Presentations and Posters Submitted

SUBMITTED TITLES: (last updated 23 October 2024 @ 0946)

– ORAL PRESENTATIONS –

1. Slowpoke cider: Raising a glass to conservation and herps
Monica Macoubrie* (email)
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, Nebraska

— The release of Slowpoke Cider represents more than just the launch of a unique craft beverage—it marks a powerful collaboration between Glacial Till and Nebraska Game and Parks, celebrating the intersection of conservation, community, and craft. This special event brings attention to Nebraska’s often-overlooked herpetofauna, particularly turtles, whose slow yet steady nature inspired the name “Slowpoke.” Through this partnership, we aim to raise awareness about the vital role reptiles play in our ecosystems, the threats they face, and the ongoing efforts to protect these species. Join us in toasting to both the preservation of Nebraska’s wildlife and the craft of sustainable, locally inspired cider.

2. Evaluating photo recognition as a mark-recapture tool in Lesser Sirens (Siren intermedia)
Jacob Kearns* (email), Sydney Falcon, Megan Flanagan, and Thomas M. Luhring
Wichita State University, Wild Animal Initiative, Wichita, Kansas

— Understanding population dynamics is critical for effective conservation efforts, particularly as environmental pressures such as habitat loss and climate change intensify. Traditional mark-recapture methods, though valuable for estimating population size, survival rates, and movement patterns, often rely on invasive techniques that may harm the animals being studied or affect their natural behaviors. To address this, non-invasive alternatives such as photo-recognition software have been developed, particularly for large mammals. However, in recent years, its use for smaller more cryptic species has been investigated, though mostly in the lab. This study investigates the efficacy of photo-recognition on small cryptic species in a field setting using Hotspotter, a photo-recognition software, and the lesser siren (Siren intermedia) across three manmade ponds. Using Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags as redundant marks, we analyzed the software’s ability to match individuals over two seasons (2023 and 2024). False Acceptance Rate (FAR) and False Rejection Rate (FRR) were calculated to assess the accuracy of HotSpotter across different ponds. Results demonstrated a strong matching ability, with overall FAR at 1.6% and FRR at 5.5% with the majority of the false rejections occurring in a single pond. However, matching accuracy decreased over time, particularly for individuals recaptured after extended periods. Our findings suggest that while HotSpotter is a promising tool for short-term studies, time between captures can impact its long-term reliability. The integration of redundant PIT-tag marking provided an effective solution to mitigate these limitations. This study highlights the potential of photo-recognition software as a non-invasive alternative for mark-recapture studies of small cryptic species, offering a cost-effective and ethical method for population monitoring.

3. From drying to thriving: The effects of drying-induced trophic cascades on larval salamander development
Shania Burkhead-Harris* (email)
Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas

— Many studies have been conducted on the effects of active drying on amphibian development, however, little is known on what carry-over effects there may be from previous drying events. Previous drying and density have an interaction effect, with density determining the body size of anurans following a drying event. By combining factors of previous drying and densities of the larval salamander, Ambystoma texanum, we will attempt to identify how drought-induced trophic cascades affect the overall development of salamanders and wetland trophic structures. Using mesocosms, we combined 4 density treatments (10, 20, 40, and 80 individuals) with 2 drying treatments (Non-dried and Dried-Refilled) to create 8 treatment combinations (n=64). We recorded larval A. texanum vital rates (e.g., growth, development, survival), (2) odonate abundance and size, and (3) gross primary productivity. Previous drying significantly increased survival of larval A. texanum due to the loss of top predators, with only one survivor in the non-dried mesocosms. In dried-refilled tanks, growth and development rate, time to metamorphosis, and size at metamorphosis were negatively correlated with density. Odonates (larval dragonflies) were much smaller and less abundant following refill. GPP was also lower following a refill, however, higher larval salamander densities accelerated GPP recovery and more quickly surpassed GPP of non-dry mesocosms due to top-down control of zooplankton. We found supporting evidence that drying and refilling leads to loss of top-level predators and increasingly strong density-dependent responses of vital rates. Our findings suggest that larval A. texanum require intermittent pools for successful reproduction and that the carryover effects of drying are not the same for all amphibians. This study highlights the need to understand taxa-specific responses to previously dried pools.

4. Return of the (Lithobates) blairi
Thomas Luhring* (email)
Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas

— Imagine two nearly identical wetlands with raging choruses of frogs. Now imagine they have had different hydrological regimes. Perhaps (maybe likely) they both still look the same. Nearly all studies on the effects of drying investigate what happens to the things that are in the water as it is disappearing. Sirens estivate, fish die, tadpoles metamorphose or join the fishes. Studies generally end there with the immediately obvious changes. Our lab investigates the aftermath of drying when water returns to a system. Some of these findings force us to reconsider what we thought we knew about drying-rewetting cycles and their impacts on amphibians. In this talk, I touch on the take-homes of our work related to fitness consequences for amphibians colonizing previously dried wetlands. Then I’ll introduce the effects of drying cycles on the elemental composition of aquatic systems and their interactions with amphibians. I promise it will be more interesting than your undergrad chemistry lab where you add two beakers of clear liquids to make a white precipitate.

5. From fear to feast: Investigating rattlesnake foraging strategies under a landscape of fear through 3D-printed snake replicas, telemetry, and machine learning
Océane Da Cunha*, Rio P. Dominguez, L. Miles Horne, Joshua J. Mead, Corentin Fournier, Jerry D. Johnson, and Brett M. Seymoure (email)
University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas

— According to optimal foraging theory, mesopredators should forage in areas where their prey is abundant while avoiding high predation risk. Previous research suggests that the landscape of fear affects the foraging decisions of individuals. Here, we investigate how environmental factors influence mesopredators abilities to minimize spatiotemporal overlap with predators while increasing spatiotemporal overlap with prey. We paired 30 biologically accurate 3D-printed replicas of western diamond-backed rattlesnakes (Crotalus atrox) with game cameras in West Texas for two years to estimate the spatiotemporal factors affecting prey availability and predation risk. Concurrently, 25 Crotalus atrox were radiotracked at the same site to gather activity and microhabitat selection data regarding free ranging individuals. Random forest algorithms were trained using data obtained from the game camera and applied to predict the probability of predation and the probability of prey encounter for each radiotracking event. Time of day, month, vegetation structure, and concealment percentage all had a significant effect on the probability of predation and the probability of prey encounter. Rattlesnakes chose to be active when and where the probability of prey encounter was significantly higher than the probability of detection by predators, thus following optimal foraging theory.

6. Dam good amphibian conservation in south-central Pennsylvania
Walter E. Meshaka, Jr.*, and Eugene H. Wingert (email)
WEM- State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; EHW- Dickinson College

— We conducted a survey of amphibians and reptiles along roads at night at Gettysburg National Military Park during 16 March–26 October 2021. We detected nine amphibian and one reptile species in 19 visits among nine transects totaling 142.69 Km. The Eastern American Toad, Anaxyrus americanus americanus, and the Northern Green Frog, Lithobates clamitans melanotus, each accounted for nearly 40% of all encounters. Among anurans, the highest number of species heard calling and the highest relative abundances of all but one species was at a site associated with a recently constructed beaver pond. Calling activity and number of species calling was greatest in April. For all species combined, numbers of adults were highest in April, roads in April, July–August among juveniles, and August of all individuals. Our findings provide much needed herpetofaunal ecological data for the region, provide spatial and temporal abundance data that are useful in the conservation of species in a protected natural resource, and corroborate the value of beaver ponds to several species of anurans.

7. Message in a jar: The role of natural history collections in documenting biodiversity and evolutionary changes
Ana Motta* (email)
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

— Natural History Collections (NHC) are biodiversity libraries, documenting life on Earth. The specimens housed in NHC represent communities that existed at specific locations and times, providing insights into past environments, including habitat conditions, population distributions, and phenotypic traits. Accompanied by associated metadata, specimens offer a baseline for detecting changes over time and space and ensure that research is verifiable and repeatable. Over the years, the use of specimens has evolved significantly from early taxonomic work based on external morphology, to systematics, evolutionary biology, conservation biology, and climate change studies. The Herpetological Collection at KU is the fourth largest collection in the world and supports both national and international research that relies on NHC. With more than 25,000 specimens from Kansas, dating back to 1886, this collection is also an instrumental resource to understand the state’s herpetofauna. The terrestrial vertebrate divisions at KU conduct a resurvey project aimed at understanding how the communities of birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles have evolved in Kansas. By comparing historical records with current species richness and distribution, we investigate how a rise in temperature over the past 100 years has affected these communities. Key questions include: Have species shifted their distributions? Have their reproductive periods changed? Did they respond equally to temperature increases? Such inquiries can only be addressed using historical specimens, and the current collections will be crucial for future research. The most rewarding aspect of managing NHC is witnessing the emergence of new scientific questions and innovative ways to address them using NHC. By investigating the past with collections and collecting specimens for present understanding, we contribute to future applications of our collections in ways we cannot yet imagine.

8. Message from the jar received: Building collaboration between Kansas’ rich repositories to facilitate and drive Kansas herpetology forward
Jackson R. Roberts* (email)
Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas

— The herpetological collections of the KU Biodiversity and Natural History Museum (Lawrence) and the Sternberg Museum of Natural History (Hays) provide invaluable archives of this state’s rich herpetofauna and herpetological history. Archiving the past is a major role of collections and their managers, but collections’ relevancy does not solely rely on the past or the questions related to the it. The users and managers of collections should consider these repositories as necessities for all our futures. Collecting in the year 2024, both through salvage and live-caught fauna, is more relevant and necessary than ever. The continued growth of collections benefits this academic society, the quality of herpetological science, and the quality of outreach with the public. Whether it is through origin tracking of introduced rattlesnakes, surveying of parasites infecting Kansas reptiles and amphibians, or investigating how continued Kansas land use influences population genomics and gene flow, these and limitless other questions within Kansas herpetology are not possible without continued collecting within the Extended Specimen Philosophy of museum science. Please join this discussion on the Sternberg Museum’s rich herpetological history and my research, outreach, and student recruitment plans moving forward as the manager of the herpetology collection of the Great Plains.

