Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Arizona
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Arizona Staff Member


Dr. Melanie Culver

Education

  • Ph D University of Maryland 1999
  • BS University of Utah 1984

Biography

Melanie’s dissertation project, at the National Cancer Institute, examined many aspects of puma conservation genetic aspects from taxonomy to paternity and hinship. As a Postdoctoral Researcher at Virginia Tech, her work expanded to black bears, eagles, mussels and walleye. In 2002, Melanie joined the USGS Arizona CFWRU as Assistant Leader and the faculty at the University of Arizona School of Natural Resources and the Environment.
Currently her research focus is using genetic tools and computational analyses to contribute to management decisions and the conservation of wildlife. She - together with her graduate students, postdocs, interns, undergraduates, high school students and a wide array of collaborators - uses genetic and genomic approaches across a variety of species and disciplines, including evolution, ecology, behavioral ecology, population dynamics, population monitoring, and virology, all of which contribute to protecting ecosystems their wildlife communities including wild felids, carnivores, and other wildlife species. Melanie has also been conducting a citizen science jaguar and ocelot trail camera monitoring effort in southern Arizona that has detected 3 jaguars and 4 ocelots over the past 10 years.

Areas of Expertise

Behavioral Ecology, Conservation Genetics/Genomics, Disease/Parasites, Evolutionary Ecology, Invasive Species, Landscape Ecology, Population and Community Ecology, Species Management, T&E Species Management, Wildlife Management, eDNA

Taxon Groups Studied

Amphibians, Bats, Carnivores, Crayfish, Freshwater Fishes, Furbearers, Gamebirds, Invertebrates/Insects, Mussels, Nongame Fish/Wildlife, Pollinators, Reptiles, Small Mammals, Songbirds, Species of Greatest Conservation Need, Ungulates

Research Publications Publication Date
Wilder, Benjamin T; Amanda T. Becker, Adrian Munguia-Vega, Melanie Culver. 2021. Tracking the desert's edge with a Pleistocene relict. Journal of Arid Environments, DOI.org/10.1016/j.jaidenv.2021.104653 | Abstract October 2021
Warrillow, J., M. Culver, E. Hallerman and M. Vaughan. 2001. Subspecific affinity of black bears in the White River National Wildlife Refuge. Journal of Heredity 92:226-233. February 2001
Vaughn EE, Morrison JL, Dwyer J, and Culver M. 2015. Development and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers for the crested caracara, Caracara cheriway. Conservation Genetic Resources, 7(1):1877-7252 June 2015
Vargas K, Kraberger S, Custer JM, Paietta EN, Culver M, Munguia-Vega A, Dolby GA and A Varsani 2023. Identification of novel polyomavirus in wild Sonoran Desert rodents of the family Heteromyidae. Archives of Virology, 168:253. doi: 10.1007/s00705-023-05877-5. | Abstract October 2023
Vargas K, Brown DE, Wisely E, and M. Culver. 2019. A resurrection of the Tamaulipas white-sided jackrabbit, Lepus altamira, based on DNA sequence data. Revista. Mexicana. Biodiv. vol.90, http://dx.doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2019.90.2520; Epub May 27, 2019 January 2019
Varas, C., P. Krausman, J. Ramirez, S. Cunnimgham and M. Culver. 2007. Genetic variability in black bears in the Four Peaks area, Tonto National Forest, AZ. In: Borders, Boundaries, and Time Scales, Proceedings of the Sixth Conference on Research and Resource Management in the Southwest Deserts, Extended Abstracts: December 2006, pp. 78-80. December 2007
Varas, C., C. Gonzalez Lopez, J. Ramirez, P. Krausman and M. Culver. 2007. Population structure of black bears in northern Mexico. In: Borders, Boundaries, and Time Scales, Proceedings of the Sixth Conference on Research and Resource Management in the Southwest Deserts, Extended Abstracts: December 2006, pp. 80-82. December 2007
Tingay, R., M. Culver, E. M. Hallerman, J. D. Fraser and R. T. Watson. 2002. Subordinate males sire offspring in Madagascar fish-eagle (Haliaeetus voiciferoides) polyandrous breeding groups. Journal of Raptor Research 36:280-286 July 2002
Tingay, R. E., M. Culver and R. Watson. 2007. Using molecular sexing to assess field-based techniques for gender assignment in the Madagascar fish-eagle. J. of Raptor Res, 41(1)45-49. December 2007
Tingay, R. E., Dawson, D. A., Pandhal, J., Clarke, M. L., David, V., Hailer, F., and M. Culver. 2007. Isolation of 22 new Haliaeetus microsatellite loci and their characterisation in the critically endangered Madagascar fish-eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides) and three other Haliaeetus eagle species. Molecular Ecology Notes, doi: 10. 1111/j. 1471-8286. 2007. 01690. x January 2007
Teal, C. N., D. Katharine Coykendall, Matthew R. Campbell, Thomas A. Delomas, Daniel L. Eardley, John A. Erwin, Daniel J. Schill, Javan M. Bauder, Scott A. Bonar and Melanie Culver. 2023. The development of genetic sex identification markers and evidence of a male heterogametic sex determination system in Red Shiner Cyprinella lutrensis. North American Journal of Aquaculture 85:(1)74-86.
