Hello!
My name is Sam Fisher, although you may have already assumed this from the website URL. I am currently doing a research internship at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST). I have experience with invasive species, parasites, native/endemic species, and extinct and extant Elasmobranchs. Invasive species projects have included quantifying the life history changes invasive species undergo, assessing their distribution, and evaluating their impacts on native environments. I have also worked on discovering or rediscovering native and endemic species and assessing their distributions. Other projects include studying species delineation and demarcation, morphometrics, and trait analysis. However, my interests are shifting, and I now find myself more focused on macro evolutionary processes. I hope to further explore how these processes relate to character evolution, species diversification and survival, especially in regards to changing climates. I am also somewhat of a hobbyist photographer, so I try to take pictures whenever I get the chance!
News and updates
I am now at OIST
I have recently taken a researh internship position at the Okinawa Institue of Science and Technology (OIST), where I will be workng with Dr. Lauren Sallan on both fossil and extant sharks! So far, both Okinawa and OIST are awesome!
New Whale record for Fiji
We were able to confirm that Longman's Beaked Whale (Indopacetus pacificus), is present in Fijian waters for the first time. A Longman's Beaked Whale whale was found deceased and stranded following a large hurricane. You can read more in the paper when it comes out soon!
Invasive whiptails
I have recently been working on the distribution of the Sonoran Spotted whiptail (Aspidoscelis sonorae) within California. They have rapidly spread in both Orange county and San Diego county, however, they have not yet shown to have any effects on native species.... Yet. The full paper is accessible at the following link https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2022.846431 2022
Glowing Geckos
I was able to confirm UV fluorescence in four new genera of preserved geckos, in three of the four genera, I confirmed UV fluorescence occurs while they are living! The picture to the left is an example of UV bone-based fluorescence in a young mourning gecko. I hope to have this research published soon, so stay tuned!
Invasive snakes full of eggs
Whats new with snakes? Well, we showed that there is an undeniable difference in clutch size between native and invasive populations of California kingsnakes. To read more, click on this useful doi that is right over here --> https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.554 2021
Lost snails
We recently were able to rediscover a desert snail that has never been found alive. To read more, click on this useful doi that is right here --> https://doi.org/10.3160/0038-3872-119.2.49 2020