Dana "Dain" Calhoun

On a large scale I am interested in wildlife and human host responses to parasites and specifically the underlying physiological consequences of infection. I have a diverse educational background including a veterinary technical degree from Colorado Mountain College and a Masters degree in systematic parasitology from Texas A&M University. Here in the Johnson Laboratory I work a dual role as our Laboratory Manager and as a Profesional Research Associate (PRA). My manager duties include ordering supplies, hiring summer research technicians, permit applications and reports, assisting in grant submissions, and mentoring undergraduate and high school students. As a PRA, my expertise lies in identification of parasites using molecular and morphological techniques, developing and running ELISA, preparation and execution of laboratory and mesocosm experiments, animal husbandry, fecal analysis, and complete blood counts. In my free time (hahaha) I enjoy hiking with my husband Forrest Lacey (Research Fellow at NCAR), daughter Macallynn and our two dogs (Inca and Trace), drinking beer at wonderful local breweries, nonfiction reading, or playing board games with friends.

Publications

2019

Kohl, Z. F., Calhoun, D. M., Elmer, F., Peachey, R. B. J., Leslie, K. L., Tkach, V., Kinsella, J. M., and Johnson, P. T. J. (2019). Black-spot syndrome in Caribbean fishes linked to trematode parasite infection (Scaphanocephalus expansus). Coral Reefs (accepted). 

Johnson, P. T. J., Calhoun, D. M., Riepe, T. B., and Koprivnikar, J. (2019). Community disassembly and disease: realistic-- but not randomized-- biodiversity losses enchance parasite transmission. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: 286.

Riepe, T. B., Calhoun, D. M., and Johnson, P. T. J. (2019). Comparision of direct and indirect technique 286.s for evaluating endoparasite infections in wild-caught newts (Taricha torosa and Tarich granulosa). Diseases of Aquatic Organisms (accepted). 

Stutz, W.E., Calhoun, D.M., and Johnson, P.T.J. (2019). Resistance and tolerance: a hierarchical framework to compare individual versus family-level host contributions in an experimental amphibian-trematode system. Experimental Parasitology 199, 80-91.

Calhoun, D.M., Leslie, K.L., Riepe, T.B., Achatz, T.J., McDevitt-Galles, T., Tkach, V.V., and Johnson, P.T.J. (2019). Patterns of Clinostomum marginatum infection in fishes and amphibians: integration of field, genetic, and experimental approaches.Journal of Helminthology 1-12.

Johnson, P.T.J., Calhoun, D.M., Riepe, T.B., and Koprivnikar, J. (2019). Chance or choice? Understanding parasite selection and infectin in multi-host communites. International Journal of Parasitology 49, 407-415.

2018

Johnson, S.K., Fitza, M.A., Lerner, D.A., Calhoun, D.M., Chan, E.T. and Johnson, P.T.J.  (2018). Risky business: linkingToxoplasma gondii infection and entrepreneurship behaviors across individuals and countries. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 285, 20180822.

McDevitt-Galles, T., Calhoun, D.M., and Johnson, P.T.J. (2018). Parasite richness and abundance within aquatic macroinvertebrates: testing the role of host-and habitat-level factors. Ecosphere 9, e02188.

Calhoun, D.M., McDevitt-Galles, T., and Johnson, P.T.J. (2018). Parasites of invasive freshwater fishes and the factors affecting their richness and abundance. Freshwater Science 37, 134-146.

Tornabene, B.J., Blaustein, A.R., Briggs, C.J., Calhoun, D.M., Johnson, P.T.J., McDevitt-Galles, T., Rohr, J.R., and Hoverman, J.T. (2018). Assessing the influence of landscape and environmental factors on ranavirusepidemiology in a California amphibian assemblage. Freshwater Biology 63, 639-651.

Johnson, P.T.J., Calhoun, D.M., Stokes, A.N., Susbilla, C.B., McDevitt-Galles, T., Briggs, C., Hoverman, J.T., Tkach, V., and de Roode, J. (2018). Of poisons and parasites-the defensive role of tetrodotoxin against infections in newts. Journal of Animal Ecology 87, 1192-1204.

Johnson, P.T.J., Stanton, D., Forshay, K., and Calhoun, D.M. (2018). Vertically challenged: how disease suppresses Daphniavertical migration behavior.  Limnology and Oceanography 63, 886-896.

2017

Hannon, E.R., Calhoun, D.M., Chadalawada, S.*, and Johnson, P.T.J. (2017). Circadian rhythms of trematode parasites: applying mixed models to test underlying patterns. Parasitology 1-9.

Calhoun, D.M., Bucciarelli, G.M., Kats, L.B., Zimmer, R.K., and Johnson, P.T.J. (2017). Noxious newts and their natural enemies: experimental effects of tetrodotoxin exposure on trematode parasites and aquatic macroinvertebrates. Toxicon 137, 120-127.

Koprivnikar, J., Riepe, T.B., Calhoun, D.M., and Johnson, P.T.J. (2017). Whether larval amphibians school does not affect the parasite aggregation rule: testing the effects of host spatial heterogeneity in field and experimental studies. Oikos 127, 99-110.

2016

Calhoun, D.M., Woodhams, D., Howard, C.*, LaFonte, B.E.*, Gregory, J.R., and Johnson, P.T.J. (2016). Role of antimicrobial peptides in amphibian defense against trematode infection. EcoHealth 13, 383-391.

McAllister, C.T., Bursey, C.R., and Calhoun, D.M. (2016). Commensal protista, cnidaria and helminth parasites of the Cajun chorus frog, Pseudacris fouquettei (Anura: Hylidae), from Oklahoma. Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Sciences 95.

Hannon, E.R., Kinsella, J.M., Calhoun, D.M., Joseph, M.B., and Johnson, P.T.J. (2016). Endohelminths in bird hosts from Northern California and an analysis of the role of life history traits on parasite richness. Journal of Parasitology 102, 199-207..

2015

Calhoun, D.M., Schaffer, P.A., Gregory, J.R., Hardy, K.M.*, and Johnson, P.T.J. (2015). Experimental infections of bluegill with the trematode Ribeiroia ondatrae (Digenea: Cathaemasiidae): histopathology and hematological response. Journal of Aquatic Animal Health 27, 185-191.

2013

Calhoun, D.M., Curran, S.S., Pulis, E.E., Provaznik, J.M., and Franks, J.S. (2013). Hirudinella ventricosa (Pallas, 1774) Baird, 1853 represents a species complex based on ribosomal DNA and affinity of the genus in Hemiurata Skrjabin & Guschanskaja, 1954 base on lsrDNA. Systematic Parasitology 86, 197-208.

2012

Calhoun, D.M., and Dronen, N.O. (2012). A re-evaluation of specimens of Mesocoelium monas (Platyhelminthes: Digenea: Mesocoeliidae) form the National History Museum, UK and the United States National Parasite Collection, USA. Zootaxa 3589, 1-29.

Dronen, N.O., Calhoun, D.M., and Simcik, S.R. (2012). Mesocoelium Ohdner, 1901 (Digenea: Mesocoeliidae) revision of the family and re-evaluation of species composition in the genus. Zootaxa 3387, 1-96.

2011

Calhoun, D.M. (2011). A re-evaluation of the taxonomy of Mesocoelium monas complex (Platyhelminthes: Digenea: Mesocoeliidae). Texas A&M University Masters thesis, 97 pp.

2009

Calhoun, D.M. (2009). ABC’s of a CBC: An introduction to avian and mammalian complete blood count. Wildlife Rehabilitation26, 133-142.

*undergraduate authors