October 2022
Shaw, H.G., Beier, P., Culver, M., and Grigione, M. 2007. Puma Field Guide. A guide covering the Biological Considerations, General Life History, identification, Assessment, and Management of Puma concolor. The Cougar Network December 2007
Ramirez J, Munguia-Vega A and M Culver. 2011. Isolation of microsatellite loci from the lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbuenae). Conservation Genetic Resources, 3:327-329. April 2011
Quijada-Mascarenas A, van Riper III C, James DJ, Lopez-Hoffman L, Sharp C, Gimblett R, Scott ML, Norman LM, Medellin R, Callegary JB, List R, Wallace CSA, Holm P, Glenn E, Leenhouts J, Esque T, Culver M, Webb R, Steidl RJ, Villarreal ML, Nagler P, Lackner W, Sturm M, Castillo-Gamez R, and Ceballos G. 2012. An ecosystem approach for developing an environmental monitoring program for the US/Mexico Border Region. In: de la Parra C.A., A. Cordova & E. Petersn (Eds) The Border Wall: Venues, Mechanisms and Stakeholders for a Constructive Dialogue Between the United States and Mexico. INE/El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Mexico. - http://www2.ine.gob.mx/publicaciones/consultaPublicacion.html?id_pub=606 December 2012
Pelz-Serrano K, Munguia-Vega A, Piaggio AJ, Neubaum M, Munclinger P, van Riper C III, Culver M, 2009. Development of nine new microsatellite loci for the American beaver, Castor Canadensis (Rodentia: Castoridae), and cross-species amplification in the European beaver, Castor fiber. Molecular Ecology Resources 9:551-554. March 2009
Payne, N., Combrink, L., Kraberger, S., Fontenele, R.S., Schmidlin, K., Cassaigne, I., Culver, M., Varsani, A., and Van Doorslaer, K. 2023. DNA virome composition of two sympatric wild felids, bobcat (Lynx rufus) and puma (Puma concolor) in Sonora, Mexico. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, October 14:esad057. doi: 10.1093/jhered/esad057. | Abstract April 2023
Payne N, Kraberger S, Fontenele RS, Schmidlin K, Bergeman MH, Cassaigne I, Culver M, Varsani A and K Van Doorslaer. 2020, Novel circoviruses detected in feces of Sonoran felids. Viruses, 12(9), 1027; https://doi.org/10.3390/v12091027 | Abstract | Publisher Website September 2020
Payne N, JA Erwin, J Morrison, J Dwyer and M Culver. 2023. Genomic Insights into Isolation of the Threatened Florida Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus). J Heredity, 14:esad057. doi: 10.1093/jhered/esad057. | Abstract October 2023
Palmer, G. C., M. Culver, B. R. Murphy, E. M. Hallerman and N. Billington. 2006. Genetic markers show distinct walleye stocks in Claytor Lake and the Upper New River, Virginia. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies December 2006
Ochoa, A; David P. Onorato, Melody E. Roelke-Parker, Melanie Culver, and Robert Fitak. 2022. Give and Take: Effects of Genetic Admixture in Endangered Florida Panther Mutation Load. Journal of Heredity, 113, 491-499 doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esac037 | Abstract February 2022
Ochoa, A, Onorato, DP, Fitak, RR, Roelke-Parker, ME and M. Culver. 2017. Evolutionary and functional mitogenomics associated with the genetic restoration of the Florida panther. J. Heredity, 1-7, doi:10.1093/jhered/esx015 February 2017
Ochoa A, Wells SA, West G, Al-Smadi M, Redondo, SA Sexton SR, Culver M. 2016. Can captive populations function as sources of genetic variation for reintroductions into the wild? A case study of the Arabian oryx from the Phoenix Zoo and the Shaumari Wildlife Reserve, Jordan. Conservation Genetics 17(5)1145–1155 October 2016
Ochoa A, Onorato DP, Fitak RR, Roelke-Parker ME and M Culver. 2019. DeNovo assembly and annotation from paternal and F1 puma genomes of the Florida panther genetic restoration program. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetic, Early online September 13, 2019; https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.119.400629. August 2019
Nicholson KL, Krausman PR, Munguia-Vega A, and Culver M. 2011. Spatial and temporal interactions of sympatric mountain lions in Arizona. European Journal of Wildlife Management, DOI: 10.1007/s10344-011-0528-8 | Abstract April 2011
Naidu A, Smythe LA, Thompson RW, and M Culver. 2011. Genetic analysis of scats reveals minimum number and sex of recently documented mountain lions. J of Fish and Wildlife Management 2(1) June 2011
