Student Research
Green Salamander in Tishomingo County, MS
Surveys for Rare Salamanders in Northeastern Mississippi
In the summers of 2021/2022, my students and I will be surveying for four species of salamanders that are considered Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Tishomingo County, Mississippi. We plan to complete 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 will also conduct 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. Further, because A. aeneus and C. alleganiensis are rare and declining throughout much of their range, long-term population surveys are needed to document the persistence or decline of the species throughout their range.
In the summers of 2021/2022, my students and I will be surveying for four species of salamanders that are considered Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Tishomingo County, Mississippi. We plan to complete 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 will also conduct 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. Further, because A. aeneus and C. alleganiensis are rare and declining throughout much of their range, long-term population surveys are needed to document the persistence or decline of the species throughout their range.
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!
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!
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.
During the spring and summer 2018, we affixed 10 radio transmitters to box turtles around the MS Museum of Natural Science. This includes 5 males and 5 females, and we plan to track these individuals over the next 2-2.5 years (i.e., the lifespan of the transmitters). Thus far, we have found courtship/mating among turtles with transmitters, nesting of female turtles, 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.
During the spring and summer 2018, we affixed 10 radio transmitters to box turtles around the MS Museum of Natural Science. This includes 5 males and 5 females, and we plan to track these individuals over the next 2-2.5 years (i.e., the lifespan of the transmitters). Thus far, we have found courtship/mating among turtles with transmitters, nesting of female turtles, and what appears to be seasonal migratory behavior. More field work to do and data to collect...