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Home / University Directories / Faculty/Staff Directory / Loren Ammerman

Dr. Loren Ammerman

Professor C. J. “Red” Davidson University Professor of Biology, Curator of Genomic Resources Collection, Angelo State Natural History Collections Department of Biology
Email
loren.ammerman@angelo.edu
Phone
325-486-6643
Office
Cavness Science Building 020B
Curriculum Vitae

Experience

Current Projects

  • Examination of multiple paternity in litters of red bats (Lasiurus borealis)
  • Use of genetic data to resolve conflict between datasets in Myotis ciliolabrum and Myotis californicus.
  • Using thermal infrared imaging and PIT tagging to monitor movements of Mexican long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris nivalis) in Big Bend National Park.
  • Community structure and the ecology of bats in Big Bend National Park and the Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande.

Undergraduate Students

  • Brent Wesley – Identifying barcoding gene sequences to distinguish species of century plants (Agave). (Faculty-mentored research grant recipient, Fall 2018-Spring 2019)
  • Sam Harrison – Genetic analysis of the Southern Yellow Bat (Dasypterus ega) (Faculty-mentored research grant recipient, Fall 2017-Spring2018)
  • Sydney Decker – Phylogeography of Northern yellow bats (Lasiurus intermedius) (First-year research experience (FYRE) fellow, Faculty-mentored research grant recipient, Fall 2015-present)
  • Craig Tipton - Techniques for viral screen in tissue samples from bats. Faculty-mentored grant recipient, Fall 2015-Spring 2016.
  • Aimee Denham – Relationship between the extracellular matrix protein HAS2 and longevity in bat species.  Faculty-mentored grant recipient, Fall 2014-Spring 2015.
  • Alexis Mobley – Characterization of p53 transcript variants expressed in bat species.  Faculty-mentored grant recipient, Fall 2013-Spring 2014.
  • Krysta Demere – Bat populations and activity in northern Tom Green and southwestern Coke counties.  Faculty-mentored grant recipient 2012-2013.
  • Candace Frerich – Investigation of hAT and piggyBAC transposase activity in mouse eared bats (genus Myotis) (Student Research Fellow).
  • Candace Frerich – Developing a microsatellite protocol for use in Myotis bats.
  • Andi Lewis – Molecular identification of bats submitted to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
  • Sarah Bartlett – Multigene phylogeny of Eumops species.
  • Candace Frerich – Genotyping isolates of the Bovine Viral Diarrheal Virus using DNA sequence of the 5’ UTR.
  • Marie Tipps – A molecular approach to the phylogenetic position of Cheiromeles (Chiroptera: Molossidae) (Carr Research Scholar).
  • 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.

Graduate Students

  • Virginia Jaquish– An investigation of Agave flower visitation by Antrozous pallidus in the Big Bend region of Texas, MS thesis student, Graduate Research Fellow (Fall 2017-present)
  • Roxanne Pourshoushtari – Assessment of the genetic variability of the Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis) using microsatellite markers, MS thesis student, Graduate Research Fellow (Spring 2017-present)
  • Alex Shaffer– Patterns of gene flow in Spilogale putorius interrupta based on microsatellite markers, co-advised with R. Dowler, Completed MS degree in August 2017.
  • Katie Kuzdak– Effects of drought conditions on the diets of insectivorous bat species: a molecular diet study, Completed MS degree in December 2017.
  • Krysta Demere –Molecular diet analysis of Parastrellus hesperus, Completed MS degree in May 2016.
  • Citlally Jimenez– Characterization of roost sites used by yellow bats (Lasiurus ega and L. intermedius), Completed MS degree in May 2016.
  • Erin Adams – Cave use and migratory movements of Mexican long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris nivalis), Graduate Research Fellow, Completed MS degree in December 2015.
  • Grayson Allred – Bat activity at Devils River State Natural Area, Big Satan Unit, Graduate Research Fellow, co-advised with R. Dowler, Completed MS degree in May 2016.
  • Stephanie Martinez – Annual and seasonal fluctuations in urban roost use by Tadarida brasiliensis, co-advised with R. Dowler, Completed MS degree in December 2015.
  • Laramie Lindsay – Molecular systematics and genetic diversity within the genus Molossus, MS student and Student Research Fellow.  Completed MS degree in May 2014.
  • Tom Horsley – The ecological importance of three members of the genus Artibeus within the Iwokrama Forest in Guyana, South American, MS student and Student Research Fellow.  Completed MS degree in May 2014.
  • Wes Brashear – Genetic structure of a striped skunk population in an urban environment. MS student, co-advised with R. Dowler.  Completed MS degree in August 2013.
  • Sarah Bartlett – Molecular systematics of the bonneted bats, genus Eumops. MS student and Student Research Fellow, Completed MS degree in May 2012.
  • Pablo Rodriguez – Phylogenetic relationship of six rare members of the family Vespertilionidae (Chiroptera) from Malaysian Borneo. MS student and Student Research Fellow.
  • Marie Tipps – Molecular and morphological variation in Townsend’s big-eared bat, Corynorhinus townsendii, in west Texas. MS student and Carr Research Scholar, Completed MS degree in May 2012.
  • Jason Strickland – Phylogeographic variation in the cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorous, in Texas using nuclear AFLP markers and venom protein profiles. MS student, co-advised with J. K. McCoy. Completed MS degree in May 2011).
  • Richard Dolman – Molecular systematics of the fee-tailed bat genus Nyctinomops based on mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data. MS student and Carr Research Scholar, Completed MS degree in August 2009.
  • Dana Lee – Taxonomic status of the Davis Mountain’s cottontail, Sylvilagus robustus, revealed by amplified fragment length polymorphism. MS student and Carr Research Scholar, Completed MS degree in May 2009.
  • Gema Guerra – Genetic variability in the Western Spotted Skunk, Spilogale gracilis. MS student and Carr Research Student, co-advised with Robert Dowler, Carr Research Scholar, Completed MS degree in May 2008.
  • 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, Completed MS degree in May 2008.
  • Molly McDonough – Genetic variability within Eumops glaucinus. Completed MS degree in December 2007.
  • 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.