Herpetology
Laboratory Publications and Presentations
Publications
(* - denotes student author)
Dorcas, M. E. and *J. D. Willson. in press. Innovative
methods for studies of snake ecology and conservation. In: S. Mullin and R.
Seigel (eds.), Snakes: Applied Ecology and Conservation. Cornell University
Press, Ithaca, NY.
*Pittman, S. E., *A. L. Jendrek, S. J. Price, M. E. Dorcas. In
press. Habitat selection and site fidelity of Cope's Gray Treefrog (Hyla
chrysoscelis) at the aquatic-terrestrial ecotone. Journal of Herpetology.
*Westfall, M.C., *K.K. Cecala, S.J. Price, and M.E. Dorcas. In
press. Patterns of Trombiculid mite (Hannemania dunni) parasitism
among Plethodontid salamanders in the Western Piedmont of North Carolina. Journal
of Parasitology.
*Harden, L. A. and M. E. Dorcas. In press. Using thermal biology to
investigate habitat use and activity of eastern mud turtles (Kinosternon
subrubrum subrubrum) on a golf course. In R. E. Jung and J. C.
Mitchell (eds.), Urban Herpetology. Herpetological Conservation Vol. 3, Society
for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Salt Lake City, UT.
Dorcas, M. E. and S. J. Price. In press. Effective undergraduate-based
herpetological research in an urban environment. In R. E. Jung and
J. C. Mitchell (eds.), Urban Herpetology. Herpetological Conservation Vol. 3,
Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Salt Lake City, UT.
*Hester, J. M., *S. A. Budischak, and M. E. Dorcas. In press.
The Davidson College Box Turtle Mark-Recapture Program: Urban Herpetological
Research Made Possible by Citizen Scientists. In R. E. Jung and J.
C. Mitchell (eds.), Urban Herpetology. Herpetological Conservation Vol. 3, Society
for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Salt Lake City, UT.
Price,
S. J., R. W. Howe, J. Hanowski, R. R. Regal, G. J. Niemi, and C. R. Smith. 2008.
Are anurans of Great Lakes coastal wetlands reliable indicators of ecological
condition? Journal of Great Lakes Research. 33(Special Issue 3): 211-223.
*Hill,
E. P. and P. Mason. 2008. Florida brown Snake (Storeria dekayi victa)
In: J. Jensen, C. D. Camp, J. W. Gibbons, and M. Elliot (eds.), Amphibians and
Reptiles of Georgia. University of Georgia Press. Athens, GA.
Price, S. J. 2008. Painted
turtle (Chrysemys picta). In: J. Jensen, C. D. Camp, J. W. Gibbons,
and M. Elliot (eds.), Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia. University of Georgia
Press. Athens, GA.
Dorcas, M. E. 2008. Northern
watersnake (Nerodia sipedon). In: J. Jensen, C. Camp, W. Gibbons, and
M. Elliott (eds.), Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia. University of Georgia
Press. Athens, GA.
Dorcas, M. E. and J. W. Gibbons.
2008. Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus). In: J. Jensen, C. Camp,
W. Gibbons, and M. Elliott (eds.), Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia. University
of Georgia Press. Athens, GA.
Dorcas, M. E. and J. W. Gibbons.
2008. Glossy grayfish snake (Regina rigida). In: J. Jensen, C. Camp,
W. Gibbons, and M. Elliott (eds.), Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia. University
of Georgia Press. Athens, GA.
Dorcas, M. E. and J. W. Gibbons.
2008. Queen snake (Regina septemvittata). In: J. Jensen, C. Camp, W.
Gibbons, and M. Elliott (eds.), Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia. University
of Georgia Press. Athens, GA.
Jensen, J. B., M. E. Dorcas,
and J. W. Gibbons. 2008. Striped crayfish snake (Regina alleni). In:
J. Jensen, C. Camp, W. Gibbons, and M. Elliott (eds.), Amphibians and Reptiles
of Georgia. University of Georgia Press. Athens, GA.
Dorcas,
M. E. 2008. Amphibians and reptiles: Conservation of our natural heritage In:
Science in North Carolina: How Science Helps Our State. North Carolina Academy
of Science.
*Hester,
J. M., S. J. Price, and M. E. Dorcas. 2008. Effects of relocation on movements
and home ranges of eastern box turtles. Journal of Wildlife Management. 72:
772-777.
