

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
Major: Biology
Started research: Junior
Funding: Coe College
Achievements: Honor's Thesis
Current: Graduated

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Marcos Villanueva
Project: Trapping efficiency
Major: Biology
Started research: Senior
Funding: Coe College
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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