Fitzpatrick Lab
 | Ben Fitzpatrick Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology My major interests are in the genetics and biogeography of speciation, the importance of local adaptation for both evolution and conservation management, and invasion biology. I encourage graduate students to develop their own research questions, which may involve my primary study organisms (salamanders) or not. Dept. of EEB My Publications |
 | Stesha Pasachnik PhD Student Ctenosaurs are threatened by habitat destruction, over-harvesting, and lack any real form of protection. To address the high level of intra-generic diversity within this clade I plan to conduct a three-fold molecular evaluation of the ctenosaurs along the Caribbean borders and islands of Honduras, an area of high endemism. My Webpage |
 | Matt Niemiller PhD Student My Web Site My Publications |
 | R. Graham Reynolds PhD Student I am currently investigating the effects of island physical geography on population level genetic structuring of the insular genus Leiocephalus. I am also interested in studying basic biology and spatial ecology of the Bahamian Boas ( Epicrates , see photo), with an eye towards conservation and local community involvement in management. My current work is with L. psammodromus and E. chrysogaster in the Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies. My Web Site My Publications |
 | J.R. Jones Masters Student My current research involves investigation of the widespread phenomenon of similar color polymorphism in salamanders of the genus Plethodon. I am examining spatial and temporal trends in morph frequencies in two species (P. serratus and P. ventralis) to either support or refute Highton’s claim of character displacement between these two species in eastern Tennessee. I am also exploring the possibility of resource partitioning (through examination of dietary composition) and differences in territorial behavior in both sympatric and allopatric populations of the two. |
 | Dylan Dittrich-Reed PhD Student |
 | Megan Todd-Thompson Masters Student My current research aims to better understand Ranavirus in salamanders. I plan to examine genetic variation of ranavirus strains across watersheds to understand how the virus is moving through populations. |
Affiliated Lab Members
 | Fordyce Lab |
 | James Fordyce Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
My Web Site |
 | Darrin Hulsey Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
My Web Site |
 | Premal Shah PhD Student I am currently building and using models of translation to understand the impact of selection and drift on the evolution of DNA sequences. I am also working on a neutral model of cultural evolution to understand how ideas spread, compete and then eventually become memories of the past generation (i.e., die off). My Web Site |
 | Sarah Duncan Masters Student The major focus of my research is a molecular genetic investigation into variation in social behavior phenotypes, particularly in the social spider, Anelosimus studiosus. |
 | Jason Robinson PhD Student |
 | Lisa McDonald PhD Student My dissertation research focuses on the way in which plant cardenolide chemistry influences the arthropod community of Apocynum cannabinum, Apocynum androsaemifolium, and their putative hybrid, Apocynum x floribundum. I am particularly interested in the specialist herbivores that feed on these toxic plants and sequester cardenolides from them for their own defense. My Web Site |
 | Kerry Hansknecht PhD Student For my Ph.D. research, I am examining geographic variation and stimulus control of prey luring by Saltmarsh Snakes, Nerodia clarkii. I seek to determine the relative importance of chemical, visual, and mechanical cues in eliciting luring behavior. I also wish to discover whether or not habitat complexity, prey density, and prey proximity affect snakes' tendency to lure. A more long-term goal involves quantifying the effectiveness of prey luring by these and other snakes. My Web Site |
Past Lab Members
| John Placyk Post-Doc - now Assistant Professor of Biology at University of Texas at Tyler My most recent research has focused on the molecular phylogeography of organisms, especially in the Great Lakes region, and on conservation genetics. We are focusing on differences between populations of Butler's gartersnake (T. butleri)using mtDNA, nuclear DNA, and morphological and behavioral data, to help us better understand relationships between populations, and relationships between T. butleri and the plains gartersnake (T. radix) with which it is known to hybridize. In the Fitzpatrick lab, I worked on understanding relationships between the endangered California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) and the invasive barred tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum mavortium) that is hybridizing with it in an attempt to help conservation efforts and to better understand hybrid fitness. My Webpage |
 | Tze Ping Heah Undergraduate |
| Andrea Moodhart Undergraduate Wildlife Management Area, Blount County, TN. |