Fisheries & Wildlife

Nov. 10, 2017

Jared E. Decker

IDENTIFYING LOCI RESPONDING TO SELECTIONIn 2012 Decker published a method, now called Generation-Proxy Selection Mapping, to identify loci responding to current selection. In this analysis, birth date (as a surrogate to generation number) is fit as the dependent variable in a mixed model equation. Variants that have changed in frequency rapidly due to selection are strongly associated with birth date, thus the method identifies regions under selection. The mixed model equations correct for demography, relatedness, and population structure within the data. We have previously used this method in Angus cattle using approximately 45,000 SNPs. In 2021, Decker’s group published…

Oct. 27, 2017

Michael Byrne

Educational background Ph.D. Wildlife and Fisheries Science, Louisiana State University Courses taught Principles of Wildlife Management Ornithology…

Oct. 27, 2017

Sybill K. Amelon

Amelon’s studies focus on ecology of bat species related to population demography, behavioral ecology, resource selection, habitat use, diet/nutritional analysis and energy dynamics. A range of techniques are used including temperature sensitive radio-telemetry to monitoring of bats outfitted with passive transponders (PIT tags) and population genetics to help understand social behavior, winter / summer movements, roosting habitat selection and different overwintering strategies. Her disease research focuses on understanding and mitigating physiological impacts caused by WNS in bats. Mortality rates in affected hibernacula generally exceed 75% and have been documented as high as 99-100%. Focus is on mitigation tools to increase…