Naidu A, Fitak RR, Munguia-Vega A, and M Culver. 2012. Novel PCR primers for complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequencing in mammals. Molecular Ecology Resources 12(2):191-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2011.03078.x March 2012
Munguia-Vega, A., Rodriguez-Estrella, R., Nachman, M., Culver, M. 2009. Polymorphic microsatellite loci for the sand pocket mouse Chaetodipus arenarius, and endemic from the Baja California Peninsula. Molecular Ecology Resources, 9:305-307. January 2009
Munguia-Vega A, Rodriguez-Estrella R, Shaw WW, Culver M. 2013. Localized extinction of an arboreal desert lizard caused by habitat fragmentation. Biological Conservation 157:11-20. January 2013
Munguia-Vega A, Rodriguez-Estrella R, Nachman MW, Shaw W, Culver M. 2009. Habitat loss and fragmentation in the Sonoran desert and its impact on the genetic structure and extinction risk of the Baja California endemic black-tailed brush lizard (Urosaurus nigricaudus). Sonoran Herpetologist 20:12-15. February 2009
Munguia-Vega A, Rheude M, Culver M. 2009. Ten new microsatellite loci for the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis). Conservation Genetics Resources. DOI 10.1007/s12686-009-9101-0 December 2009
Munguia-Vega A, Pelz-Serrano K, Goode M, Culver M. 2009. Eleven new microsatellite loci for the tiger rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris). Molecular Ecology Resources, 9:1267-1270. July 2009
Munguia-Vega A, Klimova A, Culver M. 2013. New microsatellite loci isolated via next-generation sequencing for two endangered pronghorn from the Sonoran Desert. Conservation Genetic Resources. DOI 10.1007/s12686-012-9749-8 March 2013
Moncrief, N.D., R.A. Van Den Bussche, R.D. Dueser, N.E. Cockett, D. Loftis and M. Culver. 2008. Diagnostic genetic marker that differentiates eastern fox squirrels from eastern gray squirrels. J. Wildlife Management, 72(1):320-323. January 2008
Manning JA, Edwards T, Clemons J, Leavitt DJ, Goldberg C, and M Culver. 2022. Herbivorous reptile scat as a source of DNA for population monitoring. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, 12, e9415 https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9415 | Abstract October 2022
Macías-Duarte, A., C. J. Conway, and M. Culver. 2020. Agriculture creates subtle genetic structure among migratory and non-migratory populations of Burrowing Owls throughout North America. Ecology and Evolution 10:10697–10708. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6725 September 2020
Macías-Duarte, A., C. J. Conway, G.L. Holroyd, H. E. Valdez-Gómez, and M. Culver. 2019. Genetic variation among island and continental populations of Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) subspecies in North America. Journal of Raptor Research 53: 127-133. doi:10.3356/JRR-18-00002 May 2019
Macias-Duarte, A., C. J. Conway, A. Munguia-Vega, and M. Culver. 2010. Novel microsatellite loci for the Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia. Conservation Genetics Resources 2:67-69. October 2010
Kraberger, Simona; Laurel EK Serieys, Cécile Richet, Nicholas M Fountain-Jones, Guy Baele, Jacqueline M Bishop, Mary Nehring, Jacob S Ivan, Eric S Newkirk, John R Squires, Michael C Lund, Seth PD Riley, Christopher C Wilmers, Paul D van Helden, Koenraad Van Doorslaer, Melanie Culver, Sue VandeWoude, Darren P Martin, and Arvind Varsani. 2021. Complex evolutionary history of felid anelloviruses. Virology, 562:176-189 | Abstract July 2021
Klimova A, Munguia-Vega A, Hoffman JI, and Culver M. 2014. Genetic diversity and historical demography of two endangered captive pronghorn subspecies from the Sonoran Desert. Journal of Mammalogy, DOI: 10.1644/13-MAMM-A-321 October 2014
Jones, J. W., M. Culver, V. David, J. Struthers, N. Johnson, R. J. Neves, S. J. O'Brien, and E. M. Hallerman. 2004. Development and characterization of microsatellite loci in the endangered oystermussel Epioblasma capsaeformis (Bivalvia Unionidae). Molecular Ecology Notes 10:1-4. April 2004
Johnson,W., O'Brien,S.J., and Culver,M. 2001. Small Cats. In: The Encyclopedia of Mammals. Edited by David MacDonald. Barnes and Noble Books, New York, pp 32-37. December 2001
Johnson, J.A., Tingay, R.A., Culver, M., Hailer, F., Clarke, M.L., Mindell, D.P. 2009. Long-term survival despite low genetic variability in the critically endangered Madagascar fish-eagle. Molecular Ecology, 18:54-63. January 2009
Highton R , Hastings AP, Palmer C, Watt Rs, Hass CA, Culver M, and SJ Arnold. 2012. Concurrent Speciation in the Eastern Woodland Salamanders (Genus Plethodon): DNA Sequences of the Complete Albumin and Partial 12s Mitochondrial Genes. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 71:127-141 May 2012
