Science of Scales is a monthly blog written by our Director of Science, Houston Chandler. The blog is written for a general audience and features articles on a variety of topics, including the latest in herpetofaunal conservation research, highlights of The Orianne Society’s ongoing projects, and discussions of important ecosystems and species.
An update on our Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake Research
Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnakes are currently the focus of significant conservation concern. The species has been petitioned for federal listing under...
New Published Research: Landscape Structure and Turtle Communities
This month, I take a look at a recently published paper that leverages the large dataset built over several field...
Technician Spotlight: Kevin Hutcheson on Growing as a Field Biologist
"The experience you gain and the connections you make along the way make it all worthwhile... you get to take...
New published research: Climate change and Spotted Turtle sex ratios
An adult Spotted Turtle from southeastern Georgia – Houston Chandler The Eastern Spotted Turtle Working Group is composed…
The Bog Turtle
Adult Bog Turtle – Michael Holden This is an update to an article that I originally wrote in…
A new siren species
The newly described Siren sphagnicola – Pierson Hill The identification and description of life on Earth is a…
Sharing Research at the Annual SEPARC Meeting
Presenting our research lets people know what we are working on and provides a great opportunity to share success stories...
Tiger Salamanders
In most of North America, warm winter rains are a sure sign that ambystomatid salamanders will be on the move...
New Published Research: A protozoan parasite in indigo snake populations
There are a host of threats that have contributed to indigo snake population declines, range contractions, and ultimate listing as...
2022 Year End Review
This was an exciting year for The Orianne Society’s Science Initiative.
Creating a Spotted Turtle Conservation Plan
A pair of Spotted Turtles from South Carolina’s low country – Houston Chandler As discussed in recent entries,…
New published research: Indigo snake conservation units
A fundamental goal in wildlife management and conservation programs is to understand the current distribution of a species and the...
Science of Scales Archives
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An update on our Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake Research -
New Published Research: Landscape Structure and Turtle Communities -
Technician Spotlight: Kevin Hutcheson on Growing as a Field Biologist -
New published research: Climate change and Spotted Turtle sex ratios -
The Bog Turtle -
A new siren species -
Sharing Research at the Annual SEPARC Meeting -
Tiger Salamanders -
New Published Research: A protozoan parasite in indigo snake populations -
2022 Year End Review -
Creating a Spotted Turtle Conservation Plan -
New published research: Indigo snake conservation units -
Counting Eggs in Flatwoods Salamander Specimens -
Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake Conservation -
An update on our Spotted Turtle research program -
New published research: Reproductive ecology of southern Spotted Turtle populations -
Recapping the 2021-2022 Indigo Snake Survey Season -
Ushering in Spring with Choruses of Chorus Frogs -
Technician Spotlight: Kevin Hutcheson, Surveying for Rare Snakes -
New Published Research: Mapping Eastern Indigo Snake Habitat -
Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes -
New Published Research: Examining the Effects of Fire Suppression on Wetland Ecosystems -
Research Update: Exciting Developments from our Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle Projects -
Improving Breeding Habitat for Flatwoods Salamanders -
What can museum specimens tell us about the history of Snake Fungal Disease? -
Genetic Connectivity of Florida’s Indigo Snake Populations -
County Records and Range Maps -
Orianne Society Publications: A Critical Component of a Science-Driven Mission -
Technician Spotlight: Andrea Colton, Searching for Spotted Turtles -
Seepage Swamps -
Sampling for Wood Turtles -
Ambystoma Nights -
Occupancy Surveying for Gopher Tortoises -
Monitoring Gopher Tortoises on the Orianne Indigo Snake Preserve -
Avoiding the Heat: Thermal Environments Experienced by Georgia’s Spotted Turtles -
North America’s Smallest Turtle -
Southern Hognose Snakes: Conservation for data-deficient species -
Understanding the Distribution of Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtles -
Creating populations where there are none: A history of efforts to reintroduce Eastern Indigo Snakes -
The Status of Ophidiomycosis (Snake Fungal Disease) in Georgia and Beyond -
The Cottonmouth Myth -
Celebrating southeastern wetlands: An unappreciated resource -
Using species distribution models to inform conservation -
Flatwoods Salamander Conservation -
Conservation Lessons from New Zealand’s Imperiled Herpetofauna -
Spotted, Blanding’s, and Wood Turtle Conservation Symposium: Bringing Together Partners to Push Conservation Forward -
Hunting for Salamanders in the southern Appalachians -
Tegus find their way into Georgia -
Estimating salamander dispersal distances to inform management decisions -
Burning Away Tick-borne Diseases -
Where do roads impact Gopher Tortoise conservation in Georgia? -
Six years of Spotted Turtle Monitoring -
Coral Snakes and their Mimics -
Exploring South Carolina’s Lowcountry -
An Indigo Snake survey season for the record books -
The slimy salamander complex: A window into genetic divergence and the definition of a species -
Ornate Chorus Frogs -
Ecosystem Engineers: Creating Habitat for Others -
Shedding Light on Disappearing Turtle Populations -
Prevalence of Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in Georgia’s Native Snake Fauna -
The Importance of Landscape Connectivity -
Georgia’s Giant Turtles -
Following the thread: Searching for turtle nests -
Sex Determination in Reptiles -
Hiding in Plain Site: Southern Dusky Salamanders -
Imperfect Detection: An important aspect of Eastern Indigo Snake Surveys -
2017 Review: A year of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation -
Winter is Coming: What is an ectotherm to do? -
Flying Insect Declines Highlight the Importance of Ecosystem-focused Conservation -
The perils of crossing the road