Herpetology at ASU
What is Herpetology?
The study of amphibians and reptiles is alive and well at Angelo State University. The Angelo State Natural History Collection (ASNHC) currently houses over 13,000 specimens in the amphibian and reptile collections and is always growing. With the help of an NSF Collections Improvement grant we are currently in the process of computerizing all of the collection catalogs and eventually the computerized databases will be accessible through the World Wide Web.
There is also considerable herpetological research in progress at ASU. My research into the evolution of sexual dimorphism (especially in collared lizards, Crotaphytus collaris) includes field studies of behavior, morphology, and color and has recently expanded to use molecular techniques to aid in answering evolutionary questions.
A master's student (James Campbell) is currently using restriction mapping of mitochondrialDNA (mtDNA) fragments to examine variation in reproductive success among female collared lizards in the field and to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships among local populations of collared lizards and their parasites.
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This semester (Spring 2000) herpetology at ASU has gotten a boost by offering a course in General Herpetology BIO(4404). In addition to lecture material on the biology and ecology of amphibians and reptiles, and lab work to learn to identification of Texas herps, students are participating in extensive field experiences. This field work has included participating in surveys of the amphibian and reptile faunas of the San Angelo State Park and the Devil's River State Natural Area. |
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The class field trip to DRSNA (although hampered by cold rainy weather) included construction and operation of drift fence arrays... |
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...and searching for Eurycea in springs along the Devil's River, as well as moving lots of rocks. |
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The field trip also exposed students to the vagaries of field work in remote locations. Check back for more herpetology news, info, and field trip pics. |