Pam Lopez, Ph.D.
Professor Department of Biology
Contact Information Office: Strain Science Building 206 Email: lopezp1@pacificu.edu Phone: 503.352.2734
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Education
Courses that I teach
- General Biology I
- Research Methods
- Vertebrate Zoology
- Animal Behavior
- Tropical Rainforest Biology
- Junior Seminar
- Senior Capstone Experience
During my career I have been honored with several teaching awards, including the Oregon Academy of Science Outstanding University Teacher Award (1996) and the Pacific University S.S. Johnson Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching (2005). I was also nominated for the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching U.S. Professors of the Year Program by Pacific University in 1996 and 2001.
Research Interests and Student Research
My primary research interest is the behavioral ecology of amphibians. My recent research focuses on amphibians in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), but I have worked extensively with tropical amphibians (and reptiles) in Puerto Rico, Brazil and Costa Rica. I have also conducted research on the ecological development of mitigated wetlands in the PNW, with my primary focus on vertebrate and aquatic macro invertebrate communities. My students and I are currently immersed in two research projects:
- Long-term ecological monitoring of amphibian populations in three forest units at the Mt. Richmond Forest (cover object array transects and time- and area-constrained surveys), Yamhill County, Oregon.
- Meadow use by Roosevelt elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) at Henry Hagg Lake, Washington County, Oregon.
Topics that my research students and I have investigated during the past 10 years are shown below. Some of these projects were conducted as independent research (Biol 495, indicated with an *) by my students.
- Kin recognition in Pacific tree frog (Pseudacris regilla) tadpoles.
- Effects of kinship composition and density on the development, growth, survivorship and aggregation behavior of Pacific tree frog (Pseudacris regilla) tadpoles.
- Ecological monitoring of the Fernhill Regional Wetlands Mitigation Bank.
- Skeletochronological analysis of age and mating success in the roughskin newt, Taricha granulosa.
- *Bromeliad microcosms in Costa Rica: a test of island biogeography theory.
- *Home range size and habitat preference in the Columbian white-tailed deer.
- Mating success and female sex pheromones in the roughskin newt, Taricha granulosa.
- Ecological monitoring of Bronson Creek Wetland.
- Diet, mating success, and female sex pheromones in the roughskin newt, Taricha granulosa.
- *Clutch placement and reproductive success in the Northern Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora aurora): A comparison between two wetlands of different ages.
- Tualatin River Basin biotic survey.
- *Antipredatory behavior and memory in green frog tadpoles (Rana clamitans).
- *Effects of UV radiation, water pH and temperature, and light:dark cycle on egg and larvae development in the Pacific treefrog, Pseudacris regilla.
- *Behavioral endocrinology of rhesus monkeys: the effect of leptin on food intake.
- *Habitat partitioning by birds in temperate versus tropical forests.
- *Egg placement and reproductive success in the red-legged frog, Rana aurora.
My students and I present our research at a variety of regional and national conferences. Recent abstracts (* indicates student authors) include:
- Alkaslassy, E. and P.T. Lopez. 2011. Use of mitigated meadows by resident Roosevelt Elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) at Hagg Lake, Washington County, Oregon: four years of consistent patterns (2006-2010). Abstracts of the 2011 Joint Annual Meeting of the Society for Northwestern Vertebrate Biology and Washington Chapter of the Wildlife Society.
- *Garcia, M., *Lee, J., *Massey, A., *Racaza, R., *Seiffert, R., Alkaslassy, E., and Lopez, P. 2010. Use of mitigated meadows by resident elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) at Hagg Lake, Washington County, Oregon: Data from 2006-2010. Proceedings of the Oregon Academy of Sciences, Volume 66.
- Lopez, P.T., E. Bredeweg* and A. Soken* and D. Taylor*. 2009. Does kinship composition or group density affect tadpole fitness in the Pacific Treefrog (Pseudacris regilla)? Abstracts of the 2009 conference of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles/Herpetologists’ League.
