Everything Nac

Surrounded by dense rainforest, Dr. Carmen Montana-Schalk, assistant professor of biology at Stephen F. Austin State University, dragged a net into the Rupununi River in Guyana hoping to catch a piranha. Having previously conducted research in the region, Montana-Schalk was the natural choice when the BBC show “Animal Impossible” needed an expert for an episode about piranhas.

Known by the locals as “Carmen, the Fish Biologist,” she has worked with villagers in Yupukari Village in Guyana on several fish conservation projects. On location with “Animal Impossible,” Montana-Schalk answered questions and provided insight as the hosts of the show learned how to measure the bite force of a red-bellied piranha and swam with a school of piranhas in a tank.

“This show was a great experience, not only because I was working with the fantastic BBC team, but also because I was sharing knowledge about a group of fish that people are afraid of and helped dispel some myths surrounding them,” Montana-Schalk said. “I was excited to share with people that piranhas are not as dangerous as the myths suggest and that it is actually safe to swim with them.”

Serving as an assistant professor at SFA since the fall of 2019, Montana-Schalk was originally attracted to the school because of the region’s high fish diversity. She has taught courses at SFA in general ecology and ichthyology and also serves as the curator of the fish collection in the Department of Biology. She is passionate about speaking to the importance of predatory fishes in freshwater ecosystems.

“Piranhas’ evolutionary history and trophic diversification make them a unique group of fish in neotropical regions,” Montana-Schalk said.

While there are no piranhas found natively in the U.S., they are plentiful in Montana-Schalk’s home country of Venezuela, where she encountered them in rivers while conducting research projects as an undergraduate and graduate student.

“In these rivers of South America, the fish diversity is so high that we can find about five species of piranhas in the same habitat,” Montana-Schalk said.

The piranhas group includes species with varied feeding habits, including fish that eat fruits, invertebrates, or fish scales, and carnivore piranhas that feed on fish. From the fossil of a Megapiranha that lived 10 million years ago, researchers learned that its bite force was estimated to be nearly three times greater than the bite force of an American alligator, Montana-Schalk said. It’s just another reason she loves studying them and teaching others about them.

Episode nine of “Animal Impossible,” “Piranhas,” can be viewed on Amazon.

To learn more about Montana-Schalk’s work with SFA’s Department of Biology, visit sfasu.edu/biology.

By Joanna Armstrong, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre opens Jean Genet’s “The Maids” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, in Kennedy Auditorium on the SFA campus for in-person audience performances and virtual performances. SFA students, from left, Mars Molen, Ponder freshman, and Hannah Marfin, San Antonio freshman, rehearse a scene from the absurdist play that explores issues of violence, jealousy, mental health, sexuality, gender and class. The play, which is recommended for mature audiences, will also be presented at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28. General ticket prices are: adult, $15; senior (62+), $10; non-SFA student, $10; SFA faculty/staff, $7.50; youth, $7.50; SFA student, $5; virtual access, $15. Purchase tickets/virtual access at boxoffice.sfasu.edu. Seating is limited; face masks are required.

The Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will celebrate its 40th anniversary with an all-day music festival on Saturday, May 1, at the Music Prep House, located at 3028 Raguet St.

The outdoor event will feature the talents of Music Prep’s outstanding student musicians and give local merchants the opportunity to showcase their businesses while showing support for the School of Music’s outreach program, according to Alba Madrid, Music Prep director and program instructor.

“This family-friendly outdoor music festival is the perfect way to end our school year, and it is a fitting tribute to 40 years of making music,” Madrid said. “This music festival will be a socially distanced event allowing music lovers to enjoy exceptional music, exhibition booths, food vendors and the great outdoors.”

Since 1980, the Music Prep faculty has worked to create a fun and rewarding environment for children and adults of Nacogdoches County and surrounding communities to pursue their musical endeavors, Madrid explained. The program’s mission is to provide an accessible and inclusive community center for music education that fosters the creative growth of individuals, inspires passion and creativity, and promotes excellence and well-being in the Nacogdoches area.

“Throughout the years, the Music Preparatory Division has had many apprentices who went on to enjoy successful music careers,” Madrid said. “With this music festival, we will celebrate the accomplishments of our current students by sharing their performances with the community. Our program will begin with our youngest artists in Kindermusik and Suzuki programs. Students taking private lessons will be featured in solo performances in various instruments. We will close with a compelling performance by the Piney Woods Youth Symphony Orchestra.”

Local merchants can be a part of the celebration by showcasing their businesses at booth spaces that will line the grounds of the Music Prep Building and/or by donating door prizes to be given away during the festival. Event sponsorships are also available, and local food trucks will be onsite.

“This will be our first live performances post-COVID, and we want the entire community to be involved,” Madrid said. “Your participation and sponsorships will help to fund future projects and support our students through scholarships.”

The event is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 1. Deadline to register for event booth space is April 1. For more information about sponsorships, or to register for a booth, contact Madrid at (936) 468-1291 or musicprep@sfasu.edu. For more information about Music Prep, visit sfamusicprep.com.