Enrollment Information
1-800-422-4LLU (1-800-422-4558)
Department of Earth and Biological Sciences
Ronald L. Carter, PhD
Interim dean, School of Science and Technology
Professor of biology
Department of Earth and Biological Sciences biology section
Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350
Phone: (909) 558-1000, extension 48905
Email: rcarter@ns.llu.edu
Educational background
Employment record
Past research experience
Current research projects
Society memberships
Graduate students
Papers submitted
Abstracts published with graduate students
Publications
LLU courses taught
Committees
Post-doctoral training in molecular systematics.1989-1991. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont Colleges. Claremont, California.
PhD June 1977, Loma Linda University; Loma Linda, California
Master of Divinity studies at Andrews University Theological Seminary, 1971
BA in biology, 1969. Columbia Union College; Takoma Park, Maryland
Professor of biology, Loma Linda University, Department of Earth and Biological Sciences
July 1989 - current
Associate professor of biology, Walla Walla College, department of biological sciences
May 1984 - July 1989
Department chairman; May 1984 - June 1988
Associate professor of biology, Southern College of Seventh-day Adventists
June 1980 - May 1984
College chaplain and instructor in the religion department, Upper Columbia Conference, Walla Walla College Church and associate pastor
August 1976 - June 1980
Ministerial ordination - Fall 1977
Associate pastor, Southeastern California Conference
Arlington, SDA church, Riverside, California
April 1974 - August 1973
1996 - Current: Adaptive measures of Lekking in Marine Iguanas
1994 - Current: Population genetics of Croton californicus.
1994 - Current: Molecular ecology of Bahamian Rock Iguanas.
1988 - Current: Molecular systematics of sunflowers and paeonia.
1991 - 1996: Population genetics of hybrid gulls in the Puget Sound, WA, and Tilapia (from Indonesia).
1983 - 1991: Parent-young recognition studies in Glaucous-winged gulls.
1985 - 1987: Electrophysiology of rattlesnake strike behavior.
1983 - 1985: Sleep Physiology studies in Glaucous-winged gulls
1970 - 1982: Parent off-spring recognition in deer mice.
| SUBJECT AREA | PARTICIPANTS | MAIN PURPOSE | STATUS / PROGRESS |
| Tilapia genetics | Sovyanhadi (Post Doctoral student) Carter | Species identification and founder effects | Dissertation defended, three presentations made at meetings. Papers in progress. |
| Paeonia population structure | Smith (student) & Carter | Population genetics and RAPD comparisons to protein enzymes | One presentation and one poster paper, continued data collection required |
| Iguana conservation | Hayes & Carter | Conservation genetics | One presentation at meeting, one published paper, further data collection required |
| Sea gull population genetics | Collie (student) & Carter | Genetics of a hybrid population | Data needs to be analyzed and interpreted |
| Lizard systematics (UTA) | Grismer, Hollingsworth (Student), Carter | Molecular assessment of speciation | Permits obtained, samples collected, SSAR abstract published |
| Croton | Smith (Student), Martin, & Carter | Reproductive ecology of a subdioecious weed | Field data begun and proposal is being written |
| Marine Iguanas | Carter, Sonnentag (Student), Hayes, & Wikelski | Behavior and fitness of components of lekking | One abstract submitted, four months of data collection |
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIPS
American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Institute for Biological Sciences
American Society for Ichthyology and Herpetology
Animal Behavior Society
Herp League
New York Academy of Sciences
Pacific Seabird Group
Sigma Xi
Society for the Studies of Evolution
Society for the Study of Molecular Evolution and Systematics
Southern California Academy of Sciences
MY GRADUATE STUDENTS
Nyoka Collie - introgressive hybridization in sea gulls
Michael Cryder - phylogeographics of ctenosaurs
Brad Hollingsworth - Uta systematics
Rob Lovich - king snake systematics
Jack Scarbourgh - population genetics of deep sea shrimp
James Smith - croton molecular ecology
PRESENTER: Carter, Ronald L.
ADDRESS:
Department of Earth and Biological Sciences
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA 92350 USA
INFORMATION:
Phone: (909) 558-4530 Fax: (909) 558-0259
EMAIL:
rcarter@ns.llu.edu
PAPER TYPE:
oral presentation
invited symposium,
Biosystematics, Behavioral Ecology and Conservation of Iguanas
ASIH presentation
no awards
AUTHORS:
Carter, Ronald L.,
Hayes, William K.,
Sovyanhadi, Yoedono
AFFILIATIONS:
Department of Earth and Biological Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
TITLE:
Population size and conservation genetics of the endangered rock iguana, {iCyclura rileyi}
ABSTRACT:
Iguanas of the genus {iCyclura} are among the largest and most endangered lizards in the world.
