Dr. Erika L. Barthelmess
St. Lawrence University News
Submitted by ebar on Tue, 10/21/2008 - 21:52.
Associate Professor of Biology
Courses I teach regularly:
General Biology
Mammalogy
Vertebrate Natural History
Conservation Biology
Topics in Evolution (with Dr. Mike Temkin)
Pastoralist Nomads and Wildlife Conservation (in Kenya)
Student independent research
My research interests:
My research interests center on basic questions in ecology and conservation biology, particularly of mammals, though I have worked on other vertebrates and also plants. I am particularly interested in the ecology of North American porcupines, which I study right here on campus with a team of students. I am also particularly interested in the biology of small populations and using genetic approaches to answer ecological and conservation questions. Students doing research in my lab have worked with me to conduct radio-tracking studies of porcupines, habitat fragmentation studies of small mammals in NNY, have worked collaboratively with Dr. Mike Temkin (genetics) and me to develop genetic techniques to study mammalian ecology, and have studied conservation of wildlife in Kenya, among other things.
Sample student projects I have supervised:
The effects of transportation networks on mammal populations in northern New York - Margot Brooks
Den use habits in the North American porcupine - Christopher Neill
Development of Genetic Markers for studying relatedness and genetic variation in North American porcupines - Alida Gerritsen
Pattens of space use in the North American porcupine - Stephanie Locke
Examples of presentations, exhibitions, performances and published work:
Barthelmess, E. L. and M. S. Brooks. 2009. Patterns of vehicle-induced mortality for mammals in northern New York. Manuscript in preparation.
Barthelmess, E. L. and M. S. Brooks. 2009. The impact of roadways on mammals in northern New York. Poster presented at the 2009 meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, Fairbanks, Alaska.
Neill, C. and E. L. Barthelmess. 2008. Seasonal den use of the North American Porcupine. Poster presented at the 2008 meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, Brookings, South Dakota.
Some ways I connect with students outside the classroom:
Hanging out by the campfire on class trips to Cape Cod (mammalogy), bumping over the roads in Kenya en route to a destination, playing a mean game of croquet!
Ways I offer service to my discipline and/or the University:
I am the on-campus faculty coordinator for the SLU semester program in Kenya and coordinate the University's major in Conservation Biology.
My hobbies and/or personal interests:
Labrador retrievers and dogs in general, being outside, knitting, cabin-building, good fiction.