Glennis Kaufman
Research assistant professor of biology
For Glennis A. Kaufman, research assistant professor of biology at Kansas State University, the western chorus frog is a glance back in time. The frogs use wallows that hold rain water to breed. The wallows on the Konza Prairie have been reopened by the herd of bison that was reintroduced into the prairie a decade ago. The new breeding grounds let Kaufman study how animals lived before the bison disappeared in the 1880s, and lets her peek into 19th century prairie life.
Kaufman received her doctorate in biology from K-State in 1990, and joined the K-State faculty in 1991. Her research interests include trophic structure, grassland habitats, small mammal population and community ecology, behavior, prairie ecology, and conservation.
Her recent publications focus on the ecology of small mammals in prairie landscapes, and the role of women mammologists. Kaufman helped expose the extent of the Hantavirus outbreak in 1994 that killed more than 30 people. Her research helped locate infected rodents, and identified precautionary measures.
Kaufman can be reached for comment at 785-532-6622 or via e-mail at gkaufman@k-state.edu.