Research

 

 

Menu

Δ Herp lab home

Δ Photo Gallery

Δ Herpetology &

  Ornithology Labs

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

In Front: Dr. Tom Pauley

Left to Right: Marcie Cruz, Danielle Peters, Advait Jukar, Amy Fielder, Aaron Semasko, Abby Sinclair, Tim Brust, Dr. Thomas Pauley, Derek Bozzell, Whitney Kroschel, Brian Williamson, Ben Koester, Jessica Curtis, and Chris Bowers.

 

Name

Thesis Project / Research Topic

Chris Bowers

Calling Peeper

Derek Bozzell

The Effect of Auditory Call Playback on the Efficiency of Visual Encounter Surveys, and the Detectability and Catch Probability of Anurans

Tim Brust

Marcie Cruz

 

 

Jessica Curtis

Amy Fielder

Benjamin Koester

 

Whitney Kroschel

Danielle Peters

Characterization of Posterior Hox in Amphibians and Reptiles

Aaron Semasko

Abby Sinclair

Brian Williamson

 

Graduating class of 2011: Nathalie Aall, Nathan Shepard, James Stanton

Graduating class of 2010: Casey Bradshaw, Aaron Gooley, Doug Horchler, Scott Jones, Kevin Messenger, Sarah Miloski, and Katie Murphy.

Graduating class of 2009: Casey Bartkus, Tomi Bergstrom, Reid Downer,   Kevin Saunders, Amanda Spriggs, Justin Weiss

Graduating class of 2008: Scott Albaugh, Eric Diefenbacher, Amy Hamilton, Emmy Johnson, Noah McCoard, Katy Pawlik, Frank Piccininni, and Amy Schneider.

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

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.

 

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 VirginiaCurrently - Wildlife Biology instructor at Hocking College, Athens, Ohio.

Jeffrey Bailey.  1992.  An Ecological Study of the Cumberland Plateau Salamander, Plethodon kentucki, in West VirginiaCurrently- 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 VirginiaThesis 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.

Ariana Breisch.  2006.  The Natural History and Thermal Ecology of a Population of Spotted Turtles (Clemmys Guttata) and Wood Turtles (Glyptemys Insculpta) 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.

Timothy Brophy.  1995.  Natural History, Ecology, and Distribution of Eurycea cirrigera in West VirginiaCurrently - 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 VirginiaCurrently- 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 VirginiaCurrently- 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 VirginiaCurrently - 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 VirginiaCurrently - 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.  §

Doug Kaylor.  2006.  The Breeding Ecology and Natural History of Ambystomatid Samalamders in an Ephemeral Wetland in Mason County, West Virginia.

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 VirginiaCurrently - 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.  Currentlyemployed 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.  §

Adam Mann.  2007.  A Taxonomic Investigation of the Black Ratsnake, Elaphe o. obsoleta (Say) [Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae], in West Virginia using Morphometric Analyses.

Melissa Mann.  2007.  A Taxonomic Study of the Morphological Variation and Intergradation of Chrysemys picta (Schneider) (Emydidae, Testudines) in West Virginia.

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 Merritt2005.  Phylogenetic status of Black-bellied Salamanders (Demognathus quadramaculatus) in West VirginiaCurrently- 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 VirginiaThesis link.  Currently - Ph.D. student at Syracuse University.

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

Michael Osbourn.  2005.  The Natural History of Cave-dwelling Gyrinophilus spp. in West VirginiaCurrently- 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 VirginiaCurrently - 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 VirginiaCurrently - 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 VirginiaCurrently-  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.

Daniel Ware.  2008.  The Natural History and Distribution of the Mountain Earthsnake (Virginia valeriae pulchra) in West Virginia.

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- Completed PhD. at University of Alabama, Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of Findlay

 

 

 

Marshall Herpetology Lab Home | Email Dr. Pauley