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Courses:
Ecology and
Evolution (BIO
124), Mathematical
Models in Biology (BIO
325), Population Ecology (452/552),
Graduate
Ecology Seminar (BIO 660)
Research Interests: Population Ecology,
Conservation Ecology, Disease Ecology
Ongoing project areas in my laboratory include:
-
investigation of amphibian - bacteria
mutualisms
-
the community ecology context of infectious
diseases in wildlife
-
experimental examination of the causes of
life-history variation and joint nesting behavior among female
four-toed salamanders (Hemidactylium
scutatum)
-
conservation of the rare Cow Knob salamander (Plethodon
punctatus)
Our research is currently funded by the National
Science Foundation and supported by the USDA Forest Service.
Selected
Publications: *undergraduate or masters
student co-author
Wahl*, G. W. III, R. N. Harris, and T. Nelms*.
2008. Nest site selection and embryonic survival in four-toed
salamanders, Hemidactylium scutatum
(Caudata: Plethodontidae). Herpetologica 64:12-19.
Brucker*, R. M., C. M. Baylor*, R. L. Walters*, A.
Lauer, R. N. Harris, and K. P. C. Minbiole. 2008. The identification of
2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol as an antifungal metabolite produced by
cutaneous bacteria of the salamander Plethodon
cinereus. Journal of Chemical Ecology 34:39-43.
Banning*, J. L., A. L. Weddle*, G. W. Wahl III*,
M. A. Simon, A. Lauer, R. L. Walters*, and R. N. Harris. 2008.
Antifungal skin bacteria, embryonic survival, and communal nesting in
four-toed salamanders, Hemidactylium
scutatum. Oecologia, in press.
Harris, R. N. 2008. Body condition and order of
arrival affect cooperative nesting behaviour in four-toed salamanders Hemidactylium scutatum.
Animal Behaviour 75:229-233.
Lauer, A., M. A. Simon, J. L. Banning*, B. Lam*,
and R. N. Harris. 2008. Diversity of cutaneous bacteria with antifungal
activity isolated from female four-toed salamanders. The ISME
Journal, in press.
Belden, L. K., and R. N. Harris. 2007. Infectious
diseases in wildlife: the community ecology context. Frontiers in
Ecology and Environment 5:533-539.
Lauer, A., M. A. Simon, J. L. Banning*, E.
André*, K. Duncan*, and R. N. Harris. 2007. Common
cutaneous bacteria from the eastern red-backed salamander can inhibit
pathogenic fungi. Copeia 2007: 630-640.
Woodhams, D. C., L. A. Rollins-Smith, R. A.
Alford, M. A. Simon & R. N. Harris. 2007. Response - Innate immune
defenses of amphibian skin: antimicrobial peptides and more. Animal
Conservation 10: 425–428.
Woodhams, D. C., V. T. Vredenburg, M. J. Stice, M.
A. Simon, D. Billheimer, B. Shakhtour, Y. Shyr, C. J. Briggs, L. A.
Rollins-Smith, and R. N. Harris. 2007. Symbiotic bacteria contribute to
innate immune defenses of the threatened mountain yellow-legged frog, Rana muscosa. Biological
Conservation 138: 390-398.
Harris, R. N., T. Y. James, A. Lauer, M. A. Simon,
A. Patel*. 2006. The amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is
inhibited by the cutaneous bacteria of amphibian species. EcoHealth 3:
53-56.
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