I graduated from the University of Oklahoma in Norman in 2009 with my B.S. in Zoology, and I'm now working on my Ph. D. at the University of Tulsa under Dr. Ron Bonett. I'm interested in many different evolutionary questions, but my research has focused on stream fauna, including salamanders, minnows, and invertebrates. I have done most of my work on the Oklahoma salamander (Eurycea tynerensis), a salamander with both paedomorphic and metamorphic populations; I have done several projects investigating its habitat requirements and faunal associations, and experiments investigating microhabitat preferences and interspecific interactions. I am also developing a project on the phylogeny of the southern redbelly dace, Chrosomus erythrogaster, a beautiful native minnow with a very interesting distribution and specific habitat requirements. We have also described several novel parasite interactions, including trematodes, monogeneans, and copepods. My primary interests lie in evolutionary, ecological, and behavioral questions.

 

I spend much of my free time photographing some of the amazing reptiles, amphibians, fishes, spiders, insects, birds, mammals, and fossils I find. Documenting nature's diversity is a passion and a challenge, and if I feel like I'm successful each time someone tells me they have a new appreciation for wildlife (especially the little stuff).

 

I got a DSLR in August 2008 to photograph the herps I was catching, but around January 2009 I realized I really enjoyed photography and started practicing in earnest. I have a long way to go, but I like to think I've improved a lot in the past few months.

 

I appreciate invitations to groups, but I will not add photos to groups requiring comments on other photos. While I do try and provide feedback to people visiting my photos and to my friends, I unfortunately do not have the time to devote to commenting more other photos; school and work take up most of my time, and when I get a break I like to spend time with my wife or working on one of my MANY other hobbies.

 

If you are interested in using any of my photographs, please contact me at oklasam87@hotmail.com.

 

With a wild Copperhead in the Caddo Mountains of Arkansas.

 

The Bonett lab in the field with Dr. Dave Wake in November 2011.

 

With Robert Trivers and fellow TU grad students at OU in November 2009.

 

With Richard Dawkins at OU in March 2009.

 

My main equipment:

 

bodies:

Nikon D300s

Nikon D60

 

glass:

Nikkor 60mm micro F/2.8

Nikkor 50mm F/1.8

Nikkor 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 VR

Sigma 10-20mm F/4-5.6

Sigma 70-300 F/4-5.6

Kenko 1.4 Teleplus Pro 300

Kenko ext. tube set (for N/AF)

52mm off-brand filters (PL, ND, UV)

77mm Tiffen UV and ND filters

 

Misc.:

Nikon SB-400 Speedlight

Nikon DB-600 Speedlight

Nikon NC-17 off-camera flash cable

Nikon BR-2A reversing ring

Stoffen flash diffusers (for both speedlights)

Folding flash diffuser (for macro)

Nikon ML-L3 remote

Spare battery and memory cards (~20gb worth)

52mm male-male reversing ring

Various step-down rings

Homemade bendable flash bracket

Macro bellows (new, generic)

Velbon El Charmagne 530 tripod and 3 misc. cheapos

Cam-Pod Beanbag

Lowepro 200 and 300 AW bags, two smaller generic shoulder bags