2024 Grant Program Recipients

Ashlynn Canode, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida

Project: Reassessment of the upland snake community in the Red Hills region

The Red Hills region in the southeastern United States, located north of Tallahassee, Florida, is characterized by its unique red clay hills, rolling terrain, and a rich diversity of plant and animal communities. Tall Timbers (TT), situated in the heart of the Red Hills, serves as an ideal study area. Researchers last conducted a comprehensive survey of the snake community at TT two decades ago. Since then, habitat conditions have changed significantly due to hardwood removal and prescribed fires that reach bottomlands and extinguish naturally. This research aims to replicate the previous study using identical methodology and trap locations to evaluate possible changes in the upland snake community over the past 20 years. Additionally, for the first time, we will assess the prevalence of key pathogens affecting the snake community at TT. We will collect swabs to test for Cryptosporidium serpentis (Crypto) and snake fungal disease (SFD), which is caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola. We will also sample for the invasive pentastome, Raillietiella orientalis, which was introduced by Burmese Pythons. Both SFD and Raillietiella orientalis are proving detrimental to already declining snake populations. Understanding the prevalence and expanding range of these emerging pathogens is crucial for the effective conservation and management of snake communities in the region. This study is significant because it provides critical insights into how habitat changes and emerging pathogens impact snake populations, offering a foundation for targeted conservation strategies and proactive management of reptile biodiversity in the Red Hills ecosystem.

2024 Orianne Society Grant Program Recipient, Eva Kerr

Eva Kerr, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia

Project: Metapopulation dynamics of Gopher Frogs (Rana capito) in Georgia

Habitat loss and fragmentation lead to the breakdown of important processes that determine population resilience on a landscape. Loss and fragmentation of the longleaf pine-wiregrass ecosystem has led to the imperilment of many species including endemic, pond breeding amphibians. For example, in Georgia, Gopher Frog populations now exist on relatively small, highly isolated sites. Few sites support more than one or two breeding wetlands. Thus, little is known about the factors that determine connectivity between breeding sites and how that affects Gopher Frog population dynamics in large, intact landscapes. Such information could improve management of metapopulations, guide restoration of other landscapes, and inform translocation decisions. There are currently only two sites in Georgia where it is logistically feasible to study Gopher Frog metapopulation dynamics. These sites have extensive areas of managed open, pine forest habitats with abundant terrestrial refugia and a high density of wetlands suitable for Gopher Frog breeding. We will use landscape genetics and occupancy data to identify metapopulation structure, estimate pathways of dispersal among subpopulations, and determine how dispersal pathways are affected by intervening habitats and human activities.

2024 Orianne Society Grant Recipient, Hadley Copeland

Hadley Copeland, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia

Project: Non-target effects of hemlock imidacloprid treatments: Physiological and behavioral responses in stream salamander larvae

In the Southern Appalachian Mountains, a global hotspot of salamander diversity, the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is decimating eastern hemlock populations, prompting the widespread use of the systemic insecticide imidacloprid. While effective in suppressing HWA and protecting these critical habitats, runoff from treated areas may impact non-target amphibians. This study aims to examine the effects of imidacloprid exposure on larval stream salamanders, focusing on its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and cause morphological changes. Through field sampling and controlled exposure experiments, we will assess the potential for bioaccumulation through mass spectrometry, histological analysis, and behavioral assays. This research will contribute to amphibian conservation efforts and inform forest management practices that balance invasive species control with ecological integrity.

Tara Morgan, Department of Biology, University of Central Florida

Project: Investigating the population structure of the Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus) in Florida with a focus on the Florida Keys

Despite the widespread distribution of the Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus) throughout the eastern United States, no work currently exists to characterize T. sauritus genetic diversity or population structure. Three of the four recognized subspecies of ribbon snake exist in Florida, including the Common Ribbon Snake (T. s. saurita), Peninsula Ribbon Snake (T. s. sackenni), and the Bluestripe Ribbon Snake (T. s. nitae). Furthermore, an isolated population of T. s. sackenniis exists limited to the Lower Florida Keys. This population has been considered for state listing due to risk of population decline on account of climate change and development-related threats. However, the Keys population of T. s. sackenni is currently not listed because it is not considered taxonomically distinct from mainland populations of T. s. sackenni. Neither mainland nor Keys populations of T. sauritus have been investigated on a genetic level. In my project, I will examine measures of genetic differentiation between T. sauritus populations and genetic diversity within T. sauritus populations to provide foundational knowledge of population structure and to inform conservation management of the Keys population of T. s. sackenni.

These grants are made possible through generous funding from the Chandler Family Foundation.