College of the Sciences Primate Behavior and Ecology Program

Education

Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. Genetics Ph.D. 2001

Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA Chemistry/Biology BS/BS 1991

Appointments

September 2001 – Present: Assistant Professor, Central Washington University.

September 2000 – September 2001: Interim Genetics Position, Central Washington University.

June 1994 – September 2000: Graduate Research Assistant, Oregon State University and, USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center.

September 1991 – June 1994: Graduate Teaching Assistant, Oregon State University

Research Focus

My research program is focused towards the use of molecular tools and demography studies to investigate amphibian and reptile decline and aid in species recovery.

Courses Taught

Biol 321 Genetics

Biol 101 General Biology

Biol 110 Basic Biology

Biol 451 Herpetology

Biol 499 Senior Seminar

Biol 425 Molecular Biotechnology

Biol 466 Conservation Biology

Biol 493 Field Practicum (Field Techniques)

Biol 493 Biodiversity and Chinese Herpetology

Biol 520 Developments in Cellular Biology

Univ 101 Undergraduate Colloquim

Enst 301, 302 Environmental Studies

Shp 401 Science Honors Thesis Colloquim

Teaching

Graduate Student Research

Current

Committee Member- Paul Houghtaling (Winter 2007-present), M.S. candidate Biology “Immigration determination from genetic and spatial data in a lightly hunted mountain lion population in Eastern Washington”.
Committee Member-Patrick Emblidge (Winter 2007-present), M.S. candidate Biology “Habitat modeling and educational outreach as conservation tools for the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) in Utah”.
Research Advisor- Luke Peterson (Fall 2004-present), M.S. candidate Biology “Phylogenetic relationships of Stubby squid”.
Research Advisor-Cori Hartley (Spring 2004-present), M.S. candidate Biology “Critical thinking skills as measurable student outcomes in college level genetics”.
Research Advisor- Jeff King (Fall 2003-present), M.S. candidate Biology “Sublethal concentrations of the herbicide roundup increase the susceptibility of Northwest amphibians to disease pathogens”.
Research Advisor-Lyn Dehen (Fall 2001-2004), M.S. candidate Biology “Comparison of heat shock

protein response in Torrent Salamanders: implications for conservation”.

Completed

Research Advisor- Jennifer Ripplinger (Winter 2003-Fall 2003), M.S. Biology “Phylogeography of Pacific Tree Frogs Hyla regilla”.

Committee Member-Yuki Reiss (2000-2003), M.S. Biology “Conservation genetics of endangered Bulltrout in the Yakima Basin.”
Committee Member- Arthur Buchan (Fall 2002-Spring 2004), M.S. Biology “Color change, demography and population dynamics of Pacific Chorus Frog Hyla regilla”.
Committee Member- Jeff Charbonneau (Fall 2004-Spring 2005), M.S. Education “Community based research and critical thinking”.
Committee Member-Rhiannon Peery (Fall 2002-2005), M.S. Biology “Post-glaciation recolonization of western hemlock”.
Undergraduate Honors Thesis Students

Christopher Gaulke, (2006-2007), Science Honors Thesis Program, “Mechanisms of mortality of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibians.”

Lindy Mullen, (2005-2006), Science Honors Thesis Program, “Interaction of oxygen and temperature in forest-associated salamanders: implications for conservation and the evolution of lunglessness.”
Michelle Lester, (2006-2007), Science Honors Thesis Program, “Abundance and demography in Huangshan (China) salamanders.”
Heather Goecks, (2001-2002), William O. Douglas Honors College Thesis, “Darwin’s theory of evolution and its effect on societal paradigms.”
Undergraduate Science Talent Expansion Students Mentored

Cailin Smith, (2005-2006), “Demography and change in abundance in Pacific Treefrogs”.

Alicia Cusack (2005-2006), “Demography and color change in Pacific Treefrogs”.
Susan Belmont (2005-2006), “Chytridiomycosis in Pacific Northwest Amphibians”
Stephanie Rosenthal (2005-2006), “Movement in Pacific Treefrogs”.

Manuscripts co-authored with CWU Students in preparation

1. Hartel, J.*, M. Matheson, L. Sheeran, J. Li, and R.S. Wagner. Post-conflict and self-directed behaviors in Tibetan macaques. (in prep for American Journal of Primatology, *Graduate Student-Psychology)
2. Lackey, D.*, M. Matheson, L. Sheeran, Li, J., and R.S. Wagner. Demography and non-invasive individual identification using spot patterns in Chinese Paddle-Tail salamanders (Pachytriton brevipes). (in prep for Asiatic Herpetological Research, *Undergraduate student-Biological Sciences)
3. Bullock, E., T. Lamberte*, and R.S. Wagner. Characterization of aqueous nano C60 and its toxicological  effects on amphibian larvae.  (in prep for Environmental Science and Technology, an American  Chemical  Society journal *Undergraduate student-Biological Sciences)
4. Johnson, J., E. Dean **, S. Belmont**, J. King*, D. Darda, and R.S. Wagner. Chytridiomycosis outbreak in Pacific Northwest amphibians: A sign of impending declines? (in prep for Conservation Biology **Undergraduate student-Biological Sciences, *Graduate Student-Biological Science)
5. Johnson, J., S. Belmont*, and R.S. Wagner. Chytridiomycosis: prevalence and incidence in a natural population of Pacific treefrogs. (in prep for Journal of Wildlife Disease *Undergraduate student-Biological Sciences)
6. Sullivan, A, L. Dehen* and R.S. Wagner. Toxicological effects of Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris arundicacae L.) on tadpole development: management implications (in prep for Northwest Science *Graduate student, Biological Sciences)

