Curriculum Vitae

                                                                       Mollie F. Cashner    

 Address:     Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology                    
                        310 Dinwiddie Hall                                                  
                        Tulane University                                             
                         New Orleans, LA 70118                                  
                        (504)862-8284                                              
                        mcashner@tulane.edu

 

Current Position:

2002 –  present          Ph.D. student; Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University.  Directed by H. L. Bart, Jr.
                                  Dissertation Title: The evolution of nest association in fishes traditionally allied with subgenus Hydrophlox (Cyprinidae: Notropis) and                                               implications for understanding symbiotic reproductive relationships among North American Cyprinidae.

Education:

May 2001            M. S. in Biology, The University of Southern Mississippi    (Department of Biological Sciences)

May 1997            B. A. in Biology, Hanover College

 

Research Interests:

Ichthyology, Behavioral Ecology, Conservation Biology

 

Teaching Experience:

2002-2003        Teaching Assistant, Tulane University
                           - Stream Ecology (EEB 406/706)
                           - Diversity of Life (EEB 111) 

1998                  Teaching Assistant, The University of Southern Mississippi
                           - Introduction to Biology (BSC110L) 

2000-2001          Teaching Assistant USM
                            - Ichthyology (BSC 414L/514L)
                            - Fisheries Science (BSC 416L/516L). 

 

Research Experience:

2002- pres.      Doctoral Research; Evolution of symbiotic reproduction in North American minnows; directed by Dr. H. L. Bart, EEB Dept., Tulane University,                             New Orleans, LA

2004                Research Assistant; Systematics of subfamily Ictiobinae (Teleostomi: Catostomidae).  Laboratory assistant to H. L. Bart, NSF funded research.  Duties include DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing.

1998-2001       Masters Research; “An investigation of chemical alarm systems of a coevolved assemblage of freshwater fishes in the southeastern United States”                         directed by Dr. S. T. Ross, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS

2000-2001       Research Assistant; Collections assistant for USM Museum of Ichthyology, assisted S. T. Ross, curator.  Duties included identification of fishes, proper curation techniques, alcohol exchange, and entry of materials into museum database.

2000                Research Assistant; Pearl Darter (Percina aurora) status survey. Field assistant to S. T. Ross, USM.  Duties included organization of field    
                        expeditions; collection and identification of fishes from local Mississippi streams. Specimens were incorporated into the USM Museum of                                         Ichthyology.

1999                Research Assistant; Gulf Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi) population, distribution, life history study.  Field assistant to S. T. Ross, USM. Duties included radio/sonic tagging and tracking of threatened Gulf Sturgeon.

 

Professional Experience:

2001-2002       Collections Manager; Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Ichthyology Museum, assistant to S. LeCroy.  Responsibilities included: identification of    
                         fishes, curation of specimens, database creation and maintenance, facilitate loans and other uses of specimens, guide tours of museum, participate                              in hiring of museum aides, training of museum aides, compile annual reports on museum activities, order materials and equipment.

1997-1998       Wildlife Promotions Manager; Indianapolis Zoo outreach program coordinator.  Designed and performed programs for schools, clubs, and    
                         private organizations.  Marketed program to wide range of organizations. 
 

Publications and Reports:

Cashner, M. F. In Prep. Responses to conspecific alarm substance by five southeastern fishes.

Cashner, M. F. 2004.  Are Spotted Bass (Micropterus punctulatus) attracted to Schreckstoff? A test of the predator attraction hypothesis. Copeia 2004 (3):       592-598.
 
Cashner, M. F. 2001. An investigation of chemical alarm systems of a coevolved assemblage of freshwater fishes in the southeastern United States. MS Thesis The     University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS.
 
Ross, S. T., M. F. Cashner and R. Darden. 2000. Conservation of the Pearl Darter, Percina aurora: Survey of the upper Pascagoula drainage. Final Report for         MS DWFP.
 
Ross, S. T., R. J. Heise, W. T. Slack, J. A. Ewing, and M. F. Cashner . 2000. Movement and habitat use of Gulf Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi) in         Mississippi coastal waters. Final Report for MS-AL Sea Grant Consortium.
 
Conference Presentations:
 
Cashner, M. F. 2002. The GCRL Museum: a geographically and taxonomically diverse collection on the Gulf Coast.  Presented 06 July, 2002 at the annual meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists poster session II, Kansas City, MO.
 
Cashner, M. F.  2001. Responses of Micropterus punctulatus (Spotted Bass) to chemical stimuli from potential prey fishes Presented 07 July 2001 at the annual meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists oral presentations Session 11, State College, PA.
 
Cashner, M. F. 2001. Responses of common Mississippi freshwater fishes to conspecific skin extract. Presented 05 April, 2001 at the annual meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists poster session, New Orleans, LA.
 
Cashner, M. F. and M. T. O’Connell. 1999. Is olfaction-based predator recognition in Lythrurus roseipinnis (Cherryfin Shiner) an inherited or learned behavior?  Presented 25 March at the GSF Graduate Student Symposium, Hattiesburg, MS.
           
Awards/Grants:
 
2004                AMNH Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund: “Investigations into reproductive symbiosis in North American minnows traditionally allied with the                                 subgenus Hydrophlox”  $1,800.
 
2004                Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research: “The evolution of reproductive symbiosis within a subgenus of North American minnows Notropis                                             (Hydrophlox)” $500.
 
2003                Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, Tulane University
 
2001                ASB Overall Poster Award, New Orleans, LA
 
1999                College of Science and Technology Dean’s Fund Grant, USM
 
1993-1997       Horner Scholarship, Hanover College, full tuition coverage
 
 
Professional Societies:
 
1998- pres.            American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH)
 
1998- pres.            Animal Behavior Society
 
2004- pres.            American Fisheries Society

2004-                     Desert Fishes Council
 
1998-2002            Society for Conservation Biology
 
Other Scholarly Activities:
 
2001 – pres.     Ichthyology Information Coordinator for ASIH
2004                Resolutions Committee Chair for Southeastern Fishes Council
2003-2004       Book Raffle Committee member for ASIH Graduate Student Participation Committee
                        Reviewer for Copeia

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