homan

Dr. Rebecca N. Homan

Affiliation:Faculty
Title:Assistant Professor, Vertebrate Ecologist/ Conservation Biologist
Office:217 Talbot Hall
Lab:226 Talbot Hall
Email:
Phone:
740-587-5577
Fax:740-587-5634
Ph.D. in Biology from Tufts University, 2003
B.A. in Biology from Wellesley College, 1997
See full resume [doc]

Teaching

BIOL 150 - Introduction to the Science of Biology
BIOL 202 - Ecology and Evolution
BIOL 312 - Herpetology
BIOL 370 - Conservation Biology

Research

I am interested in understanding how amphibians use their habitats.  In particular, I study the use of terrestrial habitat surrounding wetlands that pond-breeding amphibians use for breeding.

Current and former student projects

Lindsay Michael ('05), Christian Wright ('06), Dawn Walker ('06), Sarah Edwards ('06), Ashley Dunkle ('08), Sarah Karr ('08), Brian Slaby ('08), and Gretchen White ('07) have all contributed to a long-term study of a vernal pool in the Denison University Biological Reserve.  There are several goals for this study.  The first is to understand natural population fluctuations for breeding populations of Spotted Salamanders, Wood Frogs, and American Toads.  The second is to understand migration patterns and to determine which of the surrounding habitat types support the largest percentage of juveniles and adults of these populations.  Finally, we want to know how individuals in different habitat types differ from one another.

Presentations

Homan, R.N., C.D. Wright*, L.F. Michael*, and S.A. Edwards*.  2007.  Distribution of Ambystoma maculatum among different habitat types surrounding a single breeding pond.  92nd Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America.

Homan, R.N., C. D. Wright*, and D. Walker*, 2006. Correlates of location and movement of Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) in the breeding pond. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.

Wright, C. D.* and R.N. Homan, 2006. Demographic correlates between upland and wetland usage in Ambystoma maculatum. 115th Annual Meeting of the Ohio Academy of Sciences.

Homan, R.N., B.S. Windmiller, and J.M. Reed, 2004. Demographic clues about differences in relative vulnerabilities of two sympatric Ambystoma species. 18th Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology.

Homan, R.N., B.S. Windmiller, and J.M. Reed, 2003. Critical Thresholds Associated with Habitat Loss for Two Vernal Pool-Breeding Amphibians. 17th Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology.
Newcomb Homan, R., B.S. Windmiller, and J.M. Reed, 2001. Demographic Consequences of Upland Habitat Loss on Two Ambystoma Species in Eastern Massachusetts. 86th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America.
Newcomb Homan, R., B.S. Windmiller, and J.M. Reed, 1999. The Effects of Upland Habitat Loss on two Species of Mole Salamander (Ambystoma laterale and A. maculatum). oint Meeting of the American Society of Icthyologists & Herpetologists, American Elasmobranch Society, Herpetologists League, and Society for the Study of Amphibians & Reptiles.

Research Papers

Homan, R.N., C.D. Wright*, G.L. White*, L.F. Michael*, B.S. Slaby*, and S.E. Edwards*. InPr. A multiyear study of the migration orientation of Ambystoma maculatum (Spotted Salamanders) among varying terrestrial habitat. Journal of Herpetology.
Windmiller, B., R.N. Homan, J. V. Regosin, L. A. Willitts, D. L. Wells and J. M. Reed. InPr. Two Case Studies of Declines in Vernal Pool Breeding Amphibian Populations Following Loss of Adjacent Upland Forest Habitat. Herpetological Conservation: Urban Herpetology.
Homan, R.N., B. S. Windmiller, and J. M. Reed. 2007. Comparative life histories of two sympatric Ambystoma species at a breeding pond in Massachusetts. Journal of Herpetology. v. 41 p. 401-409
Regosin, J.V., B.S. Windmiller, R.N. Homan, and J.M. Reed. 2005. Variation in terrestrial habitat use among four pool-breeding amphibian species and its conservation implications. Journal of Wildlife Management. v. 69 p. 1481-1493
Homan, R.N., J.M. Reed, and B.S. Windmiller. 2004. Critical thresholds associated with habitat loss for two vernal pool-breeding amphibians. Ecological Applications. v. 14 p. 1547-1553
Homan, R.N., J.M. Reed, and L.M. Romero. 2003. Corticosterone concentrations in free-living spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum). General and Comparative Endocrinology. v. 130 p. 165-171 View [pdf]
Homan, R.N., J.V. Regosin, D.M. Rodrigues*, J.M. Reed, B.S. Windmiller, and L.M. Romero. 2003. Impacts of varying habitat quality on the physiological stress of Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum). Animal Conservation. v. 6 p. 11-18
Homan, R.N., J.M. Reed, and B.S. Windmiller. 2003. Analysis of spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) growth rates based on long-bone growth rings. Journal of Herpetology. v. 37 p. 617-621 View [pdf]

                                                                                            * indicates student coauthor 

Professional Memberships

Society for Conservation Biology
Sigma Xi
Ecological Society of America
American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles

Academic Positions

Assistant Professor, Biology Department at Denison University, 2004-present
Visiting Assistant Professor, Biology Department at Denison University, 2003-2004
Teaching Assistant, Biology Department at Tufts University, 1997-2001