Biology alum publishes paper on lampreys

An SMU alumnus who majored in environmental biology, Devin D. Bloom ‘04, has co-authored a recently published paper (2008. Alternative reproductive behaviors in lampreys and their significance. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 23:437-444) based in part on research completed for his undergraduate thesis at SMU. His research helped reveal that spawning brook lampreys in the Whitewater River engage in a sort of ménage à trois, by which a pair of lampreys during the mating act may be encircled by a second male attempting to “sneak” fertilizations of eggs. This has implications for our understanding of how lamprey species evolve.