

Daniel F. Hughes, Ph.D.
The Hughes Lab
Research in my lab addresses questions concerning the ecology, evolution, and conservation of reptiles and amphibians. We utilize various techniques, including radiotelemetry, mark-recapture studies, and phylogenetic reconstruction, and data stems from a variety of sources, especially gene sequences, museum specimens, and wild animals. All goals are achieved through student involvement, where I focus on training and building capacity in research based on rewarding experiences for students. All of the research conducted in my lab is student-led at a variety of levels. The lasting impact of my lab is the training of the next generation of ecologists and evolutionary biologists.
Lab Photos

2023 Kansas Herpetological Society Meeting
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Victoria, Megan, Cameron, and Sangai





2022 Kansas Herpetological Society Meeting
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Cameron, Sangai, and Tris





2021 Kansas Herpetological Society Meeting
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Lauren and Farah





2021 Summer Lab Photo
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Lyssie, Farah, and Lauren
Lab Members

Daniel F. Hughes, Ph.D.
Lab PI

Megan Norris
Projects: Radiotelemetry and museum specimens
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Major: Biology
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Started research: Junior
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Funding: Coe College
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Achievements: Honor's Thesis
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Current: Graduated

Victoria Amandianeze
Projects: Dietary analysis
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Major: Business
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Started research: Junior
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Funding: Coe College
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Achievements: Presented twice
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Current: Graduated

Isabel Dylan
Projects: Radiotelemetry
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Major: Biology
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Started research: Junior
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Funding: Coe College​
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Current: Graduated

Shamiso Zindonga
Projects: Museum specimens
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Major: Biology
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Started research: Freshman
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Funding: Coe College​
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Current: Medical school

Cameron Kolthoff
Projects: Capture techniques, camera traps, and radiotelemetry
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Major: Biology
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Started research: Sophmore
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Funding: Coe College
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Achievements: Published several papers
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Current: In graduate school​​

Trisan South
Projects: Reproduction in frogs and taxonomy of chameleons
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Major: Biology
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Started research: Sophmore
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Funding: Coe College
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Achievements: Published a paper and presented several posters
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Current: Dental school

Farah Suboh
Project: Space use and behavior of Ornate Box Turtles
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Major: Biology
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Started research: Junior
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Funding: Coe College
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Achievements: Published several papers
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Current: Graduated

Delaney Throckmorton
Project: Deciphering the recruitment of TFAP2 to the neural plate border
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Major: Biology
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Started research: Junior
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Funding: FUTURE program​
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Current: In graduate school

Lyssie Ahern
Project: Documenting the biodiversity of an urban lake in eastern Iowa
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Major: Biology
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Started research: Junior
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Funding: NSF STEMpath
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Achievements: Published paper
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Current: Graduated

Lauren Velez
Project: Assessment of an urban lake's aquatic turtle community
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Major: Biology
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Started research: Junior
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Funding: Iowa DNR
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Achievements: Presented twice
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Current: Graduated

Sangai Dukuly
Project: Spatial ecology, behavior, and dietary analysis​
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Major: Biology
Started research: Freshman
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Funding: Coe College
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Achievements: Presented on several different projects
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Current: Graduated

Marcos Villanueva
Project: Trapping efficiency​
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Major: Biology
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Started research: Senior
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Funding: Coe College​
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Current: Graduated
Megan's poster​
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Victoria's poster​

Isabel's poster​

Shamiso's poster​

Cameron's poster​

Tris's poster​

Farah's poster​

Delaney's poster​

Lyssie's poster​

Lauren's poster​

Sangai's poster​

Marcos's poster​
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