Current, Ongoing and Past Research

The cricket frogs of the area have been studied by Dr. Michael Ryan and his graduate students, as they pose some interesting evolutionary problems. Their forms have diverged from east Texas conspecifics, but their calls are very similar, suggesting that selection for mating calls may be due to convergence associated with the similarity in the environmental conditions to which the two populations are exposed.

(L-R) John Crutchfield, Lorraine Wyer, Dr. Loraine "Casey" Stengl, and James Gillaspy

Dr. James Gillaspy has collected and curated moths from this area since the late 1980's. The current moth species list is available here.

Surveys of plants and animals in the research area were initiated by Dr. Naomi Cappuccino and the UT Chapter of the Society for Conservation Biology. Dr. Phil Schappert and his wife, Pat, currently residing at the station, are continuing these surveys through a Biological Inventories Project. See the Flora and Fauna lists for more specific occurrence information.

Dr. John Abbott and his students are coordinating the entomological survey portion of the Biological Inventory Project. This entails monitoring up to 4 malaise traps and sorting, curating and mounting the resultant collection. For the last few years they have been actively researching the long-lipped beetle, Teleguisis texensis (Teleguisidae), which is relatively abundant at SLP. The Teleguisdae are a rare and little known family of beetles (7 sp. worldwide, 3 sp. in North America) for which females and immatures remain unknown and undescribed.

Dr. Phil Schappert and his students are investigating cyanogenesis and ant defense in Turnera ulmifolia (non-native), cyanogenesis and pollination biology of T. diffusa (a distylous south Texas native) and the Texas Passifloraceae, especially cyanogenesis of Passiflora incarnata and herbivores of  P. lutea, particularly the flea beetles Disonycha discoidea and D. leptolineata var. texana.

SLP is also a release site for Dr. Larry Gilbert's Phorid Fly Biocontrol Project for the control of imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) in Texas.

Research Projects Completed

Dr. James Major's research examined differences between genetic and cultural transmission across and through an avian hybrid zone, the Black-crested and Gray-crested forms of the Tufted Titmouse.

Dr. Peng Chai began studying the flight kinematics of hummingbirds and is studying the Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds (male, female) at SLP. Here's a photo of the cage that Dr. Chai builds to “catch a hummingbird”.

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All contents Copyright (C) Phil Schappert, 1997-2003. All rights reserved.
Comments to: philjs@mail.utexas.edu

Last revised: February 17, 2003.