Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Doctoral Program

Spotlight: Lee Fitzgerald

The dunes sagebrush lizard has recently been the subject of debate due to its addition to the endangered species list. This small reptile’s habitat in the Permian Basin coincides with some of the most productive oil and gas fields in the nation, leading to a conflict between conservation efforts and industry interests.

In a recent segment on WBUR Boston Public Radio program Here and Now, Peter O’Dowd discussed the complexities of this issue with Texas A&M professor and EEB faculty member Lee Fitzgerald, highlighting the challenges of balancing ecological preservation with economic development.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Hagerty/USFWS from a 5/22/24 article in The Texas Tribune.

Spotlight: Chris Butler

Dr. Chris Butler joined the TAMU Biology Department in 2022 as an Instructional Associate Professor and the EEB program Fall 2023. His current research is twofold: (1) exploring the ecology, conservation, and management of secretive marsh birds; and (2) modeling the effects of climate change on the distribution, phenology, and survivorship of a variety of different organisms. His secretive marsh bird research focuses primarily on the federally threatened Eastern Black Rail and the rare Yellow Rail exploring how grazing, prescribed burns, and other management techniques may help maintain or create suitable habitat for these species. His climate change modeling research has been conducted on a variety of vertebrates (e.g., migratory birds, alligator gar), plants (e.g., palms and cacti), parasites (e.g., Angiostrongylus), and others to explore how climate change may affect survivorship, phenology, and distribution of these organisms.

Spotlight: Katy Gonder

Dr. Katy Gonder joined the TAMU Ecology & Conservation Biology Department and EEB program Fall 2023. Her vision as the ECCB Department Head is focused on evidence-based conservation action. When Dr. Gonder is not representing the department or working in her genetics lab at Texas A&M, she is at the Ganga Research Station at Mbam and Dijerem National Park in Cameroon. The park is one of the last strongholds of the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee. Her research focuses on understanding how ecology impacts and influences the cultural and genetic history of chimpanzees.

Read more about her path as department head and her interests in conservation biology in this article in Agrilife Today. 

Spotlight: Serena Farrell

Serena Farrell is an EEB PhD student in the lab of Spencer Behmer, investigating the molecular physiology of insects and how they interact with their environment.  Serena was featured in an ECR spotlight for an article she authored in the Journal of Experimental Biology while an undergraduate student at California State University San Marcos.

Find out more about Serena and work and read the linked article.