rd gainesville, florida · abundant macroalgae, low plant species diversity, and no algae-grazing...
TRANSCRIPT
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The 42nd Annual
Florida Herpetology Conference
March 23rd and 24th, 2019
Gainesville, Florida
Welcome to the 42nd Florida Herpetology Conference
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Welcome to the 42nd Annual Herpetology Conference hosted by the Florida Museum of
Natural History and underwritten by The Reptile and Amphibian Conservation Corps
(RACC). Unique features of this year’s conference include local author book signings;
We have three awards to administer; The RACC Award for the best paper presented,
The Arnold Grobman Award for the best student paper presented, and The Herpetology
Conference Best Student Poster award.
We bring together the broad herpetological community for discussion and updates on research,
education, and conservation, and to do it in a constructive and entertaining manner. We offer
food, drink, auctions, and many discussions. If you have suggestions or comments on this or
future conferences please contact us. Most importantly we want to thank everyone who has
made this conference possible; our speakers, volunteers, vendors and sponsors.
Cover photo by Joe Mitchell
Enjoy the conference
Sponsors and Donors
Joseph Gennaro
Max A. Nickerson Reptile & Amphibian Cons. Corp (RACC)
Highlights
Two Keynote speakers
Student awards
Book sales and signings
Live and silent auctions
Volunteers
Nick Barys
Alex Brito
Zach Britt
Trish Eaton
Jeremy Geiger
Samantha Hopkins
Rebecca Hudson
Alex Mione
Edward Stanley
Adam Thomas
Brad Thomas
Conference Committee
Mathew Fedler
Kirsten Hecht
Joe Mitchell
Max Nickerson
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Schedule
Saturday, March 24, 2018 * = Student paper
8:00 am Registration Opens
9:15 Welcoming Remarks and Information
9:30 Gopher Tortoise Demographic Responses to a Novel Disturbance Regime in Florida
Hunter J. Howell*, B.B. Rothermel, K.N. White, and C.A. Searcy
9:45 Potential High Resilience to Climate Change in Olive Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys
olivacea )
Florence Wen
10:00 Population Structure of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) in Ghana,
West Africa
Alexis Ferrera*, A. Formia, C. Ciofi, C. Natali, A. Agyekumhene, and P. Allman
10:15 Break
Silent Auction Opens
10:30 Biology And Development Of The Chelonian Shell
Elliott R Jacobson
10:45 Long-Distance Movements by Turtles in a Northern Florida Riverine Ecosystem:
Insights From a Long-Term Study
Gerald R. Johnston and J.C. Mitchell
11:00 Niche Width of Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis in a Disturbed Florida Spring
Jamie L. Casteel*, M.J. Denton, and G.R. Johnston
11:15 Lunch (on your own)
1:00 Saturday Keynote Speaker: Twenty years of monitoring: A mid-career
perspective on eastern diamondback rattlesnake conservation Jayme Waldron
2:00 Chytrid Growth Inhibition in Two Fully Aquatic Salamanders
Lindy J. Muse*, K. Pereira, S. Woodley, C. Fontenot, B. Crother, D. Kandalepas
2:15 Amphibian Responses to Livestock use of Wetlands: New Empirical Data and a Global
Review
Hunter J. Howell*, C.C. Mothes, S.L. Clements, S.V. Catania, B.B. Rothermel, and C.A.
Searcy
2:45 Break
3:00 It’s Getting Hot in Here: Thermal Tolerances of Proctoporus Lizards in the Andes
Tiffany M. Doan, S. Markham, A. Gregory, A. Floyd, C. Broadwater, B. Calder, and M.
Goldberg
3:15 Estimating Capture Probability and Abundance of the Argentinian Black and White
Tegu in South Florida
J. Hardin Waddle, J.H. Nestler, and F.J. Mazzotti
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3:30 Diversification of Dermal Armor in Squamates
Edward L. Stanley
3:45 First Day Silent Auction Closed (continues into Sunday)
Herp photos/video sharing and crossword puzzle
Poster Session
6:00 Social/Meal/Live Auction
Sunday, March 25, 2018
* = Student paper
8:30 am Registration; Silent Auction Re-opens
9:15 Announcements
9:30 Amphibian Responses To Livestock Use Of Wetlands: New Empirical Data And A
Global Review
H.J. Howell, Caitlin C. Mothes*, S.L. Clements, S.V. Catania, B.B. Rothermel, and C.A.
Searcy 9:45 Kinematic Compensation in Salamanders Enables Thermally Robust Swimming
Velocity
Taylor S Kelsay* and S.M. Deban 10:00 A Summary of Two Studies Exploring Herpetofauna in Canals In Southern Florida
Oliver Ljustina
10:15
Photo Identification Software In The Detection Of North American Snakes With Fun
And Engaging Education Resources
Jason Compton
10:30 Poster Session/Coffee Break
11:00 Chemosensory Prey Preference and Feeding Behavior in Neotropical Gastropod-Eating
Snakes (Dipsadinae: Dipsadini)
Coleman M. Sheehy III and R.U. Tovar
11:15 The Amphibian Report Card, a New Tool for Amphibian Conservation
Kirsten A. Hecht*
11:30 Are Native Cottid Fish, Cottus hypselurus and C. carolinae, Significant Predators of
Hellbender salamander (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) populations?
Max A. Nickerson, Joseph C. Mitchell, Amber L. Pitt, Joseph J. Tavano, and Kirsten
Hecht
11:45 Lunch (on your own)
1:15 Sunday Keynote Speaker: Exploring the Desert Survival Strategies of Gila
Monsters – 20 years and counting
Dale DeNardo
2:15 Islands and Snakes: Isolation And Adaptive Evolution
Harvey B. Lillywhite and M. Martins
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2:30 Conservation of Imperiled Coastal Vertebrates:
Need for Climate Adaptation Strategies in Recovery Planning
Susan C. Walls 2:45 Final Announcements and Award Presentations
3:00 Silent Auction Ends
Adjourn
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Oral Presentation Abstracts
NICHE WIDTH OF PSEUDEMYS CONCINNA SUWANNIENSIS IN A
DISTURBED FLORIDA SPRING
Jamie L. Casteel1, Mathew J. Denton2, Gerald R. Johnston3
1Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida
2Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, FL 3Department of Natural Sciences, Santa Fe College, Gainesville, FL
Turtle diet studies can provide valuable information about spatial or temporal changes in the structure of
ecological communities in Florida spring ecosystems. We collected baseline data on the Suwannee Cooter
(Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis), a herbivorous basking turtle in Hornsby Spring in High Springs,
Alachua County, Florida. Hornsby Spring is a disturbed spring that exhibits low dissolved oxygen levels,
abundant macroalgae, low plant species diversity, and no algae-grazing snails (Elimia). To infer diet, we
analyzed stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope values of whole blood from Suwannee Cooters
inhabiting Hornsby Spring. We compare the niche width of Suwannee Cooters in Hornsby Spring with
published data on the closely related herbivorous Florida Cooter (Pseudemys floridana) in Lake Jackson,
Leon County, Florida. To determine the bivariate niche space and size of Suwannee Cooters we used the
Stable Isotope Bayesian Ellipses in R (SIBER) package to determine the 40% and 95% standard ellipses.
Univariate analysis showed the niche size of adult Suwannee Cooters and adult Florida Cooters were
similar, but SIBER analysis showed they occupied different niche spaces.
Biographical Information: Jamie Casteel is an undergraduate at the University of Florida studying
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, with a focus in quantitative ecology. Her research interests include
turtles in Florida spring ecosystems, and other aquatic ecosystems.
