2026 Annual Meeting Presentation Submissions

– ORAL PRESENTATION (15 MINUTES) –

(23 of 23 slots taken)
last updated 20 October 2026 08:24

Award Eligibility: (T: Toland Award); (C: Collins Award [2028]); (F: Ferraro).
These designations are tentative, as it can be difficult to determine eligibility from the title alone.

1. Reduced migration rates create a myriad of phylogeographic structure in Flying Dragons (Draco spilopterus).
*Regan L. Warren¹ (r504w480@ku.edu), Christian E. Supsup^1,2, Cameron D. Siler³, Rafe M. Brown¹, and Jimmy A. McGuire⁴
¹ Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, ²Aurora State College of Technology, Aurora Province, Philippines. ³University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma. ⁴University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California.

2. Accurately characterizing riverine turtle communities: Timing is everything. – (T)
*Derek L. Bateman¹ (dbateman1@uark.edu), Kevin B. Babbitt, Alexander Edmond, and Day B. Ligon²
¹University of Arkansas, ²Missouri State University

3. Biogeographic history and Bergmann’s Rule, not genetic isolation, drive genetic and morphological differentiation in Crawfish Frogs (Rana areolata). – (F)
*Neil R. Balchan¹, Owen M. Edwards^1,2, Yucheol Shin³, Kaleb M. Banks¹, Michael S. Reichert¹, Lisa N. Barrow⁴, and Damien Esquerré⁵
¹Department of Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, ²Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, ³Richard Gilder Graduate School and Department of Herpetology, American Museum of Natural History, New York City, New York, ⁴Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, ⁵University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW Australia.

4. Dots, lines, and lies: What does a species range map actually tell us?
*Travis W. Taggart (twtaggart@fhsu.edu)
Sternberg Museum of Natural History/The Center for North American Herpetology, Hays, Kansas

5. Habitat versus latitude: Who cares, it’s temperature, stupid!
*Travis R. Robbins (trobbins2@unomaha.edu), Jay Cleveland, Garret Peterson, and Owen D. Conroy
University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska

6. Clear as mud: Habitat usage of Yellow Mud Turtles (Kinosternon flavescens) in Nebraska.
*Megan Soldatke (mesoldatke@gmail.com), Jay Cleveland, Garret Peterson, and Owen D. Conroy
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska

7. Microhabitat use in Sceloporus consobrinus populations in Nebraska.
*Jay Cleveland (pcleveland@unomaha.edu)
University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska

8. Assessing putative hybridization between Graptemys pseudogeographica and G. ouachitensis populations in Kansas. – (F)
*Dawson Kosmicki (dvkosmicki@mail.fhsu.edu)
Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas

9. Thermal and maternal influences on hatchling body size across the geographic range of Sceloporus consobrinus.
*Garret P. Peterson (garretpeterson@unomaha.edu), Tiffany R. Hegdahl, Owen D. Conroy, Brandon Wolfsohn, Jay Cleveland, Benjamin D. Haussmann, and Travis R. Robbins
University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska

10. Integrative identification of a naturally occurring hybrid of a Mojave Rattlesnake (Crotalus scutulatus) x Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox).
*Amelia Coykendall (a_coykendall2@mail.fhsu.edu), Ed Meyers, and Jackson Roberts
Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas

11. All a’board’: How land management practices in a restored prairie impact the diversity and abundance of snakes.
*Jordan Adams (M255W488@wichita.edu), Jerod Thomas, Brett Riffel, Sydney Falcon, Krista Ward, Shania Burkhead-Harris, Dexter Mardis, Parker Binns, Molly Russell, and Thomas Luhring
Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas

12. The ‘silent’ half: Diversity, function, and the critical knowledge gap on female frog vocalizations.
*Johana Goyes Vallejos (jogoyes@missouri.edu), Erika M. Santana, and Angela Mendoza-Henao
University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri

13. Context-dependent vocal variation in the Emerald glass frog (Espadarana prosoblepon).
*Natalia Mejía Cepeda (nmejia@missouri.edu) and Johana Goyes Vallejos
University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri

14. Goodness graciosus: Genetic barcoding of Sceloporus lizards in Nebraska and Wyoming. – (F)
*Nicholas G. Kowal (nkowal2@huskers.unl.edu)
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska

15. Gopher Tortoise basking behavior response to disease. – (F)
*A. Proudfoot (q248u833@wichita.edu)
Archbold Biological Station, Venus, Florida

16. Ecological associations and competitive outcomes among gecko invaders in a large metropolitan city in Texas. – (T)
*Maddox P. Moran (maddox.moran@go.tarleton.edu) and Daniel F. Hughes
Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas

17. Citizen science at work: Using iNaturalist in the classroom.
*Tyler Balsters (tybalsters30@gmail.com)
Campus High School, Haysville, Kansas

18. Take a deep breath: Submersion and acclimation behavior in the Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii). – (T)
*Alex Rapp¹ (ar922s@login.missouristate.edu), Denise Thompson², Ben Thomas³, Ralph Simmons³, and Day B. Ligon¹
¹Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri; ²Drury University, Springfield, Missouri; ³Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery, Tishomingo, Oklahoma

19. High desert herps: An update on BLM Wyoming herp projects.
*Anthony E. Bridger (abridger@blm.gov )
Bureau of Land Management, Rawlins Field Office, Rawlins, Wyoming

20. How a lizard re-evolved its digits: Insights from comparative genomics.
*Taylor Probst¹ (taylor.s.probst-1@ou.edu), Gunter Wagner², Paul Frandsen³, Carlos Infante⁴, Brant Faircloth⁵, and Cameron Siler¹
¹University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma; ²Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; ³Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah; ⁴University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado; ⁵Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

21. Comparing wild juvenile cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) to captive-reared head-starts: Preliminary findings.
*Nathan D. Wendland (sonoran1995@gmail.com) and Brian D. Greene.
Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri.

22. Statewide call surveys reveal a rapid range expansion of the green treefrog (Hyla cinerea) in Oklahoma.
*Owen M. Edwards¹ (owenedwards@ou.edu), Kaleb M. Banks², Hannah P. Eichelberger³, Taylor S. Probst¹⁴, and Cameron Siler¹
¹Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma; ²Department of Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma; ³Sam Noble Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma.

23. Metamorphic reallocation: Compositional changes in the ionome of Lithobates sphenocephalus across ontogeny in variably filled wetlands. – (T)
*Jerod B. Thomas (jtho713@gmail.com), Jordan K. Adams, Parker L. Binns, Molly G. Russell, Clay Prater, and Thomas M. Luhring
Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas.

– LIGHTNING PRESENTATION (5 MINUTES) –

(9 of 10 slots taken)
last updated 20 October 2026 08:43

Award Eligibility: (T: Toland Award); (C: Collins Award [2028]); (F: Ferraro).
These designations are tentative, as it can be difficult to determine eligibility from the title alone.

1. The importance of implementing field opportunities in ecological curricula.
*Brady Baxter (bradybigfooter@gmail.com ) and Thomas Luhring
Wichita State University Department of Biological Sciences

2. The skin microbiome of Eurycea spelaea: Implications for amphibian health in the Western Grotto Salamander.
*Zoey Clower (pending)
McDonald County High School, Anderson, Missouri.

3. Presence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in anuran species in McDonald County, Missouri.
*Ellie Allgood (pending)
McDonald County High School, Anderson, Missouri.

4. Epidural swabbing for DNA as a method for monitoring a Plethodon species in the western Ozarks.
*Roland Wardlaw (pending)
McDonald County High School, Anderson, Missouri.

5. Potential Collection of Lithobates catesbeianus eDNA from Ozark Invertebrates.
*Abigail Richards (pending) and Lily Reeves
McDonald County High School, Anderson, Missouri.

