Neil R. BalchanOklahoma State University | Oklahoma State · Department of Integrative Biology
Neil R. Balchan
Master of Science
About
16
Publications
3,660
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Introduction
I am a herpetologist with primary research interests in the evolution and ecology of snakes and their venoms. Current projects use mixed-"omics" to understand patterns of diversification and venom variation in North American pitvipers and Asian cobras. I have broad general research interests in herpetology, toxinology, natural history, and field biology. PhD student at Oklahoma State University - Dept. of Integrative Biology.
Additional affiliations
August 2014 - May 2018
August 2018 - May 2021
Publications
Publications (16)
Predation has the potential to impart strong selective pressures on organisms within their environments, resulting in adaptive changes in prey that minimize risk of predation. Pressures from venomous snakes present an exceptional challenge to prey, as venom represents a unique chemical arsenal evolutionarily tailored to incapacitate prey. In respon...
Due to its central location in the United States and the intricate mosaic of environments present, Oklahoma hosts a diverse assemblage of approximately 94 reptile and 58 amphibian species. With 15 distinct ecoregions existing across the state, and a correspondingly variable climate, Oklahoma represents the interface of a diversity of taxa that reac...
Background
Snake venoms are trophic adaptations that represent an ideal model to examine the evolutionary factors that shape polymorphic traits under strong natural selection. Venom compositional variation is substantial within and among venomous snake species. However, the forces shaping this phenotypic complexity, as well as the potential integra...
Birds of prey are vulnerable to envenomation from animals in their natural environment, including scorpions and pit vipers. Severity of clinical effects varies depending on envenomating species, dose of venom injected, and anatomic site of venom inoculation. Fatality from envenomation has been reported, but use of antivenom in birds of prey is rare...
The Red Queen hypothesis describes the coevolutionary dynamic between predator and prey where both partners must evolve in tandem to remain competitive. In several cases, rodents have demonstrated resistance to the venoms of their snake predators. For example, the California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi) exhibits high resistance to the...
The lesser aspen webworm moth, Meroptera pravella, is a small pyralid that uses quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) and related tree species as larval hosts. Whole-genome Illumina sequencing allowed the assembly of a complete circular mitochondrial genome of 15,260 bp consisting of 80.7% AT nucleotides, 22 tRNAs, 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs an...
