People

MEEt The Lab

Drew R. Davis, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator

Assistant Professor of Wildlife Biology
Curator, Gennaro Natural History Museum
Department of Biology, Eastern New Mexico University

Research Affiliate, Biodiversity Collections
Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin

Editor, Herpetological Review
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles

Google Scholar
ResearchGate
Curriculum Vitae (updated 13 January 2023)

Office: Eddy Hall 101
E-mail: drew.davis (at) enmu.edu
Phone: (575) 562-2723

Education:
Ph.D. Biological Sciences: University of South Dakota
M.S. Population and Conservation Biology: Texas State University
B.S. Biology (Ecology, Evolution, Behavior): The University of Texas at Austin

Benjamin W. Genter
High School Student Researcher
SSAR Pre-College Scholar

E-mail: benwgenter (at) gmail.com

Research Project: Updating the distributions of amphibians and reptiles in Indiana

Education:
GED, Columbus North High School; Columbus, Indiana (in progress)

I am making general collections of amphibians and reptiles across Indiana, though the majority of my efforts being focused in the southern half of the state. Collecting efforts are directed towards new distributional records, aiming to better document the distribution of species across this region. However, given that the majority of collections of amphibians and reptiles in Indiana are over four decades old, these collections also aim to document the temporal persistence of species in particular regions, helping to better understand current distributions.

Joshua T. Gonzalez
Undergraduate Researcher

E-mail: joshua.t.gonzalez (at) enmu.edu

Research Project: Mapping the distribution of the Smooth Softshell (Apalone mutica) in the Canadian River

Education:
B.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences; Eastern New Mexico University (in progress)
A.S. Agriculture; Eastern New Mexico University, 2022

I am working on a project that will help better understand the distribution of the Smooth Softshell (Apalone mutica) in areas of the Canadian River in New Mexico. The goal of this study is to provide information on the status and distribution of a rare and elusive turtle species, where little information is known. Because there is little known about the Smooth Softshell, these surveys will provide valuable information for those making land management decisions involving water usage and river management.

Zoe A. Hutcherson
Undergraduate Researcher

E-mail: zoe.hutcherson (at) enmu.edu

Research Project: Digitizing and georeferencing the amphibian and reptile collection of the Gennaro Natural History Museum at Eastern New Mexico University

Education:
B.S. Biology (EEOB); Eastern New Mexico University (in progress)
B.S. Forensic Science (Biology); Eastern New Mexico University (in progress)

Natural history collections are a valuable resource that furthers our understanding of the natural resources of the region. The Gennaro Natural History Museum at ENMU currently contains no digital catalog, which limits the utility and use of this collection. I am working to digitize, inventory, and georeference specimen locality data, so that these specimens and their data can be accessible to the broader scientific community.

Previous Students

Graduate Students

  • Sean M. Collins (M.S. Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences; The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 2022): Examination of amphibian community and environmental relationships in South Texas using environment DNA (eDNA)
  • Rebecca T. Chastain (M.S. Biology; The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 2022): The potential impact of climate change on the distributions of Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides and E. planirostris (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae)
  • Padraic S. Robinson (M.S. Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences; The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 2021): Status, distribution, and conservation of the Black-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus meridionalis) in south Texas
  • Krista M. Ruppert (M.S. Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences; The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 2020): Development and assessment of an environmental DNA (eDNA) assay for the Rio Grande siren and review of eDNA metabarcoding applications (website)
  • Amy P. Bogolin (M.S. Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences; The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 2020): Comparing novel and traditional sampling methodologies to analyze the population status of the Rio Grande cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi)

Undergraduate Students

  • Kalie M. Leonard (B.S. Biology; University of South Dakota, 2018): The effects of the neonicotinoid clothianidin on larval Western Tiger Salamanders
  • Rachel E. Johannsen (B.S. Biology; University of South Dakota, 2017): Curating and georeferencing voucher specimens of amphibians and reptiles in South Dakota
  • Andrew D. Koch (B.S. Biology; University of South Dakota, 2017): Effects of agricultural contaminants and ranavirus infection on stress hormone levels in Plains Leopard Frogs (Rana blairi)
  • Gabrielle A. Maltaverne (B.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences; South Dakota State University, 2016): Establishing amphibian and reptile teaching collections at South Dakota State University and Oak Lake Field Station
  • Katie J. Ferguson (B.S. Biology; University of South Dakota, 2014): Examining the influence of agricultural tile drainage on water-borne hormone levels of larval Western Tiger Salamanders
  • Dominic L. DeSantis (B.S. Wildlife Biology; Texas State University, 2013): Predator avoidance in the Barton Springs Salamander, Eurycea sosorum
  • Michael J. Edwards (B.S. Biology; Texas State University, 2012): Mosquitofish predation on Eurycea salamander eggs and larvae