USC UPSTATE

Spartanburg, S.C. - Whales, turtles and the impact humans have on populations of amphibians and reptiles are the topics for a three-part fall 2008 seminar series, sponsored by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Department at the University of South Carolina Upstate. The seminars start at 5:00 p.m. and will be held in the Tukey Lecture Hall. The seminars are open to the campus community and the public. 
     Dr. Chris Romanek will start the seminar series on Friday, September 19th.  Dr. Romanek will discuss using stable isotopes to investigate whale ecology in a seminar titled “Arctic Ecology of the Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus)”.  Dr. Romanek is currently an Associate Professor in the Geology Department of the University of Georgia and an Assistant Research Ecologist at UGA's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory in Aiken, S.C.  Dr. Romanek received a B.S. (1982) from Furman University, a M.S. from the University of Florida (1985) and a Ph.D. (1991) from Texas A&M University.  Dr. Romanek has an active interdisciplinary research program that has produced over 75 peer-reviewed publications, including six articles published in the prestigious journal Science.      
     On Friday, October 31, Dr. Jacqueline Litzgus will present a seminar titled, “Geographic variation in life history of the Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)”.  Dr. Litzgus is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Laurentian University in Northeastern Ontario.  Dr. Litzgus received both an Honors B.S. (1993) and a M.S. (1996) from the University of Guelph.  She received her Ph.D. (2003) from the University of South Carolina.  Dr. Litzgus has an active research program that focuses on reptile ecology, physiology and conservation.  Dr. Litzgus has published over 25 peer-reviewed articles and is currently an Associate Editor for the journal Copeia.    
     Dr. Mike Dorcas will present the last seminar on November 14; his seminar title is “Herps and Humans: How Humans Impact Populations of Amphibians and Reptiles.”  Dr. Dorcas is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Davidson, NC.  He received a B.S. (1986) and M.S. (1990) from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Ph.D. (1995) from Idaho State University.  Dr. Dorcas has received numerous awards, including the Senior Research Award from the Association of Southeastern Biologists in 2007.  Dr. Dorcas’ research program focuses on the physiology, ecology, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles.  He has published several book chapters and over 85 articles on the biology of amphibians and reptiles, the most recent of which include students as coauthors.  His recent books include, A Guide to the Snakes of North Carolina, Davidson College, and Snakes of the Southeast, University of Georgia Press.
     For additional information contact Dr. Melissa Pilgrim at (864) 503-5781 or mpilgrim@uscupstate.edu.