Reptile Ecology and Conservation

A Handbook of Techniques

Edited by C. Kenneth Dodd

Techniques in Ecology & Conservation

Integrates the varied themes of reptile field ecology and conservation
Describes in each case what the technique is, how it is used, and why (i.e. for what purpose).
Includes current field processing techniques involving physiological ecology, genetics, and disease/tissue analysis
Clearly explains the use of novel statistical approaches and the role of models in interpreting field results
International scope and authorship

Reptile Ecology and Conservation

A Handbook of Techniques

Edited by C. Kenneth Dodd

Techniques in Ecology & Conservation

Description

This practical handbook of reptile field ecology and conservation brings together a distinguished, international group of reptile researchers to provide a state-of-the-art review of the many new and exciting techniques used to study reptiles. The authors describe ecological sampling techniques and how they are implemented to monitor the conservation status and population trends of snakes, lizards, tuatara, turtles, and crocodilians throughout the world. Emphasis is placed on the extent of statistical inference and the biases associated with different techniques and analyses.

The chapters focus on the application of field research and data analysis for achieving an understanding of reptile life history, population dynamics, movement patterns, thermal ecology, conservation status, and the relationship between reptiles and their environment. The book emphasises the need for thorough planning, and demonstrates how a multi-dimensional approach incorporates information related to morphology, genetics, molecular biology, epidemiology, statistical modelling, animal welfare, and biosecurity. Although accentuating field sampling, sections on experimental applications in laboratories and zoos, thermal ecology, genetics, landscape ecology, disease and biosecurity, and management options are included. Much of this information is scattered in the scientific literature or not readily available, and the intention is to provide an affordable, comprehensive synthesis for use by graduate students, researchers, and practising conservationists worldwide.

Reptile Ecology and Conservation

A Handbook of Techniques

Edited by C. Kenneth Dodd

Techniques in Ecology & Conservation

Part 1. Introduction
1. Reptile diversity and life history, Laurie Vitt
2. Planning and setting objectives in field studies, Robert N. Fisher
3. Data collection and storage, Richard Seigel
Part 2. The Individual
4. Measuring and marking reptiles, John W. Ferner and Michael V. Plummer
5. Digital identification and analysis, Roberto Sacchi, Stefano Scali, Marco Mangiacotti, Marco Sannolo, Marco Alberto Luca Zuffi
6. Preserving specimens for additional study, Steve W. Gotte, Jeremy F. Jacobs, and George R. Zug
7. Reproduction, Gunther Kohler
8. Diet, Luca Luiselli and Giovanni Amori
9. Movement patterns and telemetry, Bruce Kingsbury and Nathan J. Robinson
Part 3. Sampling Reptiles
10. Surface-dwelling reptiles: coverboards, drift fences and arrays, John D. Willson
11. Arboreal and fossorial reptiles, Robert Henderson, Robert Powell, Jose Martin, and Pilar Lopez
12. Sea snakes, Xavier Bonnet, Arne R. Rasmussen and Francois Brischoux
13. Freshwater turtles, Richard Vogt
14. Terrestrial turtles and tortoises, Margaretha Hofmeyr and Brian Henen
15. Sea turtles, Seth Stapleton and Karen Eckert
16. Crocodilians, Charlie Manolis and Matt Brien
Part 4. Reptiles in the Community
17. Plot and transect censuses, Tiffany M. Doan
18. Rapid assessments of reptile diversity, Indraneil Das
19. Measuring microhabitats used by non-avian reptiles, Henry Mushinsky and Earl McCoy
20. Water quality and toxicology, Christine Bishop
21. Richness, diversity and similarity, C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr.
22. Landscape ecology, biogeography and GIS methods, Monika Bohm and Viorel D. Popescu
Part 5. Experimental Applications, Physiological Ecology, Genetics
23. Experimental applications, Stephen J. Mullin
24. Body temperatures and the thermal environment, Keith Christian, Richard Tracy, and Christopher Tracy
25. Genetics in field ecology and conservation, Nancy Fitzsimmons and Joanne Sumner
Part 6. Trends Analysis and Conservation Options
26. Occupancy models, Darryl MacKenzie
27. Estimating abundance, Chris Sutherland and J. Andrew Royle
28. Disease, parasites, and biosecurity protocols, Elliott R. Jacobson
29. Conservation management of reptiles, David A. Pike
30. Education and outreach, Brian Gratwicke, Matthew Neff, Lindsay Renick Mayer, Sharon Ryan, and Jennifer Sevin

Reptile Ecology and Conservation

A Handbook of Techniques

Edited by C. Kenneth Dodd

Techniques in Ecology & Conservation

Author Information

C. Kenneth Dodd, Courtesy Associate Professor, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida

Ken Dodd is currently Courtesy Associate Professor in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida. He has previously held positions at Mississippi State University as Assistant Professor in 1975, Staff Herpetologist at the Office of Endangered Species in the US Fish and Wildlife Service from 1976 to 1984, and Research Zoologist at the US Geological Survey from 1984 to 2007. He has published over 210 research and popular articles, book reviews and book chapters and edited the Amphibian volume in OUP's Techniques in Ecology and Conservation Series. He is a past President of the Herpetologists' League and was Associate Editor for the Journal of Herpetology for over 8 years. His professional interests are conservation biology, population ecology and demography, monitoring vertebrate populations, sampling approaches, and history of herpetology. Ken lives in Gainesville, Florida, with his wife Marian Griffey and their 8 cats and numerous turtles.

Contributors:

Giovanni Amori: CNR - Institute of Ecosystem Studies, viale dell'Università 32, I-00185 Rome, Italy.

Christine Bishop: Research Scientist, Environment Canada, Science and Technology Branch, Wildlife Research Division, 5421 Robertson Road, Delta, British Columbia V4K 3N2, Canada.

Monika Böhm: Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom.

Xavier Bonnet: CEBC-CNRS, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France

Matthew Brien: IUCN-SSC Crocodile Specialist Group, 6 Fitzmaurice Drive, Bentley Park, Queensland 4869, Australia.

Francois Brischoux: CEBC-CNRS, 79360 Villiers en Bois, France.

Keith Christian: Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory 0909, Australia.

Indraneil Das: Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Tiffany Doan: Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32816, USA.

C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr.: Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.

Karen L. Eckert: Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network, 1348 Rusticview Drive, Ballwin, Missouri 63011, USA.

John W. Ferner: Department of Biology, Thomas More College, Crestview Hills, Kentucky 41017, USA.

Robert N. Fisher: U.S. Geological Survey, San Diego Field Station, 4165 Spruance Road, Suite 200, San Diego, California 92101, USA.

Nancy N. Fitzsimmons: Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia.

Steve W. Gotte: U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, National Museum of Natural History, Museum Support Center, 4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, Maryland 27046, USA.

Brian Gratwicke: Smithsonian's National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA.

Robert Henderson: Milwaukee Public Museum, 800 W. Wells St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, USA.

Brian T. Henen: Post Office Box 1676, Twentynine Palms, California 92277, USA.

Margaretha D. Hofmeyr: Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Department, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa.

Jeremy F. Jacobs: Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Museum Support Center, 4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, Maryland 27046, USA.

Elliott Jacobson: College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA.

Bruce A. Kingsbury: Department of Biology, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805, USA

Gunther Köhler: Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt a.M., Germany.

Pilar Lopez: Departamento de Ecologia Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain.

Luca Luiselli: Environmental Studies Centre Demetra, via Olona 7, I-00198 Rome, Italy.

Darryl I. MacKenzie: Proteus Wildlife Research Consultants, PO Box 7, Outram 9062, New Zealand.

Marco Mangiacotti: Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, Corso Venezia, 55, 20121 Milano, Italy.

Charlie Manolis: Chief Scientist, Wildlife Management International, P.O. Box 530, Karama, Northern Territory 0813, Australia.

Jose Martín: Departamento de Ecologia Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain.

Lindsay Renick Mayer: Global Wildlife Conservation, PO Box 129, Austin, Texas 78767, USA.

Earl D. McCoy: Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, USA.

Stephen Mullin: Department of Biology, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas 75962, USA.

Henry R. Mushinsky: Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, USA.

Matthew Neff: Smithsonian's National Zoological Park, Reptile Discovery Center, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA.

David A. Pike: College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.

Michael Plummer: Department of Biology, Box12251, Harding University, Searcy, Arkansas 72149, USA.

Viorel D. Popescu: Simon Fraser University, Biological Sciences, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada.

Robert Powell: Department of Biology, Avila University, 11901 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64145, USA.

Arne Redsted Rasmussen: Esplanaden 34, 1263 København K, Denmark.

Nathan J. Robinson: The Leatherback Trust, Golding-Gund Marine Biology Station, Playa Grande, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

J. Andrew Royle: Research Statistician, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 12100 Beech Forest Road, Laurel, Maryland 20708, USA.

Sharon Ryan: Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado Postal 0843-03092, Panamá, República de Panamá.

Roberto Sacchi: Università di Pavia, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell'Ambiente, Italy.

Marco Sannolo: Centro de Investigacao em Biodiversidade e Recursos Geneticos, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.

Stefano Scali: Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, Corso Venezia, 55, 20121 Milano, Italy.

Richard Seigel: Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, Maryland 21252, USA.

Jennifer Sevin: Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability, 900 North Glebe Road, Arlington, Virginia 22203, USA.

Seth Stapleton: Jumby Bay Hawksbill Project, Jumby Bay, P.O. Box 243, St. John's, Antigua, West Indies.

Joanna Sumner: Museum Victoria, GPO Box 666, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia.

Chris Sutherland: Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts - Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01379, USA.

Christopher Tracy: Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, California 92831, USA.

C. Richard Tracy: Department of Biology, MS-315, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA.

Laurie J. Vitt: Sam Noble Museum, University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, Oklahoma 73072, USA.

Richard C. Vogt: INPA/ CBIO, Av. André Araújo, nº 2.936, Petrópolis, CEP 69.067-375, Manaus, Amazonas Brazil.

John D. Willson: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA.

Marco Alberto Luca Zuffi: Museo Storia Naturale di Pisa, Università di Pisa, Via Roma 79, 56011 Calci (Pisa), Italy.

George R. Zug: Department of Vertebrate Zoology-MRC162, National Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 37012, Washington D.C. 20013, USA.

Reptile Ecology and Conservation

A Handbook of Techniques

Edited by C. Kenneth Dodd

Techniques in Ecology & Conservation

Reviews and Awards

"The book not only contains a wealth of information, but is extremely well produced. This is an important collection of methods for all student of reptile ecology and conservation." -- Herpetological Review