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Research in Thomas Pauley's lab is focused on the natural history and conservation biology of amphibians and reptiles. Most members have a current webpage. Click on the name to learn more about each student and their project.  Current students are listed below in alphabetical order.

Members of the Herpetology Lab

Top row: Frank Piccininni, Noah McCoard, Katy Pawlik, Kerie Corley,

Scott Albaugh, Kevin Saunders, Casey Bartkus, Amanda Spriggs,

Reid Downer, Dr. Pauley, Justin Weiss, Tomi Bergstrom.

Bottom row: Eric Diefenbacher, Amy Hamilton, Emmy Johnson,

Amy Schnieder.

Welcome!

	Name	Thesis Project / Research Topic
	Scott Albaugh	Spotted Turtles, Clemmys guttata
	Casey Bartkus	Turtle Assemblages of the Ohio and lower Kanawha Rivers
	Tomi Bergstrom	Eastern American Toad, Bufo a. americanus
	Kerie Corley	Northern Spring Salamander, Gyrinophilus p. porphyriticus
	Eric Diefenbacher	Eastern Wormsnake, Carphophis a. amoenus
	Reid Downer	Salamander Guilds in the Ridge and Valley Province of West Virginia
	Amy Hamilton	Cricket Frogs, Acris crepitans
	Emmy Johnson	Eastern Six-lined Racerunner, Aspidoscelis sexlineata
	Noah McCoard	Natural History of the Eastern Ribbonsnake, Thamnophis s. sauritus
	Katy Pawlik	Northern Red Salamander, Pseudotriton r. ruber
	Frank Piccininni	Streamside Salamander, Ambystoma barbouri
	Kevin Saunders	Long-Tailed Salamander, Eurycea l. longicauda
	Amy Schneider	Ephemeral Pools
	Amanda Spriggs	Leopard Frogs, Rana pipiens
	Justin Weiss	Eastern Box Turtles, Terrapene c. carolina

These students have completed the necessary coursework needed for graduation, and are now working on completing their research and theses.

Daniel Ware: Mountain Earthsnake, Virginia valeriae pulchra

Ariana Breisch:  The Natural History and Distribution of the Genus Clemmys in West Virginia.  Currently- employed as a research technician for the New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, A Cooperative Research and Education Program of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
Cornell University, the U.S. Geological Survey, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Wildlife Management Institute.

Teresa Fogus: The Distribution and Natural History of the Shenandoah Mountain Salamander, Plethodon virginia, in West Virginia. Currently- employed by the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences, Charleston, WV.

Doug Kaylor: Ambystomatid community structure in a ephemeral pool in West Virginia

Adam Mannn:  A Taxonomic Investigation of the Black Ratsnake (Elaphe sp.) in West Virginia using Morphometric Analyses. §

Melissa Mann:  A Taxonomic Study of the Morphological Variation and Intergradation of Chrysemys picta in West Virginia

Linh Phu:  Natural History, Distribution, and Behavior of the Genus Graptemys in West Virginia.  Currently- employed at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in the Landowner Incentive Program.

Kelley Stewart: Distribution of Ambystoma texanum and A. barbouri in West Virginia.

These students (listed in alphabetical order) have completed their studies at Marshall.  Dates of publication and thesis titles are listed:

Jennifer Adams:  2005.  Home Range and Behavior of the Timber Rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus in West Virginia.  Currently - Wildlife Biology instructor at Hocking College, Athens, Ohio.

Jeffrey Bailey.  1992.  An Ecological Study of the Cumberland Plateau Salamander, Plethodon kentucki, in West Virginia.  Currently- employed by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water and Waste Management, Watershed Branch, Watershed Assessment Section as a Wildlife Biologist.

Timothy Baldwin. 2007. Ecology and Morphological Comparison between Rough Greensnakes (Opheodrys a. aestivus) and Eastern Smooth Greensnakes (Opheodrys v. vernalis) in West Virginia. Currently- PhD Student at Alabama A&M University.

Kimberly Bayne.  2002.  The Natural History and Distribution of the Eastern Cricket Frog, Acris c. crepitans in West Virginia.  Thesis link. Currently - Scientist at Potesta and Associates, Inc. Charleston, WV.

