Current Students
Ivy Carleton
Something about exosomes and turtles
Something about exosomes and turtles
Lucelia Leen
Something about exosomes and turtles
Something about exosomes and turtles
Nicole Beckett
Something about turtles and parasites
Something about turtles and parasites
Violet Corcoran
Violet has been working in the lab on a number of projects including studying blood parasites and immune cells in threatened turtles from the Dominican Republic. As part of a larger study, this initial research will form the basis of a field-course entitled "Expedition Biology" where students will work alongside the non-governmental organization Grupo Jaragua, to study the biology of two slider turtles species: the Dominican slider (Trachemys stejnergeri) and the Haitian slider (Trachemys decorata).
Violet has been working in the lab on a number of projects including studying blood parasites and immune cells in threatened turtles from the Dominican Republic. As part of a larger study, this initial research will form the basis of a field-course entitled "Expedition Biology" where students will work alongside the non-governmental organization Grupo Jaragua, to study the biology of two slider turtles species: the Dominican slider (Trachemys stejnergeri) and the Haitian slider (Trachemys decorata).
Joseph Cuchiara
Joseph is a naturalist at heart with a particular passion for reptiles and their conservation. Currently conducting an internship with the Orianne Society, Joseph will be analyzing whether corticosterone measured in sheds from threatened indigo snakes can be used as a non-invasive marker to diagnose infection with Cryptosporidium serpentis. This common parasite kills both free-living snakes as well as those in the breeding facility, and its rapid detection, even through an indirect method, can help in quarantine procedures that can limit its potential spread.
Joseph is a naturalist at heart with a particular passion for reptiles and their conservation. Currently conducting an internship with the Orianne Society, Joseph will be analyzing whether corticosterone measured in sheds from threatened indigo snakes can be used as a non-invasive marker to diagnose infection with Cryptosporidium serpentis. This common parasite kills both free-living snakes as well as those in the breeding facility, and its rapid detection, even through an indirect method, can help in quarantine procedures that can limit its potential spread.
Lab Alumni
Nicole Rodriguez-Martinez
Nicole is conducting NSF-sponsored research investigating how both acute and chronic stress impacts exosomes. Secreted by all cells to circulate through the blood plasma, exosomes can carry messenger RNA molecules that can alter the functions of cells that receive them. This exciting line of work will attempt to link steroid signaling and production with exosomes using the ubiquitous brown anole lizard (Anolis sagrei) as the model. This project can lead to many exciting advances in both comparative endocrinology, our understanding of stress and steroids, and even to new understanding of steroid-related diseases. Nicole is ready and able to see this project through. |
Cody Iserman
Cody is leading the turtle research this year and is focused on understanding the microbial communities and parasites present on the turtle assemblages of Winter Park. In collaboration with Dr. Brendaliz Santiago-Narvaez, Cody is describing the oral and cloacal microbes on turtles, quantifying blood parasites and developing a means to assess the load of turtle leeches, the critter that transmits the blood parasites. This exciting research has the potential to uncover new microbes on this largely understudied group of animals. Might even get super lucky and discover a new microbe. In addition, Cody is also the patient teacher as he trains the next generation of turtle crew. |
Micheal Nichter
Micheal will be quantifying reproductive timing and investment by freshwater turtles in our study sites using ultrasound techniques. Ultrasound is a safe way to examine internal soft tissues and will Micheal will test how it can be used in turtles to determine the number of follicles and eggs and whether the timing of ovulation and oviposition (egg laying) can be predicted. With some luck and good images we might be able to diagnose egg retention or even get estimates of the age of the eggs. Ultrasound methods are widely used in reptile research, but the hard shell of turtles complicates its use. With a fascination for all things turtle, Micheal might be just the person to figure it out.
Micheal will be quantifying reproductive timing and investment by freshwater turtles in our study sites using ultrasound techniques. Ultrasound is a safe way to examine internal soft tissues and will Micheal will test how it can be used in turtles to determine the number of follicles and eggs and whether the timing of ovulation and oviposition (egg laying) can be predicted. With some luck and good images we might be able to diagnose egg retention or even get estimates of the age of the eggs. Ultrasound methods are widely used in reptile research, but the hard shell of turtles complicates its use. With a fascination for all things turtle, Micheal might be just the person to figure it out.