Haynes, L., Hackl, C. Z., and M. Culver. 2005. Wild cats of the sky islands: a summary of monitoring efforts using noninvasive techniques. In: Gottfried GJ, Gebow BS, Eskew LG, Edminster CB, compilers. Connecting Mountain Islands and Desert Seas: Biodiversity and Management of the Madrean Archipelago II, Proceedings RMRS-P-36, pp. 185-188. September 2005
Hahn EE, Klimova A, Munguia-Vega A, Clark KB, and Culver M. 2020. Use of museum specimens to refine historical pronghorn subspecies boundaries. J. Wildlife Management, https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.21810 | Abstract January 2020
Hahn EE and M Culver. 2021. Genetic diversity and structure in Arizona pronghorn following conservation efforts. Conservation Science and Practice, doi:10.1111/csp2.498 July 2021
Fitak RR, Rinkevich S, and M Culver. 2018. Genome-wide analysis of SNPs is consistent with no domestic dog ancestry in the endangered Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi). Journal of Heredity, 109(4):372-383. doi: 10.1093/jhered/esy009. May 2018
Fitak RR, Naidu A, Thompson RW and M Culver. 2015. PumaPlex 1.0: a new panel of SNP markers for the genetic management of North American pumas. Submitted to Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management. November 2015
Fitak RR, Koprowski JL, and Culver M. 2013. Severe reduction in genetic variation in a montane isolate: the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis). Conservation Genetics, DOI 10.1007/s10592-013-0511-x December 2013
Erwin JA, Vargas K, Blais BR, Bennett K, Muldoon J, Findysz S, Christie C, Heffelfinger JR and M Culver. 2018. Genetic assessment of a bighorn sheep population expansion in the Silver Bell Mountains, Arizona. Peer J, DOI 10.7717/peerj.5978 October 2018
Erwin JA, RR Fitak, and M Culver. 2021. PumaPlex100: An expanded tool for puma genotyping with low-yield, poor quality DNA. Conservation Genetics Resources, DOI: 10.1007/s12686-021-01206-7. April 2021
Erwin JA, Fitak RR, Dwyer JF, Morrison JL, Culver M. 2016. Molecular detection and prevalence of bacteria in the families Rikettsiaccae and Anaplasmataccae in northern crested caracaras (Caracara cheriway). Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 7(3):470-4 doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.01.015 April 2016
Edwards T, Vaughn M, Rosen P, Melendez Torres C, Karl AE, Culver M and RW Murphy. 2016. Shaping species with ephemeral boundaries, the distribution and genetic structure of desert tortoise (Gopherus morafkai) in the Sonoran Desert. J of Biogeography 43(3)484-497 doi: 10.1111/jbi.12664 March 2016
Edwards T, Tollis M, Hsieh P-H, Gutenkunst R, Liu Z, Ksumi K, Culver M, Murphy RW. 2016. Assessing models of speciation under different biogeographic scenarios; an empirical study using multi-locus and RNA-seq analyses. Ecology and Evolution 6(2):379-96. doi: 10.1002/ece3.1865 January 2016
Edwards T, Berry KH, Inman RD, Esque TC, Nussear KE, Jones CA and M Culver. 2015. Testing taxon tenacity of tortoises: Evidence for a geographical-selection gradient at a secondary contact zone. Ecology and Evolution, DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1500 May 2015
Dominguez-Contreras JF, Munguia-Vega A, Ceballos-Vasquez BP, Arellano-Martinez M, Garcia-Rodriguez FJ, Culver M and H. Reyes-Bonilla. 2018. Life histories predict genetic diversity and population structure within three species of octopus targeted by small-scale fisheries in Northwest Mexico. PeerJ 6:e4295 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.4295 February 2018
Dominguez-Contreras JF, Munguia-Vega A, Ceballos-Vasquez BP, Arellano-Martinez M, Culver M. 2014. Characterization of microsatellite loci from two-spotted octopus Octopus bimaculatus Verrill 1883 from pyrosequencing reads. Conservation Genet Resour 6:465 doi:10.1007/s12686-013-0128-x January 2014
Culver, M., P. W. Hedrick, K. Murphy, S. J. O'Brien, M. G. Hornocker. 2008. Estimation of bottleneck size in Florida panthers. Animal Conservation, 11:104-110. April 2008
Culver, M., M. A. Menotti-Raymond and S. J. O'Brien. 2001. Patterns of size homoplasy at 10 microsatellite loci in pumas (Puma concolor). Molecular Biology and Evolution 18:1151-1156. February 2001