9. The return of Alligator Snapping Turtles to their former range in Kansas
J. Daren Riedle*¹, Day B. Ligon², and Trevor Starks¹ (email)
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

— The Neosho and Verdigris rivers were once major corridors for movement of Alligator Snapping Turtles between Oklahoma and Kansas. Historic harvest and the proliferation of impoundments in both states resulted in highly fragmented and reduced populations. Alligator Snapping Turtles have long been considered extirpated from Kansas. The last known living Alligator Snapping Turtle in Kansas was outfitted with transmitters and released in 1991 and has not been located since 1992. A series of surveys were conducted in Kansas from 2016-2020, but no individuals were captured. In concert with these survey efforts a Programmatic Agreement, which includes a Safe Harbor Agreement and Candidate Conservation Agreement, that allows our agency to enter into agreements with private landowners. Using habitat information collected during survey work several interested landowners with adequate habitat were identified and agreed to come on as signatories to our programmatic agreement. Between 2024-25, 100 Alligator Snapping Turtles between 4-10 years of age, are slated to be released within the Neosho River drainage. A subset of these turtles will be monitored via radio-telemetry. Depending on the success of the initial releases, future releases will be planned for the Verdigris River drainage.

10. We all drift down here: Modified minnow traps to increase capture rates of Mudpuppies (Necturus maculosus)
Zachary Schneider* and Dr. Alexis Powell (email)
Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas

— In North America, the Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) has the largest distribution of any fully aquatic salamander species. It is found in both lotic and lentic waters. This organism has potential to serve as an indicator of water quality and ecological health, being widespread in eastern North America, a top-level predator, and spending its entire life cycle in water. Although sometimes abundant, none of the methods for finding mudpuppies (e.g. electroshocking, seining, Briggler’s traps, Gee’s minnow traps, trotline) is very successful, trap capture rates being 0.020–0.045 individuals per trap night. A reliable capture method would make many potential studies of the Mudpuppy more successful or feasible (e.g. of distribution, population sizes, physical health) as they are currently impractical. My aim is to develop a better live-trap for mudpuppies by modifying the standardized Gee’s minnow trap, which is widely available, relatively inexpensive, and easy to transport and work with in the field. I am modifying each trap so that its interior might be perceived as a potential hiding spot. Some traps will also have drift fences on both ends to guide mudpuppies into the trap. Non-modified Gee’s minnow traps serve as my control. I am testing these trap designs at Melvern and Pomona lakes. Preliminary results will be discussed.

11. Hop, skip, and a hump: Multiple lines of evidence reveal contemporary hybridization among three sympatric ranid frogs despite strong post-zygotic enforcement
Owen M. Edwards*, Neil R. Balchan, Kaleb M. Banks, Fabio A. Machado, Michael S. Reichert, Bo Zhang, and Damien Esquerré (email)
University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Biological Survey, Norman, Oklahoma

— During the breeding season, male anurans utilize advertisement signals to attract mates. However, in many scenarios, mate signaling and subsequent reproduction can occur in shared bodies of water in which numerous different species congregate and reproduce at the same time. As a result, natural hybridization between closely related species is not uncommon, and can have major consequences on fitness and evolutionary processes. The Crawfish Frog (Rana areolata) is a secretive anuran that has disjunct distribution in the southern and midwestern United States. Over the last 50 years, there has been a rapid and ongoing population decline of these frogs in many states in their range, largely attributed to habitat loss and landscape changes. We conducted population monitoring using drift fences and pitfall traps in a breeding population of R. areolata in Oklahoma. During the first year of the study, we discovered individual putative R. areolata hybrids at our study pond: one breeding adult resembling R. palustris x R. areolata, and another breeding adult resembling R. sphenocephala x R. areolata. Here, we confirm the status of these hybrid individuals using 1) cranial morphology via microCT scanning and 2) genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data. Hybrid skulls represent phenotypic intermediates between parental populations, and preliminary analysis of SNP data indicate that both hybrid individuals are F1 crosses (with R. palustris a R. sphenocephala respectively). Our data confirm the ability of R. areolata to hybridize with congeners in a wild population, and offer the first documentation of hybridization occurring in R. areolata. We demonstrate that contemporary gene flow may be important for divergent ranid frogs, and suggest that associated conservation implications may be present.

12. Wading in the WAVeforms: Acoustic survey of Anurans on Fort Leavenworth Military Reservation
Khloee L. Braun*, Nora K. Lazerus, and William J. Stark (email)
Department of Biological Sciences, Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas

— Spring Peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) and Crawfish Frogs (Lithobates areolatus) are uncommon species in Kansas that have ranges near or historically included at Fort Leavenworth Military Reservation. Accordingly, acoustic surveys were conducted using automated recording devices (ARDs) to determine if these target species were present on base. Surveys were conducted across 19 sites spanning both floodplain and upland habitats. Furthermore, call data supports existing herpetofauna surveys by including the detection of non-target anuran species. Spring Peepers and Crawfish Frogs were not identified, but seven other anuran species were detected across FLMR at ephemeral pools and permanent bodies of water.

13. Quantifying strike performance and venom delivery in Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
David Penning*, Nathan Piccoli, Kylie Atkinson, Grace Chang, Veronica Nguyen, and Brian Greene (email)
Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Missouri

— Body size plays a major role in all aspects of an organism’s life history. Smaller individuals are often at a disadvantage compared to their larger counterparts when competing for food or when confronted with potential threats. Body size also plays a significant role in an organism’s ability to acquire food and defend against potential predators. Therefore, size-dependent changes in behavior and performance are common. Some organisms change behaviors entirely or display disproportionately high levels of performance for their size. Here, using high-speed cameras, we investigate the impacts of body size on the strike performance and venom yield in the semi-aquatic pitviper, Agkistrodon piscivorus (n=40). Further, we explore the proximate determinates of venom delivery by measuring venom yield in combination with strike biomechanics. A. piscovorus are able to strike very quickly (0.058 ± 0.01 sec.) over variable distances (range=4.8–18.6 cm). Larger snakes strike over greater absolute distances than smaller snakes, but use less of their body, resulting in lower relative strike distances in larger snakes compared to smaller individuals. Snakes struck with high velocities (max = 2.96 ± 0.43 m/s) and accelerations (max = 231.6 ± 92.3 m/s2), independent of body mass. Bite durations (0.18 ± 0.15 sec.) were not related to body mass but were a significant predictor of venom yield (range = 0.002–0.28 g). Our data show that venom yield is positively and significantly related three primary factors; body mass, bite duration, and average strike acceleration.

14. Can you take me higher: Consideration of elevation in montane rattlesnake home ranges
Joshua J. Mead*, Océane Da Cunha, L. Miles Horne, Elizabeth A. La Rue, and Jerry D. Johnson (email)
Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso

— Spatial ecological features are vital to our understanding of a species natural history. While various estimators are used, traditionally most herpetological studies only consider two dimensional home ranges. These estimators are appropriate for species that inhabit areas with little topographical relief, but may overlook a significant component of the spatial ecology of a species or individual in more varied landscapes. We used radio-telemetry to track Western Diamond-backed (Crotalus atrox), Eastern Black-tailed (C. ornatus), and the Rock Rattlesnakes (C. lepidus) at the Indio Mountains Research Station in West Texas. Two-dimensional home ranges were calculated and then clipped to a digital elevation map, resulting into three-dimensional home ranges for each of the 28 individuals. Consideration of elevation changes the results between these species, especially when only males were considered.

15. Baby got bite: Strike kinematics of the durophagus Northern Giant Musk Turtle (Staurotypus triporcatus)
Thomas M. Zapeltal*¹, Larissa Saarel¹, Donald T. McKnight^1,2, David A. Penning³, and Day B. Ligon^1,2 (email)
¹Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri; ²Belize Turtle Ecology Lab, Savanna Field Station, La Democracia, Belize District, Belize; ³Department of Biology, Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Missouri

— Strike kinematics (e.g., bite force, lunge acceleration and velocity) are important in many ecological contexts, including territoriality, inter- or intrasexual competition, foraging, and defensive mechanisms to dissuade or escape predators. For different taxa and different contexts, producing a strong bite force or quick lunge acceleration may increase the success of prey acquisition and enhance defensive behavior. The Northern Giant Musk Turtle (Staurotypus triporcatus) inhabits a wide range of wetlands throughout much of Central America and faces frequent predation attempts from crocodiles (Crocodylus moreletii and C. acutus). Further, their diet consists largely of hard-shelled prey items including mussels, various snails, and seeds from the palm family, potentially resulting in megacephaly. Using a force transducer and high-speed camera, we investigate maximum bite performance, lunge acceleration, and lunge velocity of Northern Giant Musk Turtles (n = 64). To test the full scope of these strike biomechanics we sampled individuals across a broad size spectrum and from five populations. We found that this species produces a high maximum bite force in comparison to other turtle taxa such as the Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii). While bite force scales positively with head height and straight carapace length, it does not vary among populations or sexes despite apparent morphological differences among populations. However, latency to strike did vary among populations but strike latency did not affect other aspects of bite performance. Our data demonstrate that for this species, maximum bite force increases predictably with size, expressed as straight carapace length. Finally, we hypothesize that selection for the greater bite force exhibited by this species relative to Alligator Snapping Turtles may be a reflection of interspecific differences in skull and jaw morphology.

