MARINA M. GERSON DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, STANISLAUS TURLOCK, CA 95382 (209) 664-6547 mgerson@csustan.edu EDUCATION: Ph.D. in Quantitative Biology, August 2004, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas. Dissertation: Aspects of the ecology of the zebra-tailed lizard, Callisaurus draconoides (Blainville 1835), in Joshua Tree National Park with an emphasis on home range and diet. Advisor: Daniel R. Formanowicz, Jr. B.A. in Environmental Studies and Biology, 1994, University of California Santa Cruz, California. Senior Project: Habitat guide to the reptiles and amphibians of Santa Cruz County. Advisor: Margaret Fusari PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Assistant Professor of Zoology, Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Stanislaus. September 2006 present. Visiting Lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Stanislaus. September 2005 August 2006. Lab Coordinator, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of California, Berkeley. November 2004 October 2005. Graduate Teaching Assistant and Lecturer, Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington. August 1996 August 2004. Adjunct Faculty, Biology, Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth, Texas. August 2001 May 2002. Instructor, Life Sciences, Mountain View Community College, Dallas, Texas. August 2000 May 2001. Laboratory Technician, Dr. Didier Stainier's Zebrafish (Danio rerio) cardiovascular development lab, Biochemistry and Chemistry, University of California San Francisco. Spring 1995 Summer 1996. COURSES TAUGHT: California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, California. Introduction to Zoology (ZOOL 1050) Introduction to Zoology Laboratory (ZOOL 1052) Herpetology (ZOOL 4620/4622) General Ecology (BIOL 4680) General Ecology Laboratory (BIOL 4682) Cellular and Molecular Biology (BIOL 3310) Biology for Decision Making (BIOL 4020) Graduate Seminar in Ecology and Sustainability (BIOL 5961) Human Anatomy Lab (ZOOL 2252) University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas. Structure and Function of Organisms Lecture (majors) (1442)
Introductory Biology Lecture, Part II (non-majors) (1334) General Ecology Lab (3457) Introductory Biology Lab for Non-Science Majors (1282) Principles of Biology Lab (1449) Texas Wesleyan University, Forth Worth, Texas. Diversity and Function Laboratory (1321) Animal Life Laboratory (1307) Mountain View Community College, Dallas, Texas. Introductory Biology Laboratory for Non-Science Majors, Parts I and II FIELD EXPERIENCE: Coast horned lizards (Phrynosoma coronatum) Surveys, RFID tagging, and monitoring populations at the Arena Plains Unit of the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, Merced Co., CA (2008). Zebratail lizards (Callisaurus draconoides) - techniques associated with my dissertation and continued research include: capture, mark and resighting; stomach flushing and invertebrate identification; home range mapping; specimen preparation (1998-present; southwestern USA). Arachnids - Wolf spider (Lycosidae) desiccation stress study at the E.N. Huyck Preserve, NY (2003-2004); served as a field hand to various lab mates working with wolf spiders, crab spiders, funnel web spiders, and scorpions (1996-present; Tarrant and Val Verde Co., TX). General reptile and amphibian collection - participated in collection trip to Guyana, South America (1998); salamander collections in the Appalachians, Ozarks, and Ouachitas (2001-2003); herpetological collecting in California (1991-present). Bat sampling - assisted a colleague in the sampling of bats using mist nets (1998-1999, Big Bend National Park, TX; Summer 1998, Guyana, South America). Desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) - assisted field crew in radiotracking and transect surveys of desert tortoises (1998-1999; Joshua Tree National Park). Miscellaneous field experience - mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) collection; Odonate collection; burying bug collection; Sherman trap capture and ear tattoo marking of small rodents; trapping of brush rabbits with the Endangered Species Recovery Program at California State University Stanislaus. LAB TECHNIQUES: Dissections Research use lizards, snakes, salamanders, frogs. Classroom use sea star, clam, squid, earthworm, grasshopper, roach, crayfish, frog, rat, cat, shark, fish, pigeon, chick in egg. Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy Preparation and examination of specimens (plant, animal, protozoan, inanimate) for light microscopy (dissection and compound microscopes) and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Cellular and Molecular DNA isolation, PCR, cloning, isolation of plasmids, gel electrophoresis, restriction digests. Developmental Zebrafish (Danio rerio) - Fish embryo rearing, sperm and egg collection, maintenance of fish facility (including care of fish and aquaculture system). Sea urchin/sand dollar Collection of gametes and in vitro fertilization for classroom use. Culture Techniques 2
