Deitloff

EDUCATION:

Ph.D. (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) 2008, Iowa State University.

Dissertation Title: Ecological processes responsible for species co-occurrence patterns in two species of Plethodon salamanders

B.S. (Zoology), 2003, Minnesota State University. Undergraduate Thesis

Title: Weather and changes in population size in Peromyscus leucopus and Microtus pennsylvanicus: a twenty year study.

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

My research interests are primarily in behavioral ecology of vertebrates, especially herps. My graduate work focused on the competitive interactions of two species of small Plethodon salamanders, P. cinereus and P. electromorphus.

At Auburn, I will be looking at speciation in Anolis lizards. In particular, I am trying to understand the processes that lead to the formation of new species and what characteristics maintain species integrity. In Anoles, dewlap color is thought to be a species defining characteristic. In squamates, hemipene shape is thought to work as a lock and key mechanism and prevent hybridization. In both characteristics, the variation within species and between closely related species has rarely been carefully examined.

I am also interested in the categorization of Anoles from the Carribean into ecomorphological characteristics. In particular, how the method of geometric morphometrics can contribute to the understanding of these categories and if this concept can be applied to other taxon groups.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

Deitloff, J., M. Falcy, J.D. Krenz, and B.R. McMillan. 2010. Correlating small mammal abundance to climatic variation over twenty years. Journal of Mammalogy. Accepted.

Deitloff, J., J. O. Church, D. C. Adams, and R. G. Jaeger. 2009. Interspecific agonistic behaviors in a salamander community: Implications for alpha-selection. Herpetologica 65: 174-182.

Deitloff, J., D. C. Adams, B. F. M. Olechnwski, and R. G. Jaeger. 2008. Interspecfic aggression in Ohio Plethodon: Implications for competition. Herpetologica 64: 180-188.

Khon, N. R., J. Deitloff , R. G. Jaeger, T. A. Williams, S. Dartez, and H. M. Nguyen. Presentation time and retention interval affect memory of conspecifics in male Plethodon cinereus. In Review: Ethology.

Deitloff, J. A natural disturbance accelerates the process of competitive exclusion in Ohio Plethodon salamanders. In Review: Journal of Herpetology.