Modeling the Extirpation of Carolina Gopher Frogs in South Carolina
In light of Carolina Gopher Frog (Rana capito) population declines and the species’ review for federal protection under the Endangered Species Act, we initiated an acoustic monitoring program at historical gopher frog breeding locations in South Carolina. In collaboration with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and with support of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the goals of the current study are to use remotely sensed acoustic anuran call data and gopher frog absence from historical breeding sites to assess extirpation at a regional scale.
Eastern Hellbender Occupancy and Monitoring
The Marshall University Herpetology and Applied Conservation Lab started a long-term monitoring program for hellbenders using mark-recapture techniques in 1998. Current hellbender research in our lab is partnered with the Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy and the USDA Forest Service. In collaboration with the Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy and the USDA Forest Service, we are working in two national forests (Monongahela National Forest and Wayne National Forest) using environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling and traditional monitoring techniques to quantify causes of hellbender extirpation.
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake and Fox Squirrel Translocation to Restoration Areas
This project is being conducted in collaboration with the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island (MCRDPI), Nemours Wildlife Foundation, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. The goal of the project is to examine the conservation utility of eastern diamondback rattlesnake and fox squirrel translocations in pine savanna restoration areas.
Long-term Amphibian and Reptile Monitoring in the South Carolina Coastal Plain
Student Participants:
Marshall University Herpetology & Applied Conservation Lab: Kelli Herrick, Marcie Cruz, Elise Edwards, Derek Breakfield, Brian Williams, Nate Shepard, and Kevin Messenger. University of South Carolina: Jennifer Fill and Mike Martin Funding for this project was provided by South Carolina DNR, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, National Wildlife Federation, and The Gopher Tortoise Council. |
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Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Monitoring (Coastal Populations)

Human population growth and land development near the wildland-urban interface creates conservation and management challenges. Since 2008, Dr. Waldron and Dr. Welch have been monitoring a coastal eastern diamondback rattlesnake (C. adamanteus; EDB) population to examine questions about human-rattlesnake conflicts. Although project goals have changed over the years, the research uses radio telemetry and mark-recapture data to address management and conservation issues. Current research activities include:
1) Developing a regionally applicable assessment of EDB responses to military training
practices for the Department of Defense.
2) Examining EDB survival and movement ecology.
3) Using a GIS and spatially explicit models to examine habitat use and movement ecology of
free-ranging EDBs experiencing novel landscape dynamics relative to pre-treatment and
control data.
4) Using 24-hr telemetry to examine questions about the effects of anthropogenic activity on
EDB movement patterns.
Collaborators: John Holloway (Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island), Tim Harrington (Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island), Ernie Wiggers (Nemours Wildlife Foundation), Beau Bowers (Nemours Wildlife Foundation).
Student Participants:
Marshall University Herpetology & Applied Conservation Lab: Brad O'Hanlon, Jonathon Cooley, Berlynna Heres
University of South Carolina: Mike Martin, Jennifer Fill, Jennifer Allison, Heathery Oswald, Joseph Colbert
Funding for this research was provided by DoD Legacy, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Office (Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island), and Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.
1) Developing a regionally applicable assessment of EDB responses to military training
practices for the Department of Defense.
2) Examining EDB survival and movement ecology.
3) Using a GIS and spatially explicit models to examine habitat use and movement ecology of
free-ranging EDBs experiencing novel landscape dynamics relative to pre-treatment and
control data.
4) Using 24-hr telemetry to examine questions about the effects of anthropogenic activity on
EDB movement patterns.
Collaborators: John Holloway (Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island), Tim Harrington (Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island), Ernie Wiggers (Nemours Wildlife Foundation), Beau Bowers (Nemours Wildlife Foundation).
Student Participants:
Marshall University Herpetology & Applied Conservation Lab: Brad O'Hanlon, Jonathon Cooley, Berlynna Heres
University of South Carolina: Mike Martin, Jennifer Fill, Jennifer Allison, Heathery Oswald, Joseph Colbert
Funding for this research was provided by DoD Legacy, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Office (Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island), and Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.
The Marshall University Herpetology and Applied Conservation Lab acknowledges the following organizations for supporting our South Carolina research projects.
The effects of trails and roads on Cheat Mountain Salamander (Plethodon nettingi) movement, survival, and abundance

This project was initiated in response to concerns about the effects of maintenance and construction of recreational trails and roads in the Monongahela National Forest on Cheat Mountain Salamander (CMS; Plethodon nettingi) populations. The CMS is a federally threatened species endemic to high elevation habitats in the Allegheny Mountains, West Virginia. Because preliminary data suggest that high-use trails fragmented CMS populations (Pauley 2005), our objective was to examine the effects of recreational trails and gated, gravel roads within the Monongahela National Forest on CMS movement, survival, and abundance. Specifically, we examined the effects of three treatments (i.e., gated roads, high-use trails, low- to moderate-use trails) on these parameters. The results of this study will be used to develop recommendations for trail and road management/maintenance in CMS habitat within the Monongahela National Forest.
Principal Investigators: Thomas Pauley and Jayme Waldron
Collaborators: Catherine Johnson, USDA Forest Service
Student Participants:
Marshall University Herpetology and Applied Conservation Lab: Nathan Shepard, Kevin Messenger, Katie Murphy
Funding for the project was provided by the USDA Forest Service (Monongahela National Forest).
Principal Investigators: Thomas Pauley and Jayme Waldron
Collaborators: Catherine Johnson, USDA Forest Service
Student Participants:
Marshall University Herpetology and Applied Conservation Lab: Nathan Shepard, Kevin Messenger, Katie Murphy
Funding for the project was provided by the USDA Forest Service (Monongahela National Forest).