Microorganisms Maintenance, production and collection of bacteria, yeast, and protozoans (amoeba, ciliates, Euglena, Nitella, algae). Multicellular organisms rearing of Daphnia; maintenance and production of Drosophila lines; hatching of Artemia; rearing of crickets, cockroaches, katydids, stick insects, beetles (terrestrial and aquatic forms), spiders, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, crabs, and isopods; maintenance of marine invertebrates in cold water systems. CURATORIAL EXPERIENCE: Zoology and Herpetology Teaching Collections, California State University, Stanislaus; Fall 2006 to present. Collection of Vertebrates, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas; Fall 1996 to Summer 1998. Dallas Zoo Herpetarium Volunteer one day per week 1996-1997. Department of Herpetology, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California; Spring 1995 to Summer 1996. Insect Zoo Summer Intern (Summer 1994) and Volunteer (1992-1994), San Francisco Zoo, CA. PUBLICATIONS: DeVito, J., J. M. Meik, M. M. Gerson, and D. R. Formanowicz. (2004). Physiological tolerances of three sympatric riparian wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) correspond with microhabitat distributions. Canadian Journal of Zoology 82: 1119-1125. Gerson, M. M. (In revision). Elevated recruitment of zebra-tailed lizards (Callisaurus draconoides) following an El Ñino Southern Oscillation Event. Submitted to Southwestern Naturalist (September 2007). Gerson, M. M. (In prep). Sex specific differences in the home range of zebra-tailed lizards, Callisaurus draconoides. prepared for the Journal of Herpetology. Gerson, M. M. (In prep). Diet of the zebra-tailed lizard, Callisaurus draconoides, in the Colorado and Mojave Deserts. prepared for the American Midland Naturalist. FUNDED GRANTS: Naraghi Faculty Research Enhancement Grant at California State University, Stanislaus (Fall 2008), National Science Foundation RIG Grant to expand research on the Coast Horned Lizard at the Arena Plains Unit of the San Luis Refuge (Merced Co., CA). 3 WTUs of reassigned time. Biology Research Committee at California State University, Stanislaus (5/2008), The relationship between the frequency of tail loss and tail-wagging behavior in two populations of the Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides). $ 1095.00 LI-COR Environmental Education Fund (LEEF) Grant (3/2008), Educational equipment grant towards the purchase of the LI-COR Biosciences LEEF II Package. Co-authors: Stuart Wooley and Michael Stevens. $ 29,250 equipment grant. College of Natural Sciences Dean s Teaching Initiative at California State University, Stanislaus (11/2007), Equipment and supplies to support the herpetology course (ZOOL 4620/4622). $ 480 Biology Research Committee at California State University, Stanislaus (Fall 2007), Frequency of caudal autotomy in four related sand lizards: is there a relationship between display behavior and tail loss? $ 255.30 Biology Research Committee at California State University, Stanislaus (Fall 2007), Research Presentation at the 2007 Joint Meeting of the Ecological Society of America and the Society for Ecological Restoration International. $ 206.85 3
College of Natural Sciences Dean s Faculty Travel Award at California State University, Stanislaus (10/2007), Research Presentation at the 2007 Joint Meeting of the Ecological Society of America and the Society for Ecological Restoration International. $ 527.90 California State University, Stanislaus Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Grant (2007-2008), Establishing baseline information for a local species in decline: the coast horned lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum) in the Arena Plains Unit of the Merced Wildlife Area. $3928.60 Biology Research Committee at California State University, Stanislaus (2006), Attendance and Presentation at the 2007 Meeting of the Southwestern Association of Naturalists. $1,015.45 California State University, Stanislaus Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Grant (2006-2007), Influence of predation on the tail loss and tail-wagging behavior of the zebra-tailed lizard (Callisaurus draconoides. $4793.00 Biology Research Committee at California State University, Stanislaus (2006), Attendance and Presentation at the 2006 Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. $1,316 E.N. Huyck Preserve Research Grant (2003), Physiological tolerances of riparian lycosid spiders: a mechanistic analysis of differential tolerances to thermal & desiccation stress. (collaborators: J. DeVito and J. Meik) $2400 Phi Sigma Biological Honor Society Research Grant and matching funds (1998), Biodiversity of arachnids in Guyana. $500 North Texas Herpetological Society Scholarship Award (1997), Social interactions of the beaded lizard, Heloderma horridum. $500 