Recent Research Projects
Using Auditory Surveys to Detect Crawfish Frogs in the Historic Jackson Prairie of Central Mississippi
The historical Jackson Prairie occurred in Central Mississippi and stretched eastward toward Alabama. Historical records for Crawfish Frogs (Rana areolata) are known from the Jackson Prairie, but the last confirmed record was in 1992. I received a State Wildlife Grant to survey for Crawfish Frogs in central Mississippi, and as part of the grant, I am taught an undergraduate research course during the Spring 2023 & 2024 semesters entitled “Finding the Forgotten Crawfish Frog.” In this course, the students learned about the entire research process, and this included the planning and survey design, data collection/data entry, literature review, data analysis, and the preparation of a written report.
In January 2023, students used Google Maps and Google Earth to pinpoint ~900 potential breeding locations in the Jackson Prairie region, and the students and I did auditory surveys at the locations in January - March 2023/2024. During these surveys, we heard R. areolata calling at 18 new locations, and all of the locations were on private lands in Madison, Rankin, and Scott counties. This study confirmed the presence of R. areolata in the Jackson Prairie of Central Mississippi, but the primary area where they were detected is relatively small (~53 mi2) and a myriad of threats exist. The persistence of the species in central Mississippi is doubtful without conservation interventions.
The historical Jackson Prairie occurred in Central Mississippi and stretched eastward toward Alabama. Historical records for Crawfish Frogs (Rana areolata) are known from the Jackson Prairie, but the last confirmed record was in 1992. I received a State Wildlife Grant to survey for Crawfish Frogs in central Mississippi, and as part of the grant, I am taught an undergraduate research course during the Spring 2023 & 2024 semesters entitled “Finding the Forgotten Crawfish Frog.” In this course, the students learned about the entire research process, and this included the planning and survey design, data collection/data entry, literature review, data analysis, and the preparation of a written report.
In January 2023, students used Google Maps and Google Earth to pinpoint ~900 potential breeding locations in the Jackson Prairie region, and the students and I did auditory surveys at the locations in January - March 2023/2024. During these surveys, we heard R. areolata calling at 18 new locations, and all of the locations were on private lands in Madison, Rankin, and Scott counties. This study confirmed the presence of R. areolata in the Jackson Prairie of Central Mississippi, but the primary area where they were detected is relatively small (~53 mi2) and a myriad of threats exist. The persistence of the species in central Mississippi is doubtful without conservation interventions.
Large female Alabama Map Turtle basking
Surveys for Rare Graptemys Species in Northeastern Mississippi
Relatively little is known of the population status of two rare Graptemys species in eastern and northeastern Mississippi (G. nigrinoda & G. pulchra) and one introduced species (G. ouachitensis). In 2019 and in collaboration with Ryan Dumas (Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens) and Marks McWhorter (St. Andrew's High School), we surveyed numerous locations in 9 counties and observed relatively few G. nigrinoda and even fewer G. pulchra. In summer 2022/2023, I surveyed and conducted trapping studies throughout the Tombigbee River system in Mississippi. These surveys documented both species in more locations than they were known historically, and they provided more insight on the status of these two rare and lesser known Graptemys species.
Relatively little is known of the population status of two rare Graptemys species in eastern and northeastern Mississippi (G. nigrinoda & G. pulchra) and one introduced species (G. ouachitensis). In 2019 and in collaboration with Ryan Dumas (Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens) and Marks McWhorter (St. Andrew's High School), we surveyed numerous locations in 9 counties and observed relatively few G. nigrinoda and even fewer G. pulchra. In summer 2022/2023, I surveyed and conducted trapping studies throughout the Tombigbee River system in Mississippi. These surveys documented both species in more locations than they were known historically, and they provided more insight on the status of these two rare and lesser known Graptemys species.
Ol' Red, a male box turtle being tracked in Lefleur's Bluff State Park
Box Turtle Ecology, Home Range, and Habitat Use in an Urban State Park
Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina) occur in wooded areas throughout most of the eastern United States. Box turtles can be relatively common in Mississippi forests, particularly mesic hardwood forests like observed at Lefleur’s Bluff State Park (LBSP). The goals of this study are twofold: 1) collect ecological data on the population demographics and movement patterns of box turtles while also 2) teaching students research/field skills including radio telemetry and collection of environmental data.
Since the spring and summer 2018, we have been tracking 10 box turtles at a park in central Mississippi. Thus far, we have found courtship/mating among turtles with transmitters, nesting of female turtles, documented thermoregulatory behaviors, and what appears to be seasonal migratory behavior. More field work to do and data to collect...
Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina) occur in wooded areas throughout most of the eastern United States. Box turtles can be relatively common in Mississippi forests, particularly mesic hardwood forests like observed at Lefleur’s Bluff State Park (LBSP). The goals of this study are twofold: 1) collect ecological data on the population demographics and movement patterns of box turtles while also 2) teaching students research/field skills including radio telemetry and collection of environmental data.
Since the spring and summer 2018, we have been tracking 10 box turtles at a park in central Mississippi. Thus far, we have found courtship/mating among turtles with transmitters, nesting of female turtles, documented thermoregulatory behaviors, and what appears to be seasonal migratory behavior. More field work to do and data to collect...
