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Russell Pfau, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

MS, Midwestern State University, 1994
PhD, Oklahoma State University, 2000

E-mail: pfau@tarleton.edu
Tel: 254-968-9761
Office: 213H Science Bldg

 


field trip
Field trip to Oklahoma to study the Texas mouse, Peromyscus attwateri

student presenting research
Terry Johnson, grad student, presenting his research results

field trip
Field trip to east Texas to study the hybrid zone between eastern and western cotton rats, Sigmodon hispidus
 

Course webpages

General Biology (BIOL 120)
Heredity (BIOL 303)
Parasitology (BIOL 445)

Current Research and Student Research Opportunities

Books for Biology Majors (and others interested in biology)


Personal Interests

Camping, hiking, wildlife photography, landscaping with native plants, fishing, astronomy, hunting (especially archery), woodworking/furniture restoration, gardening, birding, philosophy, reading, etc.

Research Interests

Population and evolutionary genetics: basically, in what ways do populations differ genetically and why.  One of my more specific interests is understanding how the landscape affects gene flow across a species' geographical distribution.  My students and I go on several field trips throughout the year  to collect our study specimens and then analyze their DNA in the lab using techniques such as DNA sequencing and fingerprinting.   See Current Research and Student Research Opportunities for more information.

Publications

  • Phillips CD, Henard CA, Pfau RS. 2007. AFLP and mtDNA analyses reveal patterns of divergence and hybridization in the cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus. Journal of Mammalogy.
  • Pfau RS, Van Den Bussche RA, McBee K. 2001. Population genetics of the cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus): patterns of genetic diversity at the major histocompatibility complex. Molecular Ecology 10:1939-1945.
  • Pfau RS, McBee K, Van Den Bussche RA. 2001. Genetic diversity of the major histocompatibility complex of cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) inhabiting an oil refinery complex. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 20:2224-2228.
  • Pfau RS, Van Den Bussche RA, McBee K, Lochmiller RL. 1999. Allelic diversity at the Mhc-DQA locus in cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) and a comparison of DQA sequences within the family Muridae (Mammalia: Rodentia). Immunogenetics 49:886-893.
  • Parmley D, Pfau RS. 1997. Amphibians and reptiles of the late Pleistocene Tonk Creek local fauna, Stonewall County Texas. Texas Journal of Science 49:151-158.
  • Pfau RS. 1994. A late Pleistocene mammal fauna from Stonewall County, Texas. Texas Journal of Science 46:337-343.
  • Pfau RS. 1994. First record of a native American elk from Texas. Texas Journal of Science 46:189-190.
  • Stangl Jr FB, Pfau RS. 1994. Gross morphology and distribution patterns of lingual papillae in some geomyid and heteromyid rodents. Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science 74:25-29.
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