*Zhang,
Ying, M.C. Westfall*, K.C. Hermes*, and M.E. Dorcas. 2008. Physiological and
behavioral control of heating and cooling rates in rubber boas, Charina
bottae. Journal of Thermal Biology 33: 7-11.
*Cecala, K. K., S. J. Price, and M. E. Dorcas. 2007. Pseudotriton
ruber. Polymelia. Herpetological Review 38: 434.
*Cecala,
K. K., S. J. Price, and M. E. Dorcas. 2007. The diet of larval red salamanders
(Pseudotriton ruber) examined using a non-lethal technique. Journal
of Herpetology 41: 741-745.
*Failey,
E. L., *J.C. McCoy, S. J. Price and M. E. Dorcas. 2007. Ecology of turtles inhabiting
golf course and farm ponds in the western Piedmont of North Carolina. Journal
of North Carolina Academy of Science 123: 221-232.
*Harden,
L. A., *N. A. DiLuzio, J. W. Gibbons, and M. E. Dorcas. 2007. Spatial and thermal
ecology of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in a South Carolina
salt marsh. Journal of the North Carolina Academy of Science 123: 154-162.
*McCoy, J. C., *E. L.
Failey, S. J. Price and M. E. Dorcas. 2007. An assessment of leech parasitism
on semi-aquatic turtles in the western Piedmont of North Carolina. Southeastern
Naturalist 6:191-202.
Dorcas,
M. E. and C. R. Peterson. 2007. Testing the coadaptation hypothesis: the thermal
physiology and thermoregulatory behavior of rubber boas (Charina bottae).
Pp. 245-255 In: R. Henderson, R. Powell, G. Schuett, and M. Douglass (eds.),
Biology of the Boas and Pythons. Eagle Mountain Publishing, LC, Eagle Moutain,
UT.
Dorcas,
M. E., S. J. Price, J. C Beane, and S. S. Cross. 2007. The Frogs and Toads of
North Carolina. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Raleigh, NC.
Dorcas,
M. E., *J. D. Willson, and J. W. Gibbons. 2007. Crab trapping causes
population decline and demographic changes in diamondback terrapins over two
decades. Biological Conservation 137: 334-340.
*Cecala,
K. K., S. J. Price, and M. E. Dorcas. 2007. A comparison of the effectiveness
of recommended doses of MS-222 (Tricaine Methane Sulfonate) and Orajel®
(Benzocaine) for amphibian anesthesia. Herpetological Review 38: 63-66.
*Anderson, W. M. and M. E. Dorcas. 2006. Crotalus horridus
(Timber rattlesnake): Geographic Distribution. Herpetological Review 37: 497.
*Pittman,
S. E. and M. E. Dorcas. 2006. Catawaba River corridor coverboard program: a
citizen science approach to amphibian and reptile inventory. Journal of the
North Carolina Academy of Science. 122: 142-151.
*Willson,
J. D., *C. T. Winne, M. E. Dorcas, and J. W. Gibbons. 2006. Post-drought responses
of semi-aquatic snakes inhabiting an isolated wetland: Insights on different
strategies for persistence in a dynamic habitat. Wetlands 26: 1071-1078.
*Waldron,
J. L., S.H. Bennett, S.M. Welch, M.E. Dorcas, J.D. Lanham, and W. Kalinowsky.
2006. Habitat specificity and home-range size as attributes of species vulnerability
to extinction: a case study using sympatric rattlesnakes. Animal Conservation
9: 414-420.
Price,
S. J., M. E. Dorcas, A. L. Gallant, R. W. Klaver and J. D. Willson*. 2006. Three
decades of urbanization: Estimating the impact of land cover change on stream
salamander populations. Biological Conservation 133: 436-441.
Gibbons,
J. W., C. T. Winne, D. E. Scott, J. D. Willson, X. Glaudas, K. M .Andrews, B.
D. Todd, L. A. Fedewa, L. Wilkinson, R. N. Tsaliagos, S. J. Harper, J. L. Greene,
T. D. Tuberville, B. S. Metts, M. E. Dorcas, J. P. Nestor, C. A. Young, T. Akre,
R. N. Reed, K. A. Buhlmann, J. Norman, D. A. Croshaw, C. Hagen, and B. B. Rothermel.
2006. Remarkable amphibian biomass and abundance in an isolated wetland: Implications
for wetland conservation. Conservation Biology 20:1457-1465.