Green Salamander in Tishomingo County, MS
Surveys for Rare Salamanders in Northeastern Mississippi
In the summers of 2021/2022, my students and I surveyed for four species of salamanders that are considered Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Tishomingo County, Mississippi. We completed terrestrial-based surveys for Green Salamanders (Aneides aeneus), Cave Salamanders (Eurycea lucifuga), and Spring Salamanders (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus) that all occur at the periphery of their range in northeastern Mississippi. We also conducted aquatic surveys for Eastern Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) in the Mississippi portions of Bear and Cedar Creek. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks outlines in their State Wildlife Action Plan that it is a “high” priority to plan and conduct status surveys for all four salamander species in this proposal: A. aeneus, E. lucifuga, G. porphyriticus, and C. alleganiensis in the state. We found new locations for A. aeneus, E. lucifuga, and G. porphyriticus on public and private lands, but we failed to document the presence of C. alleganiensis. Follow-up eDNA surveys are planned for the latter species in summer 2023.
In the summers of 2021/2022, my students and I surveyed for four species of salamanders that are considered Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Tishomingo County, Mississippi. We completed terrestrial-based surveys for Green Salamanders (Aneides aeneus), Cave Salamanders (Eurycea lucifuga), and Spring Salamanders (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus) that all occur at the periphery of their range in northeastern Mississippi. We also conducted aquatic surveys for Eastern Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) in the Mississippi portions of Bear and Cedar Creek. Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks outlines in their State Wildlife Action Plan that it is a “high” priority to plan and conduct status surveys for all four salamander species in this proposal: A. aeneus, E. lucifuga, G. porphyriticus, and C. alleganiensis in the state. We found new locations for A. aeneus, E. lucifuga, and G. porphyriticus on public and private lands, but we failed to document the presence of C. alleganiensis. Follow-up eDNA surveys are planned for the latter species in summer 2023.
Juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) captured in Lefleur's Bluff State Park
Aquatic Turtle Communities in Floodplain Ponds of Lefleur's Bluff State Park
Mississippi occurs in a biodiversity hot spot for turtles. With so many turtles, documenting community dynamics is important for understanding species interactions and ecological relationships. Much is known about the ecology of river turtles in Mississippi, but no previous studies have been carried out in the state to understand the turtle community in floodplain forest ponds. LeFleur’s Bluff State Park (LBSP) is a 123 ha state park in downtown Jackson, MS, and contains many of these floodplain ponds. As Gracie Bellnap's Honor's Project, her goal is to document the turtle community composition in three floodplain ponds in LBSP and also to investigate different trapping methodologies to determine the most efficient trapping method.
During two summers of trapping, the aggregate turtle community includes 9 turtle species including: the Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna), Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum), Razorback Musk Turtle (Sternotherus carinatus), Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii), Southern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys dorsalis), Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera), and Stinkpot (Sternotherus odoratus). For comparison, the entire state of Michigan only has 10 turtle species! Results were published in 2022!
Mississippi occurs in a biodiversity hot spot for turtles. With so many turtles, documenting community dynamics is important for understanding species interactions and ecological relationships. Much is known about the ecology of river turtles in Mississippi, but no previous studies have been carried out in the state to understand the turtle community in floodplain forest ponds. LeFleur’s Bluff State Park (LBSP) is a 123 ha state park in downtown Jackson, MS, and contains many of these floodplain ponds. As Gracie Bellnap's Honor's Project, her goal is to document the turtle community composition in three floodplain ponds in LBSP and also to investigate different trapping methodologies to determine the most efficient trapping method.
During two summers of trapping, the aggregate turtle community includes 9 turtle species including: the Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna), Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum), Razorback Musk Turtle (Sternotherus carinatus), Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii), Southern Painted Turtle (Chrysemys dorsalis), Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera), and Stinkpot (Sternotherus odoratus). For comparison, the entire state of Michigan only has 10 turtle species! Results were published in 2022!
Male Common Map Turtle captured in Tishomingo County
Surveys for the Common Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) in Northeastern Mississippi
The Graptemys genus has 8 documented species in MS. However, based on existing distributional data, it seems very likely that an additional species, Graptemys geographica (Common Map Turtle), may occur in tributaries of the Tennessee River drainage in northeastern MS. The southeastern most distribution for the species is the Tennessee and Cahaba River systems of Alabama. Interestingly, a small portion of the Tennessee drainage occurs in Tishomingo County in northeastern Mississippi.
During the summer 2017 and 2018, USM graduate students and I surveyed Bear and Cedar creeks in Tishomingo County and documented G. geographica in both streams. This included the first specimens for G. geographica that were deposited in the MS Museum of Natural Science. Results were published in 2020!
The Graptemys genus has 8 documented species in MS. However, based on existing distributional data, it seems very likely that an additional species, Graptemys geographica (Common Map Turtle), may occur in tributaries of the Tennessee River drainage in northeastern MS. The southeastern most distribution for the species is the Tennessee and Cahaba River systems of Alabama. Interestingly, a small portion of the Tennessee drainage occurs in Tishomingo County in northeastern Mississippi.
During the summer 2017 and 2018, USM graduate students and I surveyed Bear and Cedar creeks in Tishomingo County and documented G. geographica in both streams. This included the first specimens for G. geographica that were deposited in the MS Museum of Natural Science. Results were published in 2020!