Contact

  • Academic
    marcoc02@stanford.edu
    University - Student Department: Biology Position: Undergraduate
    University - Student Department: Biology Position: Graduate

All Publications

  • Velvety tree ant extract is a chemotaxis repellent for C. elegans. microPublication biology Gaerlan, M., Carrillo, M., Ceva, S., Chundi, S., Diallo, B., Fong, J. N., Huang, K., Jackson, J., Padilla, J., Quintana, L., Santa Maria, K., Sarkisian, S. M., Sequeira, P. R., Tatlock, E. U., Baker, P. R., Bachmann, L., Park, S., Perez, M. J., Phipps, M. E., Sharma, S. N., Soto-Hernandez, Y., Juarez, B. H., Mena, C., Morales, G., Gonzalez, M., Fiocca, K., Bradon, N., Madrzyk, M., O'Connell, L. A. 2025; 2025

    Abstract

    Ants use a range of compounds for interspecies interactions, but the neurogenetic mechanisms mediating these interactions are unclear. Here, we used chemotaxis assays with the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to test if ant compounds can be detected by the worm nervous system and which chemosensory neurons are required for detection. We found that C. elegans avoid the extracts of velvety tree ants ( Liometopum occidentale ), and this response requires osm-9 and tax-4 positive neurons. These experiments were conducted by undergraduate students in an upper-division laboratory course, demonstrating how simple behavior assays conducted in a classroom setting can provide practical research experiences and new insights into interspecies interactions.

    View details for DOI 10.17912/micropub.biology.001531

    View details for PubMedID 40535527

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC12175000

  • Olfactory cues elicit species-specific locomotive responses in poison frog tadpoles. microPublication biology Phipps, M. E., Baker, P. R., Bachmann, L., Park, S., Perez, M. J., Sharma, S. N., Soto-Hernandez, Y., Gaerlan, M., Carrillo, M., Ceva, S., Chundi, S., Diallo, B., Fong, J. N., Huang, K., Jackson, J., Padilla, J., Quintana, L., Santa Maria, K., Sarkisian, S. M., Sequeira, P. R., Tatlock, E. U., Juarez, B. H., Akbari, N., Madrzyk, M., O'Connell, L. A. 2025; 2025

    Abstract

    Amphibian species rear their larvae in distinct environments that may influence how they respond to different sensory stimuli. Here, we investigated the olfactory-mediated locomotive responses of two poison frog species ( Allobates femoralis and Ranitomeya imitator ) that vary in life history strategies. We found that A. femoralis tadpoles spent more time near an injury cue compared to control, while R. imitator tadpoles increased their movement in response to high concentrations of amino acids. These experiments were done in an undergraduate laboratory course, demonstrating how simple behavior assays conducted in a classroom setting can provide practical research experiences and new insights into animal behavior.

    View details for DOI 10.17912/micropub.biology.001532

    View details for PubMedID 40503013

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC12152586