Indigo Short with Dr. Whit Gibbons

September 2013

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SREL's in the

world of herpetology Past, Present, and Future

photo: Dirk Stevenson

Role

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SREL’s Role in the World of Herpetolo Present, Past, and Future.

By: Dr. Whit Gibbons

photo: Margaret Wead 2 ORIANNESOCIETY.ORG Indigo short

r Ecology LaB

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have more rainbow snakes, one of the t and most beautiful snakes in America, aught than anywhere else in their entire aphic range?

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Where is a framed Guinness Book of Records Certificate recognizing the longest on-going field research project (Rainbow Bay, initiated in 1978) on amphibians in the world? Where have the most and hottest radioactive turtles in the world been discovered in the wild?

Only one place: the University of Georgia’s (UGA) Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL).

SREL goes uncontested as being one of the world’s premier herpetological research centers and the record holder for the most books and peer-reviewed scientific publications (approaching 1000) in which reptiles and amphibians have been the study organisms. SREL’s renowned history of long-term herpetological research on the SRS spans more than a half century with most studies having been conducted on the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) near Aiken, SC, 125 miles from UGA’s main campus in Athens.

Most of the reptile and amphibian research was performed under the direction of SREL faculty and staff and supported by the Atomic Energy Commission (1951-1975), Energy Research and Development Administration (1975-1977), and DOE (1977-2013). Since the 1960s, numerous other government organizations have contributed to SREL herpetological research, analysis, and writing, including the U.S. Geological Survey, Na-

tional Science Foundation, National Park System, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Forest Service. Non-profit and private organizations such as Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC), Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund, Donnelly Foundation, International Paper Company, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U.S. Golf Association, National Audubon Society, and the Smithsonian Institution have provided intermittent support as well for special projects. State departments of natural resources (e.g., Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, and California) have also helped fund SREL herpetological efforts. UGA has been a primary source of support of SREL continually, from 1951 to the present, an association ORIANNESOCIETY.ORG indigo short 2013 3

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SREL

photo: J.D. Willson

that promotes leveraged support from a variety of external funding sources.

has attracted “herp” researchers from all over. The intensity of effort coupled with the high biodiversity within a prescribed region

Collectively, due to these for several decades has documentmany agencies and organizaed more native species of reptiles tions, more than 700 individuand amphibians (n = 101) from als from over 200 colleges and the 315-square-mile SRS than universities have been associated reported from any national park with SREL research programs in or wildlife refuge in the United herpetology, most becoming con- States. tributing authors on publications in basic and applied herpetologi- Because of the attraction of cal research. the site’s endless herpetological opportunities, SREL graduate stu Because of the high herpe- dents have completed 46 Master’s tofaunal biodiversity of the Uptheses and 28 doctoral dissertaper Coastal Plain and the SRS’s tions on reptiles and amphibians reputation as a protected rebased on graduate research consearch site for field studies, SREL ducted at SREL. Most have been 4 ORIANNESOCIETY.ORG indigo short 2013

UGA students, but the list includes degrees from Auburn, Duke, Florida International, Michigan State, Ohio University, SUNY at Buffalo, Texas Christian, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, South Carolina, and Wake Forest.

SREL continues as a viable off-campus UGA research facility, and the SRS remains unparalleled as a herpetologically diverse study site. Hence, research on reptiles and amphibians remains in full swing, involving more than two dozen investigators in projects at SREL.

In 2012, five SREL faculty members, (Kurt Buhlmann, Stacey

SREL Lance, Gary Mills, Gene Rhodes, and Tracey Tuberville) engaged in herpetological research directly or with student projects. Many projects are overlapping and collaborative among SREL faculty, postdoctoral associates, students, and technical staff as well as with scientists at UGA in Athens and from other universities, government agencies, and private foundations.

