Student Research
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 teaching an undergraduate research course during the Spring 2023 & 2024 semester entitled “Finding the Forgotten Crawfish Frog.” In this course, the students learn about the entire research process, and this includes the planning and survey design, data collection/data entry, literature review, data analysis, and the preparation of a written report detailing.
In January 2023, students used Google Maps and Google Earth to pinpoint ~900 potential breeding locations in the Jackson Prairie region, and we did auditory surveys at the locations in February and March. During these surveys, we heard R. areolata calling at 12 new locations, and all of the locations were on private lands in Madison County. A similar class and effort will be completed in Feb/March 2024.
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 teaching an undergraduate research course during the Spring 2023 & 2024 semester entitled “Finding the Forgotten Crawfish Frog.” In this course, the students learn about the entire research process, and this includes the planning and survey design, data collection/data entry, literature review, data analysis, and the preparation of a written report detailing.
In January 2023, students used Google Maps and Google Earth to pinpoint ~900 potential breeding locations in the Jackson Prairie region, and we did auditory surveys at the locations in February and March. During these surveys, we heard R. areolata calling at 12 new locations, and all of the locations were on private lands in Madison County. A similar class and effort will be completed in Feb/March 2024.
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...
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.
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!
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!