UNFUNDED GRANTS: Naraghi Faculty Research Enhancement Grant at California State University, Stanislaus (12/2007), Laboratory application of mycofiltration for the treatment of dairy lagoon liquid effluent. $ 3,896.75 AWARDS: Student Leadership Award (1999), UT Arlington. Nominated for Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award (1998), UT Arlington. First Place Poster Presentation (1999), Graduate Student Research Symposium at UT Arlington. PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS: World Congress of Herpetology (2008), Oral Presentation: The evolution of caudal autotomy and displays in the Phrynosomatine sand lizards of the American Southwest. CSU Fullerton s 50 th Anniversary - In Celebration of Research: Strengthening CSU s Research Collaborations (2008), Oral Presentation: The evolution of tail autotomy and signaling behavior in the sand lizards of the American Southwest. CSU Fullerton s 50 th Anniversary - In Celebration of Research: Strengthening CSU s Research Collaborations (2008), Poster Presentation: Lizards, undergraduates, and year-round research at a teaching-focused institution. Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America (2007), Poster Presentation: Elevated recruitment of zebra-tailed lizards (Callisaurus draconoides) in Joshua Tree National Park following an El Nino Southern Oscillation event. Annual Meeting of the Southwestern Association of Naturalists (2007), Oral Presentation: Variation in the frequency of tail-wagging and caudal autotomy in the zebra-tailed lizard (Callisaurus draconoides). 4
California State University, Chico (2006), Omicron Theta Epsilon Invited Seminar Speaker: How to make friends and influence enemies: zebra-tailed lizards (Callisaurus draconoides) contend with conspecifics and predators in a harsh environment. Joint meetings of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (2006), Oral presentation: The function of the tail-wagging behavior of the zebra-tailed lizard, Callisaurus draconoides, and the frequency of caudal autotomy. Joint meetings of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (2005), Poster presentation: Further evidence of a pursuit deterrent function of the tail-wagging behavior or the zebra-tailed lizard (Callisaurus draconoides). Joint meetings of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (2002), Social structure of space use by the Zebratail lizard (Callisaurus draconoides) in Joshua Tree National Park. UTA Graduate Student Research Symposium (2002), Space use by the Zebratail lizard (Callisaurus draconoides). Louisiana Herpetologists Group Symposium (2001), Analysis of home range of Zebratail lizards (Callisaurus draconoides) in the Mojave and Colorado deserts. Texas Microscopy Society (2000), Identification of mites (Acari) from lizard stomach contents using scanning electron microscopy. UTA Graduate Student Research Symposium (1999), Poster presentation: A comparative analysis of size and distribution of Eublepharid geckos, considered in a phylogenetic context. PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: Phi Sigma National Biological Honor Society - Beta Phi Chapter Secretary 2000-2001, President 1999-2000, Vice President 1998-1999 academic years; member Fall 1996-present. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles - member 1992-present. Southwestern Association of Naturalists member 2007-present. Ecological Society of America member 2007-present. Scientists Center for Animal Welfare - member 1995-present. VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY SERVICE: CSU Stanislaus Student Research Competition Judge Graduate Session (2008) Dinner with a Scientist Keynote Speaker Science STARTS (2008) - The Puzzle of the Lizard s Tail. Dinner with a Scientist Participant Science STARTS (2008, 2007), San Joaquin County Office of Education (2006). Buell Student Presentation Award judge Joint Meeting of the Ecological Society of America and the Society for Ecological Restoration International in San Jose, CA (2007). Science Olympiad Session Assistant Ecology C Session, California State University, Stanislaus (2006). Science Fair Judge Keyes Charter School Science Fair (2006); Texas State Sciences and Engineering Fair (2002 & 2003) and over 12 Elementary and Middle school local fairs (1998-2004). UTA-HOSTS! Peer Mentor Program - Mentor to Biology undergraduate students, 1998-2000. OTHER SKILLS and INTERESTS: Computer skills - webpage design and HTML, UNIX, GIS using ARCView and MiraMON, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Statistica, SPSS, JMP-In, Antelope Home Range program, Adobe Photoshop. First Aid and CPR current American Red Cross certification. 5
SCUBA Master Diver certification (NAUI #19672) and TDI Nitrox certification. Fossils - collection and identification. Languages - competency in conversational Spanish; some Brazilian Portuguese. Travel throughout the U.S., Brazil, Guyana, Costa Rica, Honduras, Belize. 6