6. Efficacy of different survey techniques when detecting Acris blanchardi.
*Dominick Trimble (pending)
McDonald County High School, Anderson, Missouri.

7. Observation by design: An experimental stream system for individual-level responses to chemical pulses. – (T)
*Hadley A. Copeland (hadley.copeland@uga.edu), John C. Maerz, and Peter D. Hazelton
University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.

8. Ecological and behavioral trends in relation to variable land management strategies in a population of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata).
*Kyra Jantzen (kyra.jantzen@washburn.edu) and Benjamin Reed
Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas.

9. Urban turtle assemblage and mark-recapture rates in an urban lake. – (T)
*R. Reed McClure (rxm6694@mavs.uta.edu) and Corey Roelke
University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas.

– POSTER PRESENTATIONS-

(29 of 35 slots taken)
last updated 20 October 2026 08:51

Award Eligibility: (F: Ferraro); (M: Meshaka).
These designations are tentative, as it can be difficult to determine eligibility from the title alone.

1. Investigating demographics and dynamics of a Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer) population after a rodent population surge. – (F)
*Evy Isom (eisom3@huskers.unl.edu) and *Matthew Flyr
Herpetology Lab, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska

2. Postmortem and genetic investigation of neoplasia in wild Prairie Lizards (Sceloporus consobrinus). – (F)
*Thi Tran (thitran@unomaha.edu)
Herpetology Lab, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska

3. Preliminary examination of burrowing and tail-display behaviors in Nebraska populations of the Prairie Lizard (Sceloporus consobrinus). – (M)
*Hunter Purvis (hpurvis@unomaha.edu)
Herpetology Lab, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska

4. Distinguishing ecological morphologies of the western milksnake (Lampropeltis gentilis) in Nebraska. – (M)
*Lucas Futey (lfutey@unomaha.edu) and Travis Robbins
Herpetology Lab, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska

5. Investigating the effect of substrate types on the survival of Prairie Ringneck Snakes (Diadophis punctatus arnyi). – (F)
*Emily Deming (edeming598@gmail.com) and Dennis Ferraro
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska

6. Utilizing the North American Snapping turtle as a sentinel species, assessing multi-generational impacts of “Forever Chemicals” in the Kansas Lakes. – (F)
*Satomi Kohno (s_kohno@fhsu.edu)
Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas

7. Occupancy analysis of Plestiodon obsoletus in Lancaster County, Nebraska. – (F)
*Owen Chaffin (ochaffin2@huskers.unl.edu)
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska

8. An illustrated catalog of the holotypes of caecilians (order: Gymnophiona) in the University of Kansas herpetology collection. – (M)
*Ava Viscek¹ (avaviscek@ku.edu) and Ana Motta^{1, 2}
¹University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas; ²University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, Ann Arbor, Michigan

9. Where the snakes settle: Testing microhabitat preferences using coverboard designs and camera monitoring. – (M)
*Jonnie Mahrt (jonnie46m@gmail.com) and Kendall Stemper
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska

10. Saving Mizzou’s frogs: Triage and transfer of an at-risk natural history collection. – (F)
*Gabriella Dutcher (gmdm9p@umsystem.edu) and Johana Goyes Vallejos
University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri

11. Out of their shells: Assessing and rehoming Testudines from the Dean Metter Herpetological Collection at the University of Missouri. – (F)
*Ashleigh Porter (ap7hx@missouri.edu) and Johana Goyes Vallejos
University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri

12. Using occupancy modeling to trace correlates of colonization in an invasive gecko: Hemidactylus turcicus on an urban campus in central Texas. – (F)
*Ellie Phelps (ellphelps127@gmail.com), Adam Smith, Hannah Thompson, Sarah Christensen, Kaylee Winegarner, Caralyn McCollum, Avery Chapple, Renee Garza, Maddox Moran, Bilal Mustafa, Emily Devine, Natalie Hall, Danielle Gonzales, and Daniel F. Hughes
Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas

13. Investigating the behavioral responses of Bullsnakes (Pituophis catenifer) to chemosensory stimuli. – (F)
*Sarah Springer (sespringer23@gmail.com)
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska

14. The snap that smiles back: Ontogeny of anatomy and performance in the Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina). – (F)
*Gavin Payne¹ (payneg001@mymail.mssu.edu ), Lillian Rand¹, Donnie Flowers¹, Julia Molnar², and David Penning¹
¹Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Missouri; ²New York Institute of Technology, New York, New York; ³University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri

15. Anomalous skinks and the efficacy of existing keys in Plestiodon identification in Kansas and Missouri
*Jonathan Johnson (johnsonj@ku.edu) and Rich Glor
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

16. Comparing trophic niches of freshwater turtles using stable isotopes and fecal analysis.
*Kaitlyn M. Bryant (kkt715@live.missouristate.edu), Kevin B. Babbitt, Riley L. Austin, and Day B. Ligon
Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri

17. Death of a Kansas rattlesnake den, and how we can prevent it in the future.
*Cody Van Dyke (c13vandyke@yahoo.com)
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

18. Slope and aspect of Crotalus observations across the contiguous United States
*Sam Harrison samfharrison@outlook.com) and Richard Glor
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

19. Variation of testes morphology in casque-headed tree frogs (Anura: Hylidae: Lophiohylini).
*Lauren McKinley (laurenmckinley@ku.edu), Ana Motta, and Victor Goyannes Dill Orrico
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

20. Shell shocked: Turtle rehabilitation and the confiscation crisis. – (F)
*Ashlyn Kanakis, Natalie Rodriguez, Josephine Crisp, Keely Keeton, Kaitlyn Keller, David Penning (penning-d@mssu.edu)
Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Missouri

21. Ranging behavior and exploration tendencies in Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata) in western Nebraska.
*Shailey Holland (shailey.holland@washburn.edu), Nathan Consbruck, Emily McCrackine, Cade Thompson, Emma Wertz, Evvie Yendra, and Benjamin Reed
Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas

22. Risk runs downstream: Non-target salamander responses to forest pest management. – (M)
*Hadley A. Copeland (hadley.copeland@uga.edu), Rachael M. Bryson, John C. Maerz, Elizabeth McCarty, and Peter D. Hazelton
University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia

24. Beyond venom and constriction: Bite performance and trophic ecology in the genus Drymarchon.
*David Penning (penning-d@mssu.edu)and Johnathan Evenson
Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Missouri

25. Examining the relationship between resource availability and home range philopatry in Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata).
*Caroline LeJuerrne (caroline.lejuerrne@washburn.edu), Grace Peterson, and Benjamin Reed
Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas

26. Chonk census: Counting Arkansas Alligator Snapping Turtles. – (M)
*Kevin B. Babbitt (kbb76e@missouristate.edu), Riley L. Austin, Derek L. Bateman, and Day B. Ligon
Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri

27. Investigating potential causes behind isolated mass die-off in Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata) study population.
*Serena Schmitz (serena.schmitz@washburn.edu) and Benjamin Reed
Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas

28. Developing DNA profiling for Ornate Box Turtles.
*Myrrah Awwad (myrrah.awwad@washburn.edu ), Anna Gaito, Benjamin Reed, and Joan Klages
Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas

29. Examining drivers of Ornate Box Turtle ranging activity: A supplemental feeding study. – (M)
*Peyton Samek (peytonsamek@gmail.com), Jadyn Falley, Brookelynn Powell, Grace Peterson, Caroline LeJuerrne, Sage Dennis, August Weishaar-Wilson, Erin Carter, Kyra Jantzen, Ash Van Dalsem, Serena Schmitz, and Benjamin Reed
Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas