In conjunction with advancing management objectives, I investigate physiological and environmental influences of phenotypic expression of invasive snakes and lizards at different timescales. The goal of the research is to discern physiological influences on invasive species' successes and failures to inform management and prevention. This research has included collaborations with federal, state, city, and non-govermental conservation organizations.
I have worked on many different study systems, including wild invasive Burmese Pythons in response to short-term captivity; a population of invasive brown tree snakes in Guam as prey resources fluctuate over 25 years; multiple invasive lizard populations in Florida with differing establishment dates. I found that invasive Burmese pythons are physiologically resilient to capture and captivity stress, which may translate to their invasion success in novel environments. Fluctuating resources over time influenced expression of stress endocrinology in brown tree snakes, and expression of immune and stress reactivity were different among populations of Northern Curly-tailed Lizards and Peters's Rock Agamas. I am currently investigating different techniques for removal of several invasive lizard species by integrating knowledge of behavior and chemosensory systems to develop chemical and robotic lures.
The goals of my continued invasion physiology research are to understand the influence of physiological plasticity on the success of invasive vertebrates throughout the invasion pathway in species with different invasion histories. My research also aims to advance ecological, physiological, and behavioral knowledge of species of interest to improve management tools such as lures, traps, and survey techniques.
I have worked on many different study systems, including wild invasive Burmese Pythons in response to short-term captivity; a population of invasive brown tree snakes in Guam as prey resources fluctuate over 25 years; multiple invasive lizard populations in Florida with differing establishment dates. I found that invasive Burmese pythons are physiologically resilient to capture and captivity stress, which may translate to their invasion success in novel environments. Fluctuating resources over time influenced expression of stress endocrinology in brown tree snakes, and expression of immune and stress reactivity were different among populations of Northern Curly-tailed Lizards and Peters's Rock Agamas. I am currently investigating different techniques for removal of several invasive lizard species by integrating knowledge of behavior and chemosensory systems to develop chemical and robotic lures.
The goals of my continued invasion physiology research are to understand the influence of physiological plasticity on the success of invasive vertebrates throughout the invasion pathway in species with different invasion histories. My research also aims to advance ecological, physiological, and behavioral knowledge of species of interest to improve management tools such as lures, traps, and survey techniques.