- *Cassio, C., M. Garcia*, B. Guira*, J. Lee*, S. Rietmann*, E. Alkaslassy and P. Lopez. 2009. Patterns of habitat use by resident elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) at Hagg Lake, Washington County, Oregon: data from 2006- 2009. Proceedings of the Oregon Academy of Science, Volume 65.
- Lopez, P.T., E. Bredeweg* and A. Soken*. 2008. Does kinship composition or group density affect tadpole fitness in the Pacific Treefrog (Pseudacris regilla)? Proceedings of the Oregon Academy of Science, Volume 64.
- Alkaslassy, E., P.T. Lopez, S. Cadiente*, C. Casio*, K. Castillo*, C. Caswell*, S. Rau*, K. Spangler* and D. Taylor*. 2008. How do patterns of meadow use by resident elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) at Hagg Lake vary over time? A comparison of 2006/07 to 2007/08. Proceedings of the Oregon Academy of Science. Volume 64.
- Alkaslassy, E., P.T. Lopez, E. Horner*, A. Kojima* and A. Pittman*. 2007. Patterns of meadow use by resident elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) at Henry Hagg Lake, Oregon. Proceedings of the Oregon Academy of Science, Volume 63.
- Penn Boris*, L. A. and P.T. Lopez. 2006. Kin preference in Pseudacris regilla tadpoles of true and mixed kin groups. Proceedings of the Oregon Academy of Science, Volume 62.
- Lopez, P.T., L.S. Rynd and J.B. Goller*. 2006. Correlates between age, body size and mating success in the rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa). Proceedings of the Society for the Study of Reptiles and Amphibians/Herpetologists’ League.
- Goller*, J.M., P.T. Lopez and L.S. Rynd. 2004. What makes male newts sexy? A skeletochronological analysis of male mating success in the roughskin newt (Taricha granulosa). Proceedings of the Oregon Academy of Science, Volume 61.
- P.T. Lopez, C.T. Burtch*, A.M Monie* and A.L. Payette*. 2002. Does size really matter? A study of male mating success in the roughskin newt, Taricha granulosa. Proceedings of the Oregon Academy of Science, Volume 59.
- Lopez. P.T., A.M. Monie* and A.L. Payette*. 2001. Experimental evidence for a female sex pheromone in the roughskin newt, Taricha granulosa. Proceedings of the Animal Behaviour Society.
- G. E. Stanton and P.T. Lopez. 2001. Georgia distribution and habitat characteristics of Procambarus (Ortmannicus) acutissimus (Girard) and P. (O.) verrucosus Hobbs. Proceedings of the Georgia Academy of Science.
- Lopez, P.T. and R.E. Stockhouse. 1999. A comparison of two differently-aged mitigated wetland sites in the Portland metro area. Proceedings of the Society of Wetland Science Pacific Northwest Chapter.
- Lopez, P.T. and R.E. Stockhouse. 1999. Wetland and riparian student monitoring teams: a unique consulting experience. Proceedings of the Society of Wetland Science Pacific Northwest Chapter.
- Lopez, P.T., R.E. Stockhouse, B. Duff*, S. Dwiggins*, C. Green*, J. Greenberg,* C. Hartley* and J. Olds*. 1999. Tualatin River Basin biotic survey: 1998 vs. 1996. Proceedings of the Oregon Academy of Science, Volume 56.
Publications and Technical Reports (* indicates student authors)
- Alkaslassy, E. and P.T. Lopez. 2011. Vegetation Analysis of Mitigated Elk Meadows at Henry Hagg Lake, Washington County, Oregon: Spring 2011. Submitted to The Bureau of Reclamation and Washington County Parks and Recreation.
- Alkaslassy, E. and P.T. Lopez. 2010. Use of Mitigated Meadows by Roosevelt Elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) at Henry Hagg Lake, Washington County, Oregon, Year #4: October 2009-February 2010: Final Report. Submitted to Washington County Parks and Recreation, and The Bureau of Reclamation.