Demographics of the rock iguana {iC. rileyi}, with its three subspecies located on widely separated islands, are poorly known. {iCyclura r. cristata} is restricted to a single cay in the southern Exumas; {iC. r. nuchalis} exists on two cays in the Acklins Bight; and {iC. r. rileyi} is found on seven tiny cays in and around San Salvador, Bahamas. We have begun a systematic study of population size, body size and genetic variability of all populations of the species. Most populations are small, isolated, and coexist with introduced fauna. Body size varies among populations and may be influenced by nutrition availability. Genetic variability was surveyed using 96 RAPD-PCR primers. Only 14 (2.0%) of the amplified 672 putative loci provided scoreable heterozygosity. Band analysis from the seven {iC. r. rileyi} populations indicated significant population sub structuring and low heterozygosity. To date no unique alleles have been found among any of the 10 sub specific populations. We have begun micro satellite DNA analysis to provide codominate measures of heterozygosity for all populations. Conservation priorities are discussed in light of our data.
KEY WORDS:
Bahamas, iguanas, cyclura, population, conservation, genetics, RAPD-PCR
AUTHORS:
Sovyanhadi, Yoedono, Carter, Ronald L.
AFFILIATIONS:
Department of Earth and Biological Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
TITLE:
Morphometric and genetic comparisons between feral and farm populations of tilapias (iSarotherodon spp) in Java, Indonesia.
ABSTRACT:
Tilapia fishes are important protein source for Indonesians.(iSarotherodon niloticus) is particularly selected for farming as it relatively grows faster and bigger in size, while (iS. mossambicus) is not domesticated and left in the wild. However, tilapia species are readily hybridize with each other, and therefore the purity of (iS. niloticus) is always doubted. Morphometric, isozyme and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of (iS. niloticus) and (iS. mossambicus) were conducted to determine the species boundaries between these two species. The data will also be used to estimate the amount of introgression that has occurred. Data analysis for (iS. mossambicus) showed morphometric differences among the populations which appeared to be environmentally induced. Isozyme and RAPD analysis for this species showed significant population differentiation (G-st = 0.067; 2 = 30.15; p < 0.01 and G-st = 0.217; 2 = 38.95; p < 0.01 and average D of 0.005 and 0.136, respectively), possibly due to the founder effect. We have begun the data analysis for (iS. niloticus) in order to meet the objectives of this study.
KEY WORDS:
java, tilapia, niloticus, mossambicus, population genetics, morphometrics, isozymes, RAPD-PCR
ABSTRACTS PUBLISHED WITH GRADUATE STUDENTS
Cabansag, D. A. and R. L. Carter. The Effect of Brood Size and Food Supplementation On Adult and Chick Behaviors in Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens). A paper given for oral presentation at the Pacific Seabird Group annual meetings. January 15 - 18, 1992, Oregon Marine Labs, Charleston, Oregon.
Carter, R. L., and L. R. Brand. Species Recognition in Wild-caught, Laboratory-reared and Cross-fostered Peromyscus californicus and P. eremicus (RODENTIA, CRICETIDAE). A paper given for oral presentation at the American Society of Mammalogy: June 16-19, 1986, 66th Annual Meetings.
Durr, D., R. L. Carter, and J. Galusha. Parent-young Communication and Recognition in the Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens). A paper given for oral presentation at the Pacific Seabird Group annual meetings. January 15-18, 1992, Oregon Marine Labs, Charleston, Oregon.
Galusha, J. G. and R. L. Carter. Do Adult Gulls Recognize Their Own Young: An Experimental Test. A paper given for oral presentation at the Pacific Seabird Group meetings in San Francisco, California, December 5-9, 1986: Vol 13 (1).
Goodge, B., D. Brouhard, W. Hayes, D. Hayes, and R. Carter. Population estimates, morphological variation, and conservation of the San Salvador Island rock Iguana, Cyclura r. rileyi. A paper for oral presentation at the Tennessee Academy of Science Meetings. November 1994.
Hayes, W. K., D. M. Hayes, and R. L. Carter. Stimulus Control of the Rattlesnake Predatory Strike. A paper given for oral presentation at the American Society of Icthyologists and Herpetologists, Victoria, B. C. Canada, June 15-21, 1986 - 66th Annual Meeting.
