A5052519221- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Marine animal studies overview
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Marine and fisheries research
- Plant and animal studies
- Bone Tumor Diagnosis and Treatments
- Wildlife Conservation and Criminology Analyses
- Leech Biology and Applications
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Coastal and Marine Dynamics
- Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones Research
- Fish biology, ecology, and behavior
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
Millsaps College
2017-2024
State Street (United States)
2017-2024
Jackson Memorial Hospital
2018-2023
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
2012-2023
University of Maryland, College Park
2018
University of Southern Mississippi
2009-2017
We present a review and analysis of the conservation status International Union for Conservation Nature (IUCN) threat categories all 360 currently recognized species extant recently extinct turtles tortoises (Order Testudines). Our is based on 2018 IUCN Red List 251 listed species, augmented by provisional assessments Tortoise Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG) 109 unlisted freshwater turtles, as well re-assessments several outdated assessments. Of tortoises, this combined indicates...
Cryptic or undescribed species pose a major problem in conservation biology. Managing multiple unresolved taxa collectively as single entity could precipitate the loss of unrecognized genetic variation and unique populations and, possibly, lead to extinction undiscovered taxa. In contrast other its clade, Pascagoula map turtle (Graptemys gibbonsi), currently recognized, is not confined river system (or cluster formed by adjacent minor drainages) but occurs two systems, Pearl Rivers. We...
The effect of human disturbance on wildlife is increasing interest because the growing use wildlands by humans for recreation. Few studies have documented behavior and physiology simultaneously, with no existing any turtle species. Turtles are one most endangered taxonomic groups many conservation concern, including yellow-blotched sawback (Graptemys flavimaculata), a freshwater Pascagoula River system, Mississippi, USA. We studied G. flavimaculata individual- population-level basking...
Currently, little is known about the seasonal variation of corticosterone (CORT) levels, either baseline or stress response, within freshwater turtles. We conducted a CORT study with species turtle, Graptemys flavimaculata (Yellow-blotched Sawback; family Emydidae), that endemic to Pascagoula River system southeastern Mississippi. commonly observed while basking on deadwood snags, us using traps and dip nets as active capture methods. caught both male (n = 60) female 49) turtles during...
Basking is an understudied aspect of turtle biology, especially considering how frequent and observable it in some species. Researchers have suggested many physiological roles that basking likely fulfills turtles. We documented seasonal behavior the yellow-blotched sawback (Graptemys flavimaculata) on Leaf River, a tributary Pascagoula River southeastern Mississippi. used binoculars spotting scope to determine G. flavimaculata individual- population-level patterns throughout main active...
Hybridization between species that do not normally interbreed has increased due to human impacts on natural environments, such as habitat alteration or introductions of nonnative species.In particular, the introduction Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) globally led hybridization with many duck southeastern United States, is a potential threat genetic identity Mottled Ducks (A. fulvigula), nonmigratory, coastal species.Hybridization and been examined in South Carolina Florida, but extensively...
High harvest rates during the 1900s led to declines of Macrochelys temminckii (Alligator Snapping Turtle) throughout much its range. Recent research determine status Alligator Turtles has been completed in some regions Louisiana, but information is lacking for southwestern region state. To distribution and abundance we conducted trapping efforts lower Calcasieu, Mermentau, Sabine river systems from March 2012 through October 2013 using baited hoop nets. In 731 trap nights, captured 14...
Translocation of wildlife is a valuable tool for managers to alleviate impacts human/wildlife conflicts, habitat fragmentation, and small population sizes. Pelecanus occidentalis (Brown Pelican) were previously successfully translocated into Louisiana in 1960–1980s had rebounded significantly prior the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill April 2010. The dramatic impact on southeastern Louisiana, including people, wildlife, coastal habitats region. We 182 oil-rehabilitated Brown Pelicans from an area...
The Sabine Map Turtle (Graptemys sabinensis) inhabits the Sabine-Neches, Calcasieu, and Mermentau river drainages of southwestern Louisiana east Texas. Sparse data in literature mark it as having among smallest body sizes clutch 14 species genus Graptemys. All available on life history originate from upper Calcasieu drainages, which are relatively high-gradient rivers with fast currents numerous sandbars. Downstream segments these entire drainage have almost no gradient, little perceptible...
The diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) is a brackish-water turtle ranging from Texas to Massachusetts, as well an isolated population on the island of Bermuda. Louisiana likely holds most available habitat any other state for species (over 650,000 ha brackish and salt marshes), yet little known about distribution abundance throughout coastal Louisiana. Knowledge particularly scant in southwestern Louisiana, where only 12 specimen records exist, recent record being 1972. We wanted...
Eleven of 15 species cranes (family: Gruidae) are considered vulnerable or endangered, and the increase agriculture aquaculture at expense natural wetlands grasslands is a threat to Gruidae worldwide. A reintroduced population Whooping Crane (Grus americana) was studied in coastal agricultural Louisiana Texas, USA. The objectives were compare movements across seasons, quantify multiscale habitat selection, identify seasonal shifts selection. Cranes (n = 53) tracked with satellite...
Coastal Louisiana has suffered from dramatic coastal land loss. Following translocations to in the late 1960s, Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) colonies were annually surveyed between 1971 and 2010 using aerial methods. The goals of this study describe long-term colony dynamics, investigate physical changes nesting islands via satellite imagery, relate dynamics island changes. Thirty found, with a mean persistence 5.5 years. exponential growth up 2000, plateaued, declined sharply 2006...
The map turtles and sawbacks (Graptemys) sort by female head width into narrow-headed (microcephalic) females of 5 species that eat few mollusks, moderately broad-headed (mesocephalic) 4 high amounts (megacephalic) mollusks almost exclusively. microcephalic include a clade 3 sawbacks, Graptemys nigrinoda, flavimaculata, oculifera. first 2 are sponge specialists, but previous dietary studies G. oculifera did not report sponges; both also lacked comparisons between the sexes. Both other feed...
Migratory and non-migratory Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) historically inhabited southwestern Louisiana until they were extirpated in 1950. Little is known about the feeding habits or dietary items of these cranes except for anecdotal evidence from local residents provided to R. P. Allen his influential 1952 work on Cranes. Other populations have been characterized as opportunistic omnivores, consuming small vertebrates, invertebrates, plant material. In 2009, was selected a...
Graptemys is one of the least studied turtle genera in North America. oculifera (Ringed Sawback) and pearlensis (Pearl Map Turtle) are endemic to Pearl River system Mississippi southeastern Louisiana. We both species near Columbia, Mississippi, on via a trapping basking surveys over two years. Additionally, five sites including Columbia were trapped for 27 years determine long-term trends capture success relative abundance (RA). At site, body size distribution was bimodal G. atypically...
The Pascagoula map turtle (Graptemys gibbonsi) and Pearl pearlensis) were first separated from the Alabama pulchra) in 1992 under former name subsequently recognized as 2 separate species 2010. possibility that they should be listed Endangered Species Act was raised 7 yrs after separation G. pulchra, when basking surveys showed at most sites considerably less abundant than sympatric congeners threatened: River drainage's ringed sawback oculifera, 1986) yellow-blotched flavimaculata, 1991)....
American Oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus) and Reddish Egrets (Egretta rufescens) are coastal species of conservation concern known to nest along most the Gulf Mexico's coastline. However, there is a distributional gap in breeding records for both between southeastern Louisiana eastern Texas. Herein, we report on first each from southwestern at Rabbit Island (Cameron Parish, Louisiana), small, marsh island Calcasieu Lake. Suitable nesting habitat (1 pair) was present via shell rake (6–12...
Cheniers are ancient beach ridges in southwestern Louisiana that often characterized by coastal forest surrounded marshland. Coastal chenier forests (CCFs) considered an imperiled habitat because many remnants considerably impacted due to human activities and recent hurricanes. Because little is known about the herpetofaunal community of CCFs, I initiated a seasonal diversity abundance study on privately-owned, remnant CCF eastern Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Utilizing coverboards drift fence...