Gui Becker
(Principal Investigator)
Contact Information
Department of Biology
606 Mueller Laboratory
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
guibecker(at)psu.edu
Education
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CORNELL UNIVERSITY (Ithaca, New York, USA) - PhD, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2014
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UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL DE CAMPINAS (Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil) - MS, Ecology, 2007
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UNIVERSIDADE DO VALE DO RIO DOS SINOS (São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) - BS, Biological Sciences, 2005 (Double Major: Biology and Education)
Professional Appointments
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2022-present: Associate Professor, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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2017-2021: Assistant Professor, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
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2014-2017: Postdoctoral Researcher in Tropical Disease Ecology, State University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Selected Publications
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Becker CG, et al. (2017). Land cover and forest connectivity alter the interactions among host, pathogen, and skin microbiome. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London – B, 284: 20171861.
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Becker CG & Zamudio KR (2011). Tropical Amphibian Populations Experience Higher Disease Risk in Natural Habitats. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118: 9893-9898.
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Becker CG, et al. (2008). Habitat-split and the Global Decline of Amphibians. Science, 318: 1775-1777.
Current Lab Members
Shannon Buttimer
(PhD Candidate, Ecology)
Contact Information
Department of Biology
514 Mueller Laboratory
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
smb8305(at)psu.edu
Education
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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA – BERKELEY (Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.) - BS, Molecular Environmental Biology, 2019
Research Interests
My research interests lie at the intersection of climate change, disease ecology, and biodiversity conservation. I aim to understand how environmental changes influence ecological processes and disease dynamics across different scales. Central to my research is exploring the interactions between drought, the skin microbiome, and amphibian susceptibility to the waterborne fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Using Brazilian pumpkin toadlets (Brachycephalus spp.) from the Atlantic Forest as a model, I aim to elucidate the complex interactions between climate, host, and pathogen. Through field sampling, experiments, and microbiome analysis, my research seeks to uncover adaptive responses and feedback mechanisms that inform conservation strategies and enhance our understanding of ecological resilience amidst global climate change.
Selected Publications
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Buttimer, S., Moura-Campos, D., Greenspan, S.E., Neely, W.J., Ferrante, L., Toledo, L.F., et al. (2024). Skin microbiome disturbance linked to drought-associated amphibian disease. Ecology Letters, 27, e14372.
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Buttimer, S., Hernández-Gómez, O., Rosenblum, E.B. (2021). Every bacterium is everywhere, but the salamander selects: metacommunity structure of the cutaneous microbiomes of San Francisco Bay Area salamanders. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 97: fiab162.
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Buttimer, S., Stepanova, N., Womack, M. (2020). Evolution of the unique anuran hindlimb skeleton in relation to microhabitat, locomotor mode, and jump performance. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 60: 1330-1345.
Jack Boyette
(PhD Candidate, Ecology)
Contact Information
Department of Biology
514 Mueller Laboratory
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
jlb7997(at)psu.edu
Education
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BERRY COLLEGE (Rome, GA, USA) - BS, Biology & Pre-Veterinary Animal Science, 2020
Research Interests
I am an early career biologist and lifelong adventurer fascinated by the ecology and evolution of amphibians. As a PhD student in the Becker Lab, I aim to investigate mechanisms which equip amphibian populations to adapt to ecological changes such as disease emergence and habitat alteration. My past research interests include the evolution of frog vision and the impact of artificial selection on ruminant immune gene diversity.
Selected Publications
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Boyette, J.L., Bell, R.C., Fujita, M.K., Thomas, K.N., Streicher, J.W., Gower, D.J., Schott, R.K. (2024). Diversity and molecular evolution of non-visual opsin genes across environmental, developmental, and morphological adaptations in frogs, Molecular Biology and Evolution, msae090.
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Peters, S., J. Wilson, J.L. Boyette. (2020). Differential expression of IGF1, IGFBP5, MSTN and MYH1 across different age classes in American Quarter Horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 94: 103226.
