Fay L

Fay L. Mayer, M.S.

Biological Sciences	(806) 742-2715
Texas Tech University	(806) 742-2963 Fax
Lubbock, TX 79409	f.mayer@ttu.edu

Research Co-Advisors: Dr. Jorge Salazar and Dr. Rich Strauss Committee Members: Dr. Lou Densmore, Dr. Harlan Thorvilson (Plant & Soil Science) & Dr. Steve Taylor (Illinois Natural History Survey)		Orthoptera Texas/New Mexico Caving Lubbock Area Grotto (LAG)
Deslippe Lab		Biospeleology
Teaching Fall 2007: 1402 Lab Instructor & Preparation - Students Fall 2005: Lab Instructor for 1402, Students Summer 2005: Lab Instructor for 1402, Students Spring 2005: Lab Instructor for 1402/1113, Students Fall 2004: Lab Instructor for Biology I, 1403 Students		About Fay More Links!

Support Cardiovascular Health - Donate to Jump Rope for Heart (American Heart Association):

Donate - Annabelle's Website &/or Donate - Leopold's Website

TTU

Department of Biological Sciences Seminar

Dr. Kurt Helf

Invertebrate Ecologist

Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
Science and Resources Management

Cave crickets (Ceuthophilus secretus) in central Texas: the foraging ecology of a keystone cave invertebrate

Wednesday, Nov. 14^th 2007

Wednesdays, 4:00 p.m., Biology Bldg. room 101
Refreshments at 3:30 p.m., Biology Bldg. room 102

Northup, D. E. 2006. Sight Unseen: The Macroscopic and Microscopic Life of Caves. Invited seminar, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University (6 Sept., Lubbock, Texas).

ABSTRACT: Diana Northup and her colleagues on the SLIME (Subsurface Life In Mineral Environments) Team are investigating microbes help form the colorful ferromanganese deposits that coat the walls of Lechuguilla and Spider Cave in Carlsbad Caverns National Park; how these deposits compare to surface desert/rock varnish coatings; how microbes participate in the precipitation of calcium carbonate formations called pool fingers; and the microbial diversity located in the hydrogen sulfide cave, Cueva de las Sardinas in Tabasco, Mexico. Diana’s work has been featured on NOVA and she has been invited to serve as a Guest Editor for a special issue on Geomicrobiology of Caves in the Geomicrobiology Journal. She is also studying the impact of humans on microbial populations in caves.

Links: Dr. Taylor's work & related topics (brief)

Taylor, S. J. 2005. Cave Crickets and Cave Communities in Central Texas. Invited seminar, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University (6 April, Lubbock, Texas).

ABSTRACT: Caves at Fort Hood, Texas harbor several endemic invertebrate species of concern which are congeneric with federally endangered species found around Austin and San Antonio, Texas. These invertebrates, including species of spiders, millipedes, and beetles are threatened by the Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Solenopsis invicta), which forages within the caves. An overview of several which begin to characterize the structure of this community is presented. These studies include data on the distribution and abundance of cavernicoles within caves, isotopic (d¹³C, d¹⁵N) studies of the trophic structure of the community, studies of the foraging range of a key species, the cave cricket Ceuthophilus secretus (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae), which forages outside of caves in the same habitat as S. invicta, and preliminary data from an ongoing study of Ceuthophilus phylogeography. Knowledge gained regarding spatial and temporal aspects of community structure, trophic relations, and spatial habitat use by C. secretus facilitate development of management plans at Fort Hood and have obvious applications to management of federally endangered cavernicoles in other karst areas.

Taylor, S. J., J. K. Krejca, and M. L. Denight. 2005. Foraging range and habitat use of Ceuthophilus secretus (Orthoptera Rhaphidophoridae), a key trogloxene in central Texas cave communities. American Midland Naturalist 154:97-114. (temporary access)

Headlines

Biological Sciences

(806) 742-2715

Texas Tech University

(806) 742-2963 Fax

Lubbock, TX 79409

f.mayer@ttu.edu