Past research and ongoing projects. For more details, please email me for my CV.
effects of temperature on host responses to parasitismSummer 2022. By artificially manipulating the temperature of the nest boxes of eastern bluebirds, I have been able to determine effects of heat on certain immune gene expression and morphological development of nestlings. Manuscript forthcoming.
Presented at SICB 2023, in Austin TX. |
Environmental Factors Driving Nest Parasite Evolution Across Time and SpaceOngoing. Host-parasite interactions vary widely across a landscape. To explore these relationships, we monitor a system of box-nesting birds (specifically S. sialis and T. bicolor) and their nest parasites. In collaboration with the Nest Parasite Community Science Project— a network of nest box landlords across the eastern United States— we seek to answer what environmental factors may be influencing these relationships, and how they will continue to change in the face of climate variability.
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Potential Anuran Carriers of Emerging Salamander Pathogen in the Pet Trade2020-2021. A potential pathway into North America of devastating pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans is through the international pet trade. If this emerging pathogen is introduced to America, it could have devastating consequences on salamander populations. This project focused on testing the susceptibility and carrier potential of the most highly traded frog species. Data from this project will be used to understand pet trade-related risk of introduction.
In collaboration with the Piovia-Scott lab. |
Mitigation and prevention of fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans2018-2021. Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) is a fungal pathogen affecting salamanders that has already caused significant declines in European salamander populations. Were this pathogen to spread to North America, it would have devastating consequences, as the Appalachian region specifically harbors a global salamander biodiversity hotspot.
I have assisted with several interdisciplinary projects involving researching treatments and prevention strategies of Bsal under the guidance of Dr. Molly Bletz. |