Anthony Borta. 1994. Utilization of Wood Duck Boxes with Respect to Plant Community Type, Orientation and Juxtaposition at the Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area, West Virginia. Currently - Supervisor for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Timothy Brophy.  1995.  Natural History, Ecology, and Distribution of Eurycea cirrigera in West Virginia.  Currently - Associate Professor, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA.  Recently completed his PhD at George Mason University.

Ronald Canterbury.  1991.  Ecology of the Green Salamander, Aneides aeneus, in West Virginia.  Currently- Anatomy lab instructor at the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Nancy J. Dickson.  2002.  The Natural History and Possible Extirpation of Blanchard's cricket frog, Acris crepitans blanchardi, in West Virginia. Thesis link. Currently - Assistant Chief Biologist, Compliance Monitoring Laboratories, Chapmanville, WV.

Vanessa Dozeman.  2004.  Investigation of a Farm Pond Community in Wayne County, West Virginia. Currently- working for environmental consulting company in Charleston, WV as a field biologist.

Zachary Felix.  2001.  Life History and Biogeography of the Black Mountain Salamander, Desmognathus welteri, in West Virginia.  Currently- pursuing PhD under Dr. Yong Wang at the Center for Forestry and Ecology in the Dept. of Plant & Soil Science at Alabama A&M University's School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Celeste Good. 2006. Constructed Ponds as Mitigated Habitat for Wood Frogs (Rana sylvatica) and Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum)

Matthew Graham. 2007. Distribution and Conservation Genetics of the Cow Knob Salamander, Plethodon punctatus Highton (Caudata: Plethodontidae). Currently- PhD student at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Rob Fiorentino.  2002.  Status and Distribution of the Small-Mouthed Salamander Ambystoma texanum in West Virginia. Thesis link.

Mindy Hamilton.  2002.  Effects of Developmental Activities on Streamside Salamander Communities in Boone County, West Virginia. Thesis link.  §

Jeffrey Humphries.  1999.  Ecology and Population Demography of the Hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, in West Virginia.  Currently - Recently completed his Ph.D. at Clemson University.

Ronnie Jewell.  1991.  Life History, Ecology, and Morphology of the Ravine Salamander, Plethodon richmondi, in Northern West Virginia.  Currently - IT Manager, MU Forensic Science Center, 1401 Forensic Science Dr. Huntington, WV 25701.

Keith Johnson.  2003.  Abiotic Factors Influencing the Breeding, Movement and Foraging of the Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) in West Virginia: A Telemetry Study. Thesis link.  §

Ginger Kees.  1994.  Temporal and Spatial Niche Structure of Plethodon cinereus and Desmognathus ochrophaeus in the Fernow Experimental Forest, Tucker County, West Virginia.

S. Conor Keitzer. 2007. Habitat Preferences of the Eastern Hellbender in West Virginia. Currently- Employed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.   

Sandra Kilpatrick.  1997.  Natural History of the Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum) in West Virginia.  Currently - Ecologist, United States National Forests in Mississippi.

Peter Kramer.  1996.  An Analysis of Habitat Utilization and Feeding Ecology of Plethodon richmondi and Plethodon cinereus in West Virginia.  

Brian Lindley.  1999.  Natural History of the Northern Spring Salamander, Gyrinophilus p. porphyriticus, at the Westvaco Wildlife and Ecosystem Research Forest in Randolph County, West Virginia. Currently - Natural Resource Specialist. Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management.

Andrew Longenecker.  2000.  Life History of the Cave Salamander, Eurycea lucifuga, in West Virginia Caves.

Zachary Loughman. 2005: Herpetofaunal assemblages on reclaimed strip mines.  Currently-  employed by the Schrader Environmental Education Center at the Oglebay Institute, Wheeling, WV as a Research Specialist.

Cindi Lucas. 2005.  Comparisons of Morphology and Reproductive Status of Plethodon glutinosus at High, Middle, and Low Elevations in West Virginia.

Robert Makowsky.  2004.  Diet and Activity Patterns of the Eastern Hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis. Currently- pursuing PhD under Dr. Rissler at the University of Alabama's Department of Biological Sciences- Graduate Program in Ecology and Systematics. §

Conley Marcum, Jr.  1994.  Ecology and Natural History of Four Plethodontid Species in the Fernow Experimental Forest, Tucker County, West Virginia.  Currently - Optometrist in Alaska.

