Elizabeth D. Hays, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas
Project: Assessing the population dynamics of the Western Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia miaria) in the Arkansas River Valley ecoregion of Arkansas
The Western Chicken Turtle is a species of Greatest Conservation Need in all states where it occurs, except Texas. There is considerable uncertainty regarding the status of Western Chicken Turtles in the Arkansas River Valley, Arkansas, USA because historical records, while geographically widespread, are sparse and largely unsourced. To determine the current distribution of Western Chicken Turtles in the Arkansas River Valley ecoregion, we previously conducted intensive trapping surveys across multiple wetlands at every Wildlife Management Area (WMA) that appeared suitable for Chicken Turtles along the River Valley. Despite trapping wetlands with historical records of Chicken Turtles, we only detected Chicken Turtles at one WMA. Our preliminary results suggest that Western Chicken Turtles in this region have declined substantially and may be extirpated from the western Arkansas River Valley, possibly due to unsustainable wetland management practices. Therefore, it is imperative that we intensively monitor the only known population of Western Chicken Turtles in the River Valley to advance our understanding of the status of Western Chicken Turtles in Arkansas and promote the conservation of this native species throughout Arkansas and the entirety of its range. To do this, we will conduct a multi-faceted study that combines mark-recapture, radio telemetry, and population modeling methods to examine the behavior, demography, and population viability of Western Chicken Turtles at Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA.
Michael Brennan, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia
Project: Assessing the use of restored habitat by Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus adamanteus)
We are experiencing the sixth mass extinction, driven largely by habitat loss and fragmentation. Predators, particularly persecuted species such as rattlesnakes, face additional population declines due to human conflict. Some species, such as the Eastern Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (EDB) have been proposed to receive legal protections to mitigate these population declines. While, habitat restoration and connectivity efforts are becoming more common, no projects have specifically targeted rattlesnakes to address habitat loss and fragmentation. In partnership with the Jekyll Island Conservation Department, we are implementing a wildlife corridor to reconnect two isolated populations of EDBs on Jekyll Island, Georgia, and establishing a long-term monitoring program to evaluate its effectiveness. We will meet these goals using a combination of genetic analyses alongside traditional and novel telemetry methods. This will generate high-resolution spatial data while reducing the labor associated with traditional telemetry. Additionally, new tracking technologies will allow us to study juvenile dispersal and recruitment, filling a critical knowledge gap in EDB natural history. This work will provide transferable methods and data to support conservation of rattlesnakes facing habitat loss and fragmentation across their ranges.
Taryn Cornell, Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University
Project: Range-wide assessment of the genetic diversity, population structure, and climate vulnerability of Mole Skinks (Plestiodon egregius)
Habitat fragmentation and climatic shifts can compound with genetic factors, impeding species’ ability to persist and adapt. I am exploring the interactions between population genetics and environmental factors in a species of conservation concern, the Mole Skink (Plestiodon egregius). This lizard consists of five subspecies: three mainland and two island subspecies. Currently, one subspecies is federally listed as threatened, and two are proposed to be protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). There are currently no studies that quantify genetic connectivity among all five subspecies or modeling future climate scenarios informed by adaptive genetic variation. Through this project, I aim to assess genetic diversity, model future habitat suitability under different climate scenarios, and identify adaptive genes in mole skinks. As a result of this project, I hope to inform the ESA policy decisions for the two aforementioned subspecies and facilitate conservation management strategies.
William Taylor, Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University
Project: Yellow-spotted Woodland Salamander (Plethodon pauleyi) Occupancy and Detection Rates in Southeastern Kentucky
Project Description: The Yellow-spotted Woodland Salamander (Plethodon pauleyi) is a recently described Central Appalachian endemic. Its range spans from West Virginia to Tennessee, but in Kentucky, P. pauleyi is restricted to the southeastern corner of the state. In this region the landscape is dominated by rolling hills separated by steep valleys and features mixed mesophytic forests. Uncertainty surrounding P. pauleyi’s distribution, habitat preferences, and optimal survey conditions has led to it being considered one of the rarest salamanders in the state. The goal of my thesis is to fill these knowledge gaps. As P. pauleyi is a rock outcrop habitat specialist, I will be performing an occupancy study at road cuts spread across Southeastern Kentucky. My results will aid conservation of P. pauleyi by allowing occupied sites to be identified more easily.
These grants are made possible through generous funding from the Chandler Family Foundation.