Catherine R. Bevier
Associate Professor of Biology
Biology- Department Chair



Phone: 207-859-5742
Fax: 859-5705
Email:

Mailing Address:
5742 Mayflower Hill
Waterville, Maine 04901-8857

Office Hours:
M 1:30-3:00; T 9:00-10:30

Semester Schedule

Education

B.S. BiologyIndiana University 1989
Ph.D.EcologyUniversity of Connecticut1995

Areas of Expertise:
  • Animal behavior and behavioral ecology
  • Reproductive behavior in vertebrate animals
  • Physiological ecology, specifically behavioral energetics
  • Herpetology (study of amphibians and reptiles) and vertebrate biology
Other Courses Taught
Course Course Title
BI276 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
BI357 Physiological Ecology
BI373 Animal Behavior
Coursework

Current Research

My current research focuses on the behavioral and physiological ecology of vertebrate animals and amphibian conservation. My students and I are studying the complex interactions among amphibian skin secretions and their antimicrobial properties, epibiotic bacteria, and how these regulate and potentially inhibit growth of microbial pathogens such as chytrid fungus. We also are studying behavior and energetics of amphibians using techniques such as analysis of vocalizations, muscle biochemistry, and respirometry. Finally, I am an active member of the research team investigating resiliance to development in the Belgrade Lakes Watershed.

Publications

Selected recent publications
Bevier, C.R., F. R. Gomes, C.A.Navas. 2008.Variation in call structure and calling behavior in treefrogs of the genus Scinax. South American Journal of Herpetology 3:196-206.
Ashcroft, J.W.*, Z.B. Zalinger*, C.R. Bevier, and F.A. Fekete. 2007. Antimicrobial properties of two purified skin peptides from the Mink Frog (Rana septentrionalis) against bacteria isolated from the natural habitat. Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry Part C: 146: 325-330.
Conlon JM,Bevier CR, Coquet L,Leprince J, Jouenne T, Vaudry H, Hossack BR. 2007. Peptidomic analysis of skin secretions supports separate species status for the tailed frogs, Ascaphus truei and Ascaphus montanus. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. (D), 2:121-125.
Bevier, C.R., D. C. Tierney, L. E. Henderson*, and H. E. Reid*. 2006. Chorus attendance and site fidelity in the mink frog, Rana septentrionalis: are males territorial? Journal of Herpetology 40:160-164.
Conlon, J.M., B. Abraham, A. Sonnevend, T. Jouenne, P. Cosette, J. Leprince, H. Vaudry , C.R. Bevier. 2005. Purification and characterization of antimicrobial peptides from the skin secretions of the carpenter frog Rana virgatipes (Ranidae, Aquarana). Regulatory Peptides 131:38-45.
Bevier, C. R., A. Sonnevend, J. Kolodziejek, N. Nowotny, P. F. Nielsen, and J. M. Conlon. 2004 Purification and characterization of antimicrobial peptides from the skin secretions of the mink frog, Rana septentrionalis. Comparative Physiology and Biochemistry 139:31–38.
Bevier, C. R., K. Reilly*, K. Larson*, and S. Tat*. 2004. Vocal repertoire and calling activity of the mink frog, Rana septentrionalis. Amphibia-Reptilia 25:255-264.