Nathalie C. Aall
M.S. Candidate
Department of Biological Sciences
Marshall University
B.A. Biology, Behavioral Ecology and Herpetology Concentration, 2008
Hartwick College, Oneonta NY
Interests:
I have always been interested in herpetology as well as numerous other
mammalian animal models such as bats, mountain lions, bobcats, and wombats.
Since I was little I have been moving around the world. From Switzerland to
Germany then moving to the States has really given me a passion for adventure
and travel. Working with herps allows me to study behavioral characteristics of
widely distributed and threatened animals and allows me to focus on
conservation since amphibians are great indicator species. My undergraduate
research experience stressed the significance of wildlife conservation and has
opened my interests to conservation directed research.
Undergraduate Thesis:
Skin Gland Morphology and Tail Regeneration in the Red-Backed Salamander, Plethodon cinereus
Aall, N. C. & S. K Sessions
I used several histological procedures to map skin gland and tail regeneration in Red-Backed Salamanders in central upstate New York over a period of 13 weeks.
Figure 1. Red-Backed
Salamander tail cross section.
Figure 2. In the
amphibian research lab at Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY doing measurements on
one of the thesis test subjects.
Figure 3. In the
amphibian research lab at Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY with a P. cinereus
undergoing a tail amputation.
Past Experiences:
In my undergraduate program, during the summer of 2007, I collaborated with my advisor Dr. Stanley K. Sessions on a National Science Foundation grant focusing primarily on environmental stressors on amphibians, cannibalism between tadpoles, and mutated limbs in frogs. This research was mainly lab orientated, however, I did have chances to go out into the field to do amphibian collection as well as brush up on my field surveying techniques.
Figure 4. Skinned
frog underside to look for parasite activity on hind-limbs.
Figure 5. Cleared
and stained frog with hind-limb deformities; Picture by Stanley K. Sessions
Figure 6. Searching
for salamanders in and around Strawberry field at Hartwick College in Oneonta,
NY.
In January 2007 I spent a month at the San Salvador Field station in the Bahamas learning about island biogeography and implementing a tide pool study on species diversity and distribution.
Figure 7. San Salvador,
Bahamas; Picture by April Ness.
Figure 8. Nathalie
Aall investigating tide pools for species diversity study in San Salvador,
Bahamas.
Tentative Area of Study for Masters:
I am planning on doing a Eastern box turtle, Terrapene c. carolina, behavioral study including a conservation approach. This will involve different aspects of field work as well as lab monitoring. I am particularly interested in reproductive behaviors such as courting and interspecific competition.
Figure 9. Two Terrapene
c. carolina in the first phase of mating; Picture by Justin Weiss.
West Virginia and Marshall University have been very welcoming! I even found some herps in the woods the other week with some of the other “herpers”.
Figure 10. Blue
tailed scorpion or Five-lined Skink around Charleston, WV.
Figure 11. Pregnant
Timber Rattle Snake around Charleston, WV.