While conditions are far from normal, the lab was happy to be able to resume limited in-person lab meetings this summer.
Carl Saltzberg successfully defended. We wish him luck in his future endeavors.
A global pandemic can't stop science. Lab members presented virtually at two annual conferences this month: Scott, Max, Barbara, and Jared presented talks at American Society of Mammalogists, and Max and Barbara presented at the Evolution Meeting.
A National Geographic article by Douglas Main, covers the Steppan Labs work in identifying Phyllotis xanthopygus (the yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse) as the the world's highest-dwelling mammal.
What began with an observation by mountain climbers of an unidentified rodent surrying about the desolate snow covered terrain near the summit of Llullaillaco, the worlds second highest volcano, would later be associated with environmental sampling and sequencing which confirmed inhabitation of this hostile habitat by P. xanthopygus.
To see the full article, including a video of the sighting on the volcano, click on the link below.
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The first peer-reviewed reports of the discovery of the highest elevation vertebrate (Phyllotis xanthopygus, the yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse) has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
The Steppan lab has been collaborating with the original discoverers (Tom Bowen and Matt Farson), microbial biologists (Steve Schmidt and his lab at U. Colorado), and more recently a team of mammalogists (Jay Storz, Guillermo D’Elia, and colleagues), who have collectively established the world records first for mammals and then for all vertebrates, on this mountain.
See links for the paper, including videos from the 2020 discovery at the summit (6739 m, 22,110') and the 2013 discovery at 6,205 m (20,350’).
A National Geographic article by Douglas Main, covers the Steppan Labs work in identifying Phyllotis xanthopygus (the yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse) as the the world's highest-dwelling mammal.
What began with an observation by mountain climbers of an unidentified rodent surrying about the desolate snow covered terrain near the summit of Llullaillaco, the worlds second highest volcano, would later be associated with environmental sampling and sequencing which confirmed inhabitation of this hostile habitat by P. xanthopygus.
To see the full article, including a video of the sighting on the volcano, click on the link below.
(opens in a new window)
The Steppan Lab welcomes Max Bangs who joined as a new postdoc researcher. Follow the links below to learn more about Max's research background and interests.
The Steppan Lab got a new website (this one).
Florida State University
Department of Biological Science
King Life Science, Room 4066
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4295
Office: (850) 644-6536
Lab: (850) 644-6045
Fax: (850) 645-8447
Email: steppan @ bio.fsu.edu
