Diefenbacher@marshall.edu, ericdiefenbacher@yahoo.com

Life History Analysis and Distribution of the Eastern Worm Snake, Carphophis amoenus amoenus, in West Virginia.

The Eastern Worm Snake (Carphophis a. amoenus) is a small fossorial species, spending most of it’s time in burrows or under rocks and logs. Historic collection sites show that this species has a statewide range with the exception of 18 counties. Surveys of historic collection sights and investigation into counties that have no records of this species should provide a more up-to-date distribution map. The role of this species within the leaf litter community along with diet is also widely unknown and requires further explanation. More recently Midwest Worm Snakes (Carphophis a. helenae) have also been found in WV counties bordering the Ohio River. Identification of sites with Midwest Worm Snakes would require the WV Division of Natural Resources to implement new management plans for this species. This study is intended to gain a better understanding of the status, natural history, and distribution of the Eastern Worm Snake, a species that has not been studied in WV for over 30 years.

Cellular Morphology of Green Salamander, Aneides aeneus, Digital Discs.

Organisms such as insects, geckos, and frogs exhibit amazing adhesive properties on their digits. It was not until recently that biologists started to unravel the structures and mechanisms behind these unusual adaptations. However, virtually no studies have been done on possible adhesive structures of arboreal salamanders. In this study, I examined the distal digital structures of the Green Salamander, Aneides aeneus, which are known to climb vertical surfaces such as trees and rock outcrops. While digital discs are hypothesized to be an adaptation to a climbing lifestyle, no studies have been done to describe its cellular structure or the possible adhesive mechanisms that may accompany this behavior. Scanning electron micrographs confirm the presence of a horseshoe like structure on the distal tip of each digit. Internal anatomy of observed structures was examined using histology and stained using hematoxylin and eosin. Further investigation into these structures will help us gain a better understanding of its morphology, possible adhesive mechanisms, and how this species exploits certain habitats. Publication in review.

Can you tell the difference?

Iris Pattern Identification (IPID): A New Technique for Identifying Individuals During Field Studies.

Numerous techniques have been published regarding the marking of individual amphibians and reptiles for capture/recapture studies. Two more popular marking techniques, digit clipping and passive integrative transponder (PIT) tags, are not without pitfalls. Digit clipping affects survivorship plus causes inflammation and potential risk for infection. PIT tags are expensive and often get lost, destroyed, malfunction, or cannot be used on small species.

This study focuses on developing a “finger printing” technique that utilizes iris patterns unique to individuals. This technique can be done easily with any single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, a set of diopters, and meets the criteria set forth by Ferner 1979 where; 1) the technique should not affect the survivorship or behavior of the organism; 2) allows the animal to be as free from stress or pain as possible; 3) identify the animal as a particular individual; 4) should last indefinitely; 5) be easily read and/or observable; 6) be adaptable to organisms of different sizes; 7) be easy to use in the laboratory, field and use easily obtained material at minimal cost. Publication in review.