1. Healthcare

CALL FOR PAPERS
TEXAS SOCIETY OF MAMMALOGISTS
http://www.texasmammalogy.org/
33rd Annual Meeting, 13-15 February 2015
Texas Tech University Center at Junction
The TSM meeting offers the perfect setting for students to present research efforts, whether the findings
reported are preliminary or from a completed study. The setting is rather informal, and the audience
simultaneously offers encouragement and constructive criticism. Our members represent considerable
expertise covering a broad array of mammalian biology, providing a wonderful opportunity for students
to discuss their projects with established mammalogists.
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION and PAID REGISTRATION
30 January 2015
POSTER AND PAPER PRESENTATIONS: The Poster Session will be on Friday evening, February
13th from 7:30 to 9:00pm. It will be in the Dining Hall. If you are presenting a poster, please be on site
early enough to set up completely before 7:30pm (clips or tape will be provided). Poster dimensions
should be no more than 42 inches high and 60 inches wide.
Oral paper presentations are scheduled for Saturday beginning at 8:00am in the Packard Building.
Presentation files must be loaded on Friday night after dinner. In order to keep with a relaxed and
enjoyable atmosphere there is a limit to 20 paper presentations. Presenters will be chosen on a first
come, first served basis, so please submit your abstract early. Abstracts AND REGISTRATION
PAYMENT must be received absolutely no later than 30 January 2015 in order to be considered for
the program.
AWARDS: Students making oral presentations are eligible to compete for the following awards (as
appropriate). The Robert Packard Award ($500 cash prize) will be given to a student for the best
overall oral presentation at the meeting. Cash prizes of $400 each will be awarded as follows: the
William B. Davis Award goes to the graduate student giving the best presentation pertaining to classical
mammalogy with study conducted at the organismal level; the TSM Award goes to the graduate student
giving the best presentation on studies pertaining to molecular biology, evolution, and systematics; the
Rollin H. Baker Award goes to the best undergraduate presentation in classical mammalogy at the
organismal level; and the Bobby Baker Award goes to the best undergraduate presentation in molecular
biology, evolution, and systematics. Last year (2014), the Rollin H. Baker Award winner was Adrienne
Wells (Cameron University); Bobby Baker Award winner was Andria Beal (Tarleton State University);
TSM Award winner was Karina Montero (North Dakota State University); William B. Davis Award
winner was Troy J. Maikis (Texas State University); and Robert L. Packard Award winner was
Courtney Thomason (Texas Tech University).
Students (graduate and undergraduate) giving poster presentations are eligible for awards as well. The
Vernon Bailey Award ($400) is for the best poster presentation pertaining to classical mammalogy
conducted at the organismal level and the Clyde Jones Award ($400) is for the best poster presentation
on studies pertaining to molecular biology, evolution, and systematics. At the 2014 meeting the Vernon
Bailey Award winner was Adrian Castellanos (Texas A&M University) and the Clyde Jones Award
winner was Christina Tran (University of Houston - Downtown).
Judging of the presentations, by a committee of TSM members, is based on the quality of the science
(e.g., methods, design, interpretation) and of the presentation (e.g., oral presentation, visual aids,
handling of questions). Visual aid media available for oral presentations include a PC laptop for
running MS Powerpoint presentations. Award winners will be announced during the Saturday evening
banquet. Students are eligible to receive a specific award only once.
ABSTRACTS: Please submit abstracts for oral and poster presentations by e-mailing a formatted
abstract as a Word Document to [email protected]. Refer to the program from last year or
the EXAMPLE ABSTRACT at the end of this document for formatting details. You should get a
response from the Secretary-Treasurer within 24-48 hours of receipt. If not, please email to inquire.
To ensure inclusion in the program, all abstracts AND registration forms with payment must be
received by 30 January 2015. Please contact Secretary-Treasurer Loren Ammerman if you encounter
any problems with abstract submission procedures.
In the e-mail accompanying your abstract, please provide the following information:
1) The name of your advisor/committee chair.
2) Whether this is a graduate or undergraduate presentation.
