Jessica Castaneda-Gill successfully defends thesis

Biology graduate student, Jessica Castaneda-Gill, presented her thesis research Monday : "Multilocus Melt Typing of Xylella fastidiosa Subspecies using Real-time PCR". Her thesis research focused on using a genetic technique to quickly identify variants of a bacteria that infects grapes and other plants. Jessica will be entering the Cell and Molecular Biology PhD program at the University of Texas San Antonio in August. Congratulations Jessica, and good luck!

Successful field trip

Dr. Pfau, three undergrads, and an alum recently returned from a field trip in Arkansas. Their goal was to collect specimens of cotton rats and gophers so that DNA could be obtained for genetic studies. Despite some things being stolen from their campsite, the trip was enjoyable and successful. Now to the lab to extract DNA!

Dr. Keith publishes article

Dr. Donald Keith wrote an article for 'The Bay Islands VOICE' about his experiences at the Swan Islands off the coast of Honduras.

Keith, Donald E. 2008. Islands of the Swan. The Bay Islands VOICE. 6(12): 12-17.

Faculty/students publish paper

Dr. Nelson and undergraduate students Elizabeth Watson and Mark Nelson (along with colleague Dr. Goetze at Laredo Community College) are pleased to announce that their research on the state threatened Texas kangaroo rat has been accepted for publication.

Nelson, A. D. , J. R. Goetze, E. Watson, and Mark Nelson. 2009. Changes in vegetation patterns and its effect on Texas kangaroo rats (Dipodomys elator). Texas Journal of Science.

Where are they now?

Sara Harsley has just started a job with Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD) at the Possum Kingdom Fish Hatchery. She will be conducting algae counts and assessing water quality. Sara graduated December with a MS in Biology. Sunni Taylor finished her Masters degree at Texas State University and is now working towards a PhD there. She is studying hybrid speciation in irises that occur in Louisiana. Cassie Cox took a position as a park interpreter at Ray Roberts Lake State Park for TPWD. Cassie graduated in 2008 with a BS in Biology.

Alum returns to give presentation

Lin Huffman, a PhD candidate at University of Texas and alum of the Tarleton Biology program, presented her research in a seminar Friday, hosted by the Tarleton chapter of Sigma Xi. Her presentation was entitled “From dud to stud: African cichlid fish as a model of social transition". [Some may remember her as Lin Winton.]

Students/faculty attend conference, one receives award

Faculty and students from the Department of Biological Sciences at Tarleton State University attended the 26th Annual Meeting of the Texas Society of Mammalogists at Junction, Texas on February 22-24.

Two graduate students, Sam Kieschnick and Terry Johnson gave oral presentations at the meeting. Sam’s paper entitled “Assessing population genetic structure of Baird’s pockect gopher with AFLP was coauthored by Dr. Russell Pfau and Dr. Philip Sudman from Tarleton.

Terry’s presentation entitled “Population genetics of the Texas mouse” was coauthored by Dr. Russell Pfau from Tarleton and Dr. Gregory M. Wilson from the University of Central Oklahoma. Four undergraduate students also made presentations at the meeting.

Cassie Cox presented “Influence of woody vegetation on small mammals in shortgrass prairie” coauthored with Dr. Raymond Matlack from West Texas A&M University. Cassie received the Rollin H. Baker Award for her presentation. This award is presented for the best overall oral presentation by an undergraduate student. [Way to go Cassie!]

Elizabeth Watson presented a poster entitled “An analysis of the ecological preferences of the Texas kangaroo rat”. Coauthors for this poster included Tarleton undergraduate Mark Nelson, graduate student Danielle Breed, Dr. Jim Goetze from Laredo Community College, and Dr. Allan Nelson from Tarleton.