Resume

• 2005

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

  Quantitative Biology

  Phi Sigma

  The University of Texas at Arlington

• 2002

  Master's Degree

  Biology

  General

  The University of Texas at Arlington

• 1994

  Bachelor's Degree

  Wildlife Science

  Stephen F. Austin State University

• 1990

  High School

  Honors

  Football

  Track

  UIL Science

  FFA

  Forestry

  Wildlife

  Hull-Daisetta High School

• 276

  Viviparity

  the bearing of live young

  has evolved well over 100 times among squamate reptiles. This reproductive strategy is hypothesized to allow maternal control of the foetus' thermal environment and thereby to increase the fitness of the parents and offspring. Two hypotheses have been posited to explain this phenomenon: (i) the cold-climate hypothesis (CCH)

  which advocates low temperatures as the primary selective force; and (ii) the maternal manipulation hypothesis (MMH)

  which advocates temperature variability as the primary selective force. Here

  we investigate whether climatic and geographic variables associated with the CCH vs. the MMH best explain the current geographical distributions of viviparity in lizards while incorporating recent advances in comparative methods

  squamate phylogenetics and geospatial analysis. To do this

  we compared nonphylogenetic and phylogenetic models predicting viviparity based on point-of-capture data from 20 994 museum specimens representing 215 lizard species in conjunction with spatially explicit bioclimatic and geographic (elevation and latitude) data layers. The database we analysed emphasized Nearctic lizards from three species-rich genera (Phrynosoma

  Plestiodon and Sceloporus); however

  we additionally analysed a less substantial

  but worldwide sample of species to verify the universality of our Nearctic results. We found that maximum temperature of the warmest month (and

  less commonly

  elevation and maximum temperature of the driest quarter) was frequently the best predictor of viviparity and showed an association consistent with the CCH. Our results strongly favour the CCH over the MMH in explaining lizard reproductive mode evolution.

  Reproductive mode evolution in lizards revisited: updated analyses examining geographic

  climatic and phylogenetic effects support the cold-climate hypothesis. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 27 (12)

  Melissa Nicholson

  Silvicultural managers use fire to reduce competition with commercial species

  reduce fuel loads

  and enhance recreational experiences by removing underbrush. These bums can have a dramatic effect on leaf-litter macroarthropods and the reptilian

  mammalian

  and arthropod predators that prey upon them. This study examines the effects of fire on macroarthropod density and richness by sampling the leaf litter at different sites within a mixed hardwood-pine forest in East Texas at various stages of recovery from a low-intensity prescribed burn. Leaf litter samples were obtained from the field and the macroarthropods were separated using a Tullegren funnel and identified to order. We found that macrorthropod density is initially depleted

  but generally returns to no-burn levels within two to three years. Richness remains relatively constant

  but fungivores

  such as Diplopods

  are absent from all burned sites. We suggest that the recovery of macroarthropod density is a prerequisite for the associated recovery of predatory species and may be instmmental in the recovery of the leaf litter community as a whole.

  Macroarthropod Leaf Litter Community Recovery after Prescribed Fire in an East Texas Mixed Hardwood-Pine Forest

  Laura Gough

  The Common Five-Lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)

  Southeastern Five-Lined Skink (P. inexpectatus)

  and Broadheaded Skink (P. laticeps) are all found in forested ecosystems of the southeastern United States and occur in apparent sympatry. No aspect of their ecology has been quantitatively shown to be different. Differences in their natural history

  such as northern extent of geographic range

  observations of differences in habitat preference

  and differing physiological responses to temperature

  implicate the thermal environment as a potential niche dimension by which these organisms partition resources. Here we show that the northernmost extent of each species' range can be adequately discriminated by temperature extremes and that their preferred habitats differ in canopy cover

  mean temperature

  and daily maximum temperatures. These differences are supported by observations in the field. Based upon these findings and observations

  we conclude that these species may be able to exist in such close proximity due to differences in their thermal niche

  particularly the two like-sized species

  P. fasciatus and P. inexpectatus. P. laticeps is a much larger lizard as an adult and functionally coexists with its congeners

  potentially by partitioning resources along a different axis.

