The Parker Lab
 
 
Karen DeMatteo
EDUCATION: University of Missouri – St. Louis (Post-Doctoral Fellow in Biological Sciences – Mentor: Dr. Patty Parker) Saint Louis University (Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics – Mentors: Drs. Cheryl Asa and Tom Valone) Saint Louis Zoo (Dr. Cheryl Asa and Ingrid Porton) University of Wyoming – Laramie (M.S. in Zoology and Physiology – Mentor: Dr. Henry Harlow) University of Connecticut - Storrs (B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) RESEARCH INTERESTS: While my research interests are diverse, they can be generalized into understanding the basic biology and ecological interactions that occur at both the species and community level. I have used a variety of approaches to address this broad research question including behavioral ecology, physiological ecology, reproductive physiology, general ecology, ecological genetics, and species’ distribution/status. I have conducted field research in several Neotropical countries including Argentina, Brazil, Galapagos Islands, and Paraguay. The majority of these studies have been focused on understanding the community structure of Neotropical carnivores. For example, understanding how the ecological niche of the small-bodied bush dog (i.e., only 4 to 5 kg) fits relative to the large-bodied jaguar and puma is important in developing comprehensive conservation strategies because preliminary data and opportunistic observations suggest that the bush dog’s ecological impact (e.g., home range, habitat use, diet) actually resembles that of large carnivores. With the failure of standard field techniques with bush dogs (e.g., live-traps, camera-traps, hair snares), I used non-invasive techniques to gain basic ecological data. The study focused on both bush dogs and jaguars and used a combination of three non-invasive techniques: detector dogs to locate scat, advances in genetic methodologies to analyze the scat, and GIS to generate management models (DeMatteo et al. In Prep). Collaborated on the first systematic ecological study with bush dogs in the wild. This study involved capturing/marking bush dogs with radio collars and monitoring the behavioral ecology of all marked individuals (e.g., daily activity pattern, home range size, habitat use, diet) (Lima et al. In Prep). Conducted a survey of field personnel to determine the bush dog’s conservation status, current distribution, and ecological needs. GIS was used to develop a distribution database and generated critical baseline information for the species (DeMatteo and Loiselle, In Prep). Using opportunistic observations of captive bush dog behavior, developed and tested a field technique aimed at luring the elusive bush dog to a particular location for capturing and marking (DeMatteo et al. 2004a). Through my research with both captive and wild populations, I have learned that while there are many limitations on how captive studies can be interpreted, they can also provide insight into basic biological information that may be impossible to collect in the field. Developed and optimized a library of bush dog-specific primers (Speothos venaticus) so that all genetic samples (e.g., scat, hair, blood) can be identified by sex and individual (DeMatteo et al. In Prep). Determined that the reproductive physiology of the female bush dog does differ from other canids (DeMatteo et al. 2006), as hypothesized in previous behavioral studies. Various behavioral and physiological measurements were used to examine mature female bush dogs and the effect of male presence on the incidence and timing of ovulation Determined that standard radio collars could be safely (e.g., unique body structure) and effectively (e.g., natural habitat, use of dens, high sociality) used with wild bush dogs (DeMatteo and KoChanny 2004). Developed assisted reproductive techniques (e.g., semen collection, artificial insemination) for Cracidae, a large-bodied Neotropical bird that is endangered or threatened throughout most of its range, using the common piping guan (Pipile cumanensis cumanensis) as a model (DeMatteo et al. 2004b). Determined how the North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum bruneri) survives winters without entering a state of torpor or hibernation (DeMatteo and Harlow 1997) by understanding its underlying physiology (e.g., metabolism, changes in core, skin surface, and subcutaneous temperature) and use of behavioral thermoregulation (e.g., body position relative to wind). SELECTED PUBLICATIONS: DeMatteo KE, IJ Porton, DG Kleiman, and CS Asa. 2006. The effect of the male bush dog (Speothos venaticus) on the female reproductive cycle. Journal of Mammalogy 87:723- 732. DeMatteo KE and C Kochanny. 2004. Determining a safe and effective radio collar design for use with the elusive bush dog (Speothos venaticus). Canid News 7.6 [Online]. DeMatteo KE, O Carrillo, GL Zuercher, S Ramírez , K Smith, and IJ Porton. 2004a. A technique for attracting bush dogs (Speothos venaticus) in the wild. Canid News 7.6 [Online]. DeMatteo KE, KL Karagiannis, CS Asa, MS Macek, P Parker, TL Snyder, and AM Tieber. 2004b. Semen collection and artificial insemination in the common piping guan (Pipile cumanensis cumanensis) and potential applications for Cracidae (Aves: Galliformes). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 35(4):447-458. DeMatteo KE and HJ Harlow. 1997. Thermoregulatory response of the North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum bruneri) to decreasing ambient temperature and increasing wind speed. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 116B(3): 33
Postdoctoral Associate
with Dr. Patricia Parker