Herpetological opportunities at SREL are made possible by combinations of professional expertise and facilities that permit effective themed research based at SREL but conducted partly offsite. One such study was initiated by Gene Rhodes (SREL Director) and Shem Unger (SREL postdoctoral associate). Gene’s background includes research in wildlife management and conservation. Shem’s doctoral dissertation at Purdue was on conservation genetics and ecology of hellbenders. Gene and Shem are examining the effects of sedimentation on early life history stages of one of North America’s giant salamanders, the eastern hellbender. The field research in northern Georgia will focus on assessing juvenile habitat as it pertains to sediment load and will inform Georgia DNR with vital management information for juvenile hellbenders. Brandy Bossle (undergraduate, University of South Carolina, Aiken) is an intern working with Shem to conduct respirometry experiments with aquatic salamanders to measure oxygen uptake and

Indigo short breeding behavior under different variables including high levels of sediment and temperature.

The project will directly relate to the hellbender studies in progress.

Stacey Lance (SREL Assistant Research Scientist) is a molecular ecologist whose work involves several reptile and amphibian species. On the SRS her research focuses on the effects of anthropogenic stressors. Currently she advises four graduate students, all of whom are contributing to this research. Wes Flynn (UGA doctoral student) is taking a genomics approach to study the evolutionary response of amphibians to metal contaminants. Cara Love (UGA doctoral student) will also be taking a genomics approach to determine how exposure to metals, radionu-

clides, or both can affect amphibian immune responses. She and Megan Winzeler (UGA MS student) are conducting an SRSwide study to determine the extent of Ranavirus and chytrid fungus across amphibian and reptile populations at contaminated and natural sites. Megan also examines effects of contaminants on amphibian susceptibility to Ranavirus. Caitlin Rumrill (UGA MS student) is studying contaminant exposure at multiple life stages and their effects on the long-term persistence of amphibian populations. She is also comparing stress tolerance between native (southern toads) and invasive (cane toads) species. Stacey also is working on several herpetology projects off site including nesting ecology of South Carolina alligators, and population

“Herpetological opportunities at SREL are made possible by combinations of professional expertise and facilities that permit effective themed research based at SREL but conducted partly offsite.”

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SREL

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Gary Mills (SREL Associate Research Scientist) studies transport of organic compounds and metal-organic interactions.

Rebecca R. Philipps (UGA MS Student) collaborates with Gary to conduct research on metals and toxicity monitoring by examining the bioaccumulation of copper in southern toads. The study uses amphibian larvae bioaccumulation to test the effectiveness of a monitoring

Tracey Tuberville (SREL Assistant Research Scientist) focuses on conservation and management of reptile and amphibian populations, with special emphasis on translocation and reintroduction. She also uses genetics as a tool to understanding individual behavior, population dynamics, and landscape processes. Among her current projects are research on gopher tortoises and American

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genetics of racers, bullsnakes, and gopher frogs.

u know? o y

Southern hognose snakes are active by day and are often seen on warm mornings in the spring and fall. They are highly fossorial (living underground) and are most often encountered crossing roads that pass through sandy habitats. When confronted, hognose snakes often put on an elaborate threat display: they hiss; spread the skin around their head and neck (like a cobra), and feign striking. Eventually, they will even play dead, rolling on their back and opening their mouth.

Despite this fairly convincing show, southern hognose snakes virtually never bite.

photo: Whit Gibbons

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alligators. Matt Hamilton (UGA graduate student) and Brian Metts, who received his doctorate working on amphibian ecotoxicology at SREL, are working with Tracey on a long-lived reptile project investigating the biological effects of trace elements and radionuclide contamination in alligators.

Kimberly Andrews (SREL researcher and Research Coordinator on Jekyll Island) and her graduate students conduct research on human

SREL impacts on reptiles and amphibians and collaborate with Tracey on management assessments of herpetofauna through combined field and modeling approaches. Kimberly is editor of a major book on road ecology that focuses on impacts of highway systems on reptiles and amphibians.

Kurt Buhlmann (SREL Associate Research Scientist) continues his research on life history and evolutionary ecology of herpetofauna, with applica-

Indigo short tion to conservation and habitat management. Kurt’s primary research focus is on tortoises and freshwater turtles with special emphasis on gopher tortoises, including the most northern populations of the species, in Aiken County on and near the SRS. Kurt also contributes to other national (Blanding’s turtles and desert tortoises) and international (reintroduction of rare African toads) conservation efforts from his SREL base.

