Arizona Staff Member
Dr. Melanie Culver
Assistant Unit Leader
Phone: (520) 626 - 3775
Email: mculver@usgs.gov
Faculty Email: culver@ag.arizona.edu
Faculty Website
Links:
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., Schill, D.J., Bauder, J.M., Fogelson, S.B., Fitzsimmons, K., Stewart, W.T., Culver, M. and Bonar, S.A., 2024. The effects of estradiol‐17β on the sex reversal, survival, and growth of Red Shiner and its use in the development of YY individuals. North American Journal of Aquaculture, 86(1), pp.110-129. https://doi.org/10.1002/naaq.10314 | January 2024 |
|
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 |
| Ramos, S. and M. Culver. 2024. Integrating the Seemingly Disparate in Molecular Ecology: Indigenous Research Methodologies, Traditional Ecological Knowledge and molecular scatology in a wildlife survey on Yurok Tribe Ancestral Lands. Molecular Ecology Respouces, May 2024 Molecular Ecology Resources DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13963 | May 2024 |
| 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 |
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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 |
| 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, Savannah Ryburn, Diana Pazmiño, Alex Hearn, John Bruno, Melanie Culver<sup>. </sup>2025. Mapping Mitochondrial Haplotypes of Blacktip Sharks (<i>Carcharhinus limbatus</i>) using eDNA Metabarcoding. Australia and New Zealand eDNA conference. | February 2025 |
| 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 |
| Role and Organization | Individual | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Society for the Study of Evolution - Member | Culver | December 2004 | Present |
| Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution - Member | Culver | December 2004 | Present |
| Society for Conservation Biology - Member | Culver | December 2004 | Present |
| Other - Wild Felid Conservation and Management Association. <br>General Member, Chair of Elections Committee, and member of several other committees. | Culver | January 2007 | January 2025 |
| Other - Association of Zoos and Aquariums<br>General member, attend meetings | Culver | January 2021 | Present |
| American Genetics Association - Member | Culver | December 2004 | Present |