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Research Interests

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PhD Research Focus

My PhD work was conducted at North Carolina State University. In addition to my PhD in biology I will earn a minor in Genetic Engineering and Society.  I worked on house mice, which are significant invasive pests, particularly on islands. The Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Rodents program (GBIRd) aims to suppress invasive mouse populations on islands, by heavily biasing offspring sex ratios. Effective implementation of this approach will depend on engineered hybrid mice being competitive and able to mate successfully. To address this question I characterized genetic and behavioural differences between Mus musculus strains. These behavioural and genetic tests used wild house mice derived from an invasive population on the Farallon islands that I personally brought back to NC State. I mated these wild Farallon mice with lab mice with a natural meiotic distorter (tw2). The tw2 impacts sperm transmission and is passed down 95% of the time. To assess fertility in hybrid crosses, tw2 males were paired with wild-derived females from the Farallon islands (MmF). Results of these matings indicated litter sizes are comparable. Next, I used larger (three m2) enclosures with enrichment to increase environmental complexity. I introduced both an MmF and a tw2-bearing male to two MmF females to assess female mate choice. These results indicated that hybrid males are be able to successfully compete and secondarily invade. Experiments then aimed at determining what reproductive and behavioural characteristics contributed to this success. The assessment and selection for characteristics contributing to male mating success is just one important aspect of this project that I have been able to address while also considering the broader aims and social impacts of such a project. As a member of  the 2013 IGERT Cohort we designed a website that discusses the potential use of transgenic mice for conservation.

Recent Journal Publications

Piaggio, Antoinette J.; Robinson, Stacie; Shiels, Aaron; Taylor, Daniel; Spock, Danika; Allira, Meagan; Serr, Megan; Klein, Caroline; Godwin, John; Russell, James; Wilkinson, Shaun; Holmes, Nick; Will, David; Gemmell, Neil, Evaluation of environmental DNA as a surveillance tool for invasive house mice (Mus musculus)" Environmental DNA https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/edn3.70069

 

Olson, DH. Grant, EH. Bletz, M. Piovia-Scott, J. Lesbarrères, D. Kerby, JL. Adams, MJ. Breitman, MF.

Christman, M Forzan,MJ. Gray, MJ. Hill, AJ. Hill, Aj. Koo, MS. Milenkaya O., Eria A. Rebollar, EA. Rollins-Smith, Serr, M. Shepack, A. Shirose, L. Sprague, L. Walke, J.  Warwick, AR.  Mosher, BA. (2024). Preparing for a Bsal invasion into North America has improved multi-sector readiness. Frontiers in Amphibian and Reptile Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/famrs.2024.1347541

 

 

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Herpetology Research

My first research experience was as an undergraduate where I helped explore the behavioral responses of tree frogs to aquatic nitrate and atrazine contamination under field and laboratory conditions. For my masters I conducted my own research project exploring the demasculinization of Northern leopard frogs (Lithobates pipiens) to atrazine and malathion. During my masters I also helped with field trials in Vieques, Puerto Rico, where we tested different marking techniques for Eleutherodactylus. Recently, I helped write a review on the deadly fungal pathogen known as Bsal. Here we reviewed the known biology and pathogenesis of this primarily salamander disease, as well as precautions and advice for preventing spread to North America. A focus area of mine has been on invasive species and their spread. Bsal is thought to have spread to Europe via the pet trade and the release of captive individuals. This review was coordinated with other members of the Bsal communication group for Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. In addition to the review, I have also contributed knowledge content to fact sheets for safe field practices to prevent the spread of this deadly fungal infection. 

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Recent Conferences/Presentations

Serr, M. February  2025. The Evolutionary Considerations of Rodent Gene Drives for Conservation and Human Health.  Online Club EvMed, Triangle Center for Evolutionary Medicine, Duke, University, Durham, North Carolina.​

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​Solomon, K. Bogan, S. Pilson, J. Perez-Heydrich, C. Serr, M. Investigating the Impacts of Stress and Bd on Raleigh, North Carolina Amphibian Populations. Joint Meeting of Ichthyology and Herpetology, Norfolk VA, July 15, 2023. 

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Serr, M. May 2022 Example of a Gene Drive for Ecosystem Conservation. Genetic Biocontrol of Invasive Rodents. Virtual Online talk with eight countries represented to the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture.

The Science & 

Mathematics University

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