Culver, M. 2006. A Primer of Conservation Genetics. Richard Frankham, Jonathan D. Ballou, and David A. Briscoe. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, UK. Journal of Wildlife Management, 70(1):301 December 2006
Culver, M. 2005. Genetic Variation, Gene Flow and Population Identification for North American Pumas. In: The Eastern Cougar, Chris Bolgiano and Jerry Roberts (eds. ), Stackpole Books, pp142-149. September 2004
Culver M. 2016. Jaguar Surveying and Monitoring in the United States. Final Completion Report for USFWS Contract Number F11PXO5778. April 2016
Culver M. 2010. Lessons and insights from evolution, taxonomy, and conservation genetics. In: Cougar Ecology and Conservation. Maurice Hornocker and Sharon Negri eds. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London. December 2010
Culver M. 2006. Puma phylogeography and how genetics is applied to identifying the eastern puma. Proceedings of the Eastern Cougar Conference, 2004, pp. 114-116. December 2006
Culver M, Varas C, Harveson PM, McKinney B, Harveson LA. 2009. Connecting wildlife habitats across the U.S.-Mexico border. In: Making Conservation Work Across the U.S.-Mexico Border. Edited by Laura Lopez-Hoffman, Emily D. McGovern, Robert Varady, and Karl W. Flessa. The Edge Environmental Science, Law, and Policy Series. The University of Arizona Press, Tucson, pp 83-99. December 2009
Culver M, Schwartz M. 2011. Conservation Genetics and Cougar Menegement. In: Managing Cougars in North America. Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Cougar Working Group and Jack H. Berryman Institute Press, pp 91-109. December 2011
Culver M, Johnson WE, Pecon-Slattery J and SJ O'Brien. 2000. Genomic ancestry of the American puma (Puma concolor). J. of Heredity, 91(3)186-197. December 2000
Culver M, H Ernest, RB Gagne, and KD Gustafson. 2023. Chapter 4. Conservation Genetics as Relevant to Cougar Management; In: WAFWA Cougar Management Guidelines Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Cougar Working Group and Jack H. Berryman Institute Press, | Abstract January 2023
Culver M, Fitak R, Herrmann H-W. 2011. Genetic Methods for Biodiversity Assessment. In: Biological Diversity: Frontiers in Measurement and Assessment, pp 208-218. Oxford University Press. December 2011
Culver M, Driscoll C, Eizirik E, G Spong. 2010 Genetic Applications in Wild Felids. In: Felid Biology and Conservation. Oxford University Press, pp 107-123 December 2010
Culver M and A. Ochoa Hein. 2016. Jaguar taxonomy and genetic diversity for southern Arizona, U.S. and Sonora, Mexico. Final Report submitted to USFWS (contract F12PX02072). May 2016
Chad N. Teal, D. Katharine Coykendall, Matthew R. Campbell, Daniel L. Eardley, Thomas A. Delomas, Daniel J. Schill, Scott A. Bonar and Melanie Culver. 2022. Sex-specific markers undetected in green sunfish Lepomis cyanellus using restriction-site associated DNA sequencing. Journal of Fish Biology 100:1528-1540. April 2022
Cassaigne, I, Thompson, RW, Medellin, RA, Culver M, Ochoa A, Vargas K, Childs JL, Galaz, M and Sanderson J. 2021. Augmentation of natural prey reduces cattle predation by puma (Puma concolor) and jaguar (Panthera once) on a ranch in Sonora, Mexico. Southwest Naturalist, 65:123-130. October 2021
Cassaigne I, Medellin RA, Thompson RW, Culver M, Ochoa A, Vargas K, Childs JL, Sanderson J, List R, Torres-Gomez A. 2016. Diet of pumas (Puma concolor) in Sonora, Mexico as determined by GPS kill sites and molecular identifies scat, with comments on jaguar (Panthera onca) diet. Southwest Naturalist 61(2)125-132 dog: 10.1894/0038-4909-61.2.125 June 2016

Erwin JA, Logan KA, Trumbo DR, Funk WC, M Culver. 2023. Effects of hunting on mating, relatedness, and genetic differentiation in a puma population. Molecular Ecology, http://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17237 | Abstract | Publisher Website
December 2023
Project Completion Date
The use of genetic analysis to detect migration in the southwest March 2011
The effects of extirpation and reintroduction on the Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) through genome-wide association. May 2011
Cultural Surveys of the Masked Bobwhite Quail in Central Sonora July 2010
Conservation genetics and population structure of Chiricahua leopard frogs in NM, AZ and Mexico June 2010
Assessment of population size and prey selection patterns of Mexican gray wolves on the San Carlos Apache and Fort Apache Indian Reservations, AZ September 2010
Assessment of abundance and diet of felids at Kofa National Wildlife Refuge May 2010
