Center for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation and Management Annual Report for 2008 April 3 2009 Director Bruce A. Kingsbury OVERVIEW The Herp Center continues to serve as a herpetological and general conservation resource for federal and Midwest state natural resource agencies, and the general public of Indiana and beyond. The vast bulk of our activity continues to be basic research on imperiled reptiles, direct contact with constituents requesting information, and the development of outreach for reptiles and amphibians. Major research projects include: Exploration of aspects of the sensitivity of salamanders to selected amphibian viruses. The effect of prescribed (purposeful) fires on the ecology of the Eastern Box Turtle. Headstarting (accelerated and protected growth in captivity) and translocation (moving captive or wild snakes from location to location) as conservation tools. Major outreach projects: Ongoing interaction with general population, especially northern Indiana, regarding concerns regarding reptiles and amphibians. Completion of the Copperbelly Watersnake Recovery Plan. Revision of the Habitat Management Guidelines for Amphibians and Reptiles of the Midwest. The text for this book is undergoing peer review. The Herp Center s thousands of pictures are being reorganized to support the production of the field guide and renovation of the web site. Productivity in terms of peer reviewed journal articles, books and book chapters was strong. Funding was substantial, with over $70,000 acquired. Faculty involvement is gradually improving. The herp group meets about every other week to discuss research projects, topics of interest, and help each other with project planning. These meetings are open and we encourage participation from other faculty and graduate students. Periodically undergraduates also get involved.
A. Mission The primary objectives of the Herp Center are to promote the understanding and conservation of reptiles and amphibians. To achieve this goal, the Center engages in scientific research, as well as developing educational opportunities and means of outreach. A central premise to the Center is that conservation is best founded on the effective communication of factual information presented to those who are in a position to impact threatened species and habitats. Where those facts are not available, sound scientific research should be employed to obtain the needed information. Furthermore, the path of the information passed between the researcher and the end user should be as direct as possible. Thus, individuals close to the research being conducted are in the best position to communicate the findings. C. Research 1. Scholarly/Creative Activity Performed, Published, or Presented During Calendar Year 2008. Works in press are included but denoted as such. a. Books Kingsbury, B. A. and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2008. Northern Population Segment of the Copperbelly Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta) Recovery Plan. Fort Snelling, Minnesota. ix + 79 pp.+ appendices. The following three texts were not published in 2008, but significant progress was made on them: Kingsbury, B. A. and J. Gibson. Habitat Management Guidelines for Amphibians and Reptiles of the Midwest. Joanna Gibson (current student, former research tech) and I are continuing to work on a second edition of this book. We have provided a complete draft for the next round of peer review, and will submit for printing in 2009. Habitats and Communities of Indiana: Pre settlement to Present. In press. John O. Whitaker, Jr., George R. Parker, Charles J. Amlaner, and Susan M. Berta, eds. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Indiana. This is another multi year project which is finally nearing completion. Kingsbury is the herpetologist on the project. The publishers hope to go to print in 2009. Kingsbury, B. A. A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Indiana. I have a contract with Indiana University Press to produce this field guide. Publication date would be in 2010. b. Book chapters
Kingsbury, B. A. and O. Attum. In press. Conservation Strategies: Captive breeding, translocation, and repatriation. In: Snakes: Ecology and Conservation. (Eds.) S. Mullin and R. Seigel. To be published by Cornell University Press spring 2009. Jenkins, C., C. R., Peterson and B. A. Kingsbury. In press. Modeling Snake Distribution and Habitat. In: Snakes: Ecology and Conservation. (Eds.) S. Mullin and R. Seigel. To be published by Cornell University Press in spring 2009. Roe, J.H., and A. Georges. In Press. Responses of freshwater turtles to drought: the past, present and implications for future climate change in Australia in Impacts of prolonged drought on peoples, ecosystems and the economies of the world s continents. Kathryn Gow (ed.). Gibson, S. E., Z. J. Walker, and B. A. Kingsbury. 2008. Microhabitat preferences of the Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) in the Hardwood Forests of Southern Indiana. In: Biology of the Rattlesnakes, K. R. Beaman, S. P. Bush, M. D. Cardwell, and W. K. Hayes, eds., pp. 275 286. d. Journal Publications i. In press: Doody, J.S, J.H. Roe, and P. Mayes. In Press. Tagging Methods for Radio tracking some Freshwater Reptiles. Marine and Freshwater Research. Marshall, J. C., Jr., B. A. Kingsbury, D. J. Minchella. 2008. Microsatellite Variation, population Structure, and bottlenecks in the threatened copperbelly watersnake. Conservation Genetics. DOI 10.1007/s10592 008 9624 z. Will be in hard copy in 2009. Roe, J.H., A. Brinton, and A. Georges. In Press. Temporal and spatial variation in landscape connectivity for an Australian freshwater turtle in a temporally dynamic wetland system. Ecological Applications. ii. In print: Attum, O., Y. M. Lee, J. H. Roe and B. A. Kingsbury. 2008. Wetland complexes and upland wetland linkages: landscape effects on the distribution of rare and common wetland reptiles. Journal of Zoology 275: 245 251.
