Carrie Baker, Author at Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology

Texas A&M AgriLife announces 2020 Fulbright award winner

Srinivasan, resident director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Temple, honored with Fulbright U.S. Scholar award.

Source: AgriLife announces Fulbright awards for 2020-2021

Srinivasan named awardee for environmental sciences

Texas A&M University and Texas A&M AgriLife are pleased to announce that Raghavan Srinivasan, Ph.D., who wears many hats in Texas A&M’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, was honored with a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award.

Srinivasan’s award is in Environmental Sciences, Effects of Climate and Land Use Change on Hydrology and Water Quality of Canadian River Basins, for the 2020-2021 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Uncategorized

Unique dunes sagebrush lizard populations identified

Land conservation may be needed in areas where unique populations of the dunes sagebrush lizard are threatened by habitat interference.

Source: Unique dunes sagebrush lizard populations identified | AgriLife Today

Study raises concern of land fragmentation, population vulnerability of endemic lizard

New genetic studies reveal important information about populations of the dunes sagebrush lizard, which researchers say may warrant land conservation in areas where unique populations of the species are threatened by habitat interference.

Study collaborators include Texas A&M AgriLife Research‘s Lee Fitzgerald, Ph.D., a professor in the Texas A&M University Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology and curator in Texas A&M Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections, BRTC. Also with Texas A&M are Wade Ryberg, Ph.D., research scientist at Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, NRI; Toby Hibbitts, Ph.D., curator of herpetology at the BRTC and research scientist at NRI; and Danielle Walkup, Ph.D., research associate with NRI.

Research Uncategorized

Texas A&M researcher investigates mammal biodiversity

National Science Foundation selects Texas A&M’s Rachel Short to receive a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship and further her mammal research.

Source: Texas A&M researcher investigates mammal biodiversity| AgriLife Today

Short’s Fellowship project hinges on crucial findings from her dissertation, which was focused on the methodology used in assessing changes in functional traits of mammals over time.

“For my dissertation, I developed a new method using the ankle bones to study this community change,” she explained. “This NSF project is the application of that new technique and looking at the processes that caused these changes.”

Faculty Uncategorized

Casola and Lawing receive promotion with tenure

The Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology Congratulates Claudio Casola, Ph.D. and Michelle Lawing, Ph.D. for both being promoted to Associate Professor with tenure.

Casola received his Master’s in Biology and Ph.D. in Molecular Biotechnology from University of Pisa in Italy. Casola was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas in Arlington and Indiana University before becoming an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at Saint Louis University. He then came to Texas A&M University and began his role as Assistant Professor in the then Department of Ecosystem Science and Management in 2014. He has published 34 papers in high impact journals and contributed to research teams to secure over $1 million in collective grant funds.

Claudio Casola in the Genetics Lab — Dr. Claudio Casola

Casola and his research team in The Casola Lab study genome evolution and adaptation in plants using both experimental and computational approaches. Currently, they are investigating work in three main areas: evolution of lineage-specific traits and adaptation through gene turnover, population variation in drought tolerance in loblolly pine, and the molecular basis of convergent evolution.

Casola mentors graduate researchers and has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in Molecular Evolution, Ecological Genomics, and Functional Ecology and Adaptation.

Lawing received her Master’s in Biology (Quantitative) from the University of Texas in Arlington and a double major Ph.D. in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior and Geological Sciences (Paleobiology) at Indiana University. Lawing spent a year as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis before coming to Texas A&M in 2014 as an Assistant Professor in the then, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management.

Lawing has published 31 peer-reviewed articles and 4 peer-reviewed book chapters. She has secured over $600,000 in funds as part of various interdisciplinary research teams.

Lawing mentors researchers in the Paleobiology, Evolution, and Climate Lab, where their research focuses on the grand challenge of predicting biotic response to environmental change and untangling anthropogenic impacts. They study shifts in morphology and geography through time for populations, species, and communities. Her group also brings together natural and social scientists with educators to evaluate qualities of STEM educational outreach that result in improved learning outcomes.

Lawing teaches undergraduate courses in Spatial Project Management and Advanced GIS for Natural Resource Management. She has also taught graduate courses in Quantitative Methods in Ecology, Evolution and Biogeography and Phylogenetics and Comparative Biology.