- Alkaslassy, E. and P.T. Lopez. 2009. Use of Mitigated Meadows by Roosevelt Elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) at Henry Hagg Lake, Washington County, Oregon, Year #3: October 2008-February 2009: Final Report. Submitted to Washington County Parks and Recreation, and The Bureau of Reclamation.
- Alkaslassy, E. and P.T. Lopez. 2008. Use of Mitigated Meadows by Roosevelt Elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) at Henry Hagg Lake, Washington County, Oregon, November 2007-February 2008: Final Report. Submitted to Washington County Parks and Recreation, and The Bureau of Reclamation.
- Alkaslassy, E. and P.T. Lopez. 2007. Use of Mitigated Meadows by Roosevelt Elk (Cervus elaphus roosevelti) at Henry Hagg Lake, Washington County, Oregon, November 2006-February 2007: Final Report. Submitted to Washington County Parks and Recreation, and The Bureau of Reclamation.
- Stockhouse, R.E , P.T. Lopez, S. Love*, B. Smith* and A. Buccat*. 2005. 2004 Fernhill Wetlands Regional Mitigation Bank Phase One Monitoring Report. Submitted to Clean Water Services, Hillsboro, Oregon.
- Stockhouse, R.E and P.T. Lopez. 2004. 2003 Fernhill Wetlands Regional Mitigation Bank Phase One Monitoring Report. Submitted to Clean Water Services, Hillsboro, Oregon.
- Stockhouse, R.E and P.T. Lopez. 2003. 2002 Fernhill Wetlands Regional Mitigation Bank Phase One Monitoring Report. Submitted to Clean Water Services, Hillsboro, Oregon.
- Stockhouse, R.E., P.T. Lopez, C.T. Burtch*, L.M. Nelson* and A. Heinberger*. 2002. Bronson Creek Wetland Mitigation Site: 2002 Final Report. submitted to the Tri-Met Westside Lightrail Project, Portland, Oregon.
- Stockhouse, R.E and P.T. Lopez. 2002. 2001 Fernhill Wetlands Regional Mitigation Bank Phase One Monitoring Report. Submitted to Clean Water Services, Hillsboro, Oregon.
- Stockhouse, R.E., P.T. Lopez. 2001. Bronson Creek Wetland Mitigation Site: 2001 Final Report. submitted to the Tri-Met Westside Lightrail Project, Portland, Oregon.
- Stockhouse, R.E., P.T. Lopez, H.A. Collis*, R.D. Nelson* and M.P. Seidel*. 2000. Bronson Creek Wetland Mitigation Site: 2000 Final Report. submitted to the Tri-Met Westside Lightrail Project, Portland, Oregon.
- Stockhouse, R.E., P.T. Lopez, B. Duff*, C. Green*, C. Hartley* and J. Greenberg*. 1998. Bronson Creek Wetland Mitigation Site: 1998 Final Report. Tri-Met.
- Lopez, P.T. 1996. Mate Selection in the Puerto Rican Frog Eleutherodactylus coqui. In West Indian Herpetofauna, (R. Powell and R.W. Henderson, eds.)
- Lopez, P.T. and P.M. Narins. 1991. Mate choice in the neotropical frog, Eleutherodactylus coqui. Animal Behaviour. 41: 757-772.
- Howland, J.M., L. J. Vitt and P.T. Lopez. 1990. Life on the edge: the ecology and life history of the tropidurine iguanid lizard Uranoscodon supercilliosum. Can. J. Zool. 68: 1366-1373.
- Caldwell, J.P. and P.T. Lopez. 1989. Foam-generating behavior in tadpoles of Leptodactylus mystaceus. Copeia 1989: 498-502.
- Lopez, P.T., P.M. Narins, E.R. Lewis, and S.W. Moore. 1988. Acoustically-induced call modification in the white-lipped frog, Leptodactylus albilabris. Animal Behavior. 36:1295-1308.