3) Whether this is an oral or poster presentation.
4) Which award you are competing for, as appropriate (a student may not compete for an award
that they have received in the past). All oral presentations are automatically considered for the
Packard Award. If competing for NO AWARD, please state that in your e-mail.
• W. B. Davis – award for best oral presentation by a graduate student pertaining to
classical mammalogy with study conducted at the organismal level
• TSM – award for best oral presentation by a graduate student pertaining to molecular
biology, evolution, and systematics
• Rollin Baker – undergraduate award for best oral presentation pertaining to classical
mammalogy with study conducted at the organismal level
• Bobby Baker - undergraduate award for best oral presentation pertaining to molecular
biology, evolution, and systematics
• Vernon Bailey – graduate or undergraduate award for best poster pertaining to classical
mammalogy conducted at the organismal level
• Clyde Jones – graduate or undergraduate award for best poster pertaining to molecular
biology, evolution, and systematics
5) For all abstracts, it is assumed that the first author is also the presenter. If that is not the case,
please indicate the name of the presenter in your e-mail.
6) T-shirt size of the presenting author (for free T-shirt).
REGISTRATION: In an effort to encourage timely registration and to better estimate our food and
lodging needs, please note that there will be a LATE FEE of $20 for those who register after January
30. In addition, we will be unable to provide meal plans, lodging, or linens to those that register late or
WALK-IN and register at the meeting on February 13.
Two lodging options are available at the TTU Center. You may reserve a bed in a “study unit” (10-12
beds per room with shared bathrooms; preference given to students) for $20 for two nights OR beds in
a “suite unit” (2 rooms joined by a bathroom, 2-4 beds in each room; preference given to non-students)
for $35 for two nights. Room requests are honored on a first-come, first-served basis.
OTHER INFORMATION: Check-in will begin at 3:00pm on Friday, 13 February 2015 in the Dining
Hall. Friday evening dinner will begin at 6:00pm and posters will be displayed from 7:30-9:00pm.
The rest of the evening will be for “socializing” and there will be a special “MAMMAL
CHALLENGE” competition hosted by the winners of last year’s challenge (Tom Lee and Zac
Ellsworth). Take this opportunity to test your mammal identification skills.
The oral presentations will begin after breakfast on Saturday morning. The business meeting will be
held in the Packard Building at the conclusion of the paper presentations on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday evening dinner will be followed by a banquet and banquet presentation. This year the
speaker will be Dr. Rodney Honeycutt from Pepperdine University. The title of his presentation
will be “Gopher Bill and Me.” An auction and dance (with DJ) will follow the banquet activities. No
formal events are scheduled for Sunday morning. Breakfast will be offered on Sunday morning.
LOCATION OF THE TEXAS TECH CENTER: The Center is located just south of Junction.
Follow the main road (US 83) south, out-of-town. At about one quarter of a mile past the bridge over
the South Llano River, turn right. This road leads directly to the TTU campus. The second large
building is the Academic Building, the third large building is the Dining Hall. If you need further help,
feel free to contact me. The emergency phone number at the Texas Tech Center in Junction is (325)
446-2301.
EXAMPLE ABSTRACT (this format is required for submission):
TAXONOMIC STATUS OF THE DAVIS MOUNTAINS COTTONTAIL, SYLVILAGUS
ROBUSTUS (LAGOMORPHA: LEPORIDAE) REVEALED BY AMPLIFIED FRAGMENT
LENGTH POLYMORPHISM
Dana N. Lee1, Russell S. Pfau2 and Loren K. Ammerman1, 1Department of Biology, Angelo State
University, 2Department of Biology, Tarleton State University ([email protected])
The Eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus, is the most common and geographically widespread of all
North American rabbits. In the Trans-Pecos region of Texas lives the Davis Mountains cottontail... try
to limit your abstract to 300 words or less.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Loren Ammerman, Secretary-Treasurer
Texas Society of Mammalogists
Department of Biology, ASU Station 10890, Angelo State University
San Angelo, Texas 76909
(325) 486-6643
[email protected]
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION and PAID REGISTRATION:
30 January 2015