Tami
S. Ransom
Department of Biology
P.O. Box 400328
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4328
tsr6a (at) virginia (dot) edu
EDUCATION___________________________________________________________________________
Ph.D. student,
University
of Virginia
Fall 2006 to present Advisor: Henry
Wilbur, GPA: 4.0
M.S.
2006
University of Louisiana
at Lafayette
Advisors: Dr. Paul Leberg and Dr. Robert Jaeger, GPA: 4.0
Thesis: Community Interactions among Salamanders in the
Southern
Appalachian Mountains
B.S.
1995
University of
California, Davis
Major: Wildlife and
Fisheries Biology, GPA: 3.698
RESEARCH
INTERESTS_________________________________________________________________
My broad interest is in community ecology; I am interested in how
interactions between species influence
community structure and dynamics. I am currently examining the
potential impacts of native and non-native
earthworms on native vertebrates. More specifically, I am focusing on
the potentially complex effects of
earthworms on the forest leaf litter community, particularly the
effects of invasive earthworms on terrestrial
salamanders. Different components of this research reflect my interests
in ecosystem engineers, facilitation,
invasive species biology, and herpetology.
PUBLICATIONS
Ransom, T. S. and R. G. Jaeger.
2006. An assemblage of salamanders in the southern
Appalachian mountains revisited:
competitive and predatory behavior? Behaviour 143:1357-1382.
Ransom, T. S. and R. G. Jaeger.
Accepted. Intergeneric salamander interactions across an
ecotone. Herpetologica (expected
publication date: March 2008).
Manuscripts in preparation:
Addo, J.* and T.S. Ransom.
Plethodontid salamanders and carabid beetles: competition for shelter
in a
proposed intertaxa guild
pair?
Cáceres, R.I.* and T.S. Ransom.
The effects of an ecosystem engineer on the behavior of Plethodon
cinereus.
*undergraduate co-author
RESEARCH
PRESENTATIONS___________________________________________________________
The response of a “putty” species to intraguild removals: interactions
among salamanders. Joint Meeting of
Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Poster presentation. July 6-11 2005,
Tampa, FL.
Community dynamics of salamanders in the southern Appalachian
mountains. Mountain Lake Biological Station,
July 2006, Pembroke, VA.
Community interactions among salamanders in the southern Appalachian
mountains. Annual Meeting of the
Ecological Society of America, August 6-11, 2006, Memphis, TN.
Influence of an invasive invertebrate on small vertebrate interactions.
University of Virginia, Biology Department,
December 6 2006, Charlottesville, VA.
TEACHING_____________________________________________________________________________
2008 Teaching
Assistant. Evolution and Ecology. BIOL 302, University of Virginia
2006, 2007 Mentor in NSF-sponsored REU (Research Experience
for Undergraduates) Program
2006
Teaching Assistant. Introduction to Biology 203, University of Virginia
2005
Guest Lecturer. Evolutionary Ecology (2), Herpetology (1), Entomology
(1),
Conservation Biology (1).
2004
Guest Lecturer. Evolutionary Ecology (1).
GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS & AWARDS____________________________________________________
2007 Graduate Women in Science, Vessa Notchev
Fellowship, 2007, $1500
2007 Sigma Xi, Grant-in-Aid of Research, 2007, $400
2007 Mountain Lake Biological Station Grant, Summer
2007, $1500
2006 University of Virginia Teaching Assistantship,
2006, $22,400/year as stipend
2006 Mountain Lake Biological Station grant, Summer
2006, $1700
2005 Mountain Lake Biological Station grant, Summer
2005, $500
2005 Graduate Student Organization grant, ULL, Spring
2005, $160
2005 Graduate Student Organization grant, ULL, Summer
2005, $400
2004 Louisiana Board of Regents Fellowship grant,
2004 to 2006, $18,000/year as stipend
2004 Graduate Student Organization grant, ULL, Fall
2004, $160
EMPLOYMENT_________________________________________________________________________
Field Biologist, Michael Morrison, Lake Tahoe Management Area, CA; May
2004 – Aug 2004
Conducted wildlife surveys for amphibians, reptiles, birds, and
butterflies.
Field Biologist, Pt. Reyes Bird Observatory, Plumas National Forest,
CA; May 2003 –Aug 2003
Performed avian point counts, set up transects. Detailed vegetation
surveys.
Wildlife Technician, Mendocino Redwood Company, Ft. Bragg, CA; Apr 2002
– Sept 2002
Surveyed for all owl species at nighttime call points. Monitored
Northern Spotted Owls.
Conducted additional wildlife surveys as needed, including amphibian
surveys.
Bander, Thunder Cape Bird Observatory, Thunder Cape, Ontario; Oct 2001
Mist-netted, banded, sexed, aged, and took measurements of migrating
birds.
Field Herpetologist, Wildlife Conservation Society, NY, MA, and NH; Mar
2001- Sept 2001
Conducted inventory for reptiles and amphibians; use of minnow traps,
turtle traps, and
coverboards, calling counts, and time constrained, stream and egg mass
surveys.
ABO Bander, Atlantic Bird Observatory, Seal Island, Nova Scotia; Sept
2000 - Oct 2000
Mist-netted, banded, sexed, aged, and took measurements of migrating
birds.
Field Biologist/Supervisor, San Bernardino County Museum, AZ and NV;
Apr
2000 - Sept 2000 & Apr 1999 - Sept 1999
Surveyed for
the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher as part of an on-going
life history
study. Nest searching, monitoring, mist-netting, and habitat
assessment.
Field Biologist, University of Washington, Capitol Forest, WA, Sept
1999 - Nov 1999
Pitfall trapped small mammals and amphibians.
U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer/ Uganda, Rwenzori Mountains and Kibale
National Parks;
Jul
1996 - Aug 1998
-In
Rwenzori Mountains National Park, performed duties of a Warden of
Community
Conservation.
-In
Kibale National Park worked to develop ecotourism activities.