R. Brent Thomas

Associate Professor of Biology

Emporia State University

Contact Information:

Department of Biological Sciences

Campus Box 4050

Emporia State University

Emporia, KS 66801

Phone: 620-341-5608

e-mail: rthomas2ATemporia.edu (note: “AT” equals @; a simple trick that may help avoid the spammers)

Office Location: Science Hall 168

I teach ZO 200 Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology, GB 750 Research Design & Analysis, ZO 556 Natural History of Vertebrates, and Herpetology. My research interests include Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology, Conservation Biology, and Natural History. Vertebrates (primarily reptiles and amphibians) usually serve as the test subjects for the bulk of my research. Most of my published research projects have involved freshwater turtles (usually Slider Turtles). Recent projects on slider turtles have involved male alternative mating tactics, characteristics of the foreclaw display behaviors of females, overland movements, and various aspects of their basking behaviors. I enjoy getting students involved with research projects and encourage students interested in conducting (undergraduate or master’s level) research to contact me. I am currently serving as an associate editor for Herpetological Review and as a member of the World Conservation Union/Species Survival Commission’s Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group.

Education

B.S. Biology, University of the Ozarks (1991)
M.S. Biology, Missouri State University (1993)
Ph.D. Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University (1999) 

Previous Positions

Associate Professor: University of South Carolina Upstate, 8/05 – 5/06

Assistant Professor: ¹University of South Carolina Upstate, 8/99 – 8/05

Teaching Assistant: - Mississippi State University / Biological Sciences, 9/95-5/99

Part-time Faculty, Mississippi University for Women, 7/96-8/96

Research Biologist, Missouri Department of Conservation, 1/95-8/95

Part-time Faculty, Ozarks Technical Community College, 1/94-12/94

Part-time Faculty, Southwest Baptist University (Springfield Campus), 1/94-12/94

Research Assistant, ²Southwest Missouri State University, 6/93-12/93

Teaching Assistant, ²Southwest Missouri State University, 9/91-5/93

¹Name of university changed from USC-Spartanburg to USC-Upstate on 1 July 2004

²Name of university recently changed from Southwest Missouri State University to Missouri State University

Publications

Thomas, R. B., and R. Altig. 2006. Characteristics of the foreclaw display behaviors of female Trachemys scripta (Slider Turtles). Southeastern Naturalist.5:227-234.

Taylor, C. M., R. A. Fiorillo, L. R. Williams, R. B. Thomas, T. L. Holder, and M. L. Warren, Jr. 2006. Distribution, abundance, and diversity of upland stream fishes under variable environmental conditions. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 63:43-54.

Thomas, R. B. 2006. Trachemys scripta – Slider of Yellow-bellied Slider. In: Meylan, P. A. (Ed.). Biology and Conservation of Florida Turtles. Chelonian Research Monographs No. 3, pp. 296-312.

Thomas, R. B., and K. P. Jansen. 2006. Pseudemys floridana – Florida Cooter. In: Meylan, P. A. (Ed.) Biology and Conservation of Florida Turtles. Chelonian Research Monographs No. 3, pp. 338-347.

Taylor, C. M., L. R. Williams, R. A. Fiorillo, R. B. Thomas, and M. L. Warren, Jr. 2004. Fish assemblage structure under variable environmental conditions in the Ouachita Mountains (pgs. 239-245). In: Ouachita and Ozark Mountains Symposium: ecosystem management research, Guldin, J. M. (Ed.). Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-74. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station.

Thomas, R. B. 2002. A conditional mating strategy in a long-lived vertebrate: ontogenetic shifts in the mating tactics of male slider turtles (Trachemys scripta). Copeia. 2002:456-461.

Thomas, R. B., and W. S. Parker. 2000. Intrasexual variations in overland movements of slider turtles (Trachemys scripta). Journal of Herpetology 34:469-472.

Thomas, R. B., N. Vogrin, and R. Altig. 1999. Sexual and seasonal differences in behavior of Trachemys scripta (Testudines:Emydidae). Journal of Herpetology 33:511-515.

Fiorillo, R. A., R. B. Thomas, M. Warren, and C. M. Taylor. 1999. Structure of the helminth assemblage of an endemic madtom catfish (Noturus lachneri). Southwestern Naturalist 44:522-526.

Thomas, R. B., D. Beckman, K. Thompson, K. Buhlmann, J. W. Gibbons, and D. Moll. 1997. Estimation of age for Trachemys scripta and Deirochelys reticularia by counting annual growth layers in claws. Copeia 1997:842-845.

Thomas, R. B., and J. Bradford. 1997. Geographic Distribution. Graptemys pulchra. Herpetological Review 28:209.

Thomas, R. B., D. Moll, and J. Steiert. 1994. Evidence of a symbiotic relationship between cellulolytic bacteria and a freshwater herbivorous turtle. Southwestern Naturalist 39:386-388.

Click Here to Check Out Herpetological Research at Emporia State University

This page last updated on 8 November 2006