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Current Research Interests Briefly, I am interested in the physiological ecology of amphibians and reptiles, including integrative studies that incorporate morphology and behavior. I am interested in almost all aspects of the biology of snakes and tree frogs. I also have long-standing interests in conservation biology, fire ecology, and animal coloration. Current research projects in my laboratory include the following: 1) Studies of cardiovascular structure and function in snakes, with emphasis on adaptations to gravitational stress. We are interested, for example, in how snakes maintain blood flow to the head while preventing edema in the lung or tail during climbing when the body is upright. In this context, arboreal snakes and aquatic snakes such as sea snakes are at opposite ends of an "adaptive spectrum." Spin-off interests from these studies include behavioral ecology of arboreal species of snakes and diving physiology of aquatic species of snakes. 2) Investigations of structure and function of integument, with current emphasis on glandular secretions of tree frogs and their ecophysiological significance. We are interested in comparative studies of wiping behaviors and how they relate to secretion of lipids or other mechanisms for waterproofing the skin. Our long-range goal is to understand the evolution of wiping behaviors and their relationship to lipid secretions that reduce evaporative water loss in arid or semi-arid environments. These studies relate nicely to survival of amphibians in relation to climate change and habitat disturbance. I am also investigating skin lipids and permeability properties of snake skin. 3) Comparative investigations of gut passage rates and storage of fecal mass in snakes. This interest is related to understanding the significance of very long retention times for feces that occur in terrestrial viperid and boid species - in some cases longer than a year! 4) I and my students are conducting long-term, multifaceted research projects related to the ecology of cottonmouth snakes inhabiting the island of Seahorse Key where the University of Florida operates a remote field station (see University of Florida Marine Laboratory at Seahorse Key). Seahorse Key is a small island on the Gulf (west) coast of Florida and is part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. The island is a sanctuary for colonial nesting wading birds and has an unusual and large population of Agkistrodon piscivorus (cottonmouths). I am particularly interesting in a mutualism that occurs between the snakes and colonial nesting birds. We are also conducting studies of water relations, diet, energetics, social behaviors and the genetic structure of the population as it relates to questions about dispersal, isolation, and adaptation to local insular and saline conditions. If you are a prospective graduate student planning to apply to our departmental graduate program, please be advised that it is helpful if prospective students have contacted a faculty member and write a carefully worded research statement that demonstrates your interests match that of the faculty member and/or Department. For your information, I do not require that my graduate students work on the same exact topics I do. Many of my students have worked on diverse projects. At the moment I have two doctoral students and a pending visiting scholar who are working on, respectively:
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