  The role of temperature in determining distributions and coexistence of three species of Plestiodon

  Hollow copper models painted to match the reflectance of the animal subject are standard in thermal ecology research. While the copper electroplating process results in accurate models

  it is relatively time consuming

  uses caustic chemicals

  and the models are often anatomically imprecise. Although the decreasing cost of 3D printing can potentially allow the reproduction of highly accurate models

  the thermal performance of 3D printed models has not been evaluated. We compared the cost

  accuracy

  and performance of both copper and 3D printed lizard models and found that the performance of the models were statistically identical in both open and closed habitats. We also find that 3D models are more standard

  lighter

  durable

  and inexpensive

  than the copper electroformed models.

  Three dimensional printing as an effective method of producing anatomically accurate models for studies in thermal ecology

  I am an integrative evolutionary biologist with interest and training in physiology

  biogeography

  biodiversity

  conservation

  and evolutionary ecology. Current projects integrate field ecology

  physiological laboratory trials

  and GIS technology to answer broad-scale evolutionary and ecological questions. Mentoring of future scientists and providing high-quality instruction in the classroom are also top priorities as a well-rounded university professor.

  Charles

  McNeese State University

  The University of Texas at Arlington

  Midwestern State University

  The Dallas Zoo

  The Ellen Trout Zoo

  Midwestern State University

  The Ellen Trout Zoo

  Lufkin

  Texas

  Reptile Keeper

  Supervisor of Herpetology

  Dallas/Fort Worth Area

  The Dallas Zoo

  Wichita Falls

  Texas

  Associate Professor of Biology

  Midwestern State University

  Arlington

  Texas

  Lecturer and Laboratory Coordinator

  The University of Texas at Arlington

  Lake Charles

  Louisiana

  Assistant Professor of Biology and Health Sciences

  McNeese State University

  Member

  Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology

  Member

  International Biogeography Society

  Associate Editor

  BoD Local Meeting Representative SWAN 2013

  Southwestern Association of Naturalists

  2007 UTA Chapter President

  Phi Sigma Society

  Member

  Horned Lizard Conservation Society

  Member

  American Society of Naturalists

  Communications Officer (Webmaster)

  2012/13 President

  Texas Herpetological Society

  Member

  Society for the Study of Evolution

  The MWSU Student Government Association

  MWSU Biology Professor of the Year

  Midwestern State University Biology Students

• Dallas Regional Science and Engineering Fair

  Watch D.O.G.

  Watson Elementary School

  Garland ISD

  Public Speaking

  Statistics

  Data Analysis

  Biology

  Research

  Science

  Teaching

  Ecology

  University Teaching

  Laboratory Skills

  Biodiversity

  PowerPoint

  Higher Education

  Microsoft Office

  Laboratory

  SELECTION OF AVAILABLE POST-FIRE SUBSTRATE BY THE GROUND SKINK

  SCINCELLA LATERALIS (SQUAMATA: SCINCIDAE)

  Burning of the forest floor alters the structural components that constitute the \norganic substrate. Many small animal species inhabit this layer

  which typically consists of \nleaf litter from surrounding trees. The availability of a species' preferred substrate can be a \nfactor in the rate of recolonization following a fire. Using pair-wise choice trials within a \ncontrolled environment

  preference of substrate typically available after a burn by Scincella \nlateralis was determined. These skinks primarily select hardwood leaf litter and ...

