Research
Collaboration among the Institute science staff has always been a major strength at the core of the Institute’s mission. The interpretation of genetic data from wildlife species hinges on a sound knowledge of the biology and behavior of the species in question. Thus, pairing knowledge of genetic techniques with species-specific expertise has resulted in an exciting and diverse array of genetic studies aimed at gaining a better understanding of Texas wildlife. Drs. Leonard Brennan, Fidel Hernandez, and William Kuvlesky have been instrumental in genetic studies of northern and masked bobwhite. Drs. Charles DeYoung, Timothy Fulbright, and David Hewitt have cooperated in studies of white-tailed deer. Dr. Bart Ballard’s interest in wading birds has blossomed into a genetic study of reddish egrets. Drs. Scott Henke and Michael Tewes have initiated studies of striped skunks and the little-known hog-nosed skunk, respectively. Drs. William Kuvlesky and David Hewitt have recently helped initiate a genetic study of wild turkeys. Thus, the Institute science staff’s detailed knowledge of Texas wildlife has helped to identify key questions that could be answered by genetic methods and has played a major role in the rapid growth of the molecular ecology research program. There are currently five graduate students associated with the lab and thirteen projects utilizing this facility for research support.
