PEOPLE |
Dr. Matthew Kwiatkowski
Current Students
Zac Selden
Zac is investigating how shell morphology in Razorback Musk Turtles varies among river drainages. |
Former Graduate Students
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Ashley Kobisk, M.S. 2021
Ashley investigated how noise and light pollution impacts the call behavior of frog species in eastern Texas. She found that light pollution can affect male call site and that noise pollution can affect call parameters in some species. Thesis: Effects of Anthropogenic Light and Noise on Anuran Breeding. Publications: Kobisk, A., and M. A. Kwiatkowski. 2023. Effects of anthropogenic light on anuran calling site. Environmental Pollution 333: 15 September 2023, 122005. |
Leah Perez, M.S. 2019
Leah was co-advised by Dr. Jenny Gumm. She investigated amino acid sequence variation in visual opsins among anuran species in eastern Texas. Some of the variable sites found are known to tune spectral sensitivity in vertebrates and evidence of positive selection was found for the long wavelength sensitive cone opsin LWS. Thesis: Visual Opsin Diversity in Anurans Publications: Schott, R. K., L. Perez, M. A. Kwiatkowski, V. Imhoff, and J. M. Gumm. 2022. Evolutionary analyses of visual opsin genes in frogs and toads: Diversity, duplication, and positive selection. Ecology and Evolution 2022; 12:e8595. doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8595 Perez, L. K., J. D. Childress, M. A. Kwiatkowski, D. Saenz, and J. M. Gumm. 2021. Calling phenology and call structure of sympatric treefrogs in eastern Texas. Ichthyology & Herpetology 109(1):219-227. doi.org/10.1643/h2019326 |
Laura Springer, M.S. 2016.
B.S. Texas A&M Univeristy Laura investigated movement patterns and habitat use in Southern Crawfish Frogs, Lithobates (Rana) areolatus at the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge. Thesis: Home Range and Activity Patterns in the Southern Crawfish Frog (Rana areolata) |
Ross Maynard, M.S., 2014.
Ross investigated the effects of a primitive road on herpetofauna communities in the Amazon Rain Forest in Ecuador. Thesis: Road-edge Effects on Herpetofauna in a Lowland Amazonian Rainforest. Publications: Maynard, R. J., N. C. Aall, D. Saenz, P. S. Hamilton, and M. A. Kwiatkowski. 2016. Road-edge effects on herpetofauna in a lowland Amazonian rainforest. Tropical Conservation Science 9:264-290. |
Erin Childress, M.S., 2011.
B.S., Stephen F. Austin State University Erin investigated the mechanisms in which leaf litter from Chinese Tallow, an invasive tree, impacted the survivorship of larval Southern Leopard Frogs. Thesis: Interactions Between Invasive Species and Climate Change: The Effect on an East Texas Anuran. Publications: Saenz, D., E. M. Fucik, and M. A. Kwiatkowski. 2013. Synergistic effects of the invasive Chinese Tallow (Triadica sebifera) and climate change on aquatic amphibian survival. Ecology and Evolution 3:4828-4840. |
Taylor Hall, M.S., 2010.
B.S., Texas A&M University Taylor investigated how predators influenced the behavioral and morphology of larval and post-metamorphic Cricket Frogs. Taylor, we miss you. RIP, friend. Thesis: Effects of Predators on Larval Morphology in Cricket Frogs, Acris crepitans. Publications: Saenz, D., T. L. Hall, and M. A. Kwiatkowski. 2014. Effects of urbanization on the occurrence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis: Do urban environments provide refuge from the amphibian chytrid fungus. Urban Ecosystems 18:333-340. Hall, T., D. Saenz, and M. A. Kwiatkowski. 2013. Differential jumping performance in newly metamorphosed Blanchard's Cricket Frogs (Acris blanchardi) from fish and invertebrate dominated ponds. Phyllomedusa Journal of Herpetology 12:89-96. |
Taylor Cotten, M.S., 2009.
B.S., Texas A&M University
Taylor investigated how anuran larvae (frog tadpoles) are affected by leaf litter from an invasive tree, Chinese Tallow.
Thesis: Effects of an Invasive, Non-native Tree on Anuran Larval Development.
Publications:
Cotten, T., M. A. Kwiatkowski, D. Saenz, and M. Collyer. 2012. Effects of an invasive plant, Chinese Tallow (Triadica sebifera) on development and survivorship of anuran larvae. Journal of Herpetology 46:186-193.
B.S., Texas A&M University
Taylor investigated how anuran larvae (frog tadpoles) are affected by leaf litter from an invasive tree, Chinese Tallow.
Thesis: Effects of an Invasive, Non-native Tree on Anuran Larval Development.
Publications:
Cotten, T., M. A. Kwiatkowski, D. Saenz, and M. Collyer. 2012. Effects of an invasive plant, Chinese Tallow (Triadica sebifera) on development and survivorship of anuran larvae. Journal of Herpetology 46:186-193.
Brendan Kavanagh, M.S., 2009.
B.S., Ball State University Brendan investigated patterns of sexual dimorphism in Razorback Musk Turtles, Sternotherus carinatus, as well as community structure of turtles found in urban and natural areas. Thesis: Sexual Dimorphism, Movement Patterns, and Diets of the Razorback Musk Turtle (Sternotherus carinatus) and Community Characteristics of Turtle Populations Inhabiting Two Small Streams of East Texas. Publications: Kavanagh, B. T., and M. A. Kwiatkowski. 2016. Sexual dimorphism, movement patterns, and diets of the Razorback Musk Turtle (Sternotherus carinatus). Southeastern Naturalist 15 (SI 9):117-133. Saenz, D., B. Kavanagh, and M. Kwiatkowski. 2010. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis detected in amphibians from national forests in eastern Texas, USA. Herpetological Review 41:47-49 |
Former Undergraduate Students. The following students have helped with research in our lab over the years.
If you worked with Dr. Kwiatkowski and aren't on this list, please send him an email (link at top right). And If your info needs updating, please contact Dr. Kwiatkowski. |
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