Samantha is tracing how climatic factors weave their way through developmental processes to influence organismal form, function, and survival. Her dissertation projects truly represent the integrative nature of our group and include monitoring/modelling alligator nest temperatures, investigating how thermal signals are integrated into sexually dimorphic epigenomes, and now trying to assess the influence of all these factors on survival! Like most of the projects in our lab, this takes a team effort and Samantha recently assembled a ‘super team’ to help with a hatchling roundup. This included grad students Emily, Laura and Kristen, along with SCDNR biologists Joseph and Mark, and of course, Thomas Rainwater from the Yawkey Wildlife Center and Clemson University. Good times! |