PHOTO IDENTIFICATION SOFTWARE IN THE DETECTION OF NORTH AMERICAN
SNAKES WITH FUN AND ENGAGING EDUCATION RESOURCES
Jason Compton
SnakeSnap, Serrento, FL
Since the dawn of history snakes have been viewed as dangerous reptiles. The vast majority of the
population are fearful and uneducated on the benefits and basic knowledge of snake detection. Although
there are parts of the world where snakes are aggressive, in North America snakes are defensive and are
not out to attack humans. They are an integral part of the ecosystem and have many benefits and uses that
people are not aware of. With land being churned up at a rapid rate, we as humans are uprooting these
animals from their natural habitat which is causing snakes to be killed or handled improperly because of
fear and the unknown of what kind of snake they are encountering. Most people do not know how to
identify a snake and because of the fear have no desire to learn. My presentation will feature an App that I
am creating to help identify all North American snakes by photograph and a new age way of educating
the public on different snake species and their benefits. Now more than ever because of technology,
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people are glued to their mobile devices. We will be partnering with fire departments across the nation
that will have and use the App to help educate the public. We will have games and unique ways to break
the fear wall down and help educate men, women, and children on the detection and values of each
particular snake. We will focus highly on the education piece, as the traditional way of education has not
seemed to work for many years. We will highlight specific characteristics of various snakes that will help
in the detection from the naked eye, in the event that they cannot use the picture function. We want to
help in the fight to protect our ecosystem and unwanted killings of these animals.
Biographical Information: Jason Compton is the Founder and CEO of Snake Snap, Inc. a software
application used in photo identification of snakes. Jason has also been a financial advisor for the past 15
years and is employed currently with Blackston Financial Group in The Villages Florida. Jason graduated
from the University of Florida with his bachelors in business management in 2001. He obtained his joint
Master's degree in International Financial Management from the University of Groningen, the
Netherlands, University of Uppsala, Sweden, and University of Florida. Jason and his wife Amanda have
two children, Carson and Landry, and live in Lake County FL.
EXPLORING THE DESERT SURVIVAL STRATEGIES OF GILA MONSTERS –
20 YEARS AND COUNTING
Dale F DeNardo
School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University
Gila monsters, Heloderma suspectum, have been widely popularized for more than a century and are seen
as an icon of the American Southwest. Despite this attention and interest, surprisingly little was truly
known about the species. In fact, it has previously been suggested that Gila monsters are poorly adapted
to living in the desert. However, this is nonsensible since Gila monsters have resided in the Sonoran
Desert for as long as it has existed in its current state. The misconception likely reflects the fact that Gila
monsters do not use survival strategies that are typical of desert lizards. Instead, they use a suite of
behavioral and physiological adaptations that are rarely seen in other lizards yet are convergently
represented in a scattering of other desert vertebrates. These include large home range size, seasonal shifts
in foraging activity, low preferred body temperature, specialized cooling mechanisms, parenteral water
storage, and the production of venom. Together, this unique assemblage of traits enables Gila monsters to
have an otherwise unachievable specialized diet – the contents of vertebrate nests. Surviving on such a
seasonally-limited and widely dispersed resource clearly demonstrates that Gila monster are extremely
well adapted to their environment and the niche that they fill.
Biographical Information: Dale DeNardo is an Associate Professor and the Attending Veterinarian at
Arizona State University. His research in environmental physiology focuses on how organisms cope with
limited resources.
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IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERE: THERMAL TOLERANCES OF PROCTOPORUS
LIZARDS IN THE ANDES
Tiffany M. Doan, Sawyer Markham, Anastasia Gregory, Abigail Floyd, Carson Broadwater, Bryton
Calder, and Matthew Goldberg
New College of Florida
Climate change is one of the greatest threats to species across the globe. Proctoporus unsaacae and P.
sucullucu are cold-adapted thermoconforming lizard species native to the high Andes Mountains, where
increasing their elevation to escape temperature increases is impossible. We hypothesized that both
species would fail to maintain normal function above 32 ℃, which is near the maximum temperatures
these species encounter in their microhabitats. Referencing predicted temperature increases for the
Andean region of Peru in the 21st century, this study aimed to better understand the thermal tolerances of
both species. We tested 61 Proctoporus lizards to determine critical thermal maxima (CT max) by slowly
increasing the temperature of a water bath until they were unable to maintain normal bodily functions.
We also measured microhabitat daily fluctuations to calculate warming tolerance. Despite our
predictions, the species had much higher thermal tolerances than expected, with a mean CT max of over
38 ℃, and with some lizards exceeding 41 ℃. This suggests that even with rising global temperatures, P.
unsaacae and P. sucullucu will not reach temperatures too high to survive, though their function may be
decreased as microhabitat temperatures climb. Additional studies are needed to determine if high
temperatures decrease reproduction or fitness in these species.
Biographical information: Tiffany M. Doan is a visiting assistant professor of Biology at New College
of Florida. Her research interests include the ecology and evolutionary biology of reptiles and their
parasites. Her primary research program examines the biogeography of high elevation lizards in South
America. Sawyer Markham, Anastasia Gregory, Abigail Floyd, Carson Broadwater, Bryton Calder, and
Matthew Goldberg are undergraduate students studying at New College of Florida.
POPULATION STRUCTURE OF OLIVE RIDLEY SEA TURTLES (LEPIDOCHELYS
OLIVACEA) IN GHANA, WEST AFRICA
Alexis Ferrera1, Angela Formia2,3, Claudio Ciofi3, Chiara Natali3, Andrews Agyekumhene4, Phil Allman1
1 Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida, USA
2 Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Program, BP 7847, Libreville, Gabon 3 Department of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
4 Wildlife Division, Ghana Forestry Commission, Winneba, Ghana
Sea turtles are known to migrate across ocean basins to reach foraging and breeding grounds, but still
exhibit significant population structure on the nesting beaches. Although five species of sea turtles nest in
West Africa, the genetic structure of many species in this region has not been adequately explored. We
investigated the diversity of mitochondrial (control region) and nuclear (microsatellites) DNA for Olive
Ridley sea turtle samples collected from two coastal communities in Ghana during three nesting seasons:
2006, 2015 and 2016.The control region of mtDNA was successfully sequenced for 45 samples (17 from
Ada Foah, 28 from Mankoadze). Analysis revealed six variable positions defining five haplotypes, of
which one is previously undescribed (Lo91). Haplotype analysis indicates one substitution between ocean
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basins: a shared haplotype with the Western Atlantic population, but no shared haplotypes with Australia.
This is indicative of population expansion from a small ancestral population and supports the scenario of
colonization of the Atlantic Ocean via founder effect. Eleven microsatellite loci were used to analyze two
years of samples (2015 and 2016) from the same location. This comparison revealed the two nesting
cohorts are not genetically distinct and are therefore considered a single population (FIS=0.085, P=0.703;
FST:0.025, P=0.286). This population was compared to six females from Ada Foah across seven loci.
Comparison indicated the two locations are less related than expected under a model of random chance,
show signs of outbreeding and comprise moderate variation between two potential subpopulations (FIS=-
0.160, P=1.00; FST=0.104, P=0.002). Pending further investigation, conservation strategies should
consider nesting cohorts between years as single populations while regarding nesting sites as separate
populations for conservation efforts. This study addresses a lack of basic information in this region
regarding genetic variability of Olive Ridley’s and is the first of its kind to address this knowledge gap by
providing a refined understanding of population structure of Olive Ridleys in Ghana. A full understanding
of the population structure at varying spatial scales is vital for long-term viability and further research is
required to fully understand these connections.
