Diamondback Terrapin Movement
We will be conducting a radio telemetry project to determine the spatial and temporal habitat usage of Diamondback Terrapins within Barataria Bay. We use CTT technology to get near GPS level precision of terrapin as they utilize the marsh habitat throughout the year. This telemetry data will improve our understanding of the temporal and spatial distribution of terrapins and identify important and or preferred habitats, information that is lacking within Louisiana waters. Lastly, this data will allow us to better understand the future of Diamondback Terrapin management within Louisiana, especially in light of potential habitat changes in Barataria Bay as a result of implementation of a large-scale river diversion.
We will be conducting a radio telemetry project to determine the spatial and temporal habitat usage of Diamondback Terrapins within Barataria Bay. We use CTT technology to get near GPS level precision of terrapin as they utilize the marsh habitat throughout the year. This telemetry data will improve our understanding of the temporal and spatial distribution of terrapins and identify important and or preferred habitats, information that is lacking within Louisiana waters. Lastly, this data will allow us to better understand the future of Diamondback Terrapin management within Louisiana, especially in light of potential habitat changes in Barataria Bay as a result of implementation of a large-scale river diversion.
Diamondback Terrapin Demographics
Diamondback Terrapin populations have undergone drastic declines due to historic and contemporary threats. These are our only brackish dependent species of turtle and occur in coastal areas from Massachusetts to Texas. They also happen to be the state reptile of Marland! Louisiana has approximately 653,000 ha of habitat that could be used by terrapins, the most of any state, and roughly 30% of available habitat within their entire range. However, their sustainability is negatively impacted by habitat loss and fragmentation, nesting mortality, and because their range largely overlaps with blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus), incidental capture and drowning in crab traps. We are trying to better understand terrapin within the state through multiple projects including long-term mark-recapture, nesting success, and bycatch mortality through the blue crab fishery.
Diamondback Terrapin populations have undergone drastic declines due to historic and contemporary threats. These are our only brackish dependent species of turtle and occur in coastal areas from Massachusetts to Texas. They also happen to be the state reptile of Marland! Louisiana has approximately 653,000 ha of habitat that could be used by terrapins, the most of any state, and roughly 30% of available habitat within their entire range. However, their sustainability is negatively impacted by habitat loss and fragmentation, nesting mortality, and because their range largely overlaps with blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus), incidental capture and drowning in crab traps. We are trying to better understand terrapin within the state through multiple projects including long-term mark-recapture, nesting success, and bycatch mortality through the blue crab fishery.
Apple Snail Physiology
Apple snails are a relatively recent invasive species along the Louisiana Gulf Coast. They have the potential to cause widespread ecological and economical harm within Louisiana. Since ~2006, apple snails have been slowly spreading through the wetlands of south Louisiana. The limits to their spread are currently unknown, but given that they are a tropical/sub-tropical species, it will likely be governed by cold climates and developmental acclimation. The work in our lab will investigate apple snail the thermal physiology of apple snails to better understand their potential distribution. We will investigate key life history components such as growth rates, fecundity, and survival in relation to temperature and acclimation. We will also investigate critical thermal limits for hatchling apple snails. With this information we hope to produce species distribution models to accurately predict their range expansion.
Apple snails are a relatively recent invasive species along the Louisiana Gulf Coast. They have the potential to cause widespread ecological and economical harm within Louisiana. Since ~2006, apple snails have been slowly spreading through the wetlands of south Louisiana. The limits to their spread are currently unknown, but given that they are a tropical/sub-tropical species, it will likely be governed by cold climates and developmental acclimation. The work in our lab will investigate apple snail the thermal physiology of apple snails to better understand their potential distribution. We will investigate key life history components such as growth rates, fecundity, and survival in relation to temperature and acclimation. We will also investigate critical thermal limits for hatchling apple snails. With this information we hope to produce species distribution models to accurately predict their range expansion.
Barrier Island Box Turtles
Box turtles are an understudied species throughout their range and especially within Louisiana. Despite their seemingly broad distribution and adaptiveness, they are largely absent from the lower delta of the Mississippi River. Within this habitat there remains a possible relic population on the barrier island of Grand Isle. This population is also noteworthy because it resides in the only remaining chenier forest in the deltaic plain of Louisiana. We are currently conducting a mark-recapture study with this population and it seems to be much larger than we anticipated!
Box turtles are an understudied species throughout their range and especially within Louisiana. Despite their seemingly broad distribution and adaptiveness, they are largely absent from the lower delta of the Mississippi River. Within this habitat there remains a possible relic population on the barrier island of Grand Isle. This population is also noteworthy because it resides in the only remaining chenier forest in the deltaic plain of Louisiana. We are currently conducting a mark-recapture study with this population and it seems to be much larger than we anticipated!
Ecological Modeling of Species Distributions
The Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma are home to many species of Plethodontids that may be restricted in range due to physiological mechanisms. In collaboration with the Bonett Lab at the University of Tulsa, we have been conducting a presence/absence survey of two endemic salamander species, Desmognathus brimleyorum and Eurycea multiplicata. From these surveys we hope to not only produce species distribution maps, but also explore habitat usage, from both a conservation and ecological approach.
The Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma are home to many species of Plethodontids that may be restricted in range due to physiological mechanisms. In collaboration with the Bonett Lab at the University of Tulsa, we have been conducting a presence/absence survey of two endemic salamander species, Desmognathus brimleyorum and Eurycea multiplicata. From these surveys we hope to not only produce species distribution maps, but also explore habitat usage, from both a conservation and ecological approach.