Kennett, M. J., R. L. Carter, J. G. Galusha. Experimental Adoption in the Galucous-winged Gull: The Effects of Fence Size and Distance From the Nest. A paper given for oral presentation at the Pacific Seabird Group meetings, La Paz, Mexico. December 1987. PSG Bulletin 14(1): 31-32.
Smith, J. l. and R.L.Carter Evidence of Genetic Diversity and Population Genetic Structure in Paeonia californica (PAEONIACEAE) Revealed by RAPD (RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA) Markers. A paper for oral presentation at the South California Academy of Sciences Annual Meetings at California State University, Fullerton. May 5, 1995.
Smith, J. and R. Carter. RAPD fingerprinting reveals genetic diversity and differentiation within and among populations of Paeonia californica (Paeoniaceae) that show low isozymic variation. Poster Paper Accepted by the American Institute of Biological Science Annual Meetings (Genetics Section), in San Diego. August 1995.
Sovyanhadi, Y. and R. L. Carter. Genetic Variation Among the Populations of Sarotherodon mossambicus (CICHLIDAE, PISCES) In Java, Indonesia. A paper for oral presentation at the South California Academy of Sciences Annual Meetings at California State University, Fullerton. May 5, 1995.
Sovyanhadi, Y. and R.L. Carter. A Comparison of Morphometric, Protein Isozymes and RAPD (RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA) Markers in Identifying Tilapia Stock in Indonesia. A paper for oral presentation at the international Aquaculture Meetings. Victoria Island, Canada. June 1995.
Verde, E. A., W. K. Hayes, and R. L. Carter. Heart Rates of Rattlesnakes During Successive Stages of Feeding. A paper given for oral presentation at the 66th Annual Meetings of the American Society of Icthyologists and Herpetologists, Victoria, B.C., Canada: June 15-21, 1986.
Ball, N. J., Shaffery, J. P., Opp, M. R., Carter, R. L., and Amlaner, C. J. Jr. 1985. Asynchronous Eye Closure By Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens). Sleep Research Society. 14: 87.
Carter, R. L., and L. R. Brand. 1986. Species Recognition In Wild-Caught, Laboratory-reared and Cross-Fostered Peromyscus californicus and P. eremicus (RODENTIA, CRICETIDAE). Animal Behavior. 34(4): 998-1006.
Hayes, W. K., D. Brouhard, B. Goodge, and R. Carter. 1995. Population Status and Conservation of the Endangered San Salvador Rock Iguana, Cyclura r. rileyi. Journal of the International Iguana Society . Vol. 4 (2), pp. 21-39.
Galusha, J. G., and R. L. Carter. 1987. Do Adult Gulls Recognize Their Own Young?: An Experimental Test. Studies In Avian Biology. No. 10:75-80.
Rieseberg, L. H., C. Van Fossen, D. Arias, and R. L. Carter. 1994. Cytoplasmic Male Sterility in Sunflower: Origin, Inheritance, and Frequency in Natural Populations. The Journal of Heredity 85(3):233-238.
Rieseberg, L. H., R. L. Carter, S. Zona. 1990. Molecular Tests Of The Hypothesized Hybrid Origin Of Two Diploid Helianthus Species (ASTERACEAE). Evolution, 44(6): 1498-1511.
Zona, S. M., L. H. Rieseberg, R. L. Carter, and K. H. Doan. 1991. Isozyme Diversity is low in Paeonia californicus (PAEONIACEAE). Plant Species Biology 6: 89-93
Research Methods I
Molecular Systematics
Advances in Sociobiology
Readings in Molecular Ecology
Behavior Genetics
Genetics and speciation
MAJOR COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES AT LLU
Symposium Co-organizer with Dr. Bill Hayes
Evolution, Ecology and Conservation of Iguanas
Seattle, 1997 ASIH and HL Meetings
Chairman of WASC Accreditation Self Study Committee on Standards I, II and III
University Grand Marshal - 1996 - current
IFAC (faculty senate) Chairman for two years
Academic Policies Committee
University Board Subcommittee on Science
President's Council
Chaplain Search Committee
Faculty Development Committee for Education
Faculty Development Committee for Leadership
Faculty Development Committee for Wholeness
Health Science Task Force
Task Force on Spiritual Assessment
Vice President for Development Search Committee
Administration Assessment Committee
Chair of the section to evaluate the VP for Research and Academic Affairs
Masters of Biotechnology Program Development
Masters of Genetic Counseling Program Development
First and Second Annual LLU Education Faire Coordinating Committee Member and Judge
Chair of the IFAC Self Assessment Committee
Brisco Coordinator of Molecular Systematics Workshop
[Top of page] [Biology program] [Department of Earth and Biological Sciences homepage]