Biographical information: Alexis Ferrera is a current masters student at Florida Gulf Coast University
in Fort Myers, FL. She is also a staff member in the Sea Turtle Conservation and Research Program at
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota, FL. Her research interests include sea turtle genetics,
evolutionary history, and population connectivity.
THE AMPHIBIAN REPORT CARD, A NEW TOOL FOR AMPHIBIAN CONSERVATION
Kirsten A. Hecht*, Robb Krehbiel, and Carson Barylak
University of Florida/Foundation for the Conservation of Salamanders
Defenders of Wildlife; Clarice Brewer, White Oak Conservation Foundation
International Fund for Animal Welfare. [email protected]
According to the IUCN almost 40% of amphibians are currently threatened with extinction. Due to these
conservation concerns, we have seen an increase in the amount of scientific research and conservation
efforts focused on this taxonomic group. However, communicating issues about amphibian declines to
non-scientists who can help reverse these trends remains problematic. Challenges with current
information sources include availability, language and writing style, negative messaging, and a lack of
presented actions for individuals to take. To address these concerns, a team from the 2016-18 cohort of
the Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) worked with several partners to develop a new
website, www.amphibianreportcard.org. The site uses expert input to create easy to interpret analyses of
the status and threats of North American amphibian species for non-scientists while also creating
opportunities for individuals to take specific actions to help a species or counter specific threats. Each
grade assessment is created from expert input using a standardized methodology. The site launched in
November 2018 with six species report cards, but we are recruiting volunteer experts to help the site
grow. Registered experts can help improve the impact and accuracy of the website while increasing their
broader impacts by taking a survey on an existing species, submitting information for a new species,
submitting photographs, and/or posting a comment on an existing assessment. We also encourage experts
to submit information on their amphibian research or conservation programs which can then be added
directly to species report cards.
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Biographical information: Kirsten Hecht received her BS from The Ohio State University and her MS
in Interdisciplinary Ecology from the University of Florida. She is currently a PhD student in UF’s School
of Natural Resources and Environment. Kirsten is an active member in the Partners in Amphibian and
Reptile Conservation (PARC) serving as social media coordinator for the Year of the Salamander
campaign, co-chair of the SEPARC Education and Outreach Task Force, and as founder of the Florida
state chapter of PARC.
AMPHIBIAN RESPONSES TO LIVESTOCK USE OF WETLANDS:
NEW EMPIRICAL DATA AND A GLOBAL REVIEW
Hunter J. Howell1, Caitlin C. Mothes1*, Stephanie L. Clements1, Shantel V. Catania1, Betsie B.
Rothermel2, and Christopher A. Searcy1
1Department of Biology, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146 2Archbold Biological Station, 123 Main Drive, Venus, FL 33960
Livestock production currently occupies 40% of Earth’s land surface. As the global human population
continues to increase and developing countries consume more protein-rich diets, the amount of land
devoted to livestock production will only continue to rise. To mitigate loss of global biodiversity due to
ever-expanding land-use for livestock, an understanding of how livestock impact wildlife is critical. There
are numerous reviews on this topic for a variety of taxa, but there are currently no reviews examining how
global livestock grazing affects amphibians. To address this issue, we first conducted an empirical study
at Buck Island Ranch in south-central Florida to examine the impacts of cattle on amphibian
communities. We then compared our results to previous literature by conducting a global quantitative
review. Our empirical study revealed that cattle did not impact amphibian communities at Buck Island
Ranch. Amphibian abundance was most explained by the presence of fish (negative response) and level of
nitrates (positive response), while species richness was best explained by area and depth of the wetland
(both positive responses). The global literature review returned 46 papers, of which 15 found positive
effects of livestock on amphibians, 21 found neutral/mixed effects, and 10 found negative effects. A
quantitative analysis of these data indicates that amphibian species that historically occurred in closed-
canopy habitats are more likely to be negatively affected by livestock presence. In contrast, open-canopy
amphibians are likely to experience positive effects from the presence of livestock, and these positive
effects are most likely to occur in locations with cooler climates and/or greater precipitation seasonality.
Collectively, our empirical work and literature review demonstrate that under the correct conditions well-
managed rangelands can support diverse assemblages of amphibians. These rangeland ecosystems may
play a critical role in protecting future amphibian biodiversity by serving as an “off-reserve” system to
supplement the biodiversity conserved within traditional protected areas.
Biographical information: Caitlin Mothes is a PhD Candidate at the University of Miami in the lab of
Christopher Searcy. Her dissertation research investigates how environmental factors influence the spatial
structure of species, integrating ecological niche modeling and genetic techniques to study pressing issues
for biodiversity in the Anthropocene. From biological invasions to the detrimental effects of climate
change and habitat loss, her research aims to influence conservation management and policy action, with
a focus on herpetofauna.
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GOPHER TORTOISE DEMOGRAPHIC RESPONSES TO A NOVEL
DISTURBANCE REGIME IN FLORIDA
Hunter J. Howell1,2, Betsie B. Rothermel2, K. Nicole White3, and Christopher A. Searcy1
1Department of Biology, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146
2 Archbold Biological Station, 123 Main Drive, Venus, FL 33960 3Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street,
Athens, GA 30602
The greatest threats to the long-term viability of Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) populations are
habitat loss through increased urbanization and habitat degradation through fire suppression. Although
Florida is considered a stronghold for the species, the state has experienced a decline in available upland
habitat of more than 80% since the 1960s. Because remaining natural habitats exist within a mosaic of
anthropogenic land uses, there is a need to understand the demographic responses of Gopher Tortoise to
varying land uses and habitat management regimes. Here we utilize data collected at Archbold Biological
Station in south-central Florida from fire-suppressed sandhill, restored sandhill, and former sandhill (i.e.,
ruderal) habitat to examine differences in demographic parameters among these habitat types. Using
program MARK, we estimated population size and sex-specific and habitat-specific survivorship based
on a 6-year (2012-2017) mark-recapture effort. We also analyzed individual growth trajectories and
clutch sizes to determine whether growth rates or reproductive output differed among habitat types.
Tortoises in the open, ruderal habitat exist at much higher density (8.24/ha) than in adjacent restored
(1.73/ha) or fire-suppressed (0.30/ha) sandhill units. Despite dramatically higher tortoise density within
the ruderal habitat, we found no significant differences in survivorship, body condition, reproductive
output, asymptotic body size, or growth rate among the three habitat types. Our results suggest that
former sandhill habitat dominated by non-native grasses can support healthy Gopher Tortoise populations
through at least part of their life cycle. Such human-modified areas may be important components of the
habitat mosaic currently available to this at-risk species.
Biographical Information: Hunter currently works as a PhD Student in the Department of Biology,
University of Miami. His dissertation work focuses on understanding the impact of various Everglades
restoration programs (e.g. hydrological regimes, tree island restoration, etc.) on herpetofaunal
communities. Other projects include long-term population viability and distribution of Spotted Turtles,
Bog Turtles, and Wood Turtles in Maryland and Gopher Tortoises in Florida.
BIOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHELONIAN SHELL
Elliott R Jacobson
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610
The shell of most present-day turtles consists of multilayered β-keratin scutes overlying a continuous
layer of pseudostratified columnar epithelial cells. When chelonians hatch from the egg, they are born
with scutes called embryonic shields. As chelonians grow, new keratin in the shell is formed in seams,
areas of the shell where two scutes come together. As rings of new keratin are formed around embryonic
shields, formerly adjacent embryonic shields become separated. Scutes overlay a dermis that is unique in
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that much of it is ossified. Outer and inner layers of the dermal bone plates are compact and
"sandwich" a middle layer of trabecular or spongy bone. The dermal plates are primarily those that are
neural and costal, and are derived from vertebrae and ribs that surround the scapula, which in modern
turtles are found within the rib cage; with all other amniotes the scapula is outside the ribcage.