Emerging viral diseases in at-risk populations of felids and ungulates February 2027
Using RAD-seq Genomic Methods to Estimate Social Structure and Reproductive Success of a Puma Population and Implications on Affects of Sport-Hunting December 2020
Genetic lineage assessment of Gila topminnow in Arizona December 2018
Kinship for Harris Hawks in Baja California Sur June 2020
Conservation Genomics of Flat-tailed horned lizards in Arizona September 2021
Phylogeography of the masked bobwhite December 2020
Population subdivision of flat-tailed horned lizards in the southwest March 2014
Estimate black bear population size in Arizona January 2014
Conservation status and genetic management of imperiled species along the US-Mexico border June 2018
RadSEQ to assess behavior ecology genomics for pumas on the Uncompahgre Plateau of Colorado December 2018
Genetic Diversity of Caracara in Florida December 2021
Developing SNP Markers in Pumas for Genome-Wide Association Study and Population Genetics December 2015
Research on Bobcats and Urbanization in the Tucson Mountain District, Saguaro National Park December 2016
Jaguar Surveying and Monitoring in the United States December 2016
Genetics Sampling Method to Estimate Black Bears Population Size in Arizona December 2016
Arizona Jaguar and Ocelot Grantwriting Project December 2016
Conservation Genetics of the Tiger Rattlesnake December 2017
Arizona Jaguar and Ocelot Conservation Outreach Project June 2015
Evaluating the Use of Molecular Scatology for Monitoring Mammalian Species Diversity in National Parks December 2015
Conservation Genetics and Population Structure of Chiricahua Leopard Frogs (Rana chiricahuensis) in New Mexico, Arizona and Mexico December 2017
Conservation Genetics and Population Dynamics of Black Bears in Arizona December 2017
Assessment of Abundance and Diet of Felids at Kofa National Wildlife Refuge December 2017
Effects of Fragmentation of Desert Habitat in Baja California Sur, on Population Genetics December 2017
Determine Genetic Variability Within Wild and Captive Populations of Sonoran Pronghorn December 2017
Assessment of Population Size and Prey Selection Patterns of Mexican Gray Wolves on the San Carlos Apache and Fort Apache Indian Reservations, Arizona December 2017
The Effects of Extirpation and Reintroduction on the Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) through Genome-Wide Association December 2017
Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Taxonomy and Population Connectivity December 2018
Using Genetic Methods to Estimate Social Structure and Reproductive Success of a Puma Population and Implications on Effects of Sport-Hunting December 2017
Investigation into the Phylogeography and Species States of the Desert Tortoise and its Application to Conservation December 2017
Population Genetic Diversity and Structure in Yellow-Billed Cuckoos (Coccyzus americanus) December 2017
Genetic Characterization of the Invasive Quagga Mussel (Dresseina bugensis) in Southwestern US Lakes December 2017
Taxonomy of Anodonta Mussels in Arizona and Mexico Using Genetic Markers December 2017
Functional Genomics of the Endangered Florida Panther December 2017
Determine Relatedness of Certain Mexican Races of Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) December 2018
Genetic Diversity and Structure for Arizona Bald Eagles December 2017
Evolution of the Ocelot in Arizona December 2017
Genome Approach for Noninvasive Diet Assessment of Mule Deer from Scat December 2017
Epigenomics of the Endangered Sonoran Pronghorn December 2017
Assessment of trophic cascades for the Mexican wolf. December 2017
Use of Citizen Scientists to Monitor Cameras for Jaguar and Ocelot Detection January 2025
Puma Connectivity and Landscape Genetics in the Southwestern US to Resolve the Source of Newly Established Puma Populations at Kofa National Wildlife Refuge December 2015
Evolution of the Jaguar in Arizona, US and Sonora, Mexico December 2017
Andreev, Victor
Post Doc
victorandreev@arizona.edu

Vargas, Karla
PhD
karlavargas@arizona.edu

Presentations Presentation Date
Victor Andreev, Adrian Munguia Vega, Melanie Culver. 2024. Patterns of genetic differentiation in two Baja California species. TWS/AFS JAM Flagstaff, AZ Feb 1-3, 2024. February 2024
Varas C, Krausman P, Gonzalez Lopez C, Culver M. Evaluating population structure of black bears in the sky islands region of Arizona and northern Mexico using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analyses. 10th Western Black Bear Workshop, May 18-21, Reno, Nevada. May 2009
Teal, C., S. Bonar, D. Schill, and M. Culver. 2019. Developing trojan sex chromosome carriers (YY Males) to control nuisance fish populations in the Southwest. 52nd Joint Annual Meeting of the AZ/NM American Fisheries Society, AZ Chapter of The Wildlife Society, and NM Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Albuquerque, NM, February 7-9, 2019. February 2019
Teal, C., S. Bonar, D. Schill, and M. Culver. 2018. Developing YY males to control nuisance fish populations in the Southwest. Arizona Native Fishes Conservation Team Statewide Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona, November 8, 2018. November 2018
Teal, C., S. Bonar, D. Schill, and M. Culver. 2018. Developing YY males to control nuisance fish populations in the Southwest. 50th Annual Desert Fishes Council Meeting, Death Valley, California, November 14-18, 2018. November 2018
Teal, C., S. Bonar, D. Schill, and M. Culver. 2018. Developing YY males to control nuisance fish Populations in the Southwest. Colorado River Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force Meeting, Online, September 26, 2018. September 2018
Teal, C., S. Bonar, D. Schill, A. Erwin, and M. Culver. 2019. Developing trojan sex chromosome carriers (YY Males) to control nuisance fish populations in the Southwest. The American Fisheries Society's 149th Annual Meeting and Joint Conference with the Wildlife Society. Reno, NV, September 29 - October 3, 2019. September 2019
Payne N, K Van Doorslaer and M Culver. 2020. Emerging Viral Diseases in At-Risk Populations of Felids and Ungulates. TWS Virtual National Meeting September 28-October 2, 2020, Louisville, KY, USA. October 2020
Payne N and Culver M. 2021. Population Genomic Analyses Suggest Florida Crested Caracara is a Distinct Subspecies. The Wildlife Society's 28th Annual Conference, virtual. November 1-5, 2021. November 2021
Ochoa A, Onorato D and M Culver. 2014. Functional Genomics of the Endangered Florida Panther. Eleventh Mountain Lion Workshop, Cedar City, UT May 2014
Natalie R Payne, Melanie Culver, Koenraad Van Doorslaer. 2020. Emerging Viral Diseases in At-Risk Populations of Felids and Ungulates. The AZ/NM JAM of TWS, Prescott, AZ January 31-February 1, 2020. February 2020
Natalie Payne, Robert Davis, Cheryl Mollohan, Kerry Baldwin, Albert L. LeCount, Melanie Culver. 2024, Evidence of Extensive Home Range Sharing Among Mother-Daughter Bobcat Pairs in the Wildland-Urban Interface of the Tucson Mountains. TWS/AFS JAM, Flagstaff, AZ, February 1-3, 2024. February 2024
Naidu A, Fitak RR and M Culver. 2014. Barriers restricting gene glow among mountain lions in Arizona. May 2014
Macías-Duarte, A., C. J. Conway, and M. Culver. 2010. Change in migratory behavior as a possible explanation for burrowing owl distributional changes in North America. Joint meeting of the American Ornithologists’ Union and Cooper Ornithological Society. San Diego, CA, 9 Feb 2010. February 2010
Macias-Duarte, A., C. J. Conway, and M. Culver. 2009. Population connectivity in Burrowing Owls throughout North America; have owls altered their migratory behavior in response to land-use changes in Mexico? American Ornithologists’ Union, Pittsburgh, PA, 15 Aug 2009. August 2009
Kat Harper, Melanie Culver, Jennifer Verdolin. 2024. Selection of Genomic Methods for Population Genetic Analysis of Mountain Gorillas. AZ/NM JAM February 2-3, 2024. Flagstaff, AZ. February 2024
Karla L. Vargas, Simona Kraberger, Michael C. Lund, Joy M. Custer, Elise N. Paietta, Melanie Culver, Adrian Munguia-Vega, Greer A. Dolby, Arvind Varsani. 2024. DNA viral diversity associated with Baja California wild rodents. TWS/AFS JAM, Flagstaff, AZ, February 1-3, 2024. February 2024
Fitak RR, Naidu A and M Culver. 2014. Improved genotyping success in mountain lion scats using single nucleotide polymorphisms. Eleventh Mountain Lion Workshop, Cedar City, UT. May 2014
Eldridge Wisely, Natalie R. Payne, Ivonne Cassaigne, Ron Thompson, Melanie Culver. 2024. Northern Jaguar Genomics. AZ.NM JAM, February 2-3, 2024, Flagstaff, AZ. February 2024
Eldridge Wisely, Natalie Payne, Ivonne Cassaigne , Karla Vargas , Victor Luja , and Melanie Culver. 2024. Conservation Genomics of North American Jaguars. Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution, July 7-11, 2024, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico July 2024
