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Research Article By Biology Faculty and Students Published in International Journal

August 17, 2021

Aaron M. Sullivan (Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Biology) and students (Ian E. Kratzer ’21, Seanna C. Jobe ’20, and Jacquelyn L. (Lewis ’19) Pilet) published a research article in the internationally renowned, Journal of Herpetology.

Sullivan describes CORT as the phenomena surrounding the thesis; a glucocorticoid released during periods of perceived threat and is typically referred to as a ‘stress hormone’. Known from previous work, artificially elevated CORT delays wound healing and regeneration (Lewis and Sullivan, 2020), but little is known about its influence on foraging and movement in salamanders. “This was an attempt to address that information deficiency.” added Sullivan.

Colleague, Jamie Potter, Associate Professor of Biology and Director of Pre-Health Professions, noted, “Dr. Sullivan continues to engage in meaningful research in collaboration with current students leading to important contributions in the field of animal behavior. Students work alongside Sullivan knowing that their work can yield not only interesting but also publishable data, allowing them to engage in the scientific community early in their careers as biologists. Dr Sullivan is a vital asset to the Biology department.”

Aaron M. Sullivan (Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Biology) and students’ (Ian E. Kratzer ’21, Seanna C. Jobe ’20, and Jacquelyn L. (Lewis ’19) Pilet) article can be found under the title, “Combined effects of experimentally elevated CORT and predation threat on exploratory and foraging behavior of Desmognathus ochrophaeus.” within the Journal of Herpetology 55: 208-214. doi.org/10.1670/20-077.