Tucker Heptinstall, M.S.
Pronouns: he, him, his
Doctoral Student
Department of Biology
SDSU / UC Riverside Joint Doctoral Program in Evolutionary Biology
Evolutionary Biology
SDSU / UC Riverside
Primary Email: [email protected]
Building/Location
Life Science North - 206
5500 Campanile Dr
San Diego,
CA
92182
Mail Code: 4614
Website Links
Bio
I am broadly interested in herpetological conservation, ecology, and evolution. Specifically, I’m interested in uncovering how snake evolution and ecology may differ in anthropogenically altered ecosystems when compared to more undisturbed environments.
Education
B.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Management
Auburn University
M.S. in Biological Sciences
Clemson University
Fun Facts
In my free-time, I love to spend my time hiking, herping, and playing sports!
Mentors
Awards & Honors
SSAR Seibert Award: Systematics & Evolution Student Talk Competition- Runner Up, 2023
Research
Herpetology, Urban Evolution and Ecology
Grants
Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research, 2023
Carl Gans Traveling Fellowship, 2023
Presentations
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Meeting— Oral Presentation— Ann Arbor, MI 2024, “Toxin Variation and Complexity Within Garter Snakes (Thamnophis) and the Role of Diet in Shaping Toxin Diversification.”
South Carolina Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Annual Meeting — Poster Presentation— Beaufort, SC 2024, “Toxin Variation and Complexity Within Garter Snakes (Thamnophis) and the Role of Diet in Shaping Toxin Diversification.”
Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Annual Meeting — Oral Presentation—Norfolk, VA 2023, “Toxin Variation and Complexity Within Garter Snakes (Thamnophis) and the Role of Diet in Shaping Toxin Diversification.”
Clemson University Biological Sciences Research Expo — Poster Presentation— Clemson, SC 2023, “Toxin Variation and Complexity Within Garter Snakes (Thamnophis) and the Role of Diet in Shaping Toxin Diversification.”
South Carolina Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Annual Meeting — Oral Presentation— Florence, SC 2022, “Venom Complexity within Garter Snakes and the Role of Diet in Toxin Diversification.”
Auburn University Annual Student Research Symposium— Poster Presentation— Auburn, AL. 2019, “Snake news! Road-based survey effectiveness in Everglades National Park.”
Publications
Heptinstall, T. C., R. A. Rosales-Garcia, R. M. Rautsaw, E. P. Hofmann, A. de Queiroz, L. Canseco- Márquez, and C. L. Parkinson. 2024. Size Doesn’t Matter: Body size is not linked to diet specialization in garter snakes (Squamata: Natricidae: Thamnophis). Journal of Herpetology. 58(2):1-11.
Heptinstall, T.C., J.L. Strickland, R.A. Rosales-Garcia, R.M. Rautsaw, C.L. Simpson, G.S. Nystrom, S.A. Ellsworth, M.P. Hogan, M. Borja, P.F. Campos, F. G. Grazziotin, D. R. Rokyta, I.L.M. Junqueira-de-Azevedo, and C.L. Parkinson. 2023. Venom phenotype conservation suggests integrated specialization in a lizard-eating snake. Toxicon, 229, 107135.