Karen McClure.  1996.  Pseudacris brachyphona: A Second Look. 

Deborah Merritt.  2005.  Phylogenetic status of Black-bellied Salamanders (Demognathus quadramaculatus) in West Virginia.  Currently- obtaining credentials in science education at Marshall University.

Glenn Mills.  1996.  A Study of the Life History and Seasonal Foraging Habits of the Salamander Desmognathus quadramaculatus in West Virginia. 

Seth Myers.  2003.  The Natural History and Distribution of the Jefferson Salamander, Ambystoma jeffersonianum, in Southwest West Virginia.  Thesis link. Currently - Ph.D. student at Syracuse University.

Linda Ordiway. 1994. Factors Influencing the Spatial Distribution and Natural History of Desmognathus ochrophaeus in West Virginia.  Currently - Ph.D. student at Syracuse University.

Michael Osbourn.  2005.  The Natural History of Cave-dwelling Gyrinophilus spp. in West Virginia.  Currently- employed by the National Park Service as a wildlife field biologist at Point Reyes National Seashore and Yosemite National Park in California.

Beth Anne Pauley. 1998. The Use of Rocks as Refugia for the Cheat Mountain Salamander, Plethodon nettingi Green. Currently - Scientist at Potesta and Associates, Inc. Charleston, WV.

Jennifer Piascik.  1997.  Natural History of the Red-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus v. viridescens) in West Virginia. §

Carol Pollio. 1993. Interactions of Adult and Larval Salamanders (Desmognathus quadramaculatus and Eurycea cirrigera) in Keeney Creek, Fayette County, West Virginia.  Currently - Ecologist, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Arlington, VA.  Recently completed her PhD at George Mason University.

Sandra Raimondo:  1999. Feeding Niches of Forest Salamanders: Indirect Effects of Gypsy Moth Pesticides on Prey Selection and Potential Overlap Between Adults of Six Species. Currently - Completed Ph.D. at West Virginia University.  Scientist for United States Environmental Protection Agency, Florida.

Alison Rogers. 1999. Ecology and Natural History of Rana clamitans melanota in West Virginia.  Currently - Scientist at Michael Baker Jr., Inc. Charleston, WV.

Jaime Sias: Natural History, Demography, and Distribution of the Upland Chorus Frog, Pseudacris feriarum, in West Virginia.

Jo Santiago.  1999.  Influences of Relative Humidity, Soil and Air Temperatures, and Lunar Phase on Occurrence of Terrestrial Plethodontid Salamanders at High Elevation Sites.  Currently - Biologists and Director of the Cranberry Glades Visitor Center, Monongahela National Forest, Elkins, WV.

Bill Sutton.  2004.  Ecology, Natural History, and Distribution of the Northern Leopard Frog, Rana pipiens, in West Virginia.  Currently-  pursuing PhD under Dr. Yong Wang at the Center for Forestry and Ecology in the Dept. of Plant & Soil Science at Alabama A&M University's School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.  §

Mizuki Takahashi.  2002.  Reproductive Status of Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon cinereus, along Vertical Gradients in West Virginia. Currently- PhD student under Dr. Paris at the University of Memphis in the Department of Biology.  §

Robert (Brock) Tucker.  1998.  Ecology and Natural History of the Cow Knob Salamander (Plethodon punctatus) in West Virginia.

Mark Turner.  1996.  The Ecology, Natural History, and Distribution of Desmognathus quadramaculatus in West Virginia.  

Jayme Waldron.  2000.  Ecology and sympatric relations of crevice salamanders in Randolph County, West Virginia. Currently - Recently completed PhD.at Clemson University.

Jason Watkins.  1999.  Natural History of the Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) in West Virginia, With Special Notes on Reproduction and Larval Development.

Deborah Wegmann.  1997.  Natural History, Ecology and Potential Environmental Stress on Ambystoma maculatum and Rana sylvatica at Dolly Sods, West Virginia in an Upland Bog (Dolly Sods; Fisher Spring Bog).  Currently - Scientist for United States Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, Florida.

Jessica Wooten. 2001.  Tooth Morphology of Plethodontid Salamanders.  Currently- pursuing a PhD under Dr. Rissler at the University of Alabama's Department of Biological Sciences.

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