RSU Instructor Publishes Research on Prairie Lizards in Scientific Journal

A Rogers State University biology instructor's article about prairie lizards' responses to predatory odors was recently published in an online scientific journal.

Rance Kingfisher's article, titled "Behavioral Responses of Adult and Neonate Sceloporus Consobrinus Lizards to Predatory Odors," was published in November 2024 in the Journal for North American Herpetology.

According to Kingfisher, the article helps provide a better understanding of local lizards.

"I have always been interested in wildlife, most especially in reptiles and birds," he said. "Researching lizards was just the step in the right direction when it came to who my mentor was and continuing my academic career. Studying the behaviors was just a bonus to this as understanding why animals do what they do has always interested me as well. Whether it is innate - something instinctual - or learned behaviors and how this affects their daily routines.

"Sceloporus lizards are common and the species we studied, the prairie lizard, prefers forested areas, rather than a prairie, so a slight misnomer here," he continued. "I'm certain that anyone who will be reading my paper will likely be doing it more for research purposes than leisure. I still wish for anyone who does read it to gain a better understanding of sceloporus lizards and their behaviors under observational conditions."

The Journal of North American Herpetology is an online, peer-reviewed scientific journal that focuses exclusively on research related to amphibians and reptiles found within the geographic boundaries of the United States and Canada. It provides an open access platform for studies on all aspects of North American herpetology.

Kingfisher said this was the first time he has published a paper, but he hopes to have another one published, "hopefully sooner, rather than later."

Kingfisher is an RSU alumnus, who started as an adjunct in the spring of 2016, and has been teaching for around eight years. He's currently instructor of biology and lab coordinator for the Department of Biology.

Read Kingfisher's article online.

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