromone identify potential mates among thousands individuals. How can this crucial...
Sex steroid hormones are powerful regulators of reproductive behavior and physiology in vertebrates, steroidogenesis has distinct sex- season-specific patterns ultimately dictated by the expression key enzymes. Most comparative endocrinology studies, however, focus only on circulating levels sex steroids to determine their temporal association with life-history events what termed associated patterns. The red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) is a notable exception; this...
The tf (tufted) locus is responsible for a classic phenotype of hair loss and regrowth in mice. It characteristic the BTBR strain. Here, we use combination positional cloning methods complementation mapping to identify Itpr3, inositol triphosphate receptor type 3, as gene locus.
Predators demonstrate context-dependent foraging behaviors to dynamically and successfully track prey can use multiple cues in this process. In squamate reptiles (snakes lizards), chemical signals from significantly influence predatory behavior, especially substrate airborne cues. study, we examined behavioral variation rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus) during strike-induced chemosensory searching (SICS), a sterotyped complex of seen squamates. Rattlesnakes both SICS, but sought determine the...
Abstract Animals communicate with potential mates using species‐specific signals, and pheromones are powerful sexual signals that modify conspecific behavior to facilitate mate location. Among the vertebrates, snakes especially adept in searching via chemical trailing, which is particularly relevant given many snake species invasive outside their native ranges. Chemical used choice are, thus, potentially valuable tools for management of species. The Burmese python ( Python bivittatus ) an...
Rattlesnakes are highly adept at following substrate chemosensory trails left by struck (envenomated) prey. However, there other sources of chemical information that may be present in the post-strike environment, such as odors from unstruck mice, could either confound or aid predatory success. can follow airborne a prey, but ability rattlesnakes to use cues prey has not been examined. Therefore, our purpose was examine abilities locate using and mice compare this with their success mice. We...
Many stimulus-detection systems are lateralized to allow for simultaneous comparison of paired stimuli. It has been hypothesized that the deeply forked tongue snakes and some derived lizards functions as a chemical edge detector where cues gathered by each tine kept separate provide two points lateral odor assessment central nervous system via vomeronasal input. While following trail, one time can be on other off, such differential information prompts snake turn back trail. The authors...
Squamate reptiles (snakes and lizards) rely on chemical cues from conspecifics to search the environment for potential mates. How such are used by invasive species facilitate reproduction, especially seasonally, is a key question that can inform management practices. The Argentine black white tegu (Salvator merianae) an reptile in south Florida threatening native fauna biodiverse regions as Everglades National Park. While some information exists reproductive ecology of this its range South...
Reptiles signal to conspecifics using lipids in their skin, primarily enable mate tracking and assessment. The isolation of these has utility research focused on evolutionary patterns mechanisms chemical communication, addition understanding the waterproofing role evolution terrestrial life. In an applied approach, such skin-based cues have potential use for wildlife managers dealing with invasive species. main steps quantifying reptile skin protocol presented here include extraction, total...
Reptiles signal to conspecifics using lipids in their skin, primarily enable mate tracking and assessment. The isolation of these has utility research focused on evolutionary patterns mechanisms chemical communication, addition understanding the waterproofing role evolution terrestrial life. In an applied approach, such skin-based cues have potential use for wildlife managers dealing with invasive species. main steps quantifying reptile skin protocol presented here include extraction, total...
Most experimental studies on sexual signal regulation via hormone manipulation have focused male signals, yet female signals demonstrate substantial phenotypic variation and hormone-dependent expression. Female red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) produce a skin-based sex pheromone used by males in mate selection. The principle steroid, 17 β-estradiol, controls production snakes, but manipulating produced conflicting results, relied behavioral tests with the laboratory,...
Organisms inhabiting arid environments face challenges to obtain dietary water. To prevent desiccation, some organisms possess unique adaptations harvest water from infrequent and unpredictable rainfall, including several squamates (snakes lizards). While most consume precipitation as it pools in the environment, a small number engage behaviors enhance collection by capturing their own skin, referred rain-harvesting behavior (RHB). Details of this remain unclear, particularly sequence...
Predators have evolved a variety of novel mechanisms for efficient prey location that rely on specific sensory modalities. Strike-induced chemosensory searching (SICS) is behavior pattern common across squamate reptiles (snakes and lizards) where series behaviors are activated in the predator following envenomating strike immediate release prey. Of all squamates, rattlesnakes (Crotalus spp.) been studied most extensively their SICS behavior, but field documentation such sparse often lacking...