16. The diet of the Northern Giant Musk Turtle (Staurotypus triporcatus), a durophagous turtle
Thomas M. Zapeltal*¹, Larissa Saarel¹, Donald T. McKnight^1,2, and Day B. Ligon^1,2 (email)
¹Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri; ²Belize Turtle Ecology Lab, Savanna Field Station, La Democracia, Belize District, Belize

— Belize is home to nine species of freshwater and terrestrial turtles, many of which are listed as Critically Endangered, Vulnerable, or Near Threatened, chiefly due to overharvesting for consumption. The Northern Giant Musk Turtle (Staurotypus triporcatus) is an unusually charismatic species that has nonetheless received scant recent study. The species is primarily carnivorous, inhabits a wider range of wetland types, and resides in terrestrial habitats for part of the year. The published literature concerning this species’ diet is limited, both in the range of studies conducted and in geographic scope. To better understand this species’ ecological role and trophic position, we elected to conduct parallel studies of diet and strike kinematics. To investigate variation in these traits we worked in five populations – three inhabiting systems with typically turbid water and two occupying systems with relatively better water clarity. Both pre- (stomach flushing’s) and post-digested (fecal samples) diet samples were obtained from individuals and combined for analyses to characterize the full scope of the diet. Our data indicate that, while this species’ diet consists largely of mussels, various snails, and seeds from trees of the palm family, it includes iguanas, turtles, and seeds from various other tree families, as well. Further, diet varies from population to population and between sexes; however, it does not vary between seasons (rainy vs. dry). This diet plasticity allows them to inhabit wider ranges of habitat types than would be feasible for species with more restricted diets.

17. Quantifying the effects of prey mass on blood glucose in Lampropeltis getula
Isra Khan* and David A. Penning (email)
Department of Biology, Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Missouri

— Snakes are highly adaptable, ectothermic predators that have complex digestive systems and diverse physiological processes. While snake digestive and feeding behavior have been studied extensively, little work has been done on snake hematology, and it is unknown how blood glucose varies by the feeding habit of the animal. Snakes are known to modify their digestive and overall metabolic processes in response to different prey sizes, and suffer an energy cost when doing so, due to the SDA effect. In theory, this means meals are only favorable when gain is larger than cost. The goal of the study is to determine the relationship between prey volume and blood glucose level, which will inform meal size favorability. The use of glucometers has been robustly validated to measure glucose in snakes. To collect blood in repeated measurements, a novel capillary puncture technique was employed at the cloaca, using the effect of gravity on circulation. This method can be employed in the field and on any species, maximizing animal welfare and hematological data. A high-metabolism snake, Lampropeltis getula, was fed 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% of their body weight on a randomized bi-weekly schedule (n=11 snakes). Plasma glucose was measured immediately, 8 hours, and 24 hours post-feeding. Results found statistically significant elevations in glucose in the 15% and 20% (high-volume) groups, but no elevation in the 5% and 10% (low-volume) groups. The understanding of meal favorability will produce an understanding of risk-taking behavior and tropic activity of snakes in ecology.

18. Christmas everyday: A preliminary look at what to expect at Christmas Mountains near Big Bend National Park
Thornton Larson* (email)
Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas

— The Christmas Mountains, a small mountain range adjacent to Big Bend National Park, have remained under surveyed despite being part of the Texas State University System since 2011. Due to the remote location and restrictions imposed by conservation easements, few scientific studies have been conducted beyond occasional collections for genetic research. Limited records from the property exist even from community-based contributions such as iNaturalist. Over the next several years, with the involvement of students and available resources, I aim to conduct a comprehensive inventory of the herpetofauna inhabiting the Christmas Mountains and assess species distribution across the landscape. My expectations reflect what has currently been seen and inventories conducted in the nearby areas, namely some of the dryer mountains of Big Bend National Park. Targeting areas of high species richness and rare species through a combination of foot searches and scattered pitfall trap arrays, I aim to increase the known herpetological biodiversity of the Christmas Mountains.

19. Baby, it’s cold outside: The effects of temperature on turtle capture efficacy in Oklahoma
Derek L. Bateman*, Tessa N. Irvine, Kevin Babbitt, Alexander Edmond, and Day B. Ligon (email)
Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri

— Turtle communities have become of increasing interest for assessing conditions in aquatic ecosystems and are of especially great value at sites where historical data are available for assessing trends and shifts in community structure. Turtle community surveys are often executed over short time intervals at similar times of year, and results are presumed to accurately reflect size, sex, and species composition of a community. Because of the limited distribution of survey efforts, however, biases in capture rates due to season and climatic conditions may be easily missed. In this study, we trapped throughout the year to determine whether variation in season or water temperature influenced results. We conducted monthly trapping surveys in two species-rich tributaries of the Neosho River in northeastern Oklahoma. Each trapping session typically spanned 2–3 nights of trapping and totaled 30–80 trap-nights of survey effort. We used 0.9-m and 1.2-m diameter hoop nets hung with 2.5-cm mesh and baited with thawed fish or sardines and supplemented with smaller diameter spring traps to survey shallower waters. From February to October 2024, we have captured 1600 turtles in 550 net nights and preliminary results suggest that species composition and sex ratios of captured turtles varied seasonally. At this point in the study, however, it remains unclear whether time of year or water temperature is a better predictor of survey success. Red-eared Sliders heavily influenced overall capture rates and were the dominant species captured in every month; however, detection rates of some genera, such as map turtles (Graptemys spp.) and softshell turtles (Apalone spp.), varied greatly across months and temperature regimes. We anticipate that results from this study will reveal strategies for accurately describing turtle community composition, generating unbiased population size and sex ratio estimates and identifying optimum times of year to target individual species of interest.

20. Behavioral variation in prey handling with respect to prey species and body temperature effects on post-strike trailing in cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus)
Bryce F. Jarrett*, Brian D. Greene, Samantha Grove, Alyssa Owens, and Christopher Watson (email)
Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri

— The foraging strategy of vipers is typically characterized by a sequence of behaviors known as strike-induced chemosensory searching (SICS), where prey are struck and envenomated, released, trailed and consumed. An increase in the post-strike tongue flicking rate (TFR) of vipers facilitates the location and trailing of prey chemical cues. Although snakes typically release envenomated rodents – presumably to avoid retaliatory injuries – harmless prey (e.g. frogs and small lizards), or those that may not deposit a scent trail (e.g. birds) are likely to be held post-strike. Additionally, while it is known that body temperature greatly impacts the performance of reptiles, no studies examining the efficacy of post-strike scent trailing in relation to body temperature have been performed. I conducted two foraging experiments on cottonmouth snakes (Agkistrodon piscivorus) to determine if prey capture behavior varied across three ecologically relevant live prey types: fish (Pimephales spp.), frogs (Acris crepitans), and mice (Mus musculus). I measured whether prey were held post-strike, pre- and post-strike tongue flick rates, and whether prey were consumed alive or dead. I also conducted an experiment in which I measured the post-strike scent trailing efficacy of seven cottonmouth snakes after striking mice at three different ecologically relevant body temperatures. Harmless and un-trailable prey types were held post-strike and consumed alive while mice tended to be released post-strike and were consumed dead. Post-strike TFRs were lower at lower body temperatures, but body temperature did not significantly impact trailing efficacy during SICS. Snakes exhibited significantly more exploratory behavior at lower body temperatures and significantly less exploratory behavior at higher body temperatures during SICS. These findings provide insight into the dynamic foraging behaviors of pit vipers and offer a greater understanding about how body temperature impacts their foraging.

21. Evaluating translocation strategies for box turtles in urbanizing landscapes
Elizabeth Hays*, Ethan J. Royal, Ethan C. Hollender, and J.D. Willson (email)
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas

— Translocation is a common management strategy for wildlife populations, yet hard-release of reptiles, including box turtles (Terrapene spp.), has often proven ineffective due to homing attempts and wandering. Soft-release translocation has been presented as a possible method for mitigation of the negative effects of hard-release translocation, but studies incorporating standard soft-release strategies have produced mixed results and often see persistent homing attempts by soft-released study animals. We examined long-term holding (>1 year) of box turtles prior to translocation as a means to reduce homing attempts and wandering commonly observed in immediate-release box turtles. We radiotracked translocated Three-toed Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina triunguis) to compare movements of nine immediate-release box turtles and nine box turtles that had been maintained for > 1 year at a nearby off-site holding facility (long-term holding) prior to a 750 – 1000 m translocation. Box turtles held long-term before a short-distance translocation moved significantly shorter distances each day post-release than immediate-release turtles. Turtles held long-term moved in nondirectional, random orientations, whereas immediate-release turtles exhibited consistent directionality in movements back towards their initial capture (home) locations. Our results demonstrate that turtles held off-site remained within the translocation site more reliably than the immediate-release turtles, which had a higher tendency to home. Long-term holding of turtles prior to translocation could significantly reduce homing responses and wandering, thus increasing translocation efficacy while reducing intensity of post-translocation management.

22. The gut microbiome of a lizard host in response to different thermal environments
Travis Robbins*, Tiffany Hegdahl, Stephanie Cromwell, and Paul Ayayee (email)
University of Nebraska Omaha

— Changes in environmental temperature can influence gut microbiota, and gut microbiota can, in turn, influence thermal physiology in vertebrates. We know that vertebrate ectotherms exhibit geographic variation in gut microbiota and that microbiome composition influences organismal metabolism and energy assimilation, both of which influence organismal energy allocations. What we do not yet understand is how gut microbiota and thermal physiology may be related to plastic and evolutionary responses to changes across variable geographic thermal environments. The evolution of microbiome and host may play an important role in population responses to changes in the thermal environment, such as those caused by climate change. Here we examine the microbiome of prairie lizard (Sceloporus consobrinus) populations along the latitudinal thermal gradient in the wild and after long-term acclimation to a common lab environment with the goal of relating microbiome composition to other physiological traits.