Congratulations again to these faculty on reaching these milestones in their career. The Department is so thankful for their dedication to students and their efforts to advance scholarship in their respective areas within Ecology and Conservation Biology.

Graduate Student Research Uncategorized

Taking the temperature of big game

Source: Taking the temperature of big game | AgriLife Today

Graduate students monitor thermoregulation habits, climate impact on moose and bison

Big game are usually adaptive mammals, but temperature increases in Alaska and the Great Plains pose a threat to moose and bison.

This comes as no surprise to Jeff Martin, Ph.D., and Dan Thompson, Ph.D., both recent graduates from the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, who dedicated their doctoral research to examining the effects of warming temperatures on big game.

One component of Martin’s research measured heat flux in bison, while Thompson aimed to understand body temperature regulation in moose.

Understanding how large game respond to rising temperatures provides key insights into the future sustainability of moose and bison populations on landscapes where increased warming has become a concern.

Perry Barboza, Ph.D., a Texas A&M AgriLife Research professor in the Departments of Ecology and Conservation Biology and Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, served as Martin and Thompson’s primary mentor for the duration of their program.

“Critical areas of bison habitat and moose habitat are getting hotter and that is affecting the productivity of moose and bison,” Barboza said. “These animals are keystones to their ecology, culturally important and vital to the livelihood of many.”

Perkin receives recognition as 2020 Adair Advisor of the Year

Nominating students underscore Perkin’s heart for students, passion for fisheries

Dr. Joshuah Perkin with fish — Dr. Perkin, image courtesy of Riverscape Ecology Lab

Student Activities in the Division of Student Affairs named Joshuah Perkin, Ph.D. the 2020 Adair Registered Organization Advisor of the Year.

Perkin was recognized for his leadership in the Texas A&M Student Chapter of the American Fisheries Society.

According to the Division of Student Affairs, Advisor of the Year Awards are given to outstanding faculty or staff advisors who exhibit strong leadership qualities and are committed to a philosophy of shared responsibility, character development and service.

“Individuals recognized for this award demonstrate an exceptional commitment to working with students outside of the classroom, as well as expertise that benefits their respective student organizations,” Division of Student Affairs writes.

Perkin was nominated by a handful of students involved in the Texas A&M Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, who said that he is a model mentor in the classroom and the field.

Debunking fears and inspiring achievement

Lauren Yancy is the current president of the student chapter, and says that since her first AFS meeting as a freshman at Texas A&M, Perkin has challenged her to overcome her fears and achieve her goals in the discipline.

Yancy said that she will never forget how Perkin first introduced himself and addressed the student chapter. Perkin told the students a story of his own experience as a student, who had doubts about his ability to be successful as a fisheries scientist.

He spelled out his journey to show students that with passion, dedication, and the right people behind them, they can reach their goals.

“I often set goals for myself that I think I will be able to attain, rather than ones I’ll have to go above and beyond to achieve because of the fear that ‘I am not smart enough,’” Yancy said. “Since Dr. Perkin told that story in AFS, I have not pushed aside any potential careers as ‘unattainable,’ because I realized that I don’t know what I can and can’t do, unless I try.”

Yancy said that Perkin is the epitome of the perfect mentor for students to learn from and look up to. She explained that Dr. Perkin is inclusive of students, encourages them to contribute to research and discussions, and challenges them to think critically as fisheries scientists.

She said his hands-on approach to learning also provides valuable opportunities for students to grow and develop important skills.

“If a student is willing to put in hard work, he will absolutely match it to get them involved with research or learning experiences,” Yancy said. “He is also very generous in providing opportunities for the students to learn fisheries techniques, using his own gear and sampling tools that they otherwise would not have access to.”

A passionate, dedicated mentor

Perkin’s other nominators echoed many of the statements about his dedication to students and passion for fisheries.

“After meeting Dr. Perkin I have grown more excited, motivated and inspired to be in this field. He exudes passion and encourages excitement,” one nominator wrote.

This individual, a senior at Texas A&M University, stated that Dr. Perkin has grown her interest in research, challenging her to “wake up a bit earlier to read relevant research reports” and grow her understanding of work that’s being done in the field.

Another AFS member underscored these comments about Dr. Perkin with her own experiences, noting her gratitude for the role he has played in her own academic journey.

“Dr. Perkin has worked side by side with me to develop a project and has introduced me to people within the field of fisheries to expand my network,” she wrote in her nomination letter. “He has challenged me in ways that will make me a competitive candidate for graduate school, while making sure I am comfortable with all that is on my plate.”