Culver, M.and S. Malusa. 2017. Jaguars in the Chiricahuas and Southern Arizona. Heritage Days Festival, Rodeo, New Mexico, September 8-10, 2017. September 2017
Culver, M., A.M. Munguia and E. Hahn. 2020. Use[LN1] of Museum Specimens to Refine Historical Pronghorn Subspecies Boundaries. IUCN Peninsular Pronghorn Species Action Plan Workshop, January 21-23, 2020, Guerrero Negro, Mexico. January 2020
Culver M. 2014. Wildlife Conservation Genetics Overview. University of Arizona, Arizona Biological and Biomedical Sciences graduate student orientation. Tucson, AZ. August 2014
Culver M. 2013. Wildlife Conservaiton Genetics Overview. University of Arizona, Arizona Biological and Biomedical Sciences graduate student orientation, Tucson AZ. August 2013
Culver M. 2012. Wildlife Conservation Genetics Overview. University of Arizona, Arizona Biological and Biomedical Sciences graduate student orientation, Tucson, AZ. August 2012
Culver M. 2010. Trans-Study genetic research options. Collaborative Mountain Lion Workshop, at Thy Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Snowbird, UT. October 2010
Culver M, Payne N, and Vargas K. Wildlife viral monitoring to detect emerging viral diseases and differing viral loads in urban versus wild populations. OneHealth Symposium, University of Arizona, Health Sciences Center. September 28, 2022 September 2022
Culver M and L Haynes. 2012. Jaguar surveying and monitoring in the United States. 2012. University of Arizona Alumni Association, Tucson, AZ. February 2012
Clemons J, Naidu A and M Culver. 2014. DNA-based diet identification of mountain lions in southwest Arizona. Eleventh Mountain Lion Workshop, Cedar City, UT May 2014
Bogan, M., Grageda, M.A., Hollien, K., Washko, S., Vargas, K., <b>Culver, M</b>. and P Holm. 2020. Imperiled oases: conservation of perennial freshwater habitats and aquatic species in the Rio Sonoyta Basin. 6<sup>th</sup> Tri-national symposium 2020, March 9-12, 2020, Ajo, Arizona. March 2020
Alex Erwin, Karla Vargas, Jim Heffelfinger, Ron Thompson, Raul Valdez, Melanie Culver. 2020. Shepherding students from the lab to publication: teaching students conservation genetics in the laboratory setting with actual case studies. The AZ/NM JAM of TWS, Prescott, AZ January 31-February 1, 2020. February 2020
<br>Natalie Payne, Desiree Andersen, Robert Davis, Cheryl Mollohan, Kerry Baldwin, Albert L. LeCount, Koenraad Van Doorslaer, Leigh Combrink, Melanie Culver. 2024. Exploring the bobcat holobiome: applications of conservation multiomics at the wildlife urban interface. Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution, July 7-11 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. July 2024
<br>NATALIE PAYNE, JOHN A. ERWIN, JOAN MORRISON, JAMES DWYER, and MELANE CULVER. Genomic Insights into Isolation of the Threatened Florida Crested Caracara (<i>Caracara plancus</i>). Raptor Research Foundation Conference, 4-9 October 2022, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. October 2022
Technical Publications Publication Date
Reynolds E, Gimblett R, Malusa S, Culver M. 2015. Development and Implementation of a Citizen Science Program for Jaguar and Ocelot Monitoring. Final Report to the USFWS under Intra-Agency Agreement Number: G13AC00222. 33p. September 2015
Neils AM, Bugbee C, Gimblet HR, Culver M. 2015. Arizona Jaguar and Ocelot Conservation Education Project: K-12 Education Plan, Educational Materials, & Examples of Curricula. Final Report to the US Fish and Wildlife Service under Intra-Agency Agreement Number G13AC00222. August 2015
Naidu A, Sheehy J, Haynes L, Gimblett HR, Culver M. 2015. Grants for Jaguar COnservation, Final Completion Report for Intra-Agency Agreement Number G13AC00222. September 2015
Merlin P, Haynes L, Gimblett HR, Culver M. 2015. Arizona Jaguar and Ocelot Conservation Outreach Project. Final COmpletion Report for Intra-Agency Agreement Number G13AC00222. September 2015
Fitak R, Rinkevich S, and Culver M. 2014. The effects of extirpation and reintroduction on the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) through genome-wide association. USFWS QRP Program Final Report August 2014
Culver M, Herrmann H-W, Miller M, Roth B and J Sorenson. 2013. Anatomical and Genetic Variation of Western Oxyloma (Pulmonata: Succineidae) Concerning the Endangered Kanab Ambersnail (Oxyloma kanabense haydeni) in Arizona and Utah. Scientific Investigators Report 2013-5164. IP-049548, approved by BAO on 21 August 2013. August 2013