Eric H. Diefenbacher

Marshall University, Department of Biological Sciences,

One John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV 25755

Home phone: 304-617-0254

Email: Diefenbacher@marshall.edu

Education

MS., Marshall University, Graduate Student, Biological Sciences, 2008.

BA., Biology, Hartwick College, 2006.

Research Interests

Herpetology: developmental biology, genetics, cytogenetics, ecology, conservation, morphology.

Tropical Herpetology: Costa Rica, Madagascar.

Research Experience

-An analysis of cellular growth in developing limbs (undergraduate thesis)

Principle investigator: Analyzed cellular growth, patter formation, and morphogenesis in developing Ambystoma maculatum larvae limb and brain structures using histology, anti-BrdU immuno-cytochemistry, and hematoxylin and eosin staining.

-Comparative embryology: Triturus and Ambystoma

Co-investigator: Investigated the relationship between cell size and rate of development among related species within each genus using cleared and stained staged developing embryos.

-Cytogenetics: Ambystoma and Necturus

-Ambystoma: Co-investigator- Processed specimens of A. laterale and A. jeffersonianum to investigate the role and distribution of polyploidy among members of the jeffersonianum complex.

-Necturus: Co-investigator- Aided in collecting and processing of N. maculosus to investigate the role of sex chromosome linkage in males.

-Amphibian/Reptile Biodiversity of Hartwick College Pine Lake Environmental Campus

Principle investigator: Developed and conducted quadrate searches in three distinct habitats to determine herpetofaunal biodiversity to better facilitate the college in future land management decisions.

- Rapid new protocol for clearing and staining specimens for osteological examination.

Principle investigator: Project focused on modifying previous technique set forth by Hanken and Wassersug 1981 to produce less macerated specimens, especially small specimens, in a timelier manner.

-Natural History and Distribution of the Eastern Worm Snake, Carphophis amoenus amoenus, in West Virginia (current project).

Principle investigator: Investigated current distribution by searching historical collection sites as well as taking morphological, climatological, and topographical data which was statistically analyzed and geographically analyzed using GIS software.

- Cellular morphology of Green Salamander, Aniedes aeneus, digits and comparison with a possible competitor (current project).

Principle investigator: Investigated the topographical, skeletal, and cellular morphology of digits using histology, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and scanning electron microscopy. Also compared digit morphology of other caudates known to climb in sympatry with Green Salamanders to determine the role, if any, digit morphology may play in possible microhabitat competition.

-Iris Pattern Identification (IPID): a new technique for identifying individuals during field studies (current project).

Principle investigator: Used high magnification photographs of Bufo americanus irises and identified pattern aberrations unique to each individual to serve as a “finger print.” This technique was developed to serve as an alternative to toe clipping and passive integrative transponder (PIT) tags.

Research Abroad

-January 2004 Hartwick College Off-Campus Program: Natural History of Costa Rica.

Assisted Projects: aposemitism of snakes, Ctenosaura behavior (principle investigator), tropical stream ecology, arthropod biodiversity.

-January 2006 Hartwick College Off-Campus Program: Culture, Conservation, and Natural History of Madagascar.

Assisted Projects: herpetofaunal biodiversity, floral biodiversity, tidal pool ecology, Napenthese pitcher plant natural history.

Research Techniques

-Electron Microscopy: TEM and SEM

-Histology: paraffin embedding

-Hematoxylin and Eosin staining

-Anti-BrdU immuno-cytochemistry

-Specimen preservation and tagging

-Amphibian anesthesia and surgery

-Clearing and staining specimens for osteological examination

-Field Techniques (drift fences, cover boards, pitfalls, trapping, etc…)

-Laboratory Techniques (chemical preparation, data analysis, etc…)

-Cytogenetic techniques

-Tissue Culture

-PCR and Electrophoresis

-GIS software

Relevant Experience

-2006-2008: Marshall University Teaching Assistant, Department of Biological Sciences, Huntington, WV 25755.

-2002-2006: Laboratory Technician Assistant, Biology Department, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY 13820

-2002-2006: Laboratory Assistant, Amphibian Research Laboratory, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY 13820.

-2002-2006: Reptile/Amphibian Curator, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY 13820.

Teaching

- BSC 120- Principles of Biology Lab (for majors)

- BSC 104- Principles of Biology Lab (for non-majors)

Awards and Grants

-Hartwick College, Department of Biology Hellbender Award, 2006

-West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Research Grant ($6,208), 2007

-Marshall University Summer Thesis Research Grant ($500), 2007

Professional Memberships

-BBB Biological Honor Society: Hartwick College 2003-2006

-Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR)

Invited Talks

-Lead Herpetological Educator: Herpetological Education Demonstration, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY, 2005.

-Guest Speaker on Herpetology: Greater Plains Elementary School, Oneonta, NY, 2006.

-Herpetological Educator: BBB Science Day, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY, 2006.

-Assistant Herpetological Educator: Highlawn Church, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, 2006.

-Guest Speaker on Herpetology: Milton Elementary School, Milton, WV, 2006.

-Guest Speaker on Herpetology: Meadows Elementary School, Huntington, WV, 2007.

-Guest Speaker on Herpetology: Barnett Child Care Center, Huntington, WV, 2007.

-Guest Speaker on Herpetology: Milton Elementary School, Milton, WV, 2007.

Presentations

-Diefenbacher, Eric H., K. R. Pawlik, and T. K. Pauley. 2007. Morphological examination of Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus) digital discs. 82^nd meeting of the West Virginia Academy of Sciences. March 31. (Poster).

-Diefenbacher, Eric H., K. R. Pawlik, and T. K. Pauley. 2007. Morphological examination of Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus) digital discs. Association of Southeastern Biologists 68^th Annual Meeting. Columbia, South Carolina. (Poster).

Publications

Papers

-Diefenbacher, E.H. 2007. Plethodon glutinosus. Burrowing Behavior. Herpetol. Rev. 38(1): 67-68.

-Diefenbacher, E.H. and T.K. Pauley. 2007. Carphophis amoenus helenae. Defensive Behavior. Herpetol. Rev. (in review).

-Diefenbacher, E.H. and T.K. Pauley. 2007. Iris Pattern Identification (IPID): A new technique for identifying individuals during field studies. Herpetol. Rev. (in review).

-Diefenbacher, E.H. and T.K. Pauley. 2007. Morphology of Green Salamander, Aneides aeneus, digital discs using SEM and histology. Journal of Herpetology. (in review).

-Diefenbacher, E.H. and V.L. Wiggins. 2006. Rapid new protocol for clearing and staining of specimens for osteological examination. Herpetol. Rev. (in press).

Abstracts

-Diefenbacher, Eric H., Kathryn R. Pawlik, and Dr. Thomas K. Pauley. 2007. Morphological examination of Green Salamander (Aneides aeneus) Digital Discs. Southeastern Biology. 54(3): 288.