*Budischak,
S. A., *J. M. Hester, S. J. Price, and M. E. Dorcas. 2006. Natural history of
box turtles, Terrapene carolina, in an urbanized landscape. Southeastern
Naturalist. 5: 191-204
*Rice,
A. N, *T. L. Roberts, IV, and M. E. Dorcas. 2006. Heating and cooling
rates of eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, Crotalus adamanteus. Journal
of Thermal Biology 31: 501-505.
*Kornilev,
Y. V., S. J. Price, and M. E. Dorcas. 2006. Between a rock and a hard place:
responses of eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina) when trapped
between railroad tracks. Herpetological Review 37: 145-148.
*Kornilev, Y. V., S.
J. Price, *E. P. Hill, and M. E. Dorcas. 2006. Ambystoma maculatum
(spotted salamander): Mortality. Herpetological Review 37: 196.
*Gooch, M. M., *A. M. Heupel, S. J. Price and M. E. Dorcas. 2006. The effects of survey protocol on detection probabilities and site occupancy estimates of summer breeding anurans. Applied Herpetology 3: 129-142.
*Kirlin, M. S., *M. M. Gooch, S. J. Price and M. E. Dorcas. 2006. Predictors of winter anuran calling activity in the North Carolina Piedmont. Journal of the North Carolina Academy of Science 122: 10-18.
Dorcas, M. E., S. J. Price and G. E. Vaughan. 2006. Amphibians and reptiles of the Great Falls Bypassed Reaches in South Carolina. Journal of the North Carolina Academy of Science 122: 1-9.
*Tuberville, T. D., *J. D. Willson, M. E. Dorcas, and J. W. Gibbons. 2005.
Herpetofaunal species richness of southeastern national parks. Southeastern
Naturalist 4: 537-569.
*Grayson,
K. L., *L. E. Cook, *M. J. Todd, *D. Pierce, W. A. Hopkins, R. E. Gatten, Jr.,
and M. E. Dorcas. 2005. Effects of prey type on specific dynamic action, growth
and mass conversion efficiencies in the horned frog, Ceratophrys cranwelli.
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A 141: 298-304.
Gibbons,
J. W. and M. E. Dorcas. 2005. Snakes of the Southeast. University of
Georgia Press, Athens, GA.
*Winne,
C. T., M. E. Dorcas, and S. M. Poppy. 2005. Population structure, body size,
and seasonal activity of black swamp snakes (Seminatrix pygaea). Southeastern
Naturalist 4:1-14.
Dorcas,
M. E. 2004. A Guide to the Snakes of North Carolina. Davidson College - Herpetology
Laboratory, Davidson, NC.
Gibbons,
J.W. and M.E. Dorcas. 2004. North American Watersnakes: A Natural History. University
of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK.
*Grayson,
K.L. and M.E. Dorcas. 2004. Seasonal temperature variation in the painted turtle
(Chrysemys picta). Herpetologica 60:325-336.
*Willson, J.D.
and M.E. Dorcas. 2004. A comparison of aquatic drift fences with traditional
funnel trapping as a quantitative method for sampling amphibians. Herpetological
Review 35:148-150.
*Willson, J.D.
and M.E. Dorcas. 2004. Aspects of the ecology of small fossorial snakes in the
western Piedmont of North Carolina. Southeastern Naturalist 3:1-12.
Dorcas, M. E., Hopkins, W. A., and
J. H. Roe. 2004. Effects of body mass and temperature on standard metabolic
rate in the eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus).
Copeia 2004:145-151
*Todd, M. J., *R. R. Cocklin, and M.E.
Dorcas. 2003. Temporal and spatial variation in anuran calling activity in the
western Piedmont of North Carolina. Journal of the North Carolina Academy of
Science 119:103-110.
Dorcas, M. E., S. M. Poppy, C. H.
Ernst, and J. W. Gibbons. 2003. The striped crayfish snake (Regina alleni).
SSAR Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 778.1-778.4.
*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.
*Willson, J.D. and M.E.
Dorcas. 2003. Effects of habitat disturbance on stream salamanders: implications
for buffer zones and watershed management. Conservation Biology 17:763-771.
Ryan, T. J., T. Philippi, Y.A. Leiden,
M. E. Dorcas , T. B. Wigley, and J. W. Gibbons. 2002. Monitoring
herpetofauna in a managed forest landscape: Effects of habitat types and census
techniques. Forest Ecology and Management 167:83-90.
Ernst, C. H., J. W. Gibbons, and M.
