BioNews 2002

BioNews 2002

8/12/02 Biology graduate student Caleb Hickman was a finalist in the student paper competition at the national meeting of the Herpetologists' League in Kansas City in July 2002. The Herpetologists' League is an international scientific society whose members are interested in the study of amphibians and reptiles. Caleb's presentation of the results of his thesis research on predator detection by salamanders received a $200 award. His study was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Alicia Mathis.

Bull Shoals Open House

5/19/02 Weather was perfect for the third annual Bull Shoals Field Station Open House. Highlights included a mammalogy display, an ornithology field trip hosted by Audubon Society volunteers, as well as other natural history tours of the station.

Neurobiology of Headaches

5/2/02 Dr. Paul Durham and students are using cultured neurons to study the effects of drugs used to treat migraine headaches. Paul recently published a review titled "New insights into the molecular actions of of serotonergic antimigraine drugs" in the journal Pharmacology and Therapeutics (2002, 94:1-16).

Getting a head

5/2/02 Visitors to the comparative vertebrate anatomy lab will be impressed by two specimens recently added to the teaching collection. Dr. Alicia Mathis obtained life-size casts of the skulls of Hippopotamus and the dinosaur Allosaurus. Other skulls are on display outside Temple Room 242. Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (BIO 380) is taught in the fall and spring semesters.

Kevin Murray wins thesis award

3/20/02 Biology graduate student Kevin Murray won this year's Distinguished Master's thesis competition in the Natural Sciences, from the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools. Murray's thesis was chosen among entries from 150 graduate schools in 16 states. Murray's thesis advisor is Dr. Lynn Robbins.

Summer field opportunity

2/25/02 Mountain Ecology (BIO 527) will consist of preliminary meetings and a two-week camping trip to the Rocky Mountains (Arizona to Idaho) from the end of July to mid-August. This class will enable students to see gorgeous scenery while collecting ecological data. Cost will be $300 for food, transportation, and fees (plus tuition for 2 credits). Permission must be obtained from Dr. Tomasi before registering.

A Visit to Turnback Cave

11/12/01 Missouri State students and faculty joined Missouri Department of Conservation Department biologists and members of the Ozark Highlands Grotto for a cave life survey and cave restoraion work. The Missouri Cave Fauna Survey is looking for volunteers.

Mussel survey reveals endangered species

9/9/01 Research biologists Bryan Simmons (left) and Christian Hutson unload a mission’s worth of mussels they gathered from the bottom of the Sac River.

(Edmée Rodriguez / News-Leader)