CONSERVATION BIOLOGY AND NATURAL HISTORY OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: ACTIVE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1023244
• Project Start Date: Jul 9, 2020
• Project End Date: May 28, 2025
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
750 AGRONOMY RD STE 2701
COLLEGE STATION,TX 77843-0001

Performing Department
Ecology and Conservation Biology

Non Technical Summary
Many taxa worldwide are currently in decline and it is clear that we are going through an extinction crisis. Human-induced habitat loss and fragmentation are the leading causes of global biodiversity declines. Although the extinction crisis is impacting all taxonomic groups, amphibians have been shown to be especially impacted, and recently reptile declines are garnering more attention. These observed declines are drawing attention from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in that many species of plant and animal including reptiles and amphibians have been petitioned for federal listing. The USFWS has also agreed to make a listing decision on over 250 species of plant and animal by the end of 2016. Listing decisions are based off of knowledge of each individual species that is under consideration for listing; however, many of these species are poorly understood due to a number of reasons. The economic impacts of listing a species can be large and the Texas State Comptroller's office estimates that impacts for all species proposed for listing in Texas will reach into the trillions of dollars. With the number of species proposed and the amount of potential financial impact on the state of Texas, funds will be available for research on whether or not these proposed species are actually in need of protection.

Animal Health Component

75%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

25%

Applied

75%

Developmental

0%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
136	0899	1070	100%

Knowledge Area
136 - Conservation of Biological Diversity;

Subject Of Investigation
0899 - Wildlife and natural fisheries, general/other;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;

Keywords

conservation

reptiles

amphibians

Goals / Objectives
The objectives of my research are to investigate the status of reptile and amphibian species that areperceived to be in need of protection. Specifically, I will work to determine the distribution, populationtrends, and impacts of threats on selected species of reptiles and amphibians.

Project Methods
Niche Models: I will collect locality data from museum records for the species of interest and also anyavailable specimen records housed in online photographic voucher systems such as iNaturalist or Project Noah. I will use these data to create predictive habitat maps. Specifically, I will combine locality data with GIS data on vegetation, soils, topography, climate, and other appropriate data to create spatial niche models (Rotenberry et al. 2006; Barrows 2008). I will then use the spatial models to identify suitable habitat for the species of interest. A subset of these areas of suitable habitat will be surveyed to determine species presence. A variety of methods may be used for surveys including: time constrained searches, trapping, walking transects, driving transects, or recording stations. I will use results from the surveys to validate the accuracy of the niche model and to refine the model. Surveys may be conducted at sites multiple times at a location and by using multiple survey methods. Multiple surveys at a site can help determine the detectability of a species.Population Trends: I will use mark-recapture techniques to determine population demography patterns for the species of interest. Variables of interest include population size, population growth rate, immigration, emigration, survivorship, and recruitment. These variables are imperative for learning the trajectory of a population of organisms. Long-term mark-recapture studies are needed to be confident in the population modeling approaches. These approaches are also sensitive to the number of recaptures obtained, with more recaptures needed for more robust estimates.Genetics: I will use genetic techniques to determine the amount of gene flow between populations. I will also use genetics to understand the relationships between populations. This can help to identify genetically distinct units within a species that may need special protection. Maintaining genetic diversity is important for the long term health of a species.

Progress 07/09/20 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:My target audience are researchers and professionals in the field of herpetology and conservation, many of which are making conservation decisions about the species I study. Final and interim reports were submitted to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Department of Transportation, the United State Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Department of Defense. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?I employ undergraduate students and one graduate student to help with most projects. These employees all gain valuable experience in the field, data analysis, report writing, and publication writing. Many of these employees are co-authors on various publications. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?I have presented or been a co-author on numerous presentations at professional meetings including: Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, the Texas Herpetological Society, Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, and the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. I have also given presentations to the Texas Master Naturalist Program in Brazos Counties, Texas. I have worked directly with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and served on their Wildlife Diversity Advisory Committee and have been involved in the working groups for the Louisiana Pine Snake, the spottailed earless lizard, and the desert massasauga. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?I will continue to submit grant applications for those projects that I feel that I have expertise. I will continue to work with undergraduate and graduate students to help them learn about conservation of amphibians and reptiles. I will continue to present and publish the findings from my research and serve on working groups for species that I work on.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? I was invited to speak to the Texas Wildlife Association at the annual conference and I continue to serve on the Wildlife Diversity Adviosory Committee for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Anderson, A., WA Ryberg, KL Skow, BL Pierce, S Frizzell, DB Neuharth, CS Adams, TE Johnson, JB Pierce, DC Rudolph, RR Lopez, and TJ Hibbitts. 2020. Modeling Louisiana Pinesnake habitat to guide the search for population relicts. Southeastern Naturalist 19:613-626.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Chan, LM, CW Painter, MT Hill, TJ Hibbitts, DJ Leavitt, WA Ryberg, DK Walkup, and LA Fitzgerald. 2020. Phylogeographic structure of the dunes sagebrush lizard, an endemic habitat specialist. PLOS One 15:e02380194.