Herpetology Laboratory Research Fall 2006

Herpetology Lab Research

Current Herpetology Laboratory Research Projects
(Scroll down for former research projects and long-term research projects)

	A long-term study of a Diamondback Terrapin population at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Whit Gibbons, Michael E. Dorcas et al.
	Ecology of Introduced Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Florida Everglades. Michael E. Dorcas, Shannon Pittman, and Kristen K. Cecala
	Eating Your Neighbor: The Role of Predation in Structuring Stream Salamander Guilds. Kristen K. Cecala, Steven J. Price and Michael E. Dorcas.
	Movements and Temperature Variation of Diamondback Terrapins inhabiting a South Carolina Salt Marsh. Leigh Anne Harden, Nick Diluzio, and Michael E. Dorcas.
	Mite Parasitism on Salamanders of the Western Piedmont of North Carolina. Caitlin Westfall, Kristen K. Cecala, Steven J. Price and Michael E. Dorcas.

The Effects of Species, Age and Sex on Detectability of Pond Turtles. Nick Diluzio, Leigh Anne Harden, Steven J. Price, and Michael E. Dorcas.

Patterns of Limb Loss in Diamondback Terrapin Population. Kristen K. Cecala and Michael E. Dorcas.

Investigating population structure and movement of Pseudotriton ruber using a robust design model. Kristen K. Cecala, Steven J. Price and Michael E. Dorcas.

Terrestrial Activity of Eastern Mud Turtles (Kinosternon subrubrum) on Golf Courses. Leigh Anne Harden, Steven J. Price, and Michael E. Dorcas.

	Measuring and Comparing the Effectiveness of MS-222 and Orajel® as Amphibian Anesthesia. Kristen K. Cecala, Steven J. Price and Michael E. Dorcas.
	Local Distribution and Survivorship of Small, Woodland Snakes in the Western Piedmont of North Carolina. Wes Anderson and Michael E. Dorcas.

Diet Analysis of larval Pseudotriton ruber . Kristen K. Cecala, Steven J. Price and Michael E. Dorcas.

	The Effects of Urban Development on Stream Salamanders: A Landscape-scale Experiment. Steven J.Price, Michael E. Dorcas, Kristen Cecala, Michelle Kirlin, Shannon Pittman et al.
	Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Cope's Gray Treefrogs (Hyla chrysoscelis) in a wetland. Shannon Pittman, Amy Jendrek, Steven J. Price and Michael Dorcas
	The Activity, Growth, and Survivorship of Post-Metamorphic Fowler's Toads (Bufo fowleri) in different habitats. Chad Jennison (UGA), Shannon Pittman, Steven J. Price, and Michael Dorcas