23. How many species of bark anoles are on Hispaniola?
Richard E. Glor* (email)
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

— The Bark Anole (Anolis distichus) shows tremendous variation across its range in the Northern Caribbean, particularly with respect to dewlap color and pattern. This geographic variation led to the recognition of more than a dozen subspecies characterized by dewlaps that range in color from wine red to pale white. The goal of this talk is to consider whether any of these subspecies warrant elevation to full species status. My lab has addressed this question through a series of studies involving genetic, phenotypic and environmental data. Overall, our work suggests that while A. distichus does include several populations that warrant recognition as full species, the boundaries between these species do not correspond with the previously delimited subspecies boundaries. This pattern appears to be due to the fact that dewlap color variation is more closely tied to environmental variation than it is to patterns of reproductive isolation.

24. Climatic influences on body size in Kansas populations of Anaxyrus cognatus​
Kaden Miller*, Christian Supsup, and Ana Motta (email)
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

— Body size is a key trait that influences survival, reproduction, and ecological interactions in amphibians, often shaped by environmental factors such as temperature and precipitation. In amphibians, temperature can affect metabolic rates and development, while precipitation plays a crucial role in hydration and resource availability, influencing desiccation risk. This study investigates the influence of climatic variables on body size in Anaxyrus cognatus populations from Kansas. We measured the body size of 315 individuals from the KU herpetology collections, using calipers and accounting for sexual dimorphism by analyzing males and females separately. Five temperature and precipitation variables from WorldClim were included, covering seasonal extremes of coldest, warmest, driest, and wettest quarters, as well as mean diurnal temperature range. Our analyses reveal significant correlations between body size and precipitation, particularly during the coldest and wettest quarters, with precipitation (humidity) playing a more critical role than temperature in mitigating desiccation. These results suggest that body size variation in A. cognatus is strongly influenced by seasonal precipitation patterns, highlighting the importance of climate in shaping amphibian morphology and offering insight into potential responses to future climatic changes.

25. Ain’t no mountain high enough: Exploring the effects of landscape features on effective migration rates at a fine spatial scale
L. Miles Horne*, Océane Da Cunha, Joshua J. Mead, Vicente Mata-Silva, and Philip Lavretsky (email)
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso

— The relationship between geography and genetics has been a long-studied topic in evolutionary biology. Areas of geographic heterogeneity are of particular interest as they can disrupt typical patterns of isolation by distance. Additionally, the spatial scale of these trends can be of interest for conservation planning. We conducted a study at the Indio Mountains Research Station, an area with geographic complexity, to explore the effects of landscape heterogeneity at fine-scales on effective migration rates by comparing two sympatric species with distinct ecologies, the roundtail horned lizard (Phrynosoma modestum) and greater earless lizard (Cophosaurus texanus). We used ddRADseq and EEMS (Estimation of Effective Migration Surfaces) to elucidate the effects of landscape features as well as a suite of population genetic metrics.

26. Preliminary observations of herpetofauna biodiversity surveys in the Red Hills Ecological Focus Area
Victoria Gaa*, Diedre Kramer, and Zack Cordes (email)
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt, Kansas

— The Red Hills Ecological Focus Area in the south central/west corner of Kansas is home to a diverse group of herpetofauna and is the core habitat of the New Mexico Threadsnake (Rena dissecta) in the state. Summer 2024 marks the third year of an ongoing investigation by KDWP into the geographic distribution and habitat associations of the New Mexico Threadsnake and other Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the Red Hills EFA. Survey techniques, general herpetofauna biodiversity findings, initial statistical analysis of habitat variables, and further directions for the study will be discussed.

– POSTER PRESENTATIONS –

1. One size catch all: Modified minnow traps to increase capture rates of Mudpuppies (Necturus maculosus)
Zachary Schneider* (email)
Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas

— In North America, the Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) has the largest distribution of any fully aquatic salamander and is found both in lotic and lentic waters. It has much potential as an indicator of water quality and ecological health, being widespread in eastern North America, a
top-level predator, and spending its entire life cycle in water. Although sometimes abundant, none of the methods for finding Mudpuppies (e.g. electroshocking, seining, Briggler’s traps, Gee’s minnow traps, trotlines) is very successful, capture rates being 0.020–0.045 individuals per unit effort. A reliable capture method would make feasible many studies (e.g. of distribution, population sizes, physical health) that are currently impractical. My aim is to develop a better live-trap for mudpuppies by modifying Gee’s minnow traps, which are widely available, relatively inexpensive, and easy to transport and work with in the field. I line the inner sides of each trap with a sheet of dark plastic so that the interior might be perceived as a potential hiding spot. Some traps also have drift fences attached to guide Mudpuppies into the trap. Non-modified Gee’s minnow traps serve as my control. I am testing these traps designs at Melvern and Pomona lakes. Preliminary results will be discussed.

2. Slithering insights: The role of land use and fire on snake presence and abundance in a restored prairie ecosystem
Molly G. Russell*, Parker L. Binns*, Shania E.M. Burkhead-Harris, Sydney A. Falcon, Dexter R. Mardis, and Thomas M. Luhring (email)
Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas

— Terrestrial snakes show strong hygrothermal (combined moisture and temperature) preferences and are indicators of habitat quality (Vitt et al. 1990). Long-term presence and abundance data is especially useful to detect changes in populations due to periodic disturbances such as fire, drought, and land use alteration (e.g., haying). Snake abundance and diversity can be difficult to assess due to their cryptic nature. However, coverboards facilitate their capture by creating optimal microhabitats which attract them to an area where they can be readily detected and captured (Wilson & Gibbons 2010). Over three field seasons of data collection, we investigated detection differences in snakes caused by 1) land management practices (time since most recent burn, time since most recent haying) and 2) coverboard type (wood vs. tin) as well as 3) the interaction between land use and coverboard type. This long-term experiment is being conducted at the Wichita State University’s Ninnescah Reserve in southwest Sedgwick County, Kansas. We set 10 pairs of plywood (1.2m x 1.2m) and tin (0.9m x 1.2m) coverboard pieces at 5 sites that differ in their land management practices (N = 100). Paired coverboards were set 1 meter apart every 20 meters along two 100 m transects in a North to South direction. Site land-use over three years is as follows: A – hayed and burned once, B – hayed 4 times and burned once, C – hayed and burned twice, D – hayed and burned once, and E–never burned or hayed. Coverboards were checked weekly in spring, summer and fall from April 4th, 2021, through October 27th, 2023, resulting in 158 snake observations. Upon capture we recorded species identification, snout-vent length, sex, age class, and mass. Here, we present a summary of results from the first three years of this KHS funded project (Alan H. Kamb Grant).

3. Submergence behavior for female Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata) in June from southern Kansas
Dawson Kosmicki*¹, Joseph Paysen¹, Carter Kruse¹, and Keith Geluso¹ (email)
University of Nebraska at Kearney¹, Turner Institute of Ecoagriculture², Kearney, Nebraska

— The Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata; family Emydidae) is a terrestrial species that occurs in arid and semiarid grasslands throughout much of the Great Plains. Early literature suggested that ornate box turtles did not use open water resources often, but more recent literature suggested at least occasional use. Herein, we detail observations of female ornate box turtles fully and partially submerged in edges of shallow water bodies in southern Kansas during June 2023 and 2024. While multiple uses for open water resources are suggested in the literature for this species, use by only females during the nesting season suggests a reproductive function for this behavior. Hydration relating to nesting appears likely associated with submergence during the nesting season. Human-made earthen and stock ponds serve multiple purposes for wildlife species in arid and semi-arid environments, including water and food resources, but these resources also appear important for terrestrially adapted ornate box turtles during their nesting season.

4. Image segmentation for snake species identification
Ryleigh Grove*, James Schnable, and Dennis Ferraro (email)
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska

— As an ongoing development for automation continues, new technology is being developed everyday with the purpose of lessening human interference. This being said, one issue that can be resolved is the misidentification of snake species. As one can predict, many species look visually similar to the untrained eye, so developing software to help non-professionals can bring awareness to the various species. The development of deep learning networks is vital to the improvement of image segmentation when data is being drawn for quantitative purposes. A variety of pre-made algorithms and applications for segmentation have been previously discussed in literature, but many of which have not been implemented for the purpose of image analysis on snakes. Such analysis can lead to more development in technologies used for snake identification between venomous versus non-venomous species. In its current state, this model can predict 12 Nebraska native species with 80% accuracy detection – further investigation hopes to improve the reading.

5. Natural history, ecology, and population study of Short-horned Lizards (Phrynosoma hernandesi) in Nebraska, USA
Nicholas Kowal* (email)
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska

— Four-year study on all aspects of biology, natural history, ecology, population status, and occupancy of Phrynosoma hernandesi (Greater Short-horned Lizard) in Nebraska. Emphasis on in-situ study, with molecular data collected for a future analysis of uncertain taxonomy in the region. Future conservation work and species listings in the state are informed by the data collected as part of this study.

6. The effects of diluted fungicide on Western Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium) health
Sage Veomett* and Dennis Ferraro (email)
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska.

— The Western Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium) is a species of salamander that is native to Nebraska. The Western Tiger Salamander population has been in decline, specifically in Southeast Nebraska (Ferraro, 2016). The purpose of this study was to determine whether low levels of Azoxystrobin fungicide deposited in the soil are harmful to the Western Tiger Salamander. In this study, soil in tanks containing pairs of Western Tiger Salamanders was treated with levels of Azoxystrobin 0.5x under the recommended label amount for usage. Sixteen salamanders in total were used. Four tanks of salamander pairs were treated with the Azoxystrobin fungicide and four tanks served as the control sample. It was found that the presence of diluted fungicide in the soil is lethal to the Western Tiger Salamander.

7. Ecological insights into translocated and native Bullsnakes (Pituophis catenifer) through radio telemetry at Cedar Point Biological Station
Nia Meyer* and Dennis Ferraro (email)
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska.