Nagashima et al., (2009) used the Chinese Soft-shelled Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) to study
embryogenesis of the turtle carapace along with associated musculature. They observed that the second
and more posterior ribs grew laterally and anteriorly over the scapula by folding the dorsal part of the
lateral body wall inward. Along the folding line, the turtle-specific embryonic structure called the
carapacial ridge (CR) developed and later grew anteriorly and posteriorly to form a circle that
differentiated into the carapacial margin. The CR, which is an evolutionarily novel structure, is the
earliest sign of carapace development and defines the margin of the future carapace.
Until recently, the origin of the turtle shell remained a developmental mystery in vertebrate evolution.
In 2008, a previously unknown fossil, Odontochelys semitestacea sp. nov. from the Late Triassic, was
found in China that had the appearance of a transitional fossil since, while having a complete plastron, the
carapace was incomplete (Li et al., 2008). Subsequently, the earliest known stem turtle, the Triassic turtle
Eorhynchochelys sinensis gen. et sp. nov., was found in sediments approximately 7.5 m below that which
contained Odontochelys (Li et al., 2018). This stem turtle had an edentulous beak, with teeth on the
maxillae. The carapace and plastron were absent. These discoveries documented that the carapace and
plastron are developmentally separate structures that develop independently.
Biographical Information: Dr. Elliott Jacobson is a Professor Emeritus of Zoological Medicine, College
of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida. He arrived at the University of Florida in 1977 and
although working with a wide variety of zoo animals, wildlife, and exotic pets, his major focus has
been infectious disease and pathology of reptiles. He has mentored numerous residents in a Zoological
Medicine Training Program and served as a major advisor and committee member for graduate
students on MS and PhD degree programs.
LONG-DISTANCE MOVEMENTS BY TURTLES IN A NORTHERN FLORIDA
RIVERINE ECOSYSTEM: INSIGHTS FROM A LONG-TERM STUDY
Gerald R. Johnston1 and Joseph C. Mitchell2
1Department of Natural Sciences, Santa Fe College, Gainesville, Florida
2Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
Some freshwater turtles move long distances to depart unfavorable habitat conditions, find nesting sites,
or search for mates. Most reports of turtle movements are based on short-term studies that fail to account
for the full range of activities during a turtle’s lifetime. During a long-term (2004–present) capture-mark-
recapture study of the freshwater turtle assemblage in the Santa Fe River ecosystem in northern Florida,
we gathered data documenting movements by three species (Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis
[Suwannee Cooter], Pseudemys nelsoni [Florida Red-bellied Cooter], Trachemys scripta [Yellow-bellied
Slider]) that substantially exceed previously known activity ranges. These data demonstrate the
interconnectedness of distantly separated regions of the Santa Fe River ecosystem and reveal patterns of
variation that differ among species and between sexes. My presentation will illustrate the value of long-
term ecological studies of long-lived animals, the importance of mark-recapture sampling across a broad
spatial scale, and the limited conclusions that can be drawn from short-term studies of turtle movements.
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Biographical information: Dr. Jerry Johnston is a Professor of Biology at Santa Fe College and leader
of the Santa Fe River Turtle Project. During the past 16 years, Jerry and his team of students, scientists,
and local citizens have conducted a capture-mark-recapture study of the freshwater turtle assemblage in
the Santa Fe River basin.
KINEMATIC COMPENSATION IN SALAMANDERS ENABLES
THERMALLY ROBUST SWIMMING VELOCITY
Taylor S Kelsay* and Stephen M Deban
Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida
Studies of swimming in salamanders have revealed curiously low thermal dependence (Q10 ~ 1.0-1.6) of
swimming velocity. We hypothesized that the low thermal dependence of swimming speed may be
produced by compensatory kinematic changes, therefore we imaged 320 swimming bouts from 32
acclimated individuals of four species (Ambystoma maculatum, Desmognathus ocoee, Desmognathus
quadramaculatus, Eurycea wilderae) at 7 and 17 °C. Velocity showed similar thermal dependence as
previous findings (Q10 ~ 1.0-1.6), although larger salamanders (Q10 ~ 1.0) exhibited greater thermal
independence than smaller salamanders (Q10 ~ 1.6). Frequency and amplitude of the travelling wave were
significantly different across temperatures, regardless of size. Increased temperatures garnered increased
frequencies and decreased amplitudes of the travelling wave. Time to peak velocity, true peak velocity,
and average acceleration to peak velocity showed varied thermal dependence, suggesting that other
factors may play a more significant role in performance. Investigating the energetics, fluid flow, motor
control, and possible scaling effects of swimming would yield insight into the low temperature sensitivity
that salamanders exhibit while swimming.
Biographical Information: Taylor Kelsay is a second year Master’s student in Steve Deban’s lab. He is
currently studying the biomechanics and physiology of salamander locomotion.
ISLANDS AND SNAKES. ISOLATION AND ADAPTIVE EVOLUTION
Harvey B. Lillywhite1 and Marcio Martins2
1Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
[email protected] 2University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Islands and Snakes. Isolation and Adaptive Evolution is an academic book that focuses on aspects of
island ecology and biogeography as viewed through the lens of the many studies in which snakes have
been a focus. This book is currently in production and will be available in print from Oxford University
Press sometime later this year. Thirteen chapters written and illustrated by 20 authors — including Co-
Editors Harvey B. Lillywhite and Marcio Martins — make up the book. Islands have been appreciated as
natural “laboratories” for investigations of ecology, biogeography, and evolutionary biology since the
time of Wallace, Darwin, and MacArthur and Wilson, whose investigations of biodiversity and dynamics
of insular biogeography led to a robust literature on these and related topics. Various investigators have
extended earlier theoretic studies to increase understanding of important phenomena such as adaptive
radiation, energetics, paleogeography, plasticity of colonizing biota, trophic changes, morphological
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evolution, and climate change. For reasons of practicality and personal interests, various specific
elements of biota have been investigated as model organisms for clarifying insights regarding particular
features of island ecology. Reptiles on various islands have replaced endotherms as primary herbivores
and top carnivores. Because of ectothermy, reptiles have advantages over endotherms in exploiting scarce
resources in circumstances that are challenging to the success of birds and mammals. Snakes are known
to be very successful colonizers of islands, and roughly 60% of literature on insular squamate reptiles
deals with snakes. Indeed, studies of snakes have contributed much to our understanding of insular
ecology, and these vertebrates are important subjects for investigating questions that might be difficult to
approach in other systems. Coverage in this book includes island systems throughout the world, including
key locations in South America, the Caribbean, the Gulf of California, Taiwan, Australia, the
Mediterranean, and the tropical Pacific. In many instances, snakes occur on islands in amazing numbers
and are often a dominant aspect of the local fauna. To produce this book, we have recruited authors from
among authorities throughout the world who have focused influential studies of snakes that occupy
interesting and important systems on various islands or archipelagos. As a concluding chapter, we have
included studies of the spectacular tepuis that comprise an exceptional example of “ecological islands” in
South America. All of the various authors provide entertaining narratives of the system they studied,
woven as a fabric with solid empirical information, scientific theory, and personal insights regarding
ecological and evolutionary principles as revealed by spectacular snakes and their adaptations to living on
islands.
Biographical information: Harvey B. Lillywhite is a Professor of Biology at the University of Florida in
Gainesville. He has published numerous scientific articles on the biology of snakes, including sea snakes
and insular snakes in Taiwan, Australia and Costa Rica. Marcio Martins is a Professor of Ecology at the
University of São Paulo, Brazil. He has published numerous scientific articles on the natural history,
ecology, evolution and conservation of frogs and snakes, including studies on island snakes from Brazil
and Mexico.
A SUMMARY OF TWO STUDIES EXPLORING HERPETOFAUNA
IN CANALS IN SOUTHERN FLORIDA
Oliver Ljustina
Department of Biology, Southeastern Louisiana University
Flood control canals are common in costal and low-lying areas and provide a haven for many wildlife
species, particularly when located in otherwise heavily developed areas. These features provide
interesting opportunities for research, as they often run interrupted through different habitat types and
often contain a mixture of native and non-native species. I used visual encounter surveys to collect data
on herpetofauna inhabiting canals in southern Florida to explore two different questions: Does
herpetofaunal community composition change along an urbanization gradient? Do watersnakes (Genus:
Nerodia) prey on invasive fishes in an urban canal? I found substantial changes in herpetofaunal
community composition along an urbanization gradient, primarily driven by the association of non-native
amphibians with canals adjacent to urban areas relative to canals adjacent to natural areas. Some limited
evidence was found demonstrating that watersnakes do feed on non-native fish species in a suburban
canal in southern Florida, having recovered four prey items from two different species of watersnake (N.
floridana and N. taxispilota.) all of which were non-native fishes.
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Biographical information: Oliver Ljustina is an instructor in the Department of Biological Sciences at
Southeastern Louisiana University. He is broadly interested in herpetology and ecology, with an emphasis
on urban ecology.
CHYTRID GROWTH INHIBITION IN TWO FULLY AQUATIC SALAMANDERS
Lindy J. Muse*1, Kenzie Pereira2, Sarah Woodley2, Clifford Fontenot1, Brian Crother1, Demetra
Kandalepas1
1Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA 70402, USA
2 Bayer School of Natural & Environmental Science, Department of Biological Sciences, Duquesne
University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
Chytrid fungal pathogens, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and B. salamandrivorans (Bsal) are
causing amphibian die-offs worldwide. While Bd is already found in North America, Bsal has not yet
been detected among native populations but has negatively impacted European salamander populations.
Although it is known that not all amphibian species are susceptible to chytrid pathogens, the factors
underlying differences in susceptibility are poorly understood. Because amphibian skin secretions have
been shown to have anti-fungal properties mediated through the action of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)
and have been hypothesized to aid in clearing of chytrid infections, it is possible that skin secretions are
important for protecting some amphibian species from disease caused by chytrid pathogens. The objective
of this study was to determine whether the skin secretions of the fully aquatic salamander, Siren
intermedia (Lesser Siren) inhibit the growth of Bd or Bsal using in-vitro growth inhibition assays. Skin
secretions were collected from 10 wild caught S. intermedia, skin peptides were extracted, pooled, serially
diluted, and combined with either Bd or Bsal zoospores (106 zoospores mL-1) within a 96-well microplate.
Microplates were incubated at the optimum temperature for each chytrid species and optical density was
read daily using an accuSkan GO plate reader (Fisher Scientific, Hampton, New Hampshire, USA) for 14
days. We found that when combined with even low concentrations of S. intermedia skin peptides, Bd and
Bsal growth was slower than that of Bd and Bsal groups without skin peptides. These results suggest that
the skin secretions of S. intermedia contain AMPs which may be protective against disease caused by
chytrid fungi. In the future, we would like to repeat this experiment using the skin secretions of another
fully aquatic salamander species, Necturus beyeri (Gulf Coast Waterdog). We predict that results will be
similar to those observed with S. intermedia.
Biographical information: Lindy Muse is a graduate student at Southeastern Louisiana University
(SLU) working under her advisors Dr. Clifford Fontenot and Dr. Brian Crother. She earned her Bachelor
of Science from The University of Louisiana, Lafayette. She also worked as a herpetological research
contractor for the U.S. Geological Survey for 4 years before pursuing her master’s degree at SLU. Her
research interests include conservation biology, disease ecology, and herpetology.
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ARE NATIVE COTTID FISH, COTTUS HYPSELURUS AND C. CAROLINAE,
SIGNIFICANT PREDATORS OF HELLBENDER SALAMANDER
(CRYPTOBRANCHUS ALLEGANIENSIS) POPULATIONS?
Max A. Nickerson1, 1Joseph C. Mitchell, 2Amber L. Pitt, 2Joseph J. Tavano, and 1Kirsten Hecht
1Museum of Natural History, University of Florida
2Trinity College of CT
Two native cottid fishes; Cottus carolinae and C. hypselurus have been considered as potential predators
of Hellbender salamanders Cryptobranchus alleganiensis. Here we examine the evidence from our
research labs coupled with literature searches on the known diet of these fishes and contrast these results
with the findings of a very creative behavioral study related to this topic. We find no evidence for these
fishes as predators of Cryptobranchus alleganiensis. We also find problems in data comparisons, provide
suggestions on conducting literature reviews of this and related topics.
Biographical information: Max Nickerson is the senior curator of the Amphibian and Reptile Section at
the Florida Museum of Natural History (UF-FLMNH). Originally from the frozen far north, he has been
with the museum 28 years. Joe Mitchell is privately employed and has recently moved from his home
state of Virginia to northern Florida. He is a research associate of the UF-FLMNH.
CHEMOSENSORY PREY PREFERENCE AND FEEDING BEHAVIOR IN NEOTROPICAL
GASTROPOD-EATING SNAKES (DIPSADINAE: DIPSADINI)
Coleman M. Sheehy III1 and Ruben U. Tovar2
1Division of Herpetology, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
32611. 2Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712.
Snakes in the tribe Dipsadini are gastropod specialists, and many possess a suite of morphological and
behavioral characteristics generally accepted as adaptations for extracting land snails from their shells.
To test the assumption that these snakes prefer gastropod prey, we collected three Dipsas gaigeae, six
Tropidodipsas philippii, two T. annuliferus and three Sibon nebulatus and offered to them the scents of
four prey items (i.e., snail, earthworm, cricket and frog) plus two controls. Scents were offered via a
cotton-tipped swab, and the response variable was the number of tongue flicks directed towards the swab
in 60 s. Mean maximum tongue-flick responses for each species were analyzed using ANOVA and
rmANOVA. Dipsas gaigeae, S. nebulatus and T. annuliferus preferred the gastropod scent to other
available scents, whereas T. philippii showed a strong interest in the scents of both gastropods and
earthworms. Unlike the other species, T. phillippi consumed live earthworms, suggesting that this species
likely eats earthworms in nature in addition to gastropods. These results support the hypothesis that
earthworms may be the ancestral diet of the Dipsadini and highlight the importance of testing dietary
assumptions in order to better understand the evolution of dietary specialization. We also described the
feeding behavior of T. annuliferus, T. philippii and S. nebulatus. These species snagged or wedged snail
shells on surface irregularities and extracted snails using muscular contractions of the body, representing
a novel and undescribed feeding behavior in snakes. Phylogenetic relationships based on variation in
feeding behavior among genera agree with those from molecular data.
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Biographical Information: Coleman Sheehy is the Collection Manager for Herpetology at the Florida
Museum of Natural History. He completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the University of
Florida, and he completed his Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Arlington in 2012. His research
interests focus on the evolutionary biology and ecology of reptiles and amphibians, with a long-standing
interest in the biology of snakes.