His interests include long-term stewardship of the SRS through documentation of rare species occurrences and restoration of key habitats.

Several SREL Research Professionals have contributed significantly to SREL herpetology programs for many years, especially David Scott and Judy Greene. David conducts population- and landscape-level salamander research and ecotoxicology studies examining the effects of contaminants in wetlands. David collaborates with Stacey Lance on a variety of projects including studying the effects of climate change on amphibian community dynamics, population ecology, and population genetics. David also manages the Rainbow Bay study and is working with Stacey to determine metal effects on gene expression in several species.

He also collaborates with her in advising her students.

Judy managed the “herp lab” for many years and has

been involved in long-term studies on the ecology of freshwater turtles on the SRS and at other localities. She continues to maintain and analyze SREL’s historical and long-term herpetological data sets.

A strength of SREL’s herpetological research has been not only scientists in residence but visitors from near and far.

Students and faculty on sabbatical from other universities take advantage of the many research opportunities with reptiles and amphibians at SREL. Former SREL students return and retired SRELians continue their former research programs. All have contributed in great measure to herpetology over the years and will continue to do so in the future.

Brett DeGregorio (doctoral student, University of Illinois) examines the indirect effects of climate change in a fascinating project that addresses whether songbird nest predation by rat snakes has potential to become more nocturnal. The experimental field study uses an array of wildlife cameras, temperature modeling, and personal observations to quantify avian nest success as related to activity patterns of rat snakes and other nest predators. Brett hopes to gather data that will help predict how rat snake activity patterns may shift with warming temperatures.

J. D. Willson (former SREL doctoral student; assistant professor, University of

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SREL

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I. Lehr Brisbin (SREL Senior Research Ecologist Emeritus) conducted research on a variety of topics in vertebrate ecology, including radiation ecology, ecotoxicology, and animal behavior. Bris remains active with his long-term research programs on radio telemetric studies of the movement and behavior of eastern box turtles and is involved in measurement of radioactive contaminant turnover in large alligators.

Both projects are done in collaboration with Tracey Tuberville.

“A superbly written, personalized narrative on amphibians and reptiles.

This book can be read and enjoyed by almost everyone with interests in people, research, and/or animals.” —Choice “Reading this funny and, at times, profound and moving book will at least help to revise many a misconception about these surprising animals.” —Royal Society of New Zealand “A good source of general information and marvelous stories about reptiles and amphibians for herpetologists, nonherpetologists, nonherpetologically oriented scientists, and nonscientists. It is an outstanding attempt at educating the general public about these animals and lays to rest many of the common myths and misconceptions concerning not only reptiles and amphibians, but herpetologists as well.” —Herpetologica WHIT GIBBONS is a professor emeritus of ecology, University of Georgia, and head of the Environmental Outreach Program at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. He is the author or coauthor of more than ten popular books, including Poisonous Plants and Venomous Animals of Alabama and Adjoining States, Ecoviews, Biology of the Snapping Turtle, Snakes of the Southeast, and Lizards and Crocodilians of the Southeast.

Cover art: The red-bellied subspecies of the plain-bellied watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster); courtesy of J. D. Willson.

Cover design: Michele Myatt Quinn

The University of Alabama Press

Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0380 www.uapress.ua.edu

alabama

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Their Blood Runs Cold is entertaining and informative reading that not only enhances our understanding of a unique group of animals, but also provides genuine insight into the mind and character of a renowned research scientist.

A DV ENT U RES W I T H

The road between Athens and Aiken has been traveled many times by UGA faculty and students who have realized the numerous advantages of conducting research on the SRS with one of the most diverse assemblages of reptiles and amphibians in the country.

UGA’s future in herpetology appears solid with ongoing and proposed projects showing great promise and relevance that can

NAT U R A L H I STO RY / REP TI LES A N D A M PH I B IANS / M EM O I R

Reptiles and Amphibians

In addition to conducting research on freshwater turtles for more than 30 years, Justin Congdon (SREL Senior Research Ecologist Emeritus) did research on physiological ecology and ecotoxicology of herpetofauna, including effects of coal fly ash waste on amphibians.