Previous Herpetology Laboratory Research Projects

	An assessment of leech parasitism on semi-aquatic turtles in the western Piedmont of North Carolina. Clint McCoy, Betsy Failey, Steven J. Price and Michael E. Dorcas.
	The Ecology of Semi-aquatic Turtles on Farm and Golf Course Ponds. Betsy Failey, Clint McCoy, Steven Price and Michael E. Dorcas.
	Effects of Relocation on the Spatial and Thermal Biology of Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina). Joy Hester, and Michael Dorcas
	Activity and Spatial Patterns of the Black Ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus) in the Western Piedmont of North Carolina. Bill Johnson, Pierson Hill, and Michael Dorcas
	Habitat Selection of Black Ratsnakes (Pantherophis obsoletus) in the Western Piedmont of North Carolina. E.Pierson Hill, William J. Johnson, and Michael E. Dorcas
	The Natural History of Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina) in a suburban environment. Sarah Budischak, Joy Hester, and Michael Dorcas
	Indirect Railroad Mortality as Population Sink for the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina). Yurii Kornilev, Steven Price, and Michael Dorcas
	Detection Probability of Summer Breeding Anurans using Calling Surveys: Implications for Monitoring Programs. Michelle Gooch, Aubrey Heupel, Steven Price, and Michael Dorcas
	Using Microsatellite DNA analysis to Deturmine the Effects of Urban Development on Pond-Dwelling Turtles in the Western Piedmont of North Carolina . Kristine Grayson, Peter Leese, David Wessner, and Michael Dorcas
	The Ecology and Thermal Biology of the Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta). Lisa Marks, Pierson Hill, Diana Chemotti, Bill Johnson, and Michael E. Dorcas
	Long-term Assessment of Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) Populations in Davidson, North Carolina. Pierson Hill and Michael E. Dorcas Presented at the Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Herpetological Society, Davidson, NC - May 2002 Box Turtle Conservation at Davidson College
	Seasonal Body Temperature Variation in the Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) and Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina). Kristine Grayson and Michael E. Dorcas High Honor's Project - completed Spring 2003 In Review - Herpetologica Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Washington, D.C.- April 2003 and at the Joint Herpetology Meeting, Manaus, Brazil - July 2003
	The Effects of Habitat Disturbance on Stream Salamanders: Implications for Watershed Management. J.D. Willson and Michael E. Dorcas Honor's Project - completed Spring 2002. Willson, J.D. and M.E. Dorcas. 2003. Effects of habitat disturbance on stream salamanders: implications for buffer zones and watershed management. Conservation Biology 17:1-10. Willson, J.D. and M.E. Dorcas. 2003. Quantitative Sampling of Stream Salamanders: a Comparison of Dipnetting and Funnel Trapping Techniques. Herpetological Review 34:128-130. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Boone, NC- April 2002, at the Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Herpetological Society, Davidson, NC - May 2002, and at the Joint Herpetology Meeting, Kansas City, Missouri, July 2003
	Herpetofaunal Biodiversity of the Ramah Creek Conservation Easement. David Stroupe and Michael E. Dorcas Stroupe, D. A. and M. E. Dorcas. 2001. The apparent persistence of Crotalus horridus* in the western Piedmont of North Carolina. Herpetological Review 32:287-288. (reprint) Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Boone, NC- April 2002 and at the Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Herpetological Society, Davidson, NC - May 2002
	Effect of Prey Type on Growth, Mass Conversion Efficiencies and Specific Dynamic Action in the Horned Frog, Ceratophrys cranwelli. Kristine L. Grayson, Leslie W. Cook, M. Jason Todd, Dan Pierce, William A. Hopkins, Robert E. Gatten Jr., and Michael E. Dorcas Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, New Orleans, LA - April 2001 and at the Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Herpetological Society, Davidson, NC - May 2002
	The Effects of Habitat Fragmentation and Urbanization on Box Turtles (Terrapene Carolina). Lauran Halpin and Michael E. Dorcas Box Turtle Conservation at Davidson College
	Historical Trends and Perceptions of Amphibian and Reptile Diversity in the Western Piedmont of North Carolina. Aaron N. Rice, T. Luther (Luke). Roberts, Justin G. Pritchard, and Michael E. Dorcs. Published - Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society - 2001 (reprint)
	Using Automated Recording Systems to Monitor Anuran Calling Behavior: a Comparative Survey. Ross R. Cocklin, M. Jason Todd, and Michael E. Dorcas In Review - Alytes, Fall 2001 Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, New Orleans, LA. - April 2001
	The Effects of Cattle on the Morphology and Reproduction of Pond-dwelling Turtles. Shane D. Lindsay and Michael E. Dorcas. Honor's Project - completed Spring 2001. Published - Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society - 2001 (reprint) Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, New Orleans, LA - April 2001
	Physiological Control of Heating and Cooling Rates in Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes. Aaron Rice, Luke Roberts, and Michael E. Dorcas. Presented at the Joint Annual Meeting of SSAR, ASIH, and HL - La Paz, BCS, Mexico - July 2000
	Regional Body Temperature Variation in Corn Snakes Measured Using Temperature-Sensitive Passive Integrated Transponders. Andrew W. Roark and Michael E. Dorcas - Spring 1999 Published - Journal of Herpetology - 2000 - (reprint) Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, Chatanooga, TN - April 2000
	Optimizing Amphibian Monitoring Programs: The Use of Automated Recording Systems to Measure Variation in Anuran Calling Activity. Scott R. Briggs and Michael E. Dorcas