— The loss of natural prairie and grassland habitats has significantly impacted species dependent on these ecosystems, including the bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer) in the Midwest. Habitat fragmentation caused by urbanization and agriculture has led to a decline in their populations. Human perceptions of snakes, often rooted in fear and negative media portrayals, further complicate conservation efforts. Understanding bullsnake behavior is essential to reducing human-snake conflict, yet there is a gap in knowledge regarding their spatial ecology in this region. Translocation, though debated among herpetologists, is a widely accepted conservation strategy among the public and some wildlife agencies. This study focuses on the augmentation of bullsnake populations through translocation, releasing individuals into areas where the species is already present. Radio telemetry is utilized to gain detailed insights into the species’ movements and interactions with fragmented habitats, providing valuable information beyond traditional observation methods. This approach aims to inform future conservation strategies and improve human-wildlife coexistence.

8. Hang in there: Differences in arboreal and terrestrial predation in Carpet Pythons (Morelia spilota)
Andrew Shipley* and David Penning (email)
Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Missouri

— Terrestrial and arboreal environments present animals with considerably different risks and challenges. For example, mistakes in navigating an arboreal environment can result in significant injury from falls. Further, for predators, the size of prey encountered in any ecosystem comes with variable risks depending upon the situation; larger prey often pose larger risks. For constricting snakes, they often use large portions of their body to subdue/disable their prey. However, in arboreal environments, snakes must also use portions of their body to anchor to branches to prevent falling and potentially significant injuries. Using Carpet Pythons (Morelia spilota), we explore the potential changes in predation and ingestion behaviors as a function of ecosystem type (terrestrial vs. arboreal) and prey size (“small” = ~3.5% snake mass; large = ~13% snake mass). Based on preliminary data, M. spilota constrict larger prey in an arboreal environment (mean=758 seconds) significantly longer than smaller prey (mean=264 s). The same pattern for prey size is apparent in a terrestrial environment but both large prey (mean=509 s) and small prey (mean=201 s) were constricted for significantly shorter durations than the same size prey in an arboreal environment. Further, ingestion posture was notably different with arboreally-feeding snakes using more of their body and orienting the long-axis of their prey perpendicular to gravity during ingestion. Terrestrial feeding was accomplished with the long axis of the prey remaining parallel to the terrestrial environment. Ingestion time was only impacted by prey size with larger prey taking 2.7 × times longer than smaller prey. Both prey size and feeding environment show significant impacts on the prey-handling and ingestion behaviors in Carpet Pythons. Future predation work in snakes should continue to consider the effects of both variation in prey size as well as variation in the environment in which predation occurs.

9. Testing the impact of body temperature on Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) defensive strike performance
Grace Chang*, Nathan Piccoli, Kylie Atkinson, Veronica Nguyen, Brian Greene, and David A. Penning (email)
Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Missouri

— Environmental temperature is a critical factor influencing the physical activity of ectotherms. Higher body temperatures can often lead to faster movements, while lower temperatures can reduce performance. One strategy that organisms may employ to mitigate the effects of temperature is to use elastic-recoil mechanisms. The potential energy stored in elastic structures is less affected by temperature than the chemical processes used during muscle contractions. Therefore, the use of elastic mechanisms allows for similar performances across a wide range of temperatures. A common method for assessing organismal performance in relation to temperature is the use of temperature coefficients (Q10). A Q10 value of 1 indicates no change in performance between the two temperatures, suggesting the utilization of elastic recoil mechanisms. Prior studies using electromyography have suggested that some snakes use elastic recoil mechanisms for striking. If this is true, strike performance should be relatively independent of body temperature (Q10=1). To test this hypothesis, we quantified defensive strike performance in 18 Agkistrodon piscivorus. Using high-speed cameras and motion capture technology, we measured strike performance at body temperatures of 17 °C, 22 °C, and 27 °C. While strike distance (cm) and venom yield (g) exhibited no temperature dependence, we found that many components of defensive strike performance were significantly affected by temperature. Strike duration (Q10 = 0.86) was notably shorter at higher body temperatures, while average strike velocity (Q10 = 1.82), maximum strike velocity (Q10 = 1.99), average strike acceleration (Q10 = 2.13), and maximum strike acceleration (Q10 = 2.64) were all significantly higher in performance at higher temperatures. Our whole-body results indicate that snake striking is not accomplished via elastic recoil mechanisms.

10. That’s flipping complex: The effect of coverboard complexity and shape on detection of terrestrial reptiles
Lucas Hatfield*, Jerod Thomas, Gabe McClain, Callen Caldarella, Erron Jones, Brenna Jones, Addison Wallace, and David Penning (email)
Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Missouri

— Coverboard sampling has been a useful tool for detecting populations of terrestrial reptiles. Man-made structures like coverboards can give reptiles shelter and thermoregulatory opportunities. We partnered with a landowner in Southwest Missouri that has ~485 hectares of remnant prairie, wetlands, and forest-edge habitats. This study has been in place since 2021, but we have changed several variables for this field season. The new variables are coverboard complexity and shape. We are still using wood and metal for the types of material used. Complexity refers to how many coverboards are stacked on top of each other: 1, 2, or 3 layers. The shapes include squares, rectangles, and triangles; all with identical surface area. While coverboards can be used to find many different reptiles, we primarily only found snakes. The data taken with each snake found was: species, sex, length, weight, type of coverboard found under. We PIT tagged each individual to monitor recapture rates and cover object use. Although the field season is not over yet, Thamnophis sp. is our most commonly captured group. So far, triple layered boards yielded the highest detection rates in our complexity assessment. We have found no shape preference this field season. Although habitat was not one of the main variables tested, grassland habitat had more detections during the spring months and forest edge habitat during the summer months.

11. How constriction works in snakes: History and modern advances
David Penning*, Maya Greenquist, Jillian Hackney, and Gabe McClain (email)
Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Missouri

— The mechanisms of constriction involve snakes wrapping or winding their body around prey while contracting muscles to exert high pressures that incapacitate their prey. Our current understanding of how pressure impacts the tissues of prey is growing but remains incomplete, especially considering the diversity of prey consumed by snakes. Here, we provide a historical perspective on our understanding of constriction by summarizing the currently known constriction mechanisms. We discuss how constriction is used, how it works, how it is discussed within the literature, what we may be getting wrong, and what we still don’t know about this evolutionarily significant mechanism. Furthermore, we provide novel data on pressures generated within the thoracic cavity and cranium of endothermic prey and provide new insights into how constriction may function differently with ectothermic prey. Lastly, we performed an extensive literature review to produce an estimate of the total constriction diversity used by snakes to gain a more thorough understanding of the evolutionary origins and diversity of this behavior. We were able to quantify prey-handling behaviors in 3,391 snake species using Genus-level generalizations and species-level accounts. Overall, we found that 28.8% of all snakes are reported to constrict prey (16.16% obligate constrictors, 12.64% facultative constrictors), and the remaining 71.2% of snakes are not reported to constrict prey.

12. What the shell? Testing the effects of bait type and trap memory of aquatic turtles on capture rates
Addison Wallace, Brenna Jones, Andrew Shipley, Emma Cain, Johnathon Evens, Joe Stapp, and David Penning (email)
Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Missouri

— The MSSU Chapter of the Wildlife Society has access to a field site for herpetofaunal studies that started in January of 2022 by partnering with a private landowner. This land is located in Jasper County, MO, near the Kansas/Missouri state lines and contains several different aquatic habitats, including ephemeral ponds and a 160-acer lake, as well as an abundance of forest/edge habitats and remnant prairies. Our team set out to explore various impacts of trapping on aquatic turtles. We set 112 crabs traps (spring traps), bi-weekly within four ponds (28 traps per pond) located in different areas within the property from April-November of 2024. Our traps were set at two ponds that are considered “naïve”, having never been trapped before. The other two ponds are considered “experienced” and have been trapped between 2022 and 2024. Additionally, we deployed traps with four different bait types: wet baits (hot sauce sardines and mustard sardines), dry baits (cat food), and control traps (no bait). Our goal is to better understand how bait type and prior trap exposure affect species abundance. Further, we aimed to measure the potential migration of aquatic turtles across the field site to help determine the population demographics of the area.

13. Does size really matter? Using cameras to test the effects of size and color on predation rates in clay model snakes
Emma Cain*, Kobi Pearson, Addison Wallace, and David Penning (email)
Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Missouri

— The Missouri Southern State University Biology & Environmental Health Department has access to 9.1 hectares of land that is owned by MSSU and is used for various ecological studies. This land is located on the southeast portion of campus and contains forest and edge habitats, as well as a tributary of Turkey Creek. We used clay to mimic three species of snakes in order to quantify predation pressure. Green clay mimics Opheodrys aestivus, brown clay mimics Virginia (Haldea) striatula, and a mixed pattern of red, black, and white clay mimics Lampropeltis triangulum. Further, we deployed 15 cm “small” and 25 cm “large” models of all species mimics. Starting in August 2024, we set out 180 clay models with 24 being placed in view of trail cameras in order to quantify predation rates. After the duration of this project, we found that random weather events like excessive rain and high temperatures (37.2 ˚C) hindered the recovery of the initial models. Therefore, we took a renewed approach and repeatedly placed models within view of the 24 trail cameras, over a 3-week period. In total, we deployed 54 new models (9 of each size × species combination) placed in front of the trail cameras. By recording models, we can significantly increase our confidence in the interactions between clay models and potential predators. Our goal is to better understand the predictive use of clay models and to assess if predators are attacking a specific snake size and/or species. Traditionally, bite marks left in the clay are used to identify attack rates and predators. Here, we can identify predatory interactions with 100% certainty by evaluating video evidence of each interaction.