Laura Kauer-Schuck
(MS Student, Ecology)
Contact Information
Department of Biology
514 Mueller Laboratory
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
lxk5406(at)psu.edu
Education
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UNIVERSIDADE DO VALE DO RIO DOS SINOS (São Leopoldo, RS, Brazil) - BS, Biology, 2022
Research Interests
I'm interested in the ecological dynamics of bacterial communities residing on amphibian skin, focusing on how these symbiotic organisms confer adaptive advantages to amphibians in an era marked by disease-driven population declines. My research combines laboratory and field experiments with molecular and microbiological techniques to investigate the resistance mechanisms within the unique bacteriome of a particular Brazilian frog species. Additionally, I examine how environmental factors influence these bacterial communities and their ability to provide protective benefits to their amphibian hosts.
Selected Publications
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Schuck, L.K., Neely, W.J., Buttimer, S.M. et al. (2024). Effects of grassland controlled burning on symbiotic skin microbes in Neotropical amphibians. Scientific Reports, 14: 959.
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Schuck, L.K., Moser, C.F., Farina, R.K., dos Santos, N.L.P., & Tozetti, A.M. (2022). Self-made home: how and where does the anuran Rhinella dorbignyi build its retreat sites. Iheringia, Série Zoologia, 112, e2022021.
Ananda Brito de Assis
(Postdoctoral Researcher)
Contact Information
Departamento de Biodiversidade
Universidade Estadual Paulista
13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
Education
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UNIVERSIDADE DE SAO PAULO (São Paulo, Brazil) - PhD, General Physiology, 2015
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UNIVERSIDADE DE SAO PAULO (São Paulo, Brazil) - MS, General Physiology, 2011
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UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE PARAIBA (João Pessoa, Brazil) - BS, Biological Sciences, 2007
Research Interests
The effects of habitat change on vertebrates and their adaptations are the biological aspects of my major interests. The study of host-associated microbial communities has a high value because this system is an interface between the environment and the animal, which influences immunity. Therefore, my studies are focused on the understanding of how environmental degradation affects host-microbial dynamics, and the consequences for host health. My research is mainly conducted in tropical forests with a history of anthropogenic disturbances, and their amphibian communities. My ongoing research investigates the relationship between the environmental source of microorganisms (eDNA) and the amphibian response to the pathogenic fungus Batrachochyrtrium dendrobatidis.
Selected Publications
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Assis, A.B., Bevier, C.R., Barreto, C.C., Navas, C.N. (2020). Environmental effect on the skin microbiota of Proceratophrys boiei (Amphibia, Anura) across forest fragments and its antimicrobial activity. Ecology and Evolution, 10: 901 - 913.
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Assis, A.B., Barreto, C.C., Navas, C.A. (2017). Skin microbiota in frogs from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: Species, forest type, and potential against pathogens. PLoS One, 12(7): e0179628.
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Assis, A.B., Santos, C., Dutra, F.P., Oliveira, M.A., Costa, F.S., Navas, C.A., Magalhães, B.S., Barreto, C.C. (2016). Assessing antibacterial potential of components of Phyllomedusa distincta skin and its associated dermal microbiota. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 42: 139-148.
Veronica Saenz
(Postdoctoral Researcher)
Contact Information
Department of Biology
514 Mueller Laboratory
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
vks5352(at)psu.edu
Education
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UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH (Pittsburgh, PA, USA) - PhD, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2021
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TULANE UNIVERSITY (New Orleans, LA, USA) - MS, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2015
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PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA (Quito, Ecuador) - BA, Biology, 2011
Research Interests
I completed my undergrad studies at the Pontificia Universidad Católica in Ecuador where I was already interested in studying the amphibian chytrid fungus and its arrival to Ecuador. During my PhD, I looked at frog immune defenses at different temperatures and at the amount of chytrid in ephemeral and permanent ponds. I joined the Becker lab in 2023 as a Postdoctoral scholar and I’m looking at the bacterial richness and anti-fungal bacteria over time in two species from Brazil. In general, I’m interested in the interactions between the chytrid fungus, the frog and the immune system in this case the bacteria that protect the frogs. I would like to know more about how the bacterial inhibition of Bd, change with temperature. I’m also interested in looking at Brazilian bacterial resistance to antibiotics and at the interactions of Bd, bacteria and disturbance.
