Kelly Reyna

My research focuses on embryonic development as it is experienced in nature.

Research Interests

I am interested in developmental and ecological physiology, conservation biology, population dynamics, wildlife management, wildlife law, and science education. I am particularly interested in how developmental physiology intertwines with wildlife biology to answer questions about how ecological stressors modify the ontogeny of vertebrates (both aquatic and terrestrial), and how that relationship affects populations at all levels.

Much of my work takes place in the Burggren Laboratory at UNT

Current Research

Northern bobwhites are ground-nesting game birds that are declining concurrent with climate warming; in fact, they were recently placed on the IUCN’s list of near threatened species. Drought conditions correlate with the population decline in southern territories, however, the underlying mechanism is not known.

Bobwhite hens lay 1 egg per day for ~ 14 days. The hen does not begin to incubate the eggs until the last egg of the clutch is laid. During this egg laying period (the pre-incubation period), eggs are often subjected to extremely high temperatures, especially during drought years.

I am exploring the thermal susceptibility of bobwhite embryos, and how high temperature during the pre-incubation period effects their development, hatching synchrony, and metabolism. The results should reveal the contributions of the developmental stage to the population decline and give us insight into the biological response of ground nesting avian embryos (in ovo) to climate warming.

Classes I Teach

Biology 1733—Honors Principles of Biology I

Biology 1730—Principles of Biology I

Biology 2312—Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II

Biology 3810—Animal Physiology Lab

Contact Information

Office: 940.369.7629

Email: Reyna@unt.edu

USmail:

Kelly S. Reyna

University of North Texas

1155 Union Circle, # 305220