Welcome Kelton Verble - New Masters Student in the Alexander Lab


Kelton's Bio
My research interests include wildlife conservation genetics, disease ecology, and population dynamic assessments. I earned my B.S. in Wildlife from Purdue University in May of 2016. As an undergraduate, I provided assistance for various research projects that introduced me to genetic analysis and disease surveillance techniques.


For the current project, I will be using microsatellite genotyping together with observational data to determine inbreeding, relatedness within and between banded mongoose (Mungos mungo) troops. I will also be estimating troop dispersal and fusion/fission events across a diverse landscape. The resulting outputs will be incorporated into infectious disease transmission models dealing with a novel, emerging tuberculosis pathogen (Mycobacterium mungi) infecting banded mongoose in Botswana.

Banded mongoose tracking continues. Troop movements have been very diverse and intriguing. This is one of the driest and hottest seasons we have had for decades. Understanding how mongoose move and behave under extreme weather events will provide insight into the impacts of future climate change. Of interest is the manner in which human provisioning influences space use and intergroup contact.