This same student stated that her experience isn’t unique, and affirmed that Perkin extends the same effort to other students hoping to get involved.

“Dr. Perkin has not only extended himself to help me; he has been responsible for involving numerous other undergraduates in research,” she wrote.

She stated that Dr. Perkin not only cares deeply about their academic achievements, but also seeks to provide avenues for students to gain more experience in the field, to better set them up for success after graduation.

This kind, passionate, and resourceful mentor, she writes, is transforming students in AFS.

“In the short time I have known him, I have seen how a young professor with passion and drive can make a huge difference, not only in an organization like TAMU AFS, but in students’ lives.”

To stay up-to-date with the Texas A&M Student Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, visit their Facebook and Instagram pages.

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Uncategorized

A stake in the game

Suckermouth Armored Catfish, image courtesy of Edwards Aquifer Authority.

Addressing invasive fish management through organized spearfishing

Caleb Blanton, a 2019 wildlife and fisheries sciences graduate, planned on going to medical school, but quickly realized—the ocean was calling.

At the time, Blanton worked as an undergraduate teaching assistant in the microbiology lab at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Some of his coworkers referred him to the Applied Biodiversity Science Conservation Scholars, ABSCS Program, and a few potential faculty members who could help him, which led Blanton to Joshuah Perkin, Ph.D.

“The program gave me the funds and the ability to work with a PI to do my own research, as well as participate in a summer research program of my choosing,” Blanton said. “Dr. Perkin was kind enough to agree to help me with my spring research and I got the opportunity to work with Dr. Joel Llopiz at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in the summer of 2019.

While Blanton’s spring research didn’t get him to the ocean, it did allow him to engage in hands-on aquatic research. Blanton said he learned of the growing problem of invasive suckermouth armored catfish, SAC, in the San Marcos River from conversations with Kirk Winemiller, Ph.D. and approached Dr. Perkin with some ideas on how to address them.

“There was not much research being done on that particular population and Perkin already had some experience in that region,” Blanton said.

Applying a new technique for stock assessment

The pair decided to investigate management of the species further, by looking into how spearfishing might contribute to population control.

“The intent of the research was to determine the effects of the local bi-annual spearfishing competition, as well as the contracted spearfishing, on the population size of the SAC in the San Marcos River,” Blanton stated.

Perkin is an assistant professor in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology. He leads research in the Riverscape Ecology Lab and served as Blanton’s primary mentor on the study.

“The Edwards Aquifer Authority began collecting data on the numbers and sizes of SAC removed by spearfishing from the San Marcos River in 2014, but the data had not been formally analyzed.” Perkin stated, “It was excellent timing for Caleb to be interested in assessing the effects of removal just as a new analysis method was developed by marine fishery scientists.”

To achieve this goal, the research team set three objectives for their study. The first was to review the global distribution of the species to document the spread of invasion and identify areas where their assessments might be applied. Additionally, the team set out to assess removal patterns in spearfishing tournaments from 2015-2018.

The most involved, however, was their final objective—which aimed to use a newly developed statistical model to assess changes in the length-frequency of SAC harvested from the San Marcos from spearfishing over a four-year period.

This method, called the length-based Bayesian biomass estimation method, or LBB, uses the number of speared suckermouth armored catfish and the length of the fish that is caught and applies several fisheries equations to produce a graph.

“This graph can tell us what the exploited biomass is overall, relative to what the biomass is without spearfishing,” Blanton said. “In turn, we can use this data to determine if our spearfishing efforts are working to reduce or maintain the population.”

Blanton said using the LBB method was effective, as they were able to obtain records and data regarding SAC removal per day over the years, from Nick Menchaca, with Atlas Environmental, who organized the spearfishing competitions.

Blanton and Perkin completed the study and their findings were recently published in Fisheries Magazine, a peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes articles relating to fisheries sciences.

“Results revealed spearfishing control efforts increases mortality 1.5-1.75-times beyond natural background mortality, and that biomass was 20-30% of what it would be without control,” the pair state in their most recent article.

Perkin said that this study contributes needed data regarding the efficacy of the SAC removal program.

“Invasive species control programs require clear goals and evidence of advancement toward said goals to justify continued funding,” Perkin said. “This study provides managers with decision-support tools for developing formal program goals.”

