James McDonough '09
Pink Eggs and Snails: Field ovipositon preferences of an invasive applesnail
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The video playing within this page shows me in the field collecting data about oviposition. DOUBLE CLICK TO MAKE IT FULL SCREEN.
Research Summary:
As fecundity serves as the best indicator for invasive potential, understanding reproductive behavior of Pomacea insularum remains key to predicting how this species will spread within Texas and along the Gulf Coast. Identification of specific egg laying trends in P. insularum may play a key role in predicting future areas of invasion. Specific characteristics within Texas wetlands and shallow lakes may facilitate the invasion process of P. insularum by providing females with beneficial egg laying (ovipositing) conditions. To investigate this possibility, we studied oviposition behavior in an invasive population found within Armand Bayou Nature Preserve (Houston, TX). Surveys of ovipositing sites revealed clear egg laying substrate preferences for P. insularum. Our results showed that this snail prefers large aquatic macrophytes as substrates for ovipositing, specifically emergent macrophytes such as Colocasia esculenta (i.e. Taro) and that this preference persists across seasons and years.
Where I've been and Where I'm going:
I stared in the lab during April of 2007 and finished my capstone in May of 2009. In contributions, I co-authored a manuscript for The Texas Journal of Science. Besides Armand Bayou, I also had the chance to go to Uruguay as part of my research experience. Since I have graduated, I am working to gaining more experience in the medical field
