Measuring salamander defensive stickiness
Rebecca Tarvin, Professor
Integrative Biology, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
Closed. This professor is continuing with Fall 2024 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Spring 2025.
Amphibians -- frogs, salamanders, and caecilians -- exhibit a stunning variety of chemical defenses, ranging from antimicrobial peptides to antipredator neurotoxins and biological glues. Amphibian glues are the least-studied of these defenses. Additionally, the methods used to measure amphibian stickiness are not standardized, with some researchers gluing together beer cans to demonstrate secretion strength! In this project we aim to 1) design and construct an affordable, portable frame for measuring amphibian stickiness in the field and 2) characterize variation in stickiness between populations of Yellow-eyed Ensatina salamanders (Ensatina eschscholtzii xanthoptica) in the Bay Area.
Role: An undergraduate student is being recruited to assist with development and testing of the frame and (depending on project progress and timing) local California fieldwork. Students will have access to professional development opportunities, including attending weekly lab meetings with the Tarvin lab and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology community events (e.g. seminars, weekly coffee hour, Herp Group, etc.). An overall expected outcome is to develop hands-on design, planning, and field skills and help prepare for a career in science or any other research-intensive field. Highly responsible and inquisitive students may have the option to continue in the spring and – if desired – complete an honors or senior thesis on this project.
Qualifications: We are looking for a rising Sophomore or Junior who meets one or more of the following criteria:
1. Experience with projects involving hand-on construction, design and testing
2. Prior research and/or fieldwork experience
3. Interest in pursuing a senior or honors thesis project
Diligence, patience, communicativeness, and an enthusiasm for amphibians and/or chemical defense are essential qualities for this position.
We aim to recruit 1 student in Fall 2024 for this project.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Kannon Pearson, Graduate Student
Hours: 9-11 hrs
Related website: https://www.tarvinlab.org/research
Biological & Health Sciences