Justin continues to analyze and publish papers based on longterm data sets on freshwater turtles.

be expected to rival or surpass the successes and accomplishments of past decades. This article on SREL herpetology is coming to an end but herp research at SREL is definitely “to be continued.” *

THEIR BLOOD RUNS COLD

Michael Dorcas (former SREL postdoctoral associate; professor, Davidson College) whose expertise is in physiology, ecology, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles, is also collaborating with J.D. in studies evaluating behavior, diet selection, and cold-tolerance of invasive Burmese pythons in temperate climates. The studies can be undertaken at SREL because of several large enclosures suitable for conducting outdoor laboratory experiments with snakes. Russell Burke (professor, Hofstra University), in collaboration with Tracey Tuberville, is conducting research at SREL on SRS lizards that carry ticks that can potentially be vectors for Borrelia bacteria,

the agent for Lyme disease.

GIBBONS

Arkansas) is continuing with his earlier research as an SREL visiting scientist with projects to study SRS aquatic snake population and community dynamics. His long-term population monitoring of snakes in aquatic sites is being augmented with field studies by Phil Vogrinc (MS student, University of Arkansas) who is completing his research in residence at SREL. Melissa Pilgrim (former SREL postdoctoral associate; associate professor, University of South Carolina Upstate), Chris Winne (former SREL doctoral student), and Tracey Tuberville are collaborators with J.D. in another research project that uses stable isotope techniques at SREL to assess resource allocation in snakes.

J. Whitfield (Whit) Gibbo reach Program at the Savan Alabama (B.S.-1961; M.S.-196 associate and aside from two in residence at SREL. He com

Whit is author or editor o has had commentaries on Na on ecology published in maga Newspaper Group. His encycl Zoology for the Encyclopedia America.

Whit’s books include th Snakes of the Southeast. 2005 and Tracey Tuberville); Frogs a Judy Greene and Tony Mills); S of Their Blood Runs Cold: Adv

SREL

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30th Anniversary Edition

THEIR BLOOD

RUNS COLD

ADVENTURES WITH

Reptiles and Amphibians

WHIT GIBBONS

photo: Judy Greene

About Dr. Gibbons

ons is Professor Emeritus of Ecology, University of Georgia, and has served as Head of the Environmental Outnnah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) from 1991 - 2013. Whit received degrees in biology from the University of 63) and in zoology from Michigan State University (Ph.D. - 1967). In 1967 he came to SREL as a postdoctoral sabbatical years (University of Michigan; Natural History Museum at the Smithsonian Institution) spent his career mmuted to Athens to teach Herpetology intermittently at UGA from 1976 until his retirement in 2008.

of 20 books on herpetology and ecology and has published more than 250 articles in scientific journals. He ational Public Radio (Living on Earth, Science Friday, and others), and has had more than 1,000 popular articles azines and newspapers, including a weekly environmental column distributed by the New York Times Regional lopedia articles have appeared in World Book, Compton’s, and for 30 years he wrote the annual summary of Britannica Year Book. He wrote the merit badge booklet, “Reptile and Amphibian Study,” for the Boy Scouts of

he best-selling series on reptiles and amphibians of the Southeast published by the University of Georgia Press: 5. (with Mike Dorcas). Winner: National Outdoor Book Award; Turtles of the Southeast. 2008. (with Kurt Buhlmann and Toads of the Southeast. 2008. (with Mike Dorcas); Lizards and Crocodilians of the Southeast. 2009. (with Salamanders of the Southeast. 2010. (with Joe Mitchell). Whit’s latest book is the 30th year anniversary edition ORIANNESOCIETY.ORG ventures with Reptiles and Amphibians, first published in 1983 by the University of Alabama Press. indigo short 2013 9

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Eastern Bird-Voiced Treefrog Hyla avivoca ogechiensis

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photo: J.D. Willson