DIVERSIFICATION OF DERMAL ARMOR IN SQUAMATES
Edward L. Stanley
Florida Museum of Natural History
Gainesville, Florida, 32611
www.edwardstanley.org
The order Squamata contains over 10,000 species, many of which are small-bodied and occupy a low
trophic position. As a result, the group displays a bewildering diversity of anti-predation defenses, which
include camouflage, audible, visual and chemical warning displays, a broad range of fight/flight behaviors
and, universally, armor. All squamates are protected by toughened, keratinized scales but in some
lineages these scales are buttressed by osteoderms: bony subdermal plates which strengthen the
integument, provide additional ornamentation in the form of spines or keels, and may play a role in
calcium sequestration and thermoregulation. Osteoderms are found in several orders of fish, mammals,
amphibians, archosaurs, turtles and in 13 extant families of squamates. This study employs comparative
phylogenetic analyses of microcomputed Tomography (µCT) data to quantify and investigate the
diversity of dermal armor across Squamata, with deep sampling in the families that are known to possess
osteoderms. Our analysis reveals multiple independent origins of osteoderms within the order, with three
clades—Cordylidae, Anguidae and egerniine skinks—displaying increased rate-shifts in the distribution
and extent of their armor. There are repeated losses and gains of ossified armor within these three
lineages, and variations in the extent and distribution of osteoderms are shown to be correlated with
microhabitat but not climate.
Biographical Information: Edward Stanley is an Associate Scientist at the Florida Museum of Natural
History, where he manages the new digital imaging lab. His research interests cover a range of topics,
including the systematics, biogeography and evolution of African squamates (snakes and lizards), the
effect of taxonomic bias on macroevolutionary studies, and how novel methodological approaches can aid
in uncovering and disseminating morphological data from museum specimens.
CAPTURE PROBABILITY AND ABUNDANCE OF THE ARGENTINIAN BLACK AND
WHITE TEGU IN SOUTH FLORIDA
J. Hardin Waddle1*, Jennifer H. Nestler2 and Frank J. Mazzotti2
1U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, FL
2University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale, FL
The Argentinian black and white tegu (Salvator merianae) is a large introduced lizard species in Florida
that is a major threat to native species due to a high reproductive rate and a generalist carnivorous diet. To
mitigate this threat, research and management agencies have been conducting trapping efforts to remove
18
tegus. The goal of this trapping is to reduce the population size and reduce the spread of tegus in southern
Florida. To understand the effectiveness of various trapping techniques (e.g. trap type, bait, etc.) and
conditions (e.g. sites, time of year, etc.), it is important to have a useful metric of trap effectiveness. Catch
per unit effort (CPUE) is one such measure, however, it is difficult to model the effects of different
techniques and conditions on CPUE. We have developed a Bayesian model to estimate capture
probability directly from trapping data when standard live traps are checked daily. The model is a logistic
exposure model fit to Bayesian logistic regression to estimate the daily capture probability as a function
of any combination of covariates. Results will be presented from 4 years of trapping, 2014-2017. Capture
rate data such as these are also a critical piece to estimating overall tegu abundance as a function of the
number removed. This will provide information managers need to evaluate the effectiveness of trapping
efforts and make decisions about the next iteration of trapping effort in an adaptive management
framework.
Biographical Information: Hardin Waddle is a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey with
over 20 years of experience studying amphibians and reptiles. He has an interest in applying quantitative
modeling techniques to questions regarding the conservation of imperiled species and the management of
invasive species.
CONSERVATION OF IMPERILED COASTAL VERTEBRATES:
NEED FOR CLIMATE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES IN RECOVERY PLANNING
Susan C. Walls
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey
Species’ declines and extinctions are predicted to escalate as changes in land-use, climate, and other
stressors intensify. Effective conservation and management in the face of climatic uncertainty requires a
proactive framework to reduce risk of future catastrophic storm impacts to vulnerable populations of
imperiled species. Yet, compared to climate change mitigation and adaptation plans developed for human
communities, few management strategies have been developed specifically for biodiversity, and ones
targeting amphibians and reptiles are especially rare. Using the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Environmental Conservation Online System, I inspected recovery plans for 65 vertebrate species whose
ranges include coastal regions that are vulnerable to the impacts of hurricanes. I determined whether
recovery plans outlined a strategy for enabling the species to adapt to the threat of hurricanes and
associated impacts such as storm surge. I found that only 33 vertebrate species have recovery plans that
mention hurricanes and, of those, the need for management actions in response to the threat of hurricanes
is discussed for only five. The USFWS recently revised its approach to recovery planning and
implementation and is working to update recovery plans for many species. However, given that 30% of
1,660 currently listed species are still in need of a recovery plan, and the USFWS National Listing
Workplan prioritizes > 550 other species that are awaiting status reviews and listing determinations, it is
unclear when recovery plans for coastal species may be reviewed for possible updating. Building
resilience is fundamental to future conservation of populations in coastal environments, but more active
planning and management will likely be needed to protect the most vulnerable coastal environments.
Biographical information: Dr. Susan C. Walls is the coordinator for the Southeast region of U.S.
Geological Survey’s Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI). Her research interests
include model-based monitoring to assess the impacts of climate change, emerging diseases, habitat
restoration, and invasive species on amphibian communities, as well as science-based conservation for
imperiled species.
19
POTENTIAL HIGH RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN OLIVE RIDLEY SEA
TURTLES (LEPIDOCHELYS OLIVACEA )
Florence Wen
Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, Louisiana 70402
Sea turtle sex and hatching success are greatly influenced by incubation temperature. With current
predictions for global temperature changes, species with temperature dependent sex determination, such
as sea turtles, may be in danger due to high temperatures. Sea turtle populations may be threatened as
embryo mortality increases with rising temperatures or as sex ratios skew towards the exclusive
production of females. Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) eggs from Play Ostional, Costa
Rica were placed under various temperature treatments 1) to determine field pivotal temperature for
hatchling sex ratios and 2) to determine hatching success at different temperatures. The average
incubation duration throughout all treatments was 47.9 days. Nests incubated with no shade experienced
the highest incubation temperatures. These eggs spent an average of 12.2 days in temperatures over the
lethal limit of 35°C. Although nests in the hottest treatment spent approximately 25% of their entire
incubation period over 35°C, hatching success was on average over 85%. This study also found that Olive
Ridley turtles from Ostional have the highest pivotal temperature ever recorded for this species and for
any sea turtle species. These findings suggest that the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle population at Ostional may
have high resilience to climate change. They are able to produce viable hatchlings at temperatures that are
usually lethal to other sea turtle species and male hatchlings are still produced at relatively high
temperatures because of the high field pivotal temperature.
Biographical Information: Florence Wen recently graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in
2018 with her Masters in Biology. She is currently an Instructor in the Biology Department at
Southeastern Louisiana University. Her research interests include marine turtle biology, conservation
biology, and reproductive biology. She was a recipient of the National Geographic Young Explorers
Grant and the PADI Foundation Research Grant.
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POSTER ABSTRACTS
FLORIDA SAND SKINK (PLESTIODON REYNOLDSI) MOVEMENTS
IN BAHIAGRASS (PASPALUM NOTATUM)
Chandler Eaglestone*, Earl McCoy, Henry Mushinsky, Paul Wieczorek
Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida – Tampa
The Florida Sand Skink (Plestiodon reynoldsi) is a federally threatened lizard precinctive to scrub habitat,
a pyrogenic habitat that experiences fires infrequently. Plestiodon reynoldsi spends most of its time right
under the sand surface, moving, or “sand swimming,” through the granular substrate found in Florida’s
central ridges. The distribution of this species has been greatly reduced, and its habitat is highly
fragmented from what it once was. By 1990, nearly 70% of xeric uplands – including scrub – along the
Lake Wales Ridge had succumbed to human expansion and the citrus industry. Agricultural development
of P. reynoldsi habitat has also led to potentially suitable fragmented scrub occurring near bahiagrass
(Paspalum notatum) pastures. Paspalum notatum is widely used as a pasture grass in sandy soils of the
southeast United States, because of its deep and far-reaching root system, where P. reynoldsi occurs.
