Dr. Ammerman's Web Pages

Loren K. Ammerman

Assistant Professor

Department of Biology

Angelo State University

E-mail: Dr. Loren K. Ammerman
Office: Cavness- Room 003B
Lab: Cavness 106
Office Hours: TBA for Fall 2006, and by appointment
Phone: 325-942-2189 ext. 243

Searching Genbank

Angelo State Natural History Collection

Angelo State University Library

Education:

B.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, 1987
Ph.D. Zoology, University of Texas at Austin, 1993

Dissertation title: Examination of the relationships of Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera based on mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences.

Teaching Responsibilities:

Web pages for classes are handled through Blackboard. You must be enrolled in the class to access the material posted on the class web page.

Cell Biology - Biology 3403
Human Biology - Biology 1410
Man and the Environment - Biology 1411
Molecular Biology - Biology 4350
Advanced Genetics - Biology 6342
Special Topics: Natural History of Bats

Student Projects:

Graduate Students:

Gema Guerra - Genetic variability in the Western Spotted Skunk, Spilogale gracilis. MS student and Carr Research Student, co-advised with Robert Dowler.
Carson Brown - Genetic population structure of a migratory bat, Leptonycteris nivalis: Implications for the Conservation of an Endangered Species. MS student and Carr Research Scholar.
Molly McDonough - Genetic variability within Eumops glaucinus. MS student.
Dawn Weir - Characterization of a strain of Staphylococcus caprae that harbors the gene for enterotoxin A. Completed MS degree in May 2006.
Amy Vestal - Genetic variation among populations of the Davis Mountains cottontail rabbit, Sylvilagus floridanus robustus, in the mountains of Trans-Pecos, Texas. Carr Research Scholar, co-advised with Robert Dowler. Completed MS degree in May 2005.
Scott Clement - Phylogeographic relationships of endemic rodent species of the Galapagos. Co-advised with Robert Dowler. Completed MS degree in December 2004.
Suzanne Tomlinson - Enterotoxin A production by an atypical Staphylococcal isolate. Co-advised with Crosby Jones. Completed MS degree in May 2004.
Amanda Matthews - Trophic ecology of the free-tailed bats Nyctinomops femorosaccus and Tadarida brasiliensis (Chiroptera: Molossidae) from Big Bend National Park. Completed MS degree in December 2002 , employed by URS Corp in Las Vegas.
Rogelio Rodriguez - Phylogenetic relationships and phylogeography of Myotis californicus and Myotis ciliolabrum (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in the southwestern United States. Completed MS degree in December 2002.
Jana Higginbotham - Chiropteran community structure and seasonal dynamics in the Chihuahuan desert, Big Bend National Park, and observations on Lasiurus xanthinus in Texas. Completed MS degree in May 1999 at University of Texas at Arlington.

Currently, I am looking for motivated students that would like to earn their Master of Science degree in mammalogy/systematics using either field or laboratory techniques (or a combination of both). I enjoy working with mature, responsible students that are interested in developing and conducting a successful project. Although I expect some degree of independence from a graduate student, I am willing to discuss projects, questions, problems at any time.

Undergraduate Students:

Eeshita Dastidar - Distribution of the SINE element VES in chiropteran families (Carr Research grant)
Amy Bishop - Taxonomic affinity of the genus Myopterus based on DNA sequence data
Lisa Smith - Investigation of DNA sequence errors among multiple cloned PCR products.
Shirley Hammond - Phylogenetic relationships among cockatoo genera using beta-fibrinogen intron 7 DNA sequence data.
Sandy Bradstreet - Cytochrome b DNA sequence variation in African shrew species (in collaboration with Robert Baker at Texas Tech University).
Jennifer Apodaca - Molecular systematics of free-tailed bat genera using beta-fibrinogen DNA sequences.
Anica Debelica - Food habits of Big Free-tailed bats,Nyctinomops macrotis, in Big Bend National Park.

Research Interests:

I am interested in using molecular data to reconstruct evolutionary relationships of organisms and to investigate species boundaries. Projects on bonneted bats (Eumops), African shrews, and cockatoos are currently underway. I am also interested in community structure and the ecology of bats, especially in Big Bend National Park and the Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande.

Current Projects:

Molecular systematics of the family Molossidae (free-tailed bats).

Examination of genetic and karyotypic variation in Eumops glaucinus from across their range. Funded by Research Enhancement Grant 2005.

A new method to census endangered Leptonycteris nivalis using a thermal imaging camera and computer vision techniques. Collaboration with Thomas Kunz and funded by Bat Conservation International North American Bat Conservation Partnership Fund.

Mammal survey of the Rio Grande Corridor with emphasis on the Terlingua Creek drainage. Collaboration with Robert Dowler. This work is funded by a subcontract with Sul Ross from USDA (Sustainable Agricultural Water Conservation project).

Bat surveys of five Texas National Guard Sites. Collaboration with Robert Dowler and Rogelio Rodriguez. Funded by Texas National Guard.