14. Variation of cranial morphology within the Anaxyrus americanus complex
Claudia R. Goss* and Guinevere O.U. Wogan (email)
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma

— Broadly distributed across North and Central America, true toads within the genus Anaxyrus occupy a variety of diverse ecosystems and display variation in key morphological traits including body size, external coloration, and size and shape of cranial crests and paratoid glands. Within this genus, eight closely related taxa comprise the Anaxyrus americanus complex. Although dorsal coloration and configuration of paratoid glands and cranial crests are known external distinguishing features within this complex, we aim to characterize the interspecific and intraspecific variation of internal cranial morphological features. Utilizing micro-CT scans of museum specimen within of all seven species within in A. americanus complex in conjunction with 3D geometric morphometric approaches, we have mapped homologous landmark points on the skull across all eight species to characterize within- and between-species cranial trait variation. We used discriminant function analysis and principal component analysis to determine patterns of morphological variation to determine if variation is discrete among species in this complex. Future directions of this study will integrate temperature and precipitation patterns to assess the relationship between cranial morphology and environmental gradients. The results of this investigation may provide an additional line of evidence for examining the taxonomic relationships of this radiation of North American bufonids.

15. Manual call survey vs autonomous recording units for Anuran monitoring in the Platte River Valley
Megan Soldatke* and Bethany Ostrom (email)
The Crane Trust

— A common protocol for passive anuran monitoring is conducting Manual Call Surveys (MCS) at predetermined points during the breeding season. As technology improves, Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs) are available to replace MCS for passive monitoring of anurans, and are used for other species. The goal of the study is to determine whether listening to ARU recordings can result in comparable anuran community data from MCS in the Platte River Valley. Recordings from ARUs located in the same areas as MCS points were picked that aligned with MCS location, date, and time. The same procedure for MCS was used when listening to selected recordings. In this pilot study there was little statistical difference between the species detected in the MCS versus listening to the ARU recordings. A singular call from Acris blanchardi (Blanchard’s Cricket frog) was detected in an ARU recording even though the species was yet to be detected in the study area. Using ARUs could be a viable replacement for MCS in the Platte River Valley for anuran monitoring, however it was not concluded to be statistically better than MCS. Data such as audio quality, audio interference, and population estimation between the two methods has not been analyzed.

16. Comparison of the thermal ecology of Ornate Box turtles (Terrapene ornata) across two distinct populations
Kaitlyn Scott*, Ally Huber*, Megan Norris, Abigail Trautman, and Benjamin Reed (email)
Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas

— Thermal ecology includes investigating interactions between temperature and organismal function . These temperature interactions can influence an organism’s physiology, their relationship with the environment, as well as their behavioral patterns. Body temperature also plays a role in an organism’s metabolism, digestion rate, growth rate, heart rate, and immune function. Studying the bioenergetics of an animal can provide more information on their overall health and performance (including movement, disease spread/parasitism, mating, and reproduction). Currently, the effects of climate change are being studied in agriculture, species range shifting, and changing ocean dynamics, yet little is known about the effects of temperature change with respect to some of Kansas’ local fauna, especially with respect to ectotherms. In our study, we investigated the thermal ecology of two distinct populations of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata) by closely monitoring their shell temperature (as a proxy for body temperature) simultaneously with their movement patterns, microhabitat use, range size, and mating behaviors. Our findings show clear differences in average temperature and variability within and between populations of turtles and distinctly differently temperature profiles during their primary morning active period which likely has important consequences for individual fitness and population-level persistence in the face of changing climate. These data will also serve as an important baseline when examining box turtle thermal ecology in future studies.

17. Comparing thermoregulatory behavior and digestive efficiency among latitudinally separated lizard populations (Sceloporus consobrinus)
Brandon Wolfsohn*, Tiffany Hegdahl, and Travis Robbins (email)
University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska

— Ectothermic organisms make up a vast majority of animal species, and fill vital roles in ecosystems due to their prevalence. Because ectotherms are inherently affected by the thermal environment, they are severely impacted by environmental issues such as climate change and other human driven processes that may affect thermal habitats. To better understand how ecosystems are affected by changes in climate, we need a greater understanding of how ectothermic organisms respond and adapt to altered environmental temperatures. This study aims to understand some of the adaptational differences between populations of a midwestern lizard species, Sceloporus consobrinus, that inhabit a wide variety of thermally distinct environments. I will be looking at digestive efficiency and what role temperature and behavior may play in the effectiveness of how this species extracts energy from food.

18. Aquatic turtle intelligence: Testing differences between mesh size and trap avoidance of aquatic turtles
Saige Haddock, Kobi Pearson, Grace Schriever, Caleb Patterson, Callen Caldarella, and David Penning (email)
Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Missouri

— Generally, little is known about the cognitive abilities of aquatic turtles, how they approach traps, and many questions remain unanswered. For example, can they approach a trap and make decisions, have preferences, or even recognize traps and learn to avoid them? In exploring these initial questions, problems can arise in the methods used to trap aquatic turtles. It is difficult to assess what factors could contribute to capture rates when numerous controlled and uncontrolled variables are involved in ecological work. To address these questions, we explore how trap mesh-size (3.81 cm and 7.62 cm mesh sizes) and trap familiarity affect capture rates of aquatic turtles. For the “rotating traps”, we divided the 65-hectare private lake into three sections, with one section used during each trap session. Stationary traps were consistently set in the same designated locations, which spanned all three sections of the lake. During each trap session, both stationary and rotating traps were deployed. Rotating traps were deployed randomly within the designated areas while stationary traps were set at their fixed location. We mainly aim to explore if the capture rate differs between the two mesh sizes and between rotational and stationary traps. Differences between mesh sizes could give insight into whether species have mesh preferences and highlight possible sample loss due to smaller individuals passing through the trap mesh. Differences in capture rates between stationary and rotational traps could give insight into habitat preferences and “trap happy” or “trap avoidance” behavior in turtles who are familiar or unfamiliar with specific traps and trap location.

19. The Ninnescah frontier: How drought and drying events affect Red-eared Sliders
David Bohorquez*, Jacob Anderson, Shania Burkhead-Harris, Krista Ward, and Tom Luhring (email)
Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas

— Held back by the aridity of the West, South Central Kansas serves as the northwestern boundary of the red-eared slider’s natural range. This boundary serves as a great frontier to investigate how pond sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) persist in the drying events of southeastern Kansas and the longer drought period that encompasses them. For this study, records of red-eared sliders caught using both hoop and fyke nets were taken from May 2021 to October 2023 at the WSU Ninnescah Reserve near Viola, KS. Unlike many preceding studies regarding turtle responses to drought, the reserve had specific regions representing perennial (river), intermittent (stream), and anthropogenic (pond) bodies of water. At the end of each trapping session, all sliders were measured for mass and plastron length and then marked on their marginal scutes with alternative markings for smaller individuals. The location of each turtle capture (river, stream, or pond) and the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) value by week according to NOAA records were also noted. Using general linearized models (GLMs), we looked into the interactions between some of these variables and will present our preliminary data.

20. Aquatic turtle community surveys in eastern Oklahoma
Derek L. Bateman*, Tessa N. Irvine, Kevin Babbitt, Alexander Edmond, and Day B. Ligon (email)
Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri

— Turtle communities have become of increasing interest for assessing ecological conditions within aquatic ecosystems and are of particular value at locations where historical data are available for comparison. Several studies surveying eastern Oklahoma’s turtle communities have taken place since the late 1990s, providing a baseline for many of the turtle communities that were the focus of this study. Here, we assess the data from the first year of aquatic turtle surveys that were primarily conducted in the southeast corner of the state from 27 May – 25 June 2023. We conducted surveys of the aquatic turtle communities at nine sites. No surveys were conducted in July due to high water temperatures that were likely to suppress turtles’ activity, but once the weather returned to more moderate conditions, we surveyed three new sites and re-surveyed two prior sites from 25 August to 15 October. Using 0.9-m diameter hoop nets baited with fish or chicken, we captured a total of 2,346 turtles 2,391 times. Across our sites we averaged a catch per unit effort (CPUE) of 1.863 across 1,229 net nights with a range from 0.192–7.375 with locations generally following trends matching previous studies. Trachemys scripta composed the majority of (58.4%), Graptemys ouachitensis was second at 23.7%, and other species comprised proportions ranging 0.78–6.1% of total captures. The Mississippi Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum) was not detected at any of our sites, which likely reflects habitat preferences that deviate from many of Oklahoma’s other native turtles. The Neosho River had the greatest richness with 8 species. We detected 7 species in three tributaries and documented the lowest species richness values in a tributary of Hugo Lake and the Illinois River, where 4 species were detected at each site. Subsequent survey efforts in 2024–25 will continue to expand on the number of aquatic systems surveyed and further investigate seasonal patterns in species-specific detection rates.

21. Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata): Personality comparison based on traumatic experiences
Ahana Kolumban*, Maliyah Lewis*, Kyle Whightsil*, Samantha Kim, Samantha O’Hara-Arrington, Mary Tyler, August Wilson, Carolyn Wilson, and Benjamin Reed (email)
Washburn University Biology Department, Topeka, Kansas

— Personality traits, consistent behavioral differences between individuals, play a crucial role in how animals interact with their environment and respond to challenges at the population level. In ectotherms, and particularly turtles, research on personality is still in its early stages. One potential factor that may relate to individual personality may be the physical condition of their shells. Turtles with damaged shells may exhibit different personality traits, such as altered boldness, activity, or risk-taking, compared to those with undamaged shells. Shell condition could relate to their survival strategies, including predator avoidance, foraging behavior, and social interactions. This study investigates whether turtles with damaged shells display distinct behavioral patterns compared to turtles with intact shells. By examining these personality traits, we aim to understand how past experiences influence behavior and what this means for their adaptability and conservation.

