Nancy L. Staub, Ph.D.

Publications (* indicates undergraduate authors)

Brown, C.E., WP Goldenberg, OM Hinds*, MK O'Donnell, and NL Staub. 2025. Vascular and osteological morphology of expanded digit tips suggests specialization in the Wandering Salamander (Aneides vagrans). Journal of Morphology 286: p.e70026.

Knadler, C, L Diaz Martinez, A Caño, KR Anders, Y Gallardo, and NL Staub. 2024. Course registration practices at a Jesuit University: Practicing critical hope to address barriers to access and belonging. Jesuit Higher Education: A Journal 13: 68-90.  https://doi.org/10.53309/2164-7666.1487

Staub, NL, SG Hayes, and MT Mendonca. 2024. Levels of sex steroids in plethodontid salamanders: A comparative study within the genus Aneides.  Ecology and evolution 14 p.e70550.  https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70550

Siegel, DS, MA Herrboldt, and NL Staub.  2024. Hormones, sex accessory structures, and secondary sexual characteristics in amphibians: a focus on breeding glands.  in Hormones and Reproduction of Vertebrates, Volume 2:105-119.  Academic Press.  (DO Norris and K Lopez, eds.)  

Black*, CQ, K Van Gunst*, NL Staub, and DS Siegel. 2024. A plethodontid salamander without a mental gland (Ensatina eschscholtzii) has courtship-like glands on its snout. Herpetologica 80:160-164.

Pierson, TW, MO Hinds*, S Altobelli*, TL Brock, CM Crookston, DJ Paluh, J Deitloff, AR Anjier, and NL Staub. 2024. Histological and osteological variation between alternative reproductive tactics in Two-lined Salamanders. Herpetologica 80:177-188.

Staub, NL, WE Peterman, R Bonett, and C. Beachy.  2024.  Introduction to the special issue on the 8th conference on the biology of plethodontid salamanders. Herpetologica 80:69-72.

Gunelson*, AM, MA Tuong*, and NL Staub. 2024. Androgen receptors in the dermal glands of male and female Ouachita Dusky salamanders. Integrative Organismal Biology, 6(1), p.obae001.

DeBruin*, JH, DB Wilburn, RC Feldhoff, and NL Staub. 2023. Presence of conserved SPF pheromone in mental and dorsal tailbase glands in the plethodontid salamander Karsenia koreana.  Plos one 18(8), p.e0289296.

Staub, NL and AM Bauer. 2021. Marvalee Hendricks Wake: A historical perspective. Ichthyology & Herpetology. 109:1077-84.

Marks, SB, SK Sessions, and NL Staub. 2021. Scientists and salamanders: A tribute to David B. Wake, Mentor extraordinaire.  Herpetological Review 52:696-703. 

Staub NL. 2021. The evolution of derived monomorphism from sexual dimorphism: A case study on salamanders. Integrative Organismal Biology 3:1-15. obaa044. https://doi.org/10.1093/iob/obaa044

Woodley, SK and NL Staub. 2021. Pheromonal communication in urodelan amphibians. Cell and Tissue Research 383:327-345. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-020-03408-1

Staub NL, AB Stiller*, KM Kiemnec-Tyburczy. 2020. A New Perspective on Female-to-Male Communication in Salamander Courtship. Integrative and comparative biology 60:722-31.

Orr TJ, M Burns, K Hawkes, KE Holekamp, KA Hook, CC Josefson, AA Kimmitt, AK Lewis, SE Lipshutz, KS Lynch, LK Sirot, DJ Stadmauer, NL Staub, MR Walfner, V Hayssen. 2020. It takes two to tango: including a female perspective in reproductive biology. Integrative and Comparative Biology 60:796-813.

Mader, CM, CW Beck, WH Grillo, GP Hollowell, BS Hennington, NL Staub, VA Delesalle, D Lello, RB Merritt, GD Griffin, C Bradford, J Mao, LS Blumer, SL White. 2017. Multi-Institutional, Multidisciplinary Study of the Impact of Course-based Research Experiences. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education 18:1-11.

Rollins*, RE and NL Staub. 2017. The Presence of Caudal Courtship-like Glands in Male and Female Ouachita Dusky Salamanders (Desmognathus brimleyorum). Herpetologica 73:277-282.

Zack, R, EF Vacha, and NL Staub. In press. Science in Action! Outreach Program Promotes Confidence in Teaching Science. The American Biology Teacher.

Staub, NL and RL Mueller. In press. Historical Perspective: David Burton Wake. Copeia 2017.

Staub, NL, LS Blumer, CW Beck, VA Delesalle, GD Griffin, RB Merritt, BS Hennington, WH Grillo, GP Hollowell, SL White, and CM Mader. 2016. Course-based Science Research Promotes Learning in Diverse Students at Diverse Institutions. Council for Undergraduate Research Quarterly 37:36-46.