  SELECTION OF AVAILABLE POST-FIRE SUBSTRATE BY THE GROUND SKINK

  SCINCELLA LATERALIS (SQUAMATA: SCINCIDAE)

  A COMPARISON OF MAXIMUM SPRINT SPEED AMONG THE FIVE-LINED SKINKS (PLESTIODON) OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES AT ECOLOGICALLY RELEVANT TEMPERATURES

  Daniel Formanowicz

  Three species of Five-lined Skinks (Plestiodon fasciatus

  P. laticeps

  and P. \ninexpectatus) are found in the forest of the southeastern United States. They are similar in \nmorphology and habit and are sympatric over the southern portion of their ranges. Field \nobservations suggest that temperatures of preferred natural habitat differ among these \nspecies. To determine whole-animal physiological differences associated with thermal \naspects of their habitats

  we quantified and compared maximum sprint speed at four ...\n

  A COMPARISON OF MAXIMUM SPRINT SPEED AMONG THE FIVE-LINED SKINKS (PLESTIODON) OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES AT ECOLOGICALLY RELEVANT TEMPERATURES

  Three congeneric lizards from the southeastern United States (Plestiodon fasciatus

  P. inexpectatus

  and P. laticeps) exhibit a unique nested distribution. All three skink species inhabit the US Southeast

  but two extend northward to central Ohio (P. fasciatus and P. laticeps) and P. fasciatus extends well into Canada. Distinct interspecific differences in microhabitat selection and behavior are associated with the cooler temperatures of the more Northern ranges. We hypothesized that interspecific differences in metabolic temperature sensitivity locally segregates them across their total range. Resting oxygen consumption was measured at 20°

  25° and 30°C. Plestiodon fasciatus

  from the coolest habitats

  exhibited greatly elevated oxygen consumption compared to the other species at high ecologically-relevant temperatures (0.10

  0.17 and 0.83 ml O2. g-1. h-1 at 20°

  25° and 30°C

  respectively). Yet

  P. inexpectatus

  from the warmest habitats

  exhibited sharply decreased oxygen consumption compared to the other species at lower ecologically-relevant temperatures (0.09

  0.27 and 0.42 ml O2. g-1. h-1 at 20°

  25° and 30°C

  respectively). Plestiodon laticeps

  from both open and closed microhabitats and intermediate latitudinal range

  exhibited oxygen consumptions significantly lower than the other two species (0.057

  0.104 and 0.172 ml O2. g-1. h-1 at 20°

  25° and 30°C

  respectively). Overall

  Plestiodon showed metabolic temperature sensitivities (Q10s) in the range of 2–3 over the middle of each species’ normal temperature range. However

  especially P. fasciatus and P. inexpectatus showed highly elevated Q10s (9 to 25) at the extreme ends of their temperature range. While morphologically similar

  these skinks are metabolically distinct across the genus’ habitat

  likely having contributed to their current distribution.

  Interspecific Differences in Metabolic Rate and Metabolic Temperature Sensitivity Create Distinct Thermal Ecological Niches in Lizards (Plestiodon)

  Christian Cox

  Paul Pasichnyk

  Corey Roelke

  Numerous vertebrates employ one or more autotomous body parts as an anti-predation mechanism. Many lizards possess an autotomous tail that is brightly colored blue

  which has been suggested to either serve as a decoy mechanism to divert predator attention to the autotomous body part

  as an interspecific signal

  or as an aposematic signal to predators that it is distasteful or dangerous. While theoretical studies suggest that a conspicuous autotomous body part that increases the probability of escape while not increasing the rate of detection will be favorable over a completely cryptic form

  there is little empirical evidence supporting the adaptive benefit of an autotomous blue tail. We used in situ clay models of a scincid lizard to test the fitness consequences of blue coloration. Lizard models with a dark base color and blue decoy coloration experienced no measurable difference in avian predation relative to an all-dark model

  which suggests that blue coloration neither serves as an aposematic signal nor increases the conspicuousness of the lizard model. Despite statistically similar attack rates

  avian attacks on models with blue coloration were indeed focused on body sections that were colored blue. Our results suggest that the blue tail in lizards serves as an effective decoy

  and that avian predation has possibly played a role in the evolution of the blue tail.

  The fitness consequences of the autotomous blue tail in lizards: an empirical test of predator response using clay models