22. Preliminary analysis of the visual acuity of Terrapene ornata
August Wilson*, Ahana Kolumban, Maliyah Lewis, Kaitlyn Scott, Kyle Whightsil, and Dr. Benjamin Reed (email)
Washburn University College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology, Topeka, Kansas

— Visual acuity is a measure of the finest detail an organism can resolve. Visual acuity is relevant to ecological studies to build a more robust profile of the species and by providing insight into an animal’s ability to perceive their environment. It provides context for how animals obtain resources, move within their home-range, and interact with others. For example, navigation in a dense grassland habitat should require acute vision to discern the movement of grass blades versus threats or possible food items. One standard measure of visual acuity is cycles per degree (cpd), which can be tested using high contrast, evenly spaced vertical grating, where the smallest distinguishable grating size is represented in cpd. This study assessed the visual acuity in cpd of 70 wild ornate box turtles, Terrapene ornata, using moving grating cycles. The movement stimulated the turtles’ optokinetic response/reflex (OKR) as head movements following the grating. These head movements allowed their visual acuity to be tested without the need for extensive training or invasive procedures. Preliminary data analysis indicates the visual acuity of T. ornata positively relates to body size and to distance from the grating. It also indicates testing responsiveness trends with sex. These finds of visual acuity are novel in the study of T. ornata; they provide new context for study of the turtle’s foraging, movement, and responses to threats, and add a common parameter for comparison across species.

23. Ontogeny of responses to prey-derived chemical cues in Cottonmouths
John Echele*, Dr. Brian Greene (email)
Missouri State University, Biology Department, Snake Ecology Lab, Springfield, Missouri

— Cottonmouth pit viper preferences for specific prey types vary and change across an individual’s lifespan as they mature. This can be explained by the size of the individual and the physical ability that individual has of consuming a specific prey type. Previous research, studied using rattlesnakes, suggests that rattlesnakes have an ontogenetic shift in diet consumption and prefer smaller prey items, such as small lizards, frogs, and fish, due to their significant minimal size at a young age. But as they mature and grow larger, their preferences shift away from small prey and towards larger prey such as larger fish and rodents including rats and mice. The research concluded that a similar ontogenetic shift should occur in other members of the viper family. With IACUC approval, we recreated this experiment and tested to see if cottonmouths showed an ontogenetic shift. We conducted a prey preference experiment using five chemical cues including frogs, lizards, fish, mice, and rats. These chemical cues were weighed on a scale and soaked in a mL of water per gram of mass for ten minutes in a container. Snakes used for this study include eighteen neonates and adults and fourteen juveniles. Seven trials, including two control trials using no stimuli and a water stimulus, along with the five chemical cues were conducted. For each trial, the snakes’ enclosures were opened and a five-minute acclimation period would occur before a cotton swab was placed in one of the liquid solutions, preselected at random, and presented to a snake just a few mm in front of their face for a single minute. During this minute, the number of times a snake flicked its tongue, attacked the swab, or tried to consume the swab was measured. The analyzed data of tongue flicks and bites present a trend and preference for specific prey items across each age class of cottonmouth which would support the questions asked in previous research studies.

24. Thermal sensitivity effects on embryonic survival across a latitudinal thermal gradient
Owen D. Conroy*, Garrett Peterson, Dr. Travis Robbins, Brandon Wolfsohn, Tiffany R. Hegdahl, and Ben D. Haussmann (email)
University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska

— Expansive latitudinal ranges are correlated with significant variability in environmental parameters, including altitude, humidity, precipitation, and temperature. Environmental temperatures are critically important for ectotherms, as they depend on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature. Because the body temperatures of ectotherms influence behaviors and physiological processes, changes in thermal environments cause phenotypic variability in individuals and populations. As a result, phenotypic gradients in ectotherms are associated with and arise from these latitudinal changes, often due to species adapting to their local climate. Due to their inability to behaviorally thermoregulate, embryonic ectotherms are dependent on the local environmental temperatures to maintain optimal internal temperatures while developing. Thermal environments can have significant effects on the survival of ectotherms during embryonic development, given the gradients in thermal sensitivity of populations. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of environmental temperature and embryonic thermal sensitivity on embryonic survival in Sceloporus consobrinus, a small lizard which inhabits a variety of thermally differentiated environments in the central and southern US.

25. Reproductive tradeoffs of Terrapene ornata in western Nebraska
Adam Schuhmacher*¹, Brookelynn Powell², Octave Kurth¹, Katie Brighton², Benjamin Reed² (email)
¹University of Nebraska-Lincoln; ²Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas

— The reproductive ecology of a species varies across time and region. Different species have different strategies to ensure their persistence. Understanding the different strategies species employ is informative for conservation and management. Here we examined the potential reproductive tradeoffs of Terrapene ornata in western Nebraska. On a four-day cycle, for eight consecutive weeks 24 adult female Ornate Box Turtles were split into 4 groups and regularly ultrasounded in the field. Each turtle had a radio transmitter attached to its carapace and tracked using radio telemetry during their active period. Sonograms were recorded for each examination and the clutch size and egg sizes were recorded post-hoc. There is a weak relationship between body mass and egg width. There is a significant relationship between both egg length and egg width and body mass and egg length. Clutch sizes did not vary enough between individuals to determine the relationship between body size and clutch size. Overall, egg size may be limiting due to the physiological limitations of the size of the cloacal cavity of Ornate Box Turtles.

26. Preliminary analysis linking behavior types with reproductive status in Terrapene ornata in western Nebraska
Octave Kurth¹, Abigail Trautman², Brookelynn Powell², Adam Schuhmacher¹, Megan Norris², Grace Besse¹, Zoe Edlund¹, Maggie Richter¹, Hanna Mastel^{1</sup, Katie Brighton2, and Benjamin Reed2 (email)
1}University of Nebraska-Lincoln; ²Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas

— There are many variables that could influence the reproductive ecology of wild animals which ultimately will influence variation in reproductive output and fitness across individuals. One such variable known to influence reproductive output is personality, which is intrinsic to an animal, and it could contribute to reproductive activity and overall success. In this study, we link reproductive status of females with personality, using males and juveniles as a point of comparison. We examined Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata) and looked at the link between reproductive status and personality traits. We detected no difference found average behavior types (boldness, activity, exploration) among any of our groups (males, egg and non-egg bearing females, juveniles). These findings suggest that personality may be independent of reproductive status, age, and sex. All reproductively active females exhibited behaviors along the full continuum of behavior types. However, there Is still much to investigate, and we cannot definitively say that personality traits do not affect reproductive success in other ways. As more variables are studied in relation to reproductive status, such as home range size or immune function, we will better be able to understand the complexities of the reproductive ecology of Ornate Box Turtles in the western extent of their range.

27. Activity patterns of Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata) in relation to daily weather conditions
Zoe Edlund*¹, Maggie Richter*¹, Benjamin Reed², Adam Schuhmacher¹, Grace Besse¹, Octave Kurth¹, Brookelynn Powell², Abigail Trautman², Megan Norris², and Hanna Mastel¹ (email)
¹University of Nebraska-Lincoln; ²Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas

— The influence of ambient temperature on an ectotherm’s behavior and activity levels is well-known. However, herpetofauna have also been known to express changes in activity patterns in non-temperature weather variables as well, including air pressure and humidity. As weather and climatic conditions inevitably change in the projected future, it is important to know how ectotherm activity may be impacted. This study focuses on the relationship between weather variables and activity levels and burrow use of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata) in the western part of their species range. Weather data was collected over 63 consecutive days and related to the daily activity of 52 individually radio-telemetered box turtles. Our analyses found a positive relationship between the daily number of active turtles to average relative humidity of the active period and average hourly precipitation. Negative relationships were found between turtle activity and average temperature of the active period. Negative relationships were also found between daily “in-burrow” detection rates and average relative humidity of the active period. Between “in-burrow” detection rates of turtles and average temperature of the activity period, a positive relationship was found. We determine that the activity of the Ornate Box Turtle has a relationship with non-temperature related weather variables. As average temperatures and weather patterns continue to change globally, and as we continue to analyze turtle activity rates in relation to weather variates, we can continue to better understand how to manage spaces to protect not only the Ornate Box Turtle, but other herpetofauna that may have similar activity pattern habits to this Terrapene sp.

28. The relationship between pull strength and variation in daily elevation across different populations of Ornate Box Turtles
Paul Wagner*, Bryce Liedtke, Abby Trautman, Katie Brighton, Colin Nelson, Benjamin Reed, and Tracy Wagner (email)
Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas

— Within a population, individuals will variably use their habitat. The variability detected may be due to differences in physiological capacities. Terrain differences, such as substrate, vegetation density and elevation likely influence an animal’s daily movement decisions about where to go. In this study, we measured the pull strength of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata) found at two different sites (NE Kansas and SW Nebraska). Variation in daily elevation changes could influence muscle mass development, and therefore the pull strength generated. We measured pull strength in two populations as a proxy for measuring muscle mass. We found a relationship between strong vs weak turtles and their daily elevation change across both populations. This study shows a clear relationship between the motion capacity (muscle strength) and navigation capacity (movement choices) of the animal as it moves through the habitat.

29. Testing the Cuba paleo-island hypothesis using molecular data
Dexter Reilly*, Javier Torres, and Richard Glor (email)
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

— Cuba is geologically complex, and it seems to have had a history of partial submergence and geological events that shaped the formation of three paleo-islands for most of the Cenozoic, and the current state of one long, continuous island established during the Pliocene. Herein we present this project that aims to test the Cuba three paleo-island hypothesis in which the proto archipelago was divided in western, central and eastern paleo-islands. To test this hypothesis, we sequenced mitochondrial DNA of taxa distributed island-wide expecting three main clades, each corresponding to a paleo-island. Additionally, there is not geological information about the relative times in which each paleo-island merged. A molecular dataset in green anoles suggests that the eastern and central paleo-island connected first and then both with the western paleo-island. We further tested this hypothesis with DNA sequence data and phylogenetics expecting the eastern and central clades to be sister to each other, with a more divergent western clade.