Anna Kaza In brown anole (Anolis sagrei) lizards, steroids can be produced in a number of tissues besides the classic endocrine organs, like the gonads and adrenals. However, this process is not understood in mammals, let alone studied in reptiles. Anna's research will develop the tools needed to explore the role of exosomes in transmitting messenger RNA from one organ to another. First she will aim to develop and refine an exosome extraction protocol for use in our lizard model system, and then determine whether stress can impact exosome release. Although this is a high risk yet high reward project, Anna is committed to being the person for the job. |
Yoke Tassent
Turtles in a trap presents many challenges to the stress biologist, with the foremost being determining an adequate baseline from which to compare results. Yoke will be conducting a pharmacological study to determine how the secretion of adrenal steroids: corticosterone, cortisol and DHEA are regulated by both the classic pituitary ACTH hormone and by the Neuropeptide Y (NPY) system. Using a combination of synthetic NPY agonists for the range of receptors types, Yoke will determine if NPY acts as a secretogue in the adrenals of red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta), as has been reported in mammals. Demonstrating NPY as a regulator would provide a novel link between food intake, which NPY controls, and the stress response.
Katie Caldwell
Katie has been hard at work trapping turtles with the aim of testing the interrelatedness of stress responses measures and understanding how they vary across the urban aquatic landscape. In particular, she is interested in how these stress relates to water quality and other characteristics. Beyond just circulating corticosterone, she will be quantifying the steroids concentrations in claws, the presence of blood parasites, leukocyte counts, a nutrient panel, and the activity of catalase, an antioxidant enzyme. Her work is focused on the turtle assemblage in and around Winter Park, including the Mead Botanical Gardens and the beautiful shoreline of Rollins College on Lake Virginia.
Katie has been hard at work trapping turtles with the aim of testing the interrelatedness of stress responses measures and understanding how they vary across the urban aquatic landscape. In particular, she is interested in how these stress relates to water quality and other characteristics. Beyond just circulating corticosterone, she will be quantifying the steroids concentrations in claws, the presence of blood parasites, leukocyte counts, a nutrient panel, and the activity of catalase, an antioxidant enzyme. Her work is focused on the turtle assemblage in and around Winter Park, including the Mead Botanical Gardens and the beautiful shoreline of Rollins College on Lake Virginia.
Zephyr Lenninger
Zephyr is passionate about neuroscience and all things brain. With that understanding, she has been working in my lab trying to validate antibodies for Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and its various receptors in song sparrow brains. Although we know a lot of NPY and its role in controlling food intake, much less is known about its other neural functions. Having one of the widest distributions of any neuropeptide in the avian brain, suggests it may have other behavioral roles and could form a bridge between feeding and other behaviors. She has been busy sectioning and staining brains and conducting immunocytochemistry to explore how different feeding regimes could influence the entire NPY signaling system.
Zephyr is passionate about neuroscience and all things brain. With that understanding, she has been working in my lab trying to validate antibodies for Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and its various receptors in song sparrow brains. Although we know a lot of NPY and its role in controlling food intake, much less is known about its other neural functions. Having one of the widest distributions of any neuropeptide in the avian brain, suggests it may have other behavioral roles and could form a bridge between feeding and other behaviors. She has been busy sectioning and staining brains and conducting immunocytochemistry to explore how different feeding regimes could influence the entire NPY signaling system.
Taylor Brock
Taylor is studying how differences in the hormonal stress response of urban and forest brown anoles (Anolis sagrei) may have enabled these populations to respond differently to Hurricane Irma which struck Central Florida as a category 2 on Sept 10, 2017. Blood and brain samples collected just prior to and following the storm will be used to measure corticosterone concentrations and energy metabolites, and also alternative physiological metrics such as the blood cell counts and hematocrit. In addition, comparisons of population densities and behavioral interactions will permit one of the most comprehensive studies of the impacts of a natural disaster on a wildlife species as well as address basic questions about the role of the vertebrate stress response in facing unpredictable challenges. She is also running samples for our collaborative project with the University of Oxford looking at stress measurements in European badgers (Meles meles).
Taylor is studying how differences in the hormonal stress response of urban and forest brown anoles (Anolis sagrei) may have enabled these populations to respond differently to Hurricane Irma which struck Central Florida as a category 2 on Sept 10, 2017. Blood and brain samples collected just prior to and following the storm will be used to measure corticosterone concentrations and energy metabolites, and also alternative physiological metrics such as the blood cell counts and hematocrit. In addition, comparisons of population densities and behavioral interactions will permit one of the most comprehensive studies of the impacts of a natural disaster on a wildlife species as well as address basic questions about the role of the vertebrate stress response in facing unpredictable challenges. She is also running samples for our collaborative project with the University of Oxford looking at stress measurements in European badgers (Meles meles).
