Undergraduate Research

Principal Investigator
Carmen G. Montaña, PhD.
PhD- 2012, Texas A&M University
Associate Professor Department Of Biology
Stephen F. Austin State University
Miller Science Building, Room # 123
Nacogdoches, TX 75962
Email: montanascg (at) sfasu (dot) edu
Phone: 936.468.2322

Curriculum vitae
ResearchGate Profile
Google Scholar Profile

Visiting Researchers

David Peterson
Fish Biologist
USDA- Forest Service Lufkin TX

Dave and the member of the Montana Lab are working on describing the "Conservation status of fishes in East Texas". We are looking at historical and contemporary data to evaluate changes in species composition over time, but also we are looking at life history traits and functional traits to evaluate what traits have allowed the persistence of some native species over time.

Graduate Students

Chase Nimee
B.S. Zoology in Wildlife Biology
Southern Illinois University Carbondale

MS- Student, Biology SFASU
Chase is studying the fish assemblages co-occurring with two endangered shiners (Smalleye and Sharpnose shiners) in the upper Brazos River in Texas. He will explore whether biotic, abiotic, or a combination of these factors are responsible for the distribution of the endangered shiners in the upper Brazos River.

Annie Simpson
B.S. Art & Science- West Virginia University
Maryland Dept. Natural Resources

MS- Student, Biology SFASU
Annie is researching the spatial and temporal factors influencing beta-diversity patterns of temperate stream fish communities in Texas. Her research aims to conduct a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the fish biodiversity in streams of east Texas in the yearly basis of four-season periods (spring, summer, fall, and winter) to better understand changes in fish assemblage dynamics over time.

Maggie Moses
B.S. Environmental Science, King's College PA
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division Water monitoring

MS- Student, Biology SFASU
Maggie's research focuses on examining the conservation status imperiled fish species East Texas streams: a combined approach of ecological niche models, life history and ecological aspects”. Maggie’s research aims to document both historical and current distribution and abundance of the imperiled fish species such as cyprinids, catostomids, and percids in streams within the Western Gulf Coastal Plain system which include streams within the Neches-Sabine and Big Cypress Creek systems in Texas.

Current Undergraduate Students

Sophie Scott
SFASU, Environmental Science
Project: Isotopic niche space of parasitic catfishes in Rupununi River, Guyana.

Lily DiFrank
SFASU, Biology
Lily is examining changes in population structure of Red River Pupfish (Cyprinodon rubrofluviatilis) and potential environmental factors influencing individual abundance in segments of the upper Brazos River Basin, Texas.

Adair Hernandez
SFASU, Biology
Project: Isotopic niche space and body-size-Tophic position of characiforme fishes in a neotropical river, Guyana.

Joseph Sheffield
SFASU , Biology
Project: Functional and trophic diversity of catfishes (Siluriformes) in the Essequibo River Guyana.

Paige Summer
SFASU, Forestry
Project: Distribution of Lesser Siren in ponds of the DCNF in Texas. Microhabitat use and association with other aquatic communities.