Rooted vegetation may dampen the ability of this federally threatened lizard to efficiently sand swim. Our
goal is to determine if pastures that surround isolated patches of scrub habitat are used by P. reynoldsi. To
accomplish our goal, bahiagrass samples have been collected in areas where P. reynoldsi occurs and
analyzed for their volume and surface area of their roots. We used those data to simulate field conditions
with faux-bahiagrass in experimental enclosures in the laboratory. A single individual is placed into the
enclosure and its movements monitored for 24 to 28 hours. The relationship between above-ground grass
and below-ground roots will also be studied, as establishing a relationship will lead to a helpful way for
biologists to evaluate potentially suitable conservation banks for P. reynoldsi. This study will assist in
determining suitability of conservation banks consisting of adjoining scrub and bahiagrass pasture for P.
reynoldsi, inform future conservation plans, and ascertain how their movements patterns may be
influenced by agricultural landscapes.
Biographical information: Chandler Eaglestone is a master’s student at the University of South Florida.
Her research interests include herpetological ecology and natural history. She also has a strong interest in
environmental policy, and was selected as an Environmental Policy Fellow for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service’s Directorate Resource Assistant Fellows Program in 2017.
PREY AVAILABILITY AND ITS RELATION TO PROCTOPORUS
LIZARD ROCK MICROHABITAT USAGE
Eliot Evans*, Sara Sheffer, Nicholas Warmington, Maya Wernstrom, and Steven Bressan
Department of Biology, New College of Florida
The genus Proctoporus is composed of small lizards found in the Andean highlands, commonly living
under flat rocks. These lizards are thought to occupy the same rock for the majority of their lifespan. We
hypothesized that the composition of arthropod prey, specifically abundance and species richness, is a
factor in the rocks utilized. At several sites in Peru, we flipped rocks and gathered the top centimeter of
soil underneath, catching any lizards present. The arthropod content of the soil was identified and
recorded in our lab. We analyzed abundance, richness, and species diversity of invertebrates under the
21
rocks. We found that P. unsaacae lizards utilized rocks with higher overall invertebrate abundance, and
P. sucullucu lizards utilized rocks with higher invertebrate group richness. Overall, factors other than
invertebrate richness and abundance most likely have a significant effect on refuge site use in these
species. We suggest the poorly understood social structures and predator-prey relationships among these
lizards are important avenues for future studies to explore in order to understand the full picture of
Proctoporus rock usage.
Biographical Information: Eliot Evans is student studying biochemistry and neurobiology at New
College of Florida. His research interests include neurodegenerative diseases and pharmaceuticals. Steven
Bressan is a student studying the natural sciences at New College of Florida. His research interests
include climate change, ecosystem management, and permaculture.
DAMS AND AMAZON TURTLES CONSERVATION IN TOCANTINS RIVER, BRAZIL
Adriana Malvasio and E.E. Marques
Federal University of Tocantins, Tocantins State, Brazil
[email protected]; [email protected]
In this study we discuss the large hydroelectric dams, built in cascade, in the Tocantins River, Legal
Amazon, Brazil and its effects on the fauna of turtles. This group of animal depend on the dynamics of
the river and the riparian forest for the maintenance of their populations. Some species also have symbolic
importance and participate in the diet of the traditional populations. The analysis was based on the
experience of the authors who watched the environmental changes associated with these projects in the
Tocantins River for more than a decade. Some of the most important species are the amazonian turtle
(Podocnemis expansa) and tracajá turtle (Podocnemis unifilis). The Tocantins River has seven large
hydroelectric plants in operation, which are Tucuruí (1984), Serra da Mesa (1998), Lajeado (2001), Cana
Brava (2002), Peixe Angical (2006), São Salvador (2008) and Estreito (2010). The plan of the Electric
Power Sector for the Tocantins basin also includes the projects of other 4 dams in different phases of
licensing. In addition there are the Small Hydroelectric Power Plants (more than 35 dams of this type
planned for this basin). The loss of feeding and spawning areas of turtles, by the cascading dams
contributed to the natural systems disconnection. A combination of flooded riparian vegetation and
changes in flood regimes affects the populations that depend on the terrestrial and aquatic environments
material in their diet. Considering that the main turtles species consumed by the communities in the
region are predominantly herbivorous (P.expansa, P.unifilis), the reduction of riparian vegetation and
breeding sites affects directly the traditional communities. Reproduction in amazon turtles is related to
precipitation, temperature and water level of rivers. The drought and flood regime are changed in the
reservoirs, modifying the reproductive dynamics in these animals. Considering the reservoir regions,
flooding may occur on the reproductive areas or can happen the permanent exposure of nesting sites,
modifying, for example, granulometric aspects of the soil. When these changes occur in nests sediments,
the sex ratio of the hatchlings can be altered as a function of interferences in the eggs incubation
temperature. Other changes related to granulometry are focused on incubation time and hatching success.
Considering turtles, P. expansa stands out as a migratory species and it can move hundreds of kilometers
to perform the posture, so the dams in series, can have serious implications in the environments occupied
during the periods of rainfall and drought, and interruption of gene flow is also possible. Other negative
impacts on turtles populations are increased boat flow, causing rise of hunting/fishing pressure, especially
22
during the planning and implementation phases of the hydroelectric dams. The biggest challenge is to
reconsider the model of power generation in Brazil. In order to make progress, a real interaction is
necessary, thinking about the conservation of natural resources as something holistic, without separating
natural and social systems.
Biographical information: Dr. Adriana Malvasio is a professor of the Environmental Engineering
graduation course, the postgraduate courses in Environmental Science and in Biodiversity, Ecology and
Conservation at the Federal University of Tocantins, Brazil. Her research interests focus on Zoology,
Ecology and Conservation of turtles and Herpetology.
THE IMPORTANCE OF STANDARDIZED METHODS FOR CLASSIFYING
EXTINCTION RISK IN IMPERILED SPECIES: A CASE STUDY OF
CALIFORNIA’S THREATENED HERPETOFAUNA
Caitlin C. Mothes1*, Stephanie L. Clements1, Dishane K. Hewavithana1, Hunter J. Howell1, Aaron S.
David1,2, Nicole D. Leventhal1, Christopher A. Searcy1
1Department of Biology, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146
2Present Address: USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, 3225 College Avenue, Fort
Lauderdale, FL 33314
Imperiled species lists are important tools to combat biodiversity loss because they assess extinction
threat and aid in conservation prioritization for policy decisions. Standardized classification methods that
use quantifiable risk metrics are critical for evaluating extinction threats because they increase objectivity,
consistency, and transparency of listing decisions. Yet, in the United States, neither federal nor state
agencies use standardized methods for listing species for legal protection, which could put listing
decisions at odds with the reality of the risk. Here, we use a recently developed set of quantitative risk
metrics with classification tree analyses to evaluate state and federal listing decisions for imperiled
herpetofauna in California. We find that federally-listed herpetofauna in California score significantly
higher on the risk metric spectrum than those not federally-listed, but that state-listed species do not score
any higher than those not state-listed. Classification trees detect state endemism as the most important
predictor of listing status at the state level, and distribution trend (the proportion of a species’ range that
has been lost over time) at the federal level. Using the imperiled herpetofauna of California as a case
study, we provide two suggestions of how the use of standardized quantitative risk evaluations can
improve the decision-making process at both state and federal levels: 1) governing bodies can use
standardized risk criteria and classification tree analyses to guide consistent decision-making for future
listings, or 2) re-assess current listing statuses based on new conservation threat evaluations made with
standardized quantitative methods.
