|
|
Department of Biology Faculty and Research |
|
GIANTS OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY (me and chuck D, San Cristobal 2006)
Lab links
The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) Department Links Biology Home
|
Dr. David Marsh Associate Professor of Biology Washington and Lee University Howe Hall 415 Phone: (540) 458-8176 E-mail: marshd at wlu.edu
Undergraduate Degree: B.A., University of Virginia, 1993 Graduate Degree: Ph.D., University of California, Davis, 2000 Disease Ecology (BIOL 111) Statistics for Biology and Medicine (BIOL 301) Clinical Trials (BIOL 395 - NEW CLASS FALL '09) Animal Behavior (BIOL 243) Field Herpetology (BIOL 242)
Current Research Projects
Optimal Strategies for Monitoring Populations Monitoring populations of plants and animals is crucial for protecting endangered species, managing biological resources, and tracking the spread of invasive species. Yet, the design of population monitoring programs is often an afterthought, based more on tradition and expediency than on rational analysis. I am developing simulation models parameterized with data from a variety of species to determine optimal approaches to monitoring populations. I am also investigating the kinds and amounts of data needed to design an effective program for any given species.
Ecology and Evolution of Mountaintop Salamanders Virginia is home to several endemic salamanders that are restricted to tiny ranges on one or several mountaintops. My lab is studying several of these species in order to determine their biogeographic origin and their likely response to climate change. With Sherando Salamanders, we are examining the structure of contact zones with the more common Red-Backed Salamander, and we are using morphology and mitochondrial DNA to look for evidence of interbreeding. With Peaks-of-Otter Salamanders, we are monitoring responses to logging and habitat disturbance in order to predict the long-term dynamics of the species.
Research and Publication Bias in Clinical Trial Reports Throughout the biomedical research literature, clinical trials published with pharmaceutical industry support are more likely to reach positive conclusions about new products than are comparable trials conducted by academic or governmental institutions. However, few studies have done the necessary work to determine the reasons behind these discrepancies. For example, industry-supported trials might be less likely to be published, or they might be inherently biased, or they might just be of higher quality than non-industry trials. We are using standard meta-analytical techniques and some novel approaches to tease out the causes of bias in the clinical trials literature. Recent Publications (*indicates undergraduate student co-author)
|