7. King, J*, and R.S. Wagner. Herbicide effects on Pacific Northwestern (USA) amphibian larval mortality and development. (in prep. to Applied Herpetology, *Graduate student Biological Sciences)

8. Mullen, L*, J. Irwin, P. Bryan, A. Buchan**, T. Englund and R.S. Wagner. Interaction of temperature, oxygen concentration and performance on cutaneous respiration in amphibians: implications for conservation management and the evolution of lunglessness. (in prep for submission to the Journal of Experimental Biology,*Undergraduate, Biological Sciences and the Senior Honors Thesis Program, **Graduate Student, Biological Sciences)
9. Wagner, R.S. and Paulk, N*. Interaction of glyphosate and malathion on mortality and development in Cascadae’s Frog (Rana cascadae). (in prep, *undergraduate, Biological Sciences)

Manuscripts with CWU Students (Peer-reviewed)

1. Cauble, K.* and R.S. Wagner. (2005) Sublethal effects of the herbicide glyphosate on amphibian metamorphosis and development. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 75(3): 429-435. (*undergraduate, Biological Sciences)

2. Buchan, A*, L. Sun, and R.S. Wagner. (2005) Using alpha numeric fluorescent tags for individual identification of amphibians. Herpetological Review 36: 43-44. (*Graduate student, Biological Sciences)
3. Charbonneau, J. *, A. Buchan, T. Englund, S. Wagner. (2005) Project Croak! Because any kid can catch a frog….. In: Enhancing the technological proficiencies of educators through community-based research (Jim DePaepe, Editor). Includes CD/DVD. Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA. (*Graduate student, Education)
4. Wagner, R.S., T. Englund, J. Charbonneau*, A. Buchan**. (2005) Project CROAK!-Technology and curriculum integration through field-based studies of amphibians. Proceedings of the Society for Information Technology & Teachers Annual Meeting 2005: 2867-2874. (*Graduate student, Education; **Graduate student, Biological Sciences)
5. Ripplinger*,J., and R.S. Wagner. (2004) Phylogeography of northern populations of the Pacific Chorus Frog, Pseudacris regilla. Northwestern Naturalist 85:118-125. (*Graduate student, Biological Sciences)

Manuscripts in Preparation

1. Englund, T. and R.S. Wagner. ILAP: Balancing selection and the evolution of color variation in Pacific Treefrogs (Hyla regilla) (in prep for a compendium of Interactive Lively Activity Projects)

2. Johnson, J., T. Chestnut, R.S. Wagner. (2006) Synergistic interactions among an herbicide and amphibian pathogens (in prep for Herpetological Conservation)

Manuscripts Peer-Reviewed

1. Miller, M.*, S. Haig, R.S. Wagner*. (2006) Phylogeography and spatial genetic structure of the Southern torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton variegatus): implications for conservation and management. Journal of Heredity 97(6): 561-570. *co-primary authors.

2. Matheson, M., L. Sheeran, J. Li, and R.S. Wagner. (2006) Tourist impact on Tibetan macaques. Anthrozoos 19(2):159-167.
3. Wagner, R.S., M. Miller, S. Haig. (2006) Phylogeography and genetic identification of newly-discovered populations of torrent salamanders (Rhyacotriton cascadae and R. variegatus) in the Central Cascades (USA). Herpetologica 62: 63-70.
4. Wagner, R.S. (2005) Taxonomy and Genetic Diversity. In: Northwestern Amphibians (L. Jones, W. Leonard, and D. Olson eds). Seattle Audobon Society, Seattle WA
5. Wagner, R.S., C. Crisafulli, M. Miller and S.M. Haig. (2005) Geographic variation, genetic structure and conservation unit designation in the Larch mountain salamander (Plethodon larselli). Canadian Journal of Zoology 83: 1-12.
6. Miller*, M. , S.M. Haig, R.S. Wagner*. (2005) Conflicting patterns of genetic structure produced by nuclear and mitochondrial markers in the Oregon slender salamander (Batrachoseps wrighti): implications for conservation efforts and species management. Conservation Genetics 6:275-287. *co-primary authors.
7. Haig, S.M., and R.S. Wagner. (2001) Genetic considerations for introduced and augmented populations. In: Wildlife Habitats and Species Associations in Oregon and Washington—Building a Common Understanding for Management (T. O’Neil, D. Johnson, eds). Oregon State University Press, Corvallis OR.
8. Haig, S.M., R.S. Wagner, E.D. Forsman, and T.D. Mullins. 2001. Geographic variation and genetic structure in Spotted Owls. Conservation Genetics 2(1): 25-40.