Selected Publications
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Saenz, V., Byrne, A.Q., Ohmer, M.E.B., Hammond, T.T., Brannelly L.A., Altman, K.A., Kosowsky, M., Nordheim, C.L., Rosenblum, E.B., Richards-Zawacki, C.L. (2024). Landscape-scale drivers of spatial dynamics and genetic diversity in an emerging wildlife pathogen. Oecologia. In press.
Carolina Lambertini
(Postdoctoral Researcher)
Contact Information
Department of Biology
514 Mueller Laboratory
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
cql6006(at)psu.edu
Education
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Universidade de Campinas (Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil) - PhD, Animal Biology, 2019
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Universidade de Campinas (Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil) - MS, Animal Biology, 2014
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Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba (UNIMEP, São Paulo, Brazil) - BS, Biology 2010
Research Interests
I am a Brazilian researcher with over 14 years of dedication to the study of frogs. My research interests lie in the Ecology of Infectious Diseases and Amphibian Conservation, particularly focused on the dynamics of chytridiomycosis, an amphibian disease. My research journey has led me to explore the occurrence patterns of this fungal pathogen within two tropical systems (Atlantic Forest and Amazon Rainforest) in Brazil. Currently, I am focused on understanding the role of host skin properties in conferring resistance / tolerance among species recovering from the devastating impacts of chytridiomycosis. Specifically, I am studying the antimicrobial peptides produced by a Panamanian frog species, characterizing their chemical compositions and exploring their influence on the fungal infection intensity experienced by the host over time. Additionally, I am involved in the Atelopus Survival Initiative, as one of the coordinators of the Infectious Diseases Group Task Force. Our primary focus is analyzing and defining priority actions for the conservation of the Atelopus, which represents the amphibian genus most affected by chytridiomycosis.
Selected Publications
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Lambertini C, Ernetti JR, Missassi AFR, Jorge RF, Leite DS, Lima AP, Toledo LF (2022) Chytrid fungus in amphibians from the lowland Brazilian Amazon. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 152: 115-125.
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Lambertini C, Becker CG, Belasen A, Valencia-Aguilar A, Almeida CHLN, Betancourt-Roman CM, Rodriguez D, Leite DS, Oliveira IS, Gasparini JLR, Ruggeri-Gomes J, Mott T, Jenkinson TS, James TY, Zamudio KR, Toledo LF (2021) Biotic and abiotic determinants of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis infections in amphibians of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Fungal Ecology, 49: 100995.
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Lambertini C, Becker CG, Bardier C, Leite DS, Toledo LF (2017) Spatial distribution of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in South American caecilians. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 124: 109–116.
Former Lab Members
Nereyda Falconi Lopez
(Former Postdoctoral Researcher)
Current Affiliation
Postdoctoral Scholar in the Carlo Lab at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
Daniel Medina
(Former Postdoctoral Researcher)
Current Affiliation
Resident Lecturer at The School for Field Studies - Bocas del Toro & Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama
Wesley Neely
(Former PhD Student,
Graduated 2023)
Current Affiliation
Postdoctoral Researcher in the Rodriguez Lab at Texas State University - San Marcos, TX, USA
Samantha Siomko
(Former MS Student,
Graduated 2023)
Current Affiliation
PhD Student in the Wigley Lab at The University of Bristol, England
Sasha Greenspan
(Former Postdoctoral Researcher)
Current Affiliation
Supervisory Research Administrator at the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
Diego Moura-Campos
(Former MS Student,
Graduated 2020)
Current Affiliation
PhD Student in the Head Lab at The Australian National University - Canberra, Australia
Renato Augusto Martins
(Former MS Student,
Graduated 2020)
Current Affiliation
Research Technician at Universidade Estadual de São Carlos, SP, Brazil
Vanessa Marshall
(Former Lab Member)
Current Affiliation
PhD Candidate in the Earley Lab at The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
José Wagner Ribeiro Junior
(Former Postdoctoral Researcher)
Current Affiliation
WildMon, Dale, TX, USA
Our lab conducts research in subtropical and temperate rainforests.
Aparados da Serra National Park,
Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Photo © Gui Becker