E. Dorcas. 2002. Regina Baird and Girard (Crayfish Snakes). Catalogue of American
Amphibians and Reptiles 756.1-756.4.
Gibbons, J.W. and M.E. Dorcas.
2002. Defensive behavior of cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
towards humans. Copeia 2002:195-198.
*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.
*Lindsay, S. D. and M. E. Dorcas.
2001. The effects of cattle on the morphology and reproduction of pond-dwelling
turtles. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 117:249-257.
*Rice, A. N., *T. L. Roberts, *J.
G. Pritchard, and M. E. Dorcas. 2001. Historical trends and perceptions of amphibian
and reptile diversity in the western Piedmont of North Carolina. Journal of
the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 117:264-273.
Tuberville, T. D. and M. E.
Dorcas. 2001. Winter survey of a gopher tortoise population in South Carolina.
Chelonian Conservation and Biology 4:182-186.
Beane J. C., D. S. Dombrowski, D. W. Herman, J. P. Cecil, M. E. Dorcas, and
*S. D. Lindsay. 2001. Geographic distribution. Plethodon wehrlei. Herpetological
Review 32:189.
*Winne, C. T, *T. J. Ryan, Y. Leiden,
and M. E. Dorcas. 2001. Evaporative water loss in two natricine snakes, Nerodia
fasciata and Seminatrix pygaea. Journal of Herpetology 35:129-133.
Wigley, T. B., W. M. Baughman,
M. E. Dorcas, J. A. Gerwin, J. W. Gibbons, D. C. Guynn, R. A. Lancia, Y. A.
Leiden, M. S. Mitchell, K. R. Russell. 2000. Contributions of Intensively Managed
Forests to the Sustainability of Wildlife Communities in the South. In: Sustaining
Southern Forests: the Science of Forest Assessment. Southern Forest Resource
Assessment. http://www.srs.fs.fed.us/sustain/conf/
*Roark, A. W. and M. E. Dorcas. 2000.
Regional body temperature variation in corn snakes measured using temperature-sensitive
passive integrated transponders. Journal of Herpetology 34:481-485.
*Bridges, A. S. and M. E. Dorcas.
2000. Temporal variation in anuran calling behavior: implications for surveys
and monitoring programs. Copeia 2000:587-592.
*Mills, M. S., *S. M. Poppy, A. M. Mills, *T. J. Ryan, and M. E. Dorcas. 2000.
Seminatrix pygaea. Diet. Herpetological Review 31:47.
*Leiden, Y. A., M. E. Dorcas, and
J. W. Gibbons. 1999. Herpetofaunal diversity in coastal plain communities of
South Carolina. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 115:270-280.
*Mohr, J. R. and M. E. Dorcas. 1999.
A comparison of anuran calling patterns at two Carolina Bays in South Carolina.
Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 115:63-70.
*Distler, J.K., M.E. Dorcas, J. W.
Gibbons, K.L. Kandl, K. Russell.1998. Winter mortality in the green anole, Anolis
carolinensis (Lacertilia: Polychridae). Brimleyana 25:140-143.
Dorcas, M.E., J.W. Gibbons, and H.G.
Dowling. 1998. The black swamp snake (Seminatrix, Seminatrix pygea).
SSAR Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles 679.1-679.5.
Gibbons, J.W. and M.E. Dorcas. 1998. Cowards, bluffers, and warriors (the defensive
behavior of free-ranging cottonmouths). Natural History 107:56-57.
* indicates student author
Publications below were published before Dorcas arrived at Davidson.
Dorcas, M.E. 1998. Snake
biodiversity in South Carolina and Georgia. in Snakes of South Carolina and
Georgia. SREL Herp Outreach Publication #1. Aiken, SC.
Dorcas, M.E. and C.R. Peterson.
1998. Daily body temperature variation in free-ranging rubber boas. Herpetologica
54:88-103.
Dorcas, M.E.
1997. Book Review: Amphibians and Reptiles of New Mexico. Copeia 1997:643-645.
Dorcas, M.E., C.R. Peterson, and
M.E.T. Flint. 1997. The thermal biology of digestion in rubber boas (Charina
bottae): behavior, physiology, and environmental constraints. Physiological
Zoology 70:292-300.
Dorcas, M.E. and C.R. Peterson.
1997. Head-body temperature differences in free-ranging rubber boas. Journal
of Herpetology 31:87-93.