Attum, O., B. Rabea, S. Osman, S. Habinan, S. Baha El Din, B. Kingsbury. 2008. Conserving and tracking tortoises: A local community visual tracking or radio tracking approach? Journal of Arid Environments 72: 671 676. Cooper, W. E., O. Attum, and B. Kingsbury. 2008. Escape behaviors and flight initiation distance in the common water snake Nerodia sipedon. Journal of Herpetology 42: 493 500. Jordan, M.A., D.A. Morris*, and S.E. Gibson. 2009. The influence of historical landscape change on genetic variation and population structure of a terrestrial salamander (Plethodon cinereus). Conservation Genetics, in press. Roe, J.H., and A. Georges. 2008. Terrestrial activity, movements, and spatial ecology of an Australian freshwater turtle, Chelodina longicollis. Austral Ecology 33:1045 1056. Roe, J.H., A. Georges, and B. Green. 2008. Energy and water flux during terrestrial aestivation and overland movement in a freshwater turtle. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 81:570 583. Roe, J.H. 2008. Chelodina longicollis (Eastern Long necked Turtle). Drinking Behavior. Herpetoligical Review 39:212 213. Roe, J.H., and A. Georges. 2008. Maintenance of variable responses for coping with wetland drying in freshwater turtles. Ecology 89:485 494. 2. Exhibitions and performances a. Presentations i. Invited Dreslik, M., R. Seigel, and B. A. Kingsbury. The Massasauga Saga: Summary of the Biology of Sistrurus catenatus. Structured Decision Making Workshop for the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, US Fish and Wildlife Service. Detroit, Michigan, November 13, 2008. Gibson, J. and B. A. Kingsbury. Effects of Prescribed Fire on the Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene c. carolina. Prescribed Fire, Herps, and Habitat Restoration. Battle Creek, Michigan, September 17, 2008.
Kingsbury, B. A. Ecology and Conservation of the Eastern Massasauga. Indiana University Southeast. January 26, 2009. Kingsbury, B. A. Copperbelly Watersnake Ecology and Conservation. Ohio Fish and Wildlife Conference. Columbus, Ohio, February 6, 2009. Kingsbury, B. A. Natural history and snake conservation In the midwestern United States. Sixth World Congress of Herpetology, Manaus Brazil. August 20, 2008. Roe, J.H. Maintenance of variation in response to environmental fluctuations: the terrestrial ecology of an Australian freshwater turtle. Indiana Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN, February 2008. Roe, J.H. Habitat selection: lessons learned from Australian reptiles. Wofford College. Spartanburg, SC, November 2008. ii. Contributed DeGregorio, B. A. and B. A. Kingsbury. Response of Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes (Sistrurus c. catenatus) to Clear Cutting. IPFW Student Research & Creative Endeavor Symposium and Sigma Xi Student Research Competition, IPFW, Fort Wayne, April 19. Gibson, J. and B. A. Kingsbury. Effects of Prescribed Fire on the Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene c. carolina. Eastern Massasauga Working Group. Lansing, Michigan, January 11, 2008. Morris, D.A. and M.A. Jordan. 2008. The impact of forest fragmentation on genetic variation and population structure of the Eastern Red Backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus). Student Research and Creative Endeavor Symposium, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne. 19 April 2008. Putman, B. J. and B. A. Kingsbury. Habitat use and spatial ecology of the Eastern Fox Snake. IPFW Student Research & Creative Endeavor Symposium and Sigma Xi Student Research Competition, IPFW, Fort Wayne, April 19. Brian won the Sigma Xi Best Paper award. Roe, J.H., M. Rees, and A. Georges. The urban ecology of the freshwater turtle, Chelodina longicollis, in the Australian Capitol Territory. The Society for Conservation Biology, Chattanooga, TN, July 2008.
Smith, C. S. and B. A. Kingsbury. 2008. Hibernation Ecology of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) in Northern Michigan. Sixth World Congress of Herpetology, Manaus, Brazil. August 20, 2008. iii. General Audiences Kingsbury, B. A. Amphibian Ecology and Conservation, Little River Wetlands Project. Aboite Library, Fort Wayne, IN, April 28, 2008. Kingsbury, B. A. Massasauga Ecology and Conservation. Maplewood Nature Center on behalf of ACRES, near Lagrange, IN, July 19, 2008. Kingsbury, B. A. Tragedy of the Commons: Acting Individually to Save the Earth. FYE Conversations Series, October 27, 2008. Kingsbury, B. A. Tragedy of the Commons: Acting Individually to Save the Earth. Foundations for Success in Business, October 31, 2008. A very similar talk to the one just listed. CASA like the idea of the first talk, so had me come back to a much larger group later in the week. Roe, J.H. Venomous Snakes of Indiana. Indiana State Museum. Indianapolis IN, July 2008. Roe, J.H. Imperiled Reptiles of Indiana. Indiana State Museum. Indianapolis IN, July 2008. 3. Listing of grants/contracts a. Funded Jordan, M.A., R.J. Visalli (IPFW), and J.A. DeWoody (Purdue). National Science Foundation Research Opportunity Award.$29,970. Viral Challenge as a Test of Natural Selection on MHC Diversity. Kingsbury, B. A. Fish and Wildlife Service. $20,000. Copperbelly Watersnake Spatial Ecology at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge. Kingsbury, B. A. Potawatomi Resource Conservation & Development Council. $29,920. Eastern Box Turtles and Prescribed Burning. Proposal assistance provided by J. Gibson. Kingsbury, B. A. Huron Pines, Inc. $5,000. Grayling Hibernacula Study. Roe, J. H. and B. A. Kingsbury. Fort Custer Training Center, $8,000. A survey for the eastern massasauga rattlesnake at the Fort Custer Training Center, Michigan.
b. Not funded Roe, J. H. The Society for Conservation Biology Smith Post doctoral Fellowship, $116,000. If you build it and they won t come: an experimental examination of repatriation strategies for water snakes in the Midwest. Roe, J. H. Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act Project, $59,409. If you build it and they won t come: an experimental examination of repatriation strategies for water snakes in the great lakes region. Roe, J. H. and B. A. Kingsbury. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, $37,642. Enriching the experience of captive reared water snakes: preparing headstarts for life in the wild. Roe, J. H. and B. A. Kingsbury. Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act Project, $48,090. If you build it and they won t come: an experimental examination of repatriation strategies for reptiles in the great lakes region. 4. Bibliography of notable current and past student accomplishments (also referenced above) a. Presentations iv. Invited Gibson, J. and B. A. Kingsbury. Effects of Prescribed Fire on the Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene c. carolina. Prescribed Fire, Herps, and Habitat Restoration. Battle Creek, Michigan, September 17, 2008. Roe, J.H. Maintenance of variation in response to environmental fluctuations: the terrestrial ecology of an Australian freshwater turtle. Indiana Purdue University, Fort Wayne, IN, February 2008. Roe, J.H. Habitat selection: lessons learned from Australian reptiles. Wofford College. Spartanburg, SC, November 2008. v. Contributed
DeGregorio, B. A. and B. A. Kingsbury. Response of Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes (Sistrurus c. catenatus) to Clear Cutting. IPFW Student Research & Creative Endeavor Symposium and Sigma Xi Student Research Competition, IPFW, Fort Wayne, April 19. Gibson, J. and B. A. Kingsbury. Effects of Prescribed Fire on the Eastern Box Turtle, Terrapene c. carolina. Eastern Massasauga Working Group. Lansing, Michigan, January 11, 2008. Morris, D.A. and M.A. Jordan. 2008. The impact of forest fragmentation on genetic variation and population structure of the Eastern Red Backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus). Student Research and Creative Endeavor Symposium, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne. 19 April 2008. Putman, B. J. and B. A. Kingsbury. Habitat use and spatial ecology of the Eastern Fox Snake. IPFW Student Research & Creative Endeavor Symposium and Sigma Xi Student Research Competition, IPFW, Fort Wayne, April 19. Brian won the Sigma Xi Best Paper award. Roe, J.H., M. Rees, and A. Georges. The urban ecology of the freshwater turtle, Chelodina longicollis, in the Australian Capitol Territory. The Society for Conservation Biology, Chattanooga, TN, July 2008. Smith, C. S. and B. A. Kingsbury. 2008. Hibernation Ecology of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) in Northern Michigan. Sixth World Congress of Herpetology, Manaus, Brazil. August 20, 2008. vi. General Audiences Roe, J.H. Venomous Snakes of Indiana. Indiana State Museum. Indianapolis IN, July 2008. Roe, J.H. Imperiled Reptiles of Indiana. Indiana State Museum. Indianapolis IN, July 2008. The following graduate students affiliated with the Herp Center graduated in 2008: Nick Bieser. 2008. Spatial Ecology and Survival of Resident Juvenile and Headstarted Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) in Northern Michigan. 74 pp. Brett DeGregorio. 2008. Response of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus c. catenatus) to Clear Cutting. 59 pp. Brian J. Putman. 2008. Habitat Use and Spatial Ecology of the Eastern Foxsnake (Pantherophis gloydi) in a Disturbed Landscape. 53 pp.
John Marshall. 2008. PhD. Population Genetics and Landscape Modeling in Water Snakes. Brian Putman won Best Presentation at Sigma Xi Student Research Conference, IPFW, April 19, 2008. E. Diversity 1. Student Recruitment and Retention The Herp Center website serves as both a community resource and advertising/public relations tool. Many people learn about IPFW after finding the Her Center web site. Consulting 5. Community Outreach Consultation in the form of professional services such as surveys remains intentionally limited, but advising and applied research activities are pervasive. Kingsbury continues as the species expert on the Copperbelly Watersnake. He completed the Copperbelly Water Snake Recovery Plan (mentioned above under Publications) with USFWS collaborator Carrie Tansy. The draft went out for peer review and public comment, and the Plan was finalized in 2008. Aside from the Recovery Plan itself, recovery efforts for the snake continue with state and federal agencies with copperbelly recovery planning and efforts in general via email, conference call, and meetings in Michigan and Ohio. An outcome of those interactions was an invitation to be a member of the Working Group to implement Strategic Habitat Conservation for Region 3 of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, including training in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Kingsbury was the only academic involved in these efforts. Working with this group should help Kingsbury interact with FWS personnel on copperbellies and other issues using the new model they have regarding accountability during conservation efforts. Kingsbury served as an advisor during the development of the Indigo Snake Conservation Action Plan in the Southeastern United States. Kingsbury is one of the species experts on the Advisory Board for Michigan s Eastern Massasauga Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances. The hope was to have this agreement in place in 2008, but the process lingers on. Kingsbury is a member of the Midwest Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) Advisory Board. The group is working on a variety of regional conservation efforts for herpetofauna. Mark Jordan is also participating with this group.
Kingsbury advised personnel regarding prescribed fire plans at Fort Custer National Guard Training Center, Battle Creek Michigan. Kingsbury continues to be a member of the amphibian and reptile Technical Advisory Committee for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Mark Jordan also participates with this group. Kingsbury, B. A. joined the Science Advisory Board of the Little River Wetlands Project. Kingsbury, B. A. wrote Massasauga Rattlesnakes. The ACRES Quarterly 47 (1): 12 13. Kingsbury, B. A., supervised Drake Arnold for the Northwest Allen County Schools PEAK Program 5 th grader. He wanted to learn about being a herpetologist. Roe, J. led Merry Lea Reptile and Amphibian Walk. Nature Explorers Group. Wolf Lake IN, April 2008.