Ada Spahija
Ada is investigating the differential gene expression of steroid synthesizing enzymes in brown anoles (Anolis sagrei) that have either been fasted or fed. Ada will be testing the hypothesis that fasting increases localized steroid production in a wide range of tissues, and this includes increasing the concentrations of the necessary enzymes. Local steroid synthesis is a recently described phenomena, that would suggest tissues can generate their own steroid needs apart from the classic endocrine pathways we learn about in school, however the factors precipitating this unclear. Perhaps metabolic shifts are involved. Understanding the conditions that promote local steroid synthesis has implications for health conditions, such as steroid-based cancers. Ada is a master of reverse-transcription and she is currently optimizing PCR conditions and testing primer sets for eventual use in quantitative PCR (qPCR). She acquired this skill set in her biology courses here at Rollins. You can read more about Ada's research on her poster. |
Leah Elkhoury
Leah is investigating how energetic state influences the propensity for aggression during territorial bouts in the male brown anole (Anolis sagrei). Leah has been working on testing various conditions of food security including 1) fasts of different durations; 2) varying the degree of predictability in the food supply, and 3) varying the caloric content of their cricket diet. She is spending the summer watching videos of lizards fighting over food and making their characteristic territorial displays. By developing a solid, repeatable behavioral paradigm for testing aggression under food insecurity, her work can then be used on other species, and hopefully will mark an new area of interest in behavioral ecology. In her downtime, Leah is also actively involved in our lab's Econ River Urban Herp project, where she gets to drive the Kawasaki Mule. Leah presented this research at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) meeting in San Francisco in Jan 2018 as a poster.
Leah is investigating how energetic state influences the propensity for aggression during territorial bouts in the male brown anole (Anolis sagrei). Leah has been working on testing various conditions of food security including 1) fasts of different durations; 2) varying the degree of predictability in the food supply, and 3) varying the caloric content of their cricket diet. She is spending the summer watching videos of lizards fighting over food and making their characteristic territorial displays. By developing a solid, repeatable behavioral paradigm for testing aggression under food insecurity, her work can then be used on other species, and hopefully will mark an new area of interest in behavioral ecology. In her downtime, Leah is also actively involved in our lab's Econ River Urban Herp project, where she gets to drive the Kawasaki Mule. Leah presented this research at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) meeting in San Francisco in Jan 2018 as a poster.
Micaela Castro
Mica is exploring the relationship between a protein, known as neuropeptide Y (NPY) and food intake in the brown anole lizard (Anolis sagrei). This neuropeptide is implicated as the central appetite stimulating molecule within the brain, but NPY might also be involved in other behaviors, such as aggression, thus providing a possible biochemical link between food availability and territorial behavior. Mica is spending the summer determining the proper dosage and routes of administration that will alter food intake in this species, and will spend a lot of time watching videos of lizards eating. Somebody's got to. In the future, we hope to expand this study and determine the receptor that NPY might be using and the brain areas involved. Mica is also an avid naturalist and is actively involved in our lab's Econ River Urban Herp project. Mica presented her research at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) meeting in San Francisco in Jan 2018 as a poster.
Mica is exploring the relationship between a protein, known as neuropeptide Y (NPY) and food intake in the brown anole lizard (Anolis sagrei). This neuropeptide is implicated as the central appetite stimulating molecule within the brain, but NPY might also be involved in other behaviors, such as aggression, thus providing a possible biochemical link between food availability and territorial behavior. Mica is spending the summer determining the proper dosage and routes of administration that will alter food intake in this species, and will spend a lot of time watching videos of lizards eating. Somebody's got to. In the future, we hope to expand this study and determine the receptor that NPY might be using and the brain areas involved. Mica is also an avid naturalist and is actively involved in our lab's Econ River Urban Herp project. Mica presented her research at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) meeting in San Francisco in Jan 2018 as a poster.
Rachael Munoz
Rachael is investigating how acute fasting influences the ability for steroid synthesis by both the classic steroidogenic organs (e.g., testes, adrenals) but also other tissue types. Using the brown anole (Anolis sagrei) as her model, she plans to measure steroid concentrations across a range of organ tissues. This research could expand our understanding of the how energy status can impact localized steroid production. Rachael was also absolutely instrumental in setting up the lizard colony at Rollins College and troubleshooting the initial husbandry of the animals. Findings from Rachael's work is available on her summer research poster. We also have photos of the research as part of the student-faculty collaborative scholarship program.
