Stanley

Herpetological ecology

I am using electron microscopy to conduct research on the sperm of water snakes. Particularly, I am looking to see if there is a relationship between the size of the individual and the size of its sperm. This has implications for the reproductive ecology of the species because females will mate with multiple males and the sperm of one male must compete with the sperm of another male to fertilize the eggs. Sperm size is important in competition because larger sperm should be able to swim faster than smaller sperm.

Back	JONATHAN STANLEY
		BS - 2005 - Biology (Environmental Science), Freed-Hardeman University, Henderson, TN
		Office: LSE 417 Phone: (870) 972-3311 Email: jonathanw.stanley@smail.astate.edu Advisor: Stan Trauth Curriculum Vitae Homepage
	Herpetological ecology I am using electron microscopy to conduct research on the sperm of water snakes. Particularly, I am looking to see if there is a relationship between the size of the individual and the size of its sperm. This has implications for the reproductive ecology of the species because females will mate with multiple males and the sperm of one male must compete with the sperm of another male to fertilize the eggs. Sperm size is important in competition because larger sperm should be able to swim faster than smaller sperm.