30. Thermal Characterization of Potential Terrapene ornata Burrows in western Nebraska
Grace Besse*, Zoe Edlund, Maggie Richter, Hanna Mastel, Megan Norris, Adam Schuhmacher, Brookelynn Powell, Octave Kurth, Abigail Trautman, and Benjamin Reed (email)
University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Washburn University; Cedar Point Biological Station

— Maintaining an internal body temperature within a preferred range throughout the day is essential for maximizing fitness. Thermoregulation is the process to modulate core body temperature and ectotherms typically rely on behavior, rather than physiological processes, to maintain a desired body temperature. One such ectotherm that participates in behavioral thermoregulation is the Ornate Box Turtle. Microhabitat selection, including selecting specific burrows, is essential for enabling turtles to effectively thermoregulate. In this study, we assessed the thermal characteristics of burrows distributed throughout box turtle habitat in western Nebraska with the use of a temperature recording device called a thermochron. 33 burrows across our study site were sampled and had a thermochron (iButton) placed inside at the same depth. Our findings showed that shorter burrows were warmer in temperature despite having a greater level of temperature variance. We also investigated box turtle usage of any burrow via radio telemetry and found burrow usage to be surprisingly minimal compared to other microhabitats that presumably also provide refuge for turtles. Our findings are important as they highlight that burrows are quite variable in thermal characteristics and thus overall habitat quality goes beyond simply having burrows present.

31. Mass mystery: Comparing methods of measuring body mass of larval anurans across ontogeny​
Jamie Joiner*, Shania E. M Burkhead, and Thomas M. Luhring (email)
Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas

— Measuring mass of aquatic organisms accurately while still mitigating stress can be a challenge. Typically, aquatic organisms are measured by dry or wet mass. While these methods are accurate, dry mass requires euthanasia and wet mass may impose stress on the organism. Alternatively, volumetric displacement could mitigate stress by keeping the aquatic organism in water, while still allowing the researcher to achieve accurate body mass measurements. Previous studies have used volumetric displacement to measure frog tadpoles and found that 1 mL of water displaced equals 1 g of wet mass. However, the accuracy of this ratio has not been tested across ontogeny. We aim to determine the efficacy and accuracy of using volumetric displacement across ontogeny for amphibians, and identify the relationship between volumetric displacement, wet mass, and dry mass. Lithobates blairi (plains leopard frog) tadpoles will be reared and measured once a week. Five tadpoles will be collected, and their mass will be measured using all three measuring techniques. Each tadpole will be measured individually, and collectively to achieve both an individual mass and an average mass. We expect that volumetric displacement will be an accurate tool for collecting average body mass, with accuracy improving as individuals grow larger. We also expect that wet and dry mass will have a close correlation. Our results will identify the conversion factor between volumetric displacement and wet and dry mass. This will grant future researchers the ability to collect accurate body mass measurements of aquatic organisms without inducing unneeded stress. This will help bring to light the ethics of research with tadpoles and show that more humane ways of collecting mass can also be accurate.

32. Variability in critical thermal limits and climate change vulnerability among ectotherms along thermal latitudinal gradients
Garret Peterson* and Travis Robbins (email)
Robbins Herpetology Lab at the University of Nebraska Omaha

— In ectotherms, critical thermal (CT) safety limits are defined as the temperature extremes at which an ectotherm loses brain function. CT-safety limits can help predict an ectotherm’s vulnerability to climate change, which is why understanding the mechanisms that contribute to CT-safety limits is important for conservation. Factors that contribute to CT-safety limits may include body size, latitudinal thermal gradients, and phylogenetic relationships. In lizard species of the family Sceloporus, environmental conditions, such as latitudinal thermal gradients, have been shown to vary in their influence on CT-safety limits. Our study aimed to determine whether differences in environmental conditions along a latitudinal thermal gradient could lead to differences in the CT-safety margins and the vulnerability of ectotherms to climate change. To test the effects of environmental conditions on CT-safety margins, we measured the CT-minimums (lower thermal limit) and CT-maximums (upper thermal limit) of adult Sceloporus consobrinus from distinct populations along a thermal latitudinal gradient. Vulnerability to climate change was assessed based on CT-safety limits and local thermal environments. We found that shifts in CT-safety limits were significant and found to be consistent with the latitudinal thermal gradient. This supports the idea that thermal latitudinal gradients can contribute to differences in the CT-safety margins and, consequently, vulnerability to climate change among ectotherm populations.

33. The Lord of The Forest: Bite force as a prey subjugation mechanism in the Drymarchon genus: A pilot study
Johnathan Evenson* and David Penning (email)
Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, Missouri

— Bite force is an important performance trait with significant ecological and evolutionary implications across most vertebrates. Within the evolution of snakes, increased cranial kinesis has allowed for the ingestion of heavy and bulky prey. However, with increased cranial kinesis came the inability to subdue and kill prey with biting alone. As a result, multiple prey-handling methods have evolved (e.g. constriction and envenomation). Unfortunately, studies examining biting in snakes, particularly in non-venomous, non-constricting species, remain completely unexplored. The genus Drymarchon, known for its lack of constriction and venom, is thought to rely exclusively on its biting for prey subjugation and killing. Drymarchon snakes are widely regarded as the strongest biters among snakes, but this anecdote has gone untested. This study aims to quantify bite forces of nine individuals within the Drymarchon genus, representing D. corais, D. couperi, D. melanurus erebennus, and D. melanurus melanurus. Bite measurements were recorded using a converted blood-pressure system used for measurements of constriction performance. Preliminary findings show variation among individuals, with higher recorded bite forces from larger individuals. To place these results in a broader context, ongoing comparisons are being made with bite forces of lizards and comparable pressures from constricting snakes. These initial results support the hypothesis that Drymarchon species possess comparatively high bite forces, highlighting their reliance on biting and thrashing behaviors as their primary prey-handling mechanism. Continued testing will provide further insights into the evolutionary adaptations of this genus and its role in shaping prey subjugation strategies across snakes.

34. Baseline data on Eurycea in Schermerhorn Park
Zackary Cordes and Diedre Kramer* (email)
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt, Kansas

— The Ozark Plateau of the Interior Highlands extends into southeast Kansas. This small region of the state host diverse herpetofauna not found elsewhere in Kansas. The Cave Salamander (Eurycea lucifuga), Long-tailed Salamander (E. longicauda), and Western Grotto Salamander (E. spelaea) are state-listed species associated with caves and/or small order streams in the region. In Kansas, previous survey efforts have identified the species distribution; however, little documentation of natural history or baseline data has been reported. Within Schermerhorn Park, we surveyed the first 100-meters of Schermerhorn Cave and an intermittent stream within the park to gather baseline abundance data on the three species.

35. Overview of specimens from Kansas deposited at the KU Herpetology Collection
Lauren Mckinley*, Anna Weldon, Camila Meneses, Kier Pitogo, Christian Supsup, Syrus Decena, and Ana Motta (email)
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt, Kansas

— The University of Kansas Herpetology Collection ranks among the largest herpetological collections in the United States, renowned for its extensive specimens from Southeast Asia and the Neotropics. Yet, its collection of over 25,000 Kansas specimens stands as the largest of its kind, offering a unique glimpse into the state’s herpetofaunal diversity. The collection houses 93 of the 102 established species in Kansas including 12 families of reptiles and 9 families of amphibians. Despite this significance, only 640 Kansas specimens have been loaned out since 2014, representing a small fraction of the total loans. Raising awareness of this regional collection is vital to recognizing its historical and scientific value and promoting collaboration within the herpetological community. The collection’s origins date back to the 1920s under Dr. Edward S. Taylor, the first curator, who played a central role in amassing nearly 40,000 specimens by his retirement in the 1950s. The Kansas collection peaked in 1926, with 1,455 specimens collected in that year alone, marking the highest annual total in its history. Henry S. Fitch further advanced the Kansas collection in 1948 with an extensive survey of the 590-acre Natural History Reserve, acquired by the University a year earlier. His work resulted in a comprehensive guide to the area, now known as the “Fitch Reserve.” This reserve remains a cornerstone for KU’s field classes, including Field Herpetology, and continues to support vital ecological research. Recent additions to the Kansas collection have slowed, with only 159 specimens added in 2023, highlighting the need for renewed collection efforts. Expanding this database is essential for understanding species distribution, ecological changes, and evolutionary trends. The Kansas specimens offer great potential for a range of research initiatives, including habitat-specific studies and DNA analyses, contributing to both regional conservation and global herpetological research.

36. County-level Distribution Maps for the Reptiles and Amphibians of Oklahoma
Joseph Paysen* and Keith Geluso (email)
University of Nebraska at Kearney Department of Biology, Kearney, Nebraska

— Reptile and amphibian distributions are often tracked through county records as counties cover a broad geographic area, but still allow for a generalized understanding of the species’ distribution. Many state-level herpetofaunal field guides contain county-level distribution maps based on these county records so that researchers and enthusiasts can fill distributional gaps and map range extensions. Oklahoma’s modern field guide (A Field Guide to Oklahoma’s Amphibians and Reptiles, Sievert and Sievert 2021) contains distributional maps that do not always reflect where county records have or have not been collected. Older literature (Reptiles of Oklahoma, Webb 1970; Distribution Maps of Oklahoma Reptiles, Secor and Carpenter 1984) contain county-level maps that are dated and do not encompass the amphibians of the state. We sought to write what we believed were county records in the state, but were unable to due to the dated, incomplete, or incompatible nature of the literature. We compiled literature records primarily by querying large journals for terms related to county record distributions (i.e. Oklahoma, reptile, amphibian, etc.) and created a list of citations. These citations were then checked against museum datasets to create a hierarchy (published records, museum records, literature records, published observations) that was then displayed based on county. For the lizards alone, we report on 104 unpublished museum records. We have completely or almost completely mapped 18 lizard, 18 turtle, 50 snake, 30 anuran, and 25 salamander species.