People

Principle Investigator:
Dr FitzgeraldDr. Lee A. Fitzgerald
Professor; Curator – Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections (BRTC)
PhD 1993, University of New Mexico
Research Focus: Evolutionary ecology and conservation biology of amphibians and reptiles

Lab Personnel:
Erin Buchholtz
PhD Candidate
B.A. 2011, Princeton University, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Research Focus: Landscape ecology of human-elephant conflict in northern Botswana, focusing on connectivity
Kristina Chyn
PhD Candidate
B.S. 2014, Cornell University, Science of Natural and Environmental Systems
Research Focus: Effects of road networks on reptiles and amphibians in insular systems, specifically Taiwan and Australia
Mason Lee
MSc Student

Research Focus:
(email)
Mickey Parker
PhD Student
B.S. 2006, Purdue University
Research Focus: Ecological restoration of the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard (Sceloporus arenicolus) in west Texas

Former Postdocs:

  • Dr. Felix B. Cruz CONICET Investigator, National University, Bariloche, Argentina
  • Dr. Gabriela Perotti CONICET Investigator, National University, Bariloche, Argentina

Former Research Associate:

  • Laura R. Laurencio, Research Assistant and ABS webmaster, Texas A&M University

Former Graduate Students:

  • Dr. Danielle Walkup (Ph.D. 2018)
    Dissertation Title:
    Landscape Fragmentation Disrupts the Structure of Population of an Endemic Habitat Specialist Leading to Local Extinctions
  • Dr. Nicole Angeli (Ph.D. 2017)
    Dissertation Title:
    Currently working as a Chief of Wildlife at the Division of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Planning and Natural Resources, U.S. Virgin Islands (website)
  • Dr. Chris Schalk (Ph.D. 2016)
    Dissertation Title:
    Currently Assistant Professor of Forest Wildlife Management, Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX (website)
  • Dr. Mike Treglia (M.S. 2010; Ph.D. 2014)
    Thesis Title: A Translocated Population of the St. Croix Ground Lizard: Analyzing its Detection Probability and Investigating Its Impacts on the Local Prey Base
    Dissertation Title: Multi-Scale Conservation in an Altered Landscape: The Case of the Endangered Arroyo Toad in Southern California
    Currently working as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Tulsa, with Dr. Ron Bonett
  • Dr. Nicole Smolensky (M.S. 2008; Ph.D. 2014)
    Thesis Title: Population Estimation and Effects of Oil and Gas Development on Dune-dwelling Lizards
    Dissertation Title: Biodiversity Conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Case Study of the African Dwarf Crocodiles (Osteolaemus spp.)
    Currently working as Adjunct Faculty at Lone Star College in Houston, Texas
  • Mike Hill
    Currently working for Hawks Aloft, Inc. as a GIS Specialist and Biologist.
  • Rosa Leny Cuellar
    Currently: Director, Kaa-Iya del Gran Chaco National Park, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
  • Dr. Daniel J. Leavitt (Ph.D. 2012)
  • Thesis Title: Ecological consequences of landscape fragmentation on the lizard community of the Mescalero-Monahans Shinnery Sands
    Currently working as Wildlife Specialist at the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
  • Drew Dittmer (M.S. 2012)
    Thesis Title: Sexual Dimorphism in Sceloporus undulatus complex
    Currently PhD Student at University of Newcastle studying the community ecology of culturally important water holes in Uluru Kata-Tjtuta National Park.
  • Heather Prestridge (M.S. 2009)
    Thesis Title: Amphibian and Reptile Trade in Texas: Current Status and Trends
    Currently working as Assistant Curator at the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection at Texas A&M University.
  • Amanda Subalusky (M.S. 2007)
    Thesis Title: The role of seasonal wetlands in the ecology of the American alligator
    Currently in doctoral program at Yale University studying under Dr. David M. Post.
  • David Laurencio (M.S. 2007)
    Thesis Title: Environmental correlates to amphibian and reptile diversity in Costa Rica
    Currently in doctoral program at Auburn University studying under Dr. Craig Guyer. (website)
  • Dr. David Henderson (M.S. 2006) – Non-thesis
    Paper Title: An Introduction to the Mescalero Sands Ecosystem
    Currently Assistant Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion, Western Carolina University (website)
  • Dr. Gage Dayton (M.S. 2001; Ph.D. 2005)
    Dissertation Title: Community assembly of xeric-adapted anurans at multiple spatial scales
    Thesis Title: Abiotic and biotic factors affecting nonrandom distributions of Chihuahuan Desert Anurans
    Currently working as administrative director of the UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserve System.
  • Dr. Dan Saenz (Ph.D. 2004)
    Dissertation Title: Ecological correlates of anuran breeding activity and community structure
    Currently working for the U.S. Forest Service as a Research Wildlife Biologist
  • Margarita Mieres (M.S. 2002)
    Thesis Title: Monitoring and managing the harvest of tegu lizards in Paraguay
    Currently in doctoral program at Texas A&M University studying under Dr. William Grant.
  • Dr. Wade Ryberg (M.S. 2002)
    Thesis Title: Genetic relationships of American alligator populations distributed across different ecological and geographic scales
    Currently working as a postdoctoral research associate in this lab.
  • Claudia Ceballos (M.S. 2001)
    Thesis Title: Native and exotic freshwater turtle and tortoise trade in Texas
    Currently in doctoral program at Iowa State University under Dr. Nicole Valenzuela. (website)
  • Rossy Montaño (Licenciatura 2001: Santa Cruz University, Bolivia)
    Currently Biologist at Wildlife Conservation Society-Bolivia and Curator of Herpetology at Museo de Historia Natural Noell Kempf Mercado, Santa Cruz Bolivia.
  • Dr. Toby Hibbitts (M.S. 2000)
    Thesis Title: Morphological and ecological convergence in two natricine snakes
    Currently Curator of Amphibians and Reptiles at the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection at Texas A&M University. (website)
  • Ryan E. Nelson (M.S. 1999)
    Thesis Title: Habitat selection and thermal biology of a large aquatic ectotherm, the alligator snapping turtle (Macroclemys temminckii)
  • Dr. Laura E. Vega, (PhD 1999, Universidad Nacional Mar del Plata, Argentina)
    Currently Vertebrate Lab Coordinator at Universidad Nacional Mar del Plata, Argentina.
  • Christina Morales, (M.S. 1996, UNELLEZ, Venezuela)
    Currently Minister of Environment (Secretaria del Medioambiente), Paraguay.

Comments are closed.