Gibbons, J.W., ... M.E. Dorcas (22nd
of 29 authors) .... 1997. Perceptions of species abundance, distribution, and
diversity: lessons from four decades of sampling on a government-managed reserve.
Environmental Management 21:259-268.
Peterson, C.R. and M.E. Dorcas.
1994. Automated data acquisition. pp. 47-57. in Measuring and Monitoring Biological
Diversity - Standard Methods for Amphibians. (W.R. Heyer, R.W. McDiarmid, M.
Donnelly, and L. Hayek, eds.). Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
Peterson, C.R., A.R.
Gibson, and M.E. Dorcas. 1993. Snake thermal ecology: the causes and consequences
of body temperature variation. pp. 241-314. in Snakes: Ecology and Behavior.
(R.A. Seigel and J.T. Collins, eds.). McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, New York,
N.Y.
Peterson, C.R. and M.E. Dorcas.
1992. The use of automated data acquisition techniques in monitoring amphibian
and reptile populations. pp. 369-378. in Wildlife 2001: Populations. (D.R. McCullough
and R.H. Barrett, eds.). Elsevier Applied Science, London.
Dorcas, M.E. 1992. Relationships among montane populations of Crotalus
lepidus and Crotalus triseriatus. pp. 71-87. in Biology of the Pitvipers.
(J.A. Campbell and E.D. Brodie, Jr., eds.) Selva Publ., Tyler, Texas.
Dorcas, M.E. and J.R. Mendelson
III. 1991. Distributional notes on Nerodia harteri harteri in Parker
and Palo Pinto counties, Texas. Herpetological Review 22:117-118.
Dorcas, M.E. and M.B. Harvey. 1990. Geographic distribution. Graptemys
kohnii. Herpetological Review 21:39.
Dorcas, M.E. and J.R. Mendelson III. 1990. Geographic distribution. Arizona
elegans arenicolor. Herpetological Review 21:23
Dorcas, M.E. and J.R. Mendelson III. 1990. Geographic distribution. Masticophis
flagellum flagellum. Herpetological Review 21:23
Dorcas, M.E. and J.R. Mendelson III. 1990. Geographic distribution. Lampropeltis
getulus holbrooki. Herpetological Review 21:23
McCord, J.S. and M.E. Dorcas. 1989. New Texas herpetological distribution
records from the University of Texas at Arlington Collection of Vertebrates.
Herpetological Review 20:94,96.
Meetings
Attended by Herpetology Lab Members
 |
Joint
Meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herpetologists
League, American Elasmobranch Society and the American Society of Ichthyologists
and Herpetologists - St. Louis MO- July 2007
|
 |
Association
of Southeastern Biologists - Columbia, SC - April 2007 |
|
Fall
Meeting of the North Carolina Herpetological Society - Raleigh, North Carolina
- November 2006 |
 |
Joint
Meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herpetologists
League, American Elasmobranch Society and the American Society of Ichthyologists
and Herpetologists - New Orleans, Louisiana - July 2006 |
 |
Association
of Southeastern Biologists - Gatlinburg, TN - March-April 2006 |
 |
Joint
Meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herpetologists'
League, American Elasmobranch Society and the American Society of Ichthyologists
and Herpetologists - Tampa, Florida- July 2005 |
 |
Association
of Southeastern Biologists - Florence, AL - April 2005 |
 |
The
4th Snake Ecology Group Meeting - Touch of Nature Enviromental Center -
25 m south of Carbondale, IL - June 2004 |
 |
Association
of Southeastern Biologists - Memphis, TN - April 2004 |
 |
Joint
Meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herpetologists'
League, and the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists -
Manaus, Brazil - July 2003 |
 |
Association
of Southeastern Biologists - Washington D.C.- April 2003 |
 |
North
Carolina Academy of Scientists - Wilmington, NC - March 2003 |
 |
Joint
Meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herpetologists'
League, and the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists -
Kansas City, Missouri - July 2002 |
 |
North
Carolina Herpetological Society Meeting- Davidson, NC- May, 2002 |
 |
Association
of Southeastern Biologists - Boone, North Carolina- April 2002 |
 |
Association
of Southeastern Biologists- New Orleans, Louisiana, April 2001 |
 |
Association of Southeastern Biologists - Chattanooga,
Tennessee - April 2000 |
Link to The
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory's Reprint Page
Link to the Online
Reprint Request Page of the Division of Amphibians and Reptiles at the Field
Museum