Sever, DM, AD Pinsoneault*, B Wagner Mackenzie*, DS Siegel & NL Staub. 2016. A Description of the Skin Glands and Cloacal Morphology of the Plethodontid Salamander Karsenia koreana. Copeia 104:816-823.

Staub, NL, M Poxleitner, A Braley, H Smith-Flores, CM Pribbenow, L Jaworski, D Lopatto, and KR Anders. 2016. Scaling Up: Adapting a Phage-hunting Course to Increase Participation of First-year Students in Research. CBE – Life Sciences Education 15:1-11.

Staub, NL. 2016. The Age of Plethodontid Salamanders: A short review on longevity. Copeia 104:118-123.

Staub, NL. 2016. Age, Sexual Dimorphism, and Growth Rates in the Black Salamander, Aneides flavipunctatus (Plethodontidae). Copeia 104:52-59.

Hippe, SR,* CR Propper , and NL Staub. 2014. The presence of sexually dimorphic submandibular glands in Taricha granulosa the Rough-Skinned Newt (Salamandridae). Copeia 2014:38-43.

Sever, DM and NL Staub. 2010. Hormones, sex accessory structures and secondary sexual characters in amphibians, In "Hormones and Reproduction of Vertebrates" (D.O. Norris and K.H. Lopez, eds.), vol. 2, pp. 83-98, San Diego, Elsevier.

Fontana MF,* LD Houck, and NL Staub. 2007. In situ localization of plethodontid courtship pheromone mRNA in formalin-fixed tissue. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 150:480-485.

Fontana MF,* KA Ask,* RJ MacDonald,* AM Carnes,* and NL Staub. 2006. Loss of traditional mucous glands and presence of a novel mucus-producing granular gland in the plethodontid salamander Ensatina eschscholtzii.   Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 87: 469-477.

Staub, NL, PG Pauw, and D Pauw.* 2006. Seeing the forest through the trees: Helping students appreciate life’s diversity by building the Tree of Life. The American Biology Teacher 68:149-151.

Staub NL, CA Palmer, A Carnes,* C Quitiquit,* and M Susantio.* 2005. A dorsal tail tubercle containing hypertrophied granular and mucous glands is present in female Salamandra luschani (Salamandridae). Herpetologica 61(4):415-421.

Staub, NL and DB Wake. 2005. Aneides ferreus Cope, 1869, Clouded Salamander. Pp 658-660. In Lannoo, M.J. (Ed.), Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species. Volume 2: Species Accounts. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Staub, NL and DB Wake. 2005. Aneides flavipunctatus (Strauch, 1870), Black Salamander. Pp 660-661. In Lannoo, M.J. (Ed.), Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species. Volume 2: Species Accounts. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Staub, NL and DB Wake. 2005. Aneides lugubris (Hallowell, 1949), Arboreal Salamander. Pp 662-664. In Lannoo, M.J. (Ed.), Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species. Volume 2: Species Accounts. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Staub, NL and DB Wake. Aneides vagrans Wake and Jackman, 1998, Wandering Salamander. Pp 664-666. In Lannoo, M.J. (Ed.), Amphibian Declines: The Conservation Status of United States Species. Volume 2: Species Accounts. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Staub, NL. 2002. Teaching evolutionary mechanisms: Genetic drift and "M&M's"®, Bioscience 42:373-377.

Staub, NL and R Anderson.* 2001. A Novel Behavior For Urodeles: Micturition In The Plethodontid Salamander Aneides lugubris. Herpetological Review 32:158-9.

Staub, NL and M DeBeer.* 1997. The role of androgens in female vertebrates: A review. General and Comparative Endocrinology 108:1-24. Chosen for cover article.

Staub, NL and J Paladin.* 1997. The presence of modified granular glands in male and female Aneides lugubris (Amphibia: Plethodontidae). Herpetologica 53:339-344.

Staub, NL, CW Brown, and DB Wake. 1995. Movement patterns of the salamander Ensatina eschscholtzii platensis in the Sierra Nevada of California. Journal of Herpetology 29:593-599.

Staub, NL. 1995. Plethodon idahoensis Predation. Herpetological Review 26: 199.

Staub, NL. 1993. Intraspecific agonistic behavior of the salamander Aneides flavipunctatus (Amphibia: Plethodontidae) with comparisons to other plethodontid species. Herpetologica 49:271-282. 

I am an organismal biologist interested specifically in salamander evolutionary biology. I study the evolution of sexual dimorphism and monomorphism in various salamander clades. I have several projects focused on understanding how skin glands are used in communication (which ones, of the many in amphibian skin, produce pheromones?). Some species have evolutionarily “lost” the traditional courtship gland found in males; we are investigating other glands which could be used during courtship and hypothesize that these species perhaps never evolved the more traditional courtship gland.  Students learn histological techniques (dissecting tissue, preparing tissue for staining on microscope slides, staining slides) and work with microscopes in my lab. Some projects use antibodies (immunohistochemistry) to identify specific proteins in tissue.  If you are interested in working in my lab, please schedule a time to chat. I’m always looking for bright and motivated students to work in my lab. 

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