Biographical information: Caitlin Mothes is a PhD Candidate at the University of Miami in the lab of
Christopher Searcy. Her dissertation research investigates how environmental factors influence the spatial
structure of species, integrating ecological niche modeling and genetic techniques to study pressing issues
for biodiversity in the Anthropocene. From biological invasions to the detrimental effects of climate
change and habitat loss, her research aims to influence conservation management and policy action, with
a focus on herpetofauna.
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MOVEMENT PATTERNS, THERMOREGULATORY BEHAVIOR, AND POPULATION
DEMOGRAPHICS OF EASTERN MUSK TURTLES (STERNOTHERUS ODORATUS) IN AN
URBAN ENVIRONMENT IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
Brooke L. Perrera* and Brian I. Crother
Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA 70402,
Today, most habitat fragmentation is not related to change occurring on a geologic time scale; instead,
fragmentation results from direct anthropogenic modifications to the landscape (i.e., channelization, dam
construction, urbanization). Urban areas are expected to expand in response to an increasing human
population, resulting in a decline of natural habitat for native biota. Turtle populations across North
America have been decreasing at an alarming rate, with one major cause of decline being habitat
destruction. Understanding the impacts urbanization has on herpetofauna is limited and inference on
whether urban environments provide suitable habitat for turtle populations is novel. The objective of this
study is to describe movement patterns, thermoregulatory behavior, and population demographics of
Sternotherus odoratus within a fragmented urban environment. Ten individuals will be collected in a
man-made drainage canal in Kenner, Louisiana for application of radio transmitters and iButton
temperature loggers. Telemetry locations will be obtained from spring to winter 2019. Opportunistic
captures of additional musk turtles will be reserved for mark-recapture to understand population
demographics. Trapping will take place from June to August 2019. I expect movement results from this
study to be consistent with previous studies suggesting S. odoratus travel short daily distances, have
broadly overlapping home ranges, remain active throughout the year, and have seasonal movements
influenced by sex and month. Preliminary surveys have indicated a dense population; therefore, I expect
my estimates of population demographics to reflect a dense, stable population with a balanced sex ratio
and population structure. I also anticipate musk turtles to show preference to thermally superior habitats,
which will vary with season. Research concerning S. odoratus movement patterns, thermoregulatory
behavior, and population demographics within urban environments is limited. Being that musk turtles can
occur in nearly all freshwater environments, their ability to thrive in urban habitats is not astounding, but
conservation opportunities provided by such habitats would be encouraging especially for populations
facing threats and declines.
Biographical information: Brooke L. Perrera is a graduate student at Southeastern Louisiana University
working under her advisor Dr. Brian I. Crother. Her research interests include herpetofauna ecology in
urban environments and conservation biology.
QUANTIFICATION OF CUBAN VS. NATIVE TREEFROG SPECIES IN THE ARTHUR R.
MARSHALL LOXAHATCHEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
BOYNTON BEACH (2013- PRESENT), AND GRASSY WATERS PRESERVE,
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA 2018 – PRESENT
Nancy Sluggett*, Zoey Morris, Teresa Thornton, Robert Stirm, and Kendall Jackson
3151 N Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33409
The Osteopilus septentrionalis (Cuban Treefrogs) has invaded South Florida and has been displacing
native Florida frogs in the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Cypress Swamp
(ARMLNWR CS) since this study began in 2013. With this knowledge, research was expanded to
determine if the Cuban Treefrog, currently the dominant species, has invaded Grassy Waters Preserve
24
(GWP). In the past six years of testing at the ARMLNWR CS, a total of 176 frogs were identified. Of
these frogs, 13 were native Treefrogs, 29 were native aquatic frogs, and the remaining 134 were identified
as Cuban Treefrogs. In 2014, the ratio was 6:35 native to Cuban. In 2017, it was 0:28; and in the past year
it was 2:18. It was originally thought that the decrease of natives was due to low levels of precipitation,
but 2017 was a wet year and still no natives were found. Because of this strange occurrence, attention has
been turned to the endurance of the Cuban Treefrog. The genetic composition of the Osteopilus
septentrionalis enable them to be the dominant species of Treefrog: a Cubans’ immune system allow
them to carry chytrid bacteria without incident; their tadpoles eat native tadpoles as well as the natives’
food sources; their adults are able to eat the adult natives and they have the unique ability to reproduce
during more than one season. Despite this, two native Treefrogs were identified at the ARMLNWR CS
for the first time since 2014, but this number is too low to seem significant (Stirm, Thornton, & Jackson,
2018). By expanding 15 miles north of the ARMLNWR CS to the Grassy Waters Preserve (GWP), a
more comprehensive understanding of the general area was established. Separated by residential areas,
Cuban Treefrogs may have developed evolutionary survival advantages that natives do not possess and
are able to spread more widely in urban settings. This theory was supported once the wet season began in
the later part of 2018 as the only species found thus far in GWP was the Osteopilus septentrionalis.
Biographical Information: Nancy Sluggett is a senior at Oxbridge Academy. She has been a member of
the National Honors Society since her sophomore year due to her many academic and extracurricular
accomplishments both in and out of Oxbridge. In school, she was selected during her junior year for a
highly competitive and unique program called the Oxbridge Academy Cambridge Scholars Program in
England, where she explored British history and literature. Nancy has also been a teacher’s assistant for
the Entrepreneurship and the Honors Biology courses, and she participated in an Independent Study
exploring the Invasive Cuban Tree Frog Population at Grassy Waters and Arthur R. Marshall
Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in West Palm Beach, Florida.
OBSERVATIONS OF AMPHIBIAN RESILIENCE AGAINST SALT WATER INUNDATION
Rebecca C. Watling1,2
1Conservation Legacy, Environmental Stewards Program, Durango, CO
2Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Gainesville, FL
Amphibians are generally regarded as being sensitive species—susceptible to disease, pollution,
and environmental change. Salt water is usually thought to be uninhabitable for amphibians, but
numerous observations suggest that some species can tolerate some salinity, especially species found in
coastal areas. St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, located in the Florida panhandle, is home to at least 28
species of amphibians. On 10 October 2018, the region was hit by Hurricane Michael, which sent salt
water from storm surge across much of the refuge, including many key wetlands for pond-breeding
amphibians. From 15-26 October 2018, we opportunistically observed and recorded amphibians and their
status (alive or dead). We ran drift fences at 3 main ponds from 25 October to 18 December 2018 and
compared amphibian, crayfish, and fish captures to numbers from the 2017 season. We found dead
individuals of several amphibian species (including amphiuma, newts, pig frogs, and leopard frogs) in the
immediate aftermath of the hurricane, but also found many live individuals from numerous species,
including 35 adult frosted flatwoods salamanders (Ambystoma cingulatum). We found differences in
species diversity and relative abundance between 2017 and 2018, but previous research suggests that
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amphibian communities can bounce back within a year of hurricanes. However, increased hurricane
severity and frequency could exacerbate stress on already vulnerable populations.
Biographical Information: Rebecca Watling earned a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Humboldt State
University. She is currently working as an Environmental Steward alongside USGS and USFWS
biologists at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. Her research interests include amphibian conservation,
herpetology and conservation education.