Ashley Miller Presents Research at the University of The Bahamas San Salvador

2017 Aug 15

Earlier this summer, Ashley Miller '18 and Bridget Yaw '20, attended the Second Joint Symposium on the Natural History and Geology of The Bahamas, at the University of The Bahamas San Salvador.

During the symposium, held at the Gerace Research Centre, Miller and Yaw presented their joint research, "Genetic Diversity at Six Microsatellite Markers in the Long Horned Crazy Ant of San Salvador Island, The Bahamas, and its Association with Habitat Dominance," during the poster session portion of the symposium.

After the conference, the students, along with Dr. Daniel Kjar, Associate Professor of Biology, stayed on the island for two weeks to continue their research. They conducted behavioral observations on ant competitive interactions at baits and were able to excavate a Dorymyrmex antillanus nest, recovering three dealate, or wingless queens, thus demonstrating that this species is likely polygynous.

In the upcoming academic year, Miller and Yaw will continue to work on the genetic analysis of the group's Paratrechina longicornis specimens from San Salvador Island.