Rachael is investigating how acute fasting influences the ability for steroid synthesis by both the classic steroidogenic organs (e.g., testes, adrenals) but also other tissue types. Using the brown anole (Anolis sagrei) as her model, she plans to measure steroid concentrations across a range of organ tissues. This research could expand our understanding of the how energy status can impact localized steroid production. Rachael was also absolutely instrumental in setting up the lizard colony at Rollins College and troubleshooting the initial husbandry of the animals. Findings from Rachael's work is available on her summer research poster. We also have photos of the research as part of the student-faculty collaborative scholarship program.
Sarah Wright
Sarah investigated how energetic state influences the link between hormones and territorial behavior during the non-breeding season. She conducted a food supplementation experiment on wild Northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) during the winter months and measured territorial behavior and changes in circulating levels of the adrenal steroid hormones: corticosterone and DHEA. Although much is understood concerning the role of steroids in regulating aggression during breeding, much less research has examined the relationship between hormones and behavior in the non-breeding seasons of animals and especially the role of food availability. This study was the first to examine how food impacts non-breeding territorial behavior in a wild animal. Read more about Sarah's research on her poster.
Sarah investigated how energetic state influences the link between hormones and territorial behavior during the non-breeding season. She conducted a food supplementation experiment on wild Northern cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) during the winter months and measured territorial behavior and changes in circulating levels of the adrenal steroid hormones: corticosterone and DHEA. Although much is understood concerning the role of steroids in regulating aggression during breeding, much less research has examined the relationship between hormones and behavior in the non-breeding seasons of animals and especially the role of food availability. This study was the first to examine how food impacts non-breeding territorial behavior in a wild animal. Read more about Sarah's research on her poster.
Zoe Mack
As an aspiring veterinarian, Zoe developed a novel method for the extraction and purification of the stress hormone, cortisol, from the nail of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). Through a collaboration with Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital, and using a homogenization and solid phase extraction technique perfected in the lab, Zoe could quantify cortisol from the nail. This is a significant achievement, as this embedded cortisol signature provides an index of cortisol secretion over a long period of time, unlike current methods used in the veterinary industry (e.g., blood, saliva, and hair) which either provide measures of current cortisol levels (that likely increase in a dog just by seeing the Vet's office) or require large amounts of sample to detect cortisol. This novel technique can potentially be used to diagnose many canine ailments that alter cortisol production, including Cushing's and Addison's diseases and adrenal tumors. Zoe presented this research at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) meeting in Jan 2014 as a poster.
As an aspiring veterinarian, Zoe developed a novel method for the extraction and purification of the stress hormone, cortisol, from the nail of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). Through a collaboration with Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital, and using a homogenization and solid phase extraction technique perfected in the lab, Zoe could quantify cortisol from the nail. This is a significant achievement, as this embedded cortisol signature provides an index of cortisol secretion over a long period of time, unlike current methods used in the veterinary industry (e.g., blood, saliva, and hair) which either provide measures of current cortisol levels (that likely increase in a dog just by seeing the Vet's office) or require large amounts of sample to detect cortisol. This novel technique can potentially be used to diagnose many canine ailments that alter cortisol production, including Cushing's and Addison's diseases and adrenal tumors. Zoe presented this research at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) meeting in Jan 2014 as a poster.
Ben Radin
Ben was involved in a collaborative project (with Dr. Kiran Soma at the University of British Columbia) investigating seasonal changes in appetite-stimulating neurohormones: neuropeptide Y and orexin in the brain of song sparrows (Melospiza melodia). In particular, he was interested in determining whether the behavioral regions of the brain contain these neurohormones, and whether the degree of immunostaining varies between birds sampled from the spring breeding season and the winter non-breeding season. Both of these neurohormones increased in the non-breeding season, but in specific regions of the brain, including many of those that express the enzyme aromatase that regulates estrogen levels in the brain and stimulates aggressive behavior. The data Ben collected provide further evidence for a role of energy in regulating the mechanisms that control non-breeding territorial behavior in birds. Ben presented this research at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) meeting in Jan 2014 as a poster.
Ben was involved in a collaborative project (with Dr. Kiran Soma at the University of British Columbia) investigating seasonal changes in appetite-stimulating neurohormones: neuropeptide Y and orexin in the brain of song sparrows (Melospiza melodia). In particular, he was interested in determining whether the behavioral regions of the brain contain these neurohormones, and whether the degree of immunostaining varies between birds sampled from the spring breeding season and the winter non-breeding season. Both of these neurohormones increased in the non-breeding season, but in specific regions of the brain, including many of those that express the enzyme aromatase that regulates estrogen levels in the brain and stimulates aggressive behavior. The data Ben collected provide further evidence for a role of energy in regulating the mechanisms that control non-breeding territorial behavior in birds. Ben presented this research at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) meeting in Jan 2014 as a poster.