Profile
Tara Cronin
Biological Sciences
Graduate Teaching Assistant
PhD Candidate
864-656-2328
Educational Background
B.S., Integrative Biology, DePaul University, 2018
B.S., General Psychology, DePaul University, 2018
M.S., Biology, DePaul University, 2020
Profile/About Me
I am an ecologists currently examining the impacts of climate change on symbiotic relationships, using the crayfish-branchiobdellid symbiotic relationship as a model system. My research combines physiological, behavioral, and modeling approaches to determine how warming temperatures may impact the fitness outcomes of symbiosis.
I have previously conducted research in a broad variety of areas before narrowing down to focus on interspecific interactions. In my undergrad, I conducted paleontology research primarily focusing on extinct bony fish. Following this, my MS degree research focused on behavioral parasitology. My resulting thesis examined acanthocephalan-related modifications in freshwater isopods and the impact these have on trophic transmission. Additional research areas I have worked on include mitochondrial genomics of crustaceans.
Research Interests
I am primarily interested in exploring interspecific interactions and behavioral ecology. My current research heavily focuses on the impacts of climate change on symbiotic relationships.
Research Group (Lab)
I am currently a member of Dr. Michael Childress' lab
Courses Taught
BIOL 3150/3151 Functional Human Anatomy Lab
BIOL 3020/3060 Invertebrate Biology Lab
BIOL 3160/3161 Human Physiology Lab
BIOL 8490 Understanding Scientific Communication
BIOL 4440/4441 Freshwater Ecology Lab
BIOL 4710/4711 Behavioral Ecology Lab
Selected Publications
5. Cronin, T.J., Jones, S.J.M., and Baeza, J.A. (2022) The complete mitochondrial genome of the spot prawn, Pandalus platyceros Brandt in von Middendorf, 1851 (Decapoda: Caridea: Pandalidae), assembled from linked-reads sequencing. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 42(1): ruac003. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcbiol/ruac003.
4. Cronin, T.J., Conrad, I., Kerkhove, T.R.H., Hellemans, B., De Troch, M., Volckaert, F.A.M., and Baeza, J.A. (2022) Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of the Atlantic seabob shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri Heller, 1862 (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae), with insights into the phylogeny of Penaeidae. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 42(1): ruac004. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcbiol/ruac004
3. Shimada, K., Portillo, S., and Cronin, T. J. (2021) A new pycnodont specimen (Actinopterygii: Pycnodontiformes) from the Upper Cretaceous of Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA, confirming the bony fish genus Macropycnodon as a junior synonym of Acrotemnus. Cretaceous Research?, 124: 104797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2021.104797
2. Ennis, C.C., Naeffner, N.N., Keyser, C.D., Leonard, S.T., Macdonald-Shedd, A.C., Savoie, A.M., Cronin, T.J., Veldsman, W.P., Barden, P., Chak, S.T.C., Baeza, J.A. (2021) Comparative mitochondrial genomics of sponge-dwelling snapping shrimps in the genus Synalpheus: Exploring differences between eusocial and non-eusocial species and insights into phylogenetic relationships in caridean shrimps. Gene, 726: 145624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2021.145624
1. Cronin, T.J., and Shimada, K. (2019) New Anatomical Information on the Late Cretaceous Bony Fish, Micropycnodon kansasensis (Actinopterygii: Pycnodontiformes), from the Niobrara Chalk of Western Kansas, U.S.A. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, 122(1-2): 19-28. ?https://doi.org/10.1660/062.122.0102
Selected Talks
T.J. Cronin, I. Conrad, Thomas R.H. Kerkhove, B. Hellemans, M. De Troch, F.A.M. Volckaert, and J.A Baeza (April 2022). Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of the Atlantic seabob shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri Heller, 1863 (Decapoda: Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae), with insights into the phylogeny of Penaeidae. Poster presented at Clemson Virtual Biological Sciences Annual Student Symposium 2022.
T.J. Cronin, C.C. Ennis, N.N. Haeffner, C.D. Keyser, S.T. Leonard, A. Macdonald-Shedd, A.M. Savoie, W.P. Veldsman, P. Barden, S.T.C. Shak, & J.A. Baeza (February 2022). Comparative mitochondrial genomics of sponge dwelling snapping shrimps in the genus Synalpheus: exploring differences between eusocial and non-eusocial species and insights into genealogical relationships in caridean shrimps. Poster presented at The Genomes of Animals & Plants Virtual Conference, 2022. (Invited presentation)
T.J. Cronin & J.A. Baeza (October 2020). Sex ratio and Reproductive Performance in the Simultaneous Hermaphrodite, Lysmata wurdemanni. Poster presented at Southeastern Population Ecology & Evolutionary Genetics 2020, Auburn, AL.
T. Cronin & T. Sparkes (February 2020). Parasite Infection, Host Predation, and Transmission in a Complex Habitat. Poster presented at Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference 2020, Macomb, IL.
T. Sparkes, S. Teemer, & T. Cronin. (July 2019). Development-related modification of host behavior and transmission in an isopod-acanthocephalan system. Poster presented at Behaviour 2019, Chicago, IL
Memberships
Animal Behavior Society
The Crustacean Society
The Society of the Study of Evolution
The Ecological Society of America
Honors and Awards
Commitment to Graduate Life Award, Clemson BSGSA May 2021
Best Graduate Presentation Award, Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference 2020
Poster: Parasite Infection, Host Predation, and Transmission in a Complex Habitat
Degree Program
PhD Biological Sciences
Expected Graduation
Fall 2026
Links
Childress Lab Website
Google Scholar Profile
ResearchGate Profile
ORCID Profile
LinkedIn Profile