Perkin stated that another benefit is that the time series results provide a way to assess progress toward program goals.

Laying foundations for the future

Blanton and Perkin said their study represents the application of a new fisheries stock assessment tool to the problem of invasive fish management and posit that the length-based Bayesian biomass estimation method can be applied to other invasive species control programs.

“The Blanton et al. study provides estimates of removal efficiency based on state-of-the-art modelling,” Perkin said. “Our next challenge is to validate these estimates using independent methods.

Perkin said their next project involves developing experiments that address the mechanism of reduced biomass. Perkin said the follow-up study will provide a clearer view of how spearfishing removal compares to natural mortality.

This study also laid the groundwork for other research with suckermouth armored catfish management in the San Marcos River. Perkin and undergraduate researcher Allison Hay were featured talking about that research in the July 2020 newsletter produced by the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan.

Blanton said this undergraduate research experience allowed him to network, collect and analyze data and gave him the opportunity to present research and become familiar with the journal submission process. All of these things, Blanton said provided him with a foundation to be successful in the future.

Blanton is currently living in New York, working to achieve his career goals.

“I was very lucky to have the opportunity to participate in this program early on,” Blanton said. “Getting hands-on research experience as an undergraduate student gave me valuable insight and gave me a starting point for my goals in marine science.”

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Graduate Student Research Uncategorized

Old-growth grasslands should be valued, not destroyed

Environmental policymakers value ancient forests, but old-growth grasslands have not received the same recognition. That’s a mistake, Texas A&M experts say.

Source: Old-growth grasslands should be valued, not destroyed | AgriLife Today

New old-growth grassland study

Joseph Veldman, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, has been working to counter the misperception that Earth’s grasslands and savannas are ecologically depauperate places that are degraded by fire and large grazing animals.

Back in 2015, Veldman led an international group of ecologists to publish a foundational paper, which argued that the concept of “old growth,” a term long applied to ancient forests, should be extended to ancient grasslands and savannas. Whereas antiquity in forests can often be seen in large trees, signs of age in old-growth grasslands are often hidden underground, in roots and buried stems, or in distinctive communities of rare or endemic plants.

Now Ashish Nerlekar, a Texas A&M doctoral student, and Veldman are bringing a new scientific study to the discussion, with their recently published article “High plant diversity and slow assembly of old-growth grasslands” in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Welcome to ECCB

Welcome to the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology –

It is my honor to introduce you to the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, a new unit in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences established in January 2020 through a restructuring of the former departments of Ecosystem Science and Management (ESSM) and Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences (WFSC). I believe I speak for all my colleagues when I say that I am extremely excited about our new department and the outstanding people who have joined together to advance shared interests in teaching, research and professional service.

The mission of our department is to conduct interdisciplinary research across all ecological levels, from genes to ecosystems, to conserve biodiversity and natural resources in our rapidly changing world. Our new undergraduate and graduate teaching programs will prepare students for scientific careers in ecology and related fields of study as well as careers in in biological conservation and natural resource management. As we prepare to admit students into these new programs, we continue to mentor and teach students enrolled in the former degree programs in partnership with our colleagues in the new Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management (RWFM).

The Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology is dedicated to achieving recognition for excellence among academic programs in ecology and conservation biology. Our ecological and conservation research includes field projects conducted throughout Texas and the world. Research training and experiences prepare our students to become leaders capable of solving complex environmental problems that affect biodiversity, ecosystem services and people worldwide.

The department will offer an undergraduate major in ecology and conservation biology designed to prepare students for a wide range of careers in science and conservation. The major has four tracks: Ecology and Conservation Biology, Ecoinformatics, Forestry, and Vertebrate Zoology. Each of these tracks will prepare students for admission into a graduate or professional program for advance training. Individual tracks also will position graduates to move directly into the workforce in specific fields, including forestry, natural resource conservation, veterinary medicine, fisheries ecology, biodiversity assessment, environmental management, and a host of other careers that address emerging environmental challenges. The department also offers graduate programs for M.Sc. and Ph.D. students that prepare students for professional careers in academia, science, and conservation practice in either the public or private sector.

We encourage you to explore our website and learn more about our educational programs, people, and exciting opportunities to engage in research and conservation outreach. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.

Sincerely,
Dr. Kirk Winemiller
Interim Department Head