Teaching Experience:

(at Texas Wesleyan University and University of Texas at Arlington):

Cell and Molecular Biology
Cell Biology
Anatomy and Physiology
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
Mammalogy
Special Topics: Natural History of Bats
Tropical Biology and Vertebrate Field Techniques
Technical Writing

Publications:

Debelica, A., A. K. Matthews, and L. K. Ammerman. 2006. Dietary study of big free-tailed bats (Nyctinomops macrotis) in Big Bend National Park. Southwestern Naturalist 51 (3): 414-418.
Ammerman, L.K. 2006. High-tech bat counts: Tapping the promise of thermal imaging. BATS 25 (2): 10-12.
Ammerman, L. K. 2005. Noteworthy records of the Eastern Pipistrelle, Perimyotis subflavus, and Silver-haired bat, Lasionycteris noctivagans, (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from the Chisos Mountains, Texas. Texas Journal of Science 57: 202-207.
Rodriguez, R. M. and L. K. Ammerman. 2004. Mitochondrial DNA divergence does not reflect morphological difference between Myotis californicus and Myotis ciliolabrum. Journal of Mammalogy 85:842-851.
Castoe, T. A., P. T. Chippindale, J. A. Campbell, L. K. Ammerman, and C. L. Parkinson. 2003. Molecular systematics of the Middle American jumping pitvipers (genus Atropoides) and phylogeography of the Atropoides nummifer complex. Herpetologica 59: 420-431.
Matthews, A.K. and L. K. Ammerman. 2003. Recapture of a banded pocketed free-tailed bat (Nyctinomops femorosaccus) in Big Bend National Park Texas. Bat Research News 44: 4.
Ammerman, L. K., R. M. Rodriguez, J. L. Higginbotham, and A.K. Matthews. 2002. Bats from the lower canyons of the Rio Grande. Texas Journal of Science54 (4):369-374.
Higginbotham, J. L. and L. K. Ammerman. 2002. Chiropteran community structure and seasonal dynamics in Big Bend National Park. Special Publications, Museum of Texas Tech University, 44:1-44.
Ritzi, C. M., L. K. Ammerman, M. T. Dixon, and J. V. Richerson. 2001. Bat ectoparasites from the Trans-Pecos region of Texas, including notes from Big Bend National Park. Journal of Medical Entomology 38 (3): 400-404.
Harvey, M. B., D. G. Barker, L. K. Ammerman, and P. T. Chippindale. 2000. Evolutionary history and systematics of pythons of the Morelia amethistina complex (Serpentes: Boidae) with the description of three new species. Herpetological Monographs 14:139-185.
Higginbotham, J. L., M. T. Dixon, and L. K. Ammerman. 2000. Yucca provides roost for Lasiurus xanthinus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Texas. Southwestern Naturalist 45 (3): 338-340
Higginbotham, J. L., L. K. Ammerman, and M. T. Dixon. 1999. First record of Lasiurus xanthinus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Texas. Southwestern Naturalist 44(3): 343-347.
Chippindale, P. T. , L. K. Ammerman, and J. A. Campbell. 1998. Molecular approaches to phylogeny of Abronia (Anguidae: Gerrhonotinae), with emphasis on relationships in subgenus Auriculabronia. Copeia 1998 (4): 883-892.
Hillis, D. M., L. K. Ammerman, M. T. Dixon, and R. O. de Sa. 1993. Ribosomal DNA and the phylogeny of frogs. Herpetological Monographs 7: 118-131.
Ammerman, L. K., and D. M. Hillis. 1992. A molecular test of bat relationships: Monophyly or diphyly? Systematic Biology 41 (2): 227-232.
Hillis, D. M., M. T. Dixon and L. K. Ammerman. 1991. The relationships of the coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae: Evidence from sequences of vertebrate 28S ribosomal RNA genes. Environmental Biology of Fishes 32: 119-130.
Ammerman, L. K., and D. C. Morizot. 1989. Biochemical genetics of endangered Colorado squawfish populations. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 118 (4): 435-440.

Professional Affiliations and Service:

Texas Society of Mammalogists- Secretary-Treasurer (and Past-President)
Society of Systematic Biologists
American Society of Mammalogists
Southwestern Association of Naturalists (Secretary)
Curator of Frozen Tissues for the Angelo State Natural History Collection

Visit the Angelo State Natural History Collection web site.

LINKS TO UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON CLASS FIELD TRIP PHOTOS:

Group Photos from Mammalogy and Maymester field trips
Mammalogy class July 1997- Big Bend National Park
Mammalogy class June 1998 - Big Bend National Park
Natural History of Bats 1999 - Big Bend National Park and Eckert James River Bat Cave
Natural History of Bats 2000 - Big Bend National Park and Eckert James River Bat Cave

This web page was created by Loren K. Ammerman. Revised 8 August 2006.