Siler Lab Begins Research on Historical Presence of Chytrid in Oklahoma
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In association with the recent Siler Lab grants from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Oklahoma City Zoo, an undergraduate researcher (Rachel Flanagan) has begun sampling for chytrid in historical museum specimens, dating as far back as the 1920’s. Museum specimens are being swabbed from all 23 Oklahoma counties that will be sampled during the next 3 years of funding. Currently, Rachel has sampled over 300 specimens and has a few hundred left to do. She plans to present her data this summer at a national herpetological meeting.
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- Rachel carefully labels each chytrid sample vial with a unique ID, in addition to the specimen’s catalog number.
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- Rachel demonstrates the chytrid swab technique
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- Rachel demonstrates the chytrid swab technique
Other Siler Lab members are also working on historical chytrid sampling. Check out Greg Jongsma’s work in New Brunswick.