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HELLO, I'M

Karina Cocks

Northern Arizona University Biological Sciences Master's Student

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Karina Cocks

Northern Arizona University

Biological Sciences

kyc8@nau.edu

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About

About

MY BACKGROUND

I am a first year Master's student at Northern Arizona University in the Biological Sciences department. I have a passion for wildlife conservation and biology and have experience working with herpetofauna, birds, mammals, fish, and plants. I am especially involved with snake conservation and have worked with federally threatened species of snakes and venomous snakes. My passions stem from a deep love of nature and public outreach. 

Education & Experience

Education

WHAT I’VE LEARNED

2020--Present

Northern Arizona University --- Flagstaff, Arizona

Master of Science

Advisor: Dr. Erika M. Nowak

Experience

WHERE I’VE WORKED

2018--2020

Gartersnake Research Lab, Northern Arizona University

Worked in program under three positions: Intern, Field and Lab Technician, and Undergraduate Lab Manager

2016–2020
May 2018--August 2018

Northern Arizona University --- Flagstaff, Arizona; Class of 2020

Bachelor of Science; Wildlife Management and Ecology; Minor in Psychology

GPA: 3.67

2013--2016

Oak Hills High School --- Oak Hills, California

Class of 2016

Arizona Game and Fish Intern

Assisted in reptile and amphibian trapping at Barry M. Goldwater range in Yuma, AZ,  rare and invasive plant surveys in Flagstaff, AZ, Northern Mexican Gartersnake trapping in the Bill Williams river, AZ, Narrow-headed Gartersnake trapping in Payson, AZ, Desert Tortoise surveys in Baghdad, AZ, and data entry for various projects

May 2017--January 2018

Arizona Game and Fish Intern

Assisted in rare and invasive plant surveys in Flagstaff, Tusayan, and Williams, AZ, reptile and amphibian trapping at Camp Navajo in Bellmont, AZ, small mammal trapping in Buckeye, AZ, Northern Goshawk surveys in Flagstaff, AZ, and data entry for various projects

Research Interests

I am interested in research involving wildlife conservation and biology. I am interested in all wildlife taxa and plants, but I do have a focus on snake biology and conservation. I am passionate about rattlesnakes, their behavior, and their interactions with humans. I believe that public outreach is an important part of wildlife conservation and would like to be involved in public outreach in my future career. I am also interested in wildlife-human interactions and how that impacts conservation and outreach. 

Current Research

I am currently conducting research on the spatial ecology and defensive behaviors in Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) faced with repeated harassment and translocation in a national monument. I will be using plasma corticosterone analysis to understand the physiological response caused by the harassment and use radio-telemetry and accelerometry to assess spatial ecology and defensive behavior changes. The results of this study could be used to deter rattlesnakes in high-traffic public use areas (e.g. around dwellings, along trails) within locations such as national parks and monuments. In addition to decreasing the incidence of venomous snakebite, decreasing human-venomous snake interactions will decrease the chance of persecution and promote snake conservation.

Publications

Cocks, K.Y., Nowak, E.M., & Calvo, C. (2019, July). Does Anthropogenic Disturbance

Influence Defensive Behavior of Radio-Telemetered Crotalus atrox in National Monuments? Poster accepted at Biology of Pitvipers Symposium 3, Rodeo, New Mexico.

Research
Collaborators

Collaborators

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Faculty Advisor:

Dr. Erika M. Nowak

Assistant Research Faculty, School of Earth and Sustainability and Department of Biological Sciences

Northern Arizona University

Tel: (928)523-7760

Email: Erika.Nowak@nau.edu

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Dr. Dale DeNardo

Professor, School of Life Sciences

Arizona State University

Tel: (480) 956-3325

Email: denardo@asu.edu

Dr. Charles Loren Buck

Professor, Department of Biological Sciences

Northern Arizona University

Tel: (928)523-5976

Email: Loren.Buck@nau.edu

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Achievements

Photos

Research Initiative for Science Enhancement Fellowship    

Northern Arizona University 

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The Wildlife Society, NAU Chapter

  • Secretary (2017)

  • Vice President (2018)

  • President (2019)

oSTEM, NAU Chapter

  • Events Coordinator (2020)

                       

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Presenting poster at Biology of Pitvipers 3

Handling Arizona Black Rattlesnake in Flagtaff, AZ

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Surveying for Northern Mexican Gartersnakes at Tuzigoot National Monument

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Surveying for Northern Mexican Gartersnakes with AZGFD

Surveying for Chuckwallas in Phoenix, AZ

Achievments & Activities
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