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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

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2023 Kansas Herpetological Society Meeting
  • Victoria, Megan, Cameron, and Sangai
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2022 Kansas Herpetological Society Meeting
  • Cameron, Sangai, and Tris
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2021 Kansas Herpetological Society Meeting
  • Lauren and Farah
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2021 Summer Lab Photo
  • Lyssie, Farah, and Lauren

Lab Members

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Daniel F. Hughes, Ph.D.

Lab PI

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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​​

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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​
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Isabel's poster​
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Shamiso's poster​
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Cameron's poster​
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Tris's poster​
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Farah's poster​
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Delaney's poster​
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Lyssie's poster​
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Lauren's poster​
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Sangai's poster​
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Marcos's poster​
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