Varner Lab Update 2020: Supplies to Measure Stress Hormones in Pikas

 Last year, we received funds from BIOSINQ originally to support two students to attend the American Society of Mammalogists conference in Boulder, CO. Since that conference was COVIDerailed, I used the funds instead to purchase a kit of stress hormone assays for one student (Troy Muzzio) to learn how to extract stress hormones from pika scat in the lab and to analyze samples collected in 2020 from the La Sal mountains and from a collaborator in Alaska. The remaining funds were used to purchase temperature sensors that will be deployed in the La Sals next summer.

 

Below is a photo of Troy in the lab conducting this research.

 

We are profoundly thankful for all donations to this account!