RESEARCH |
Reptile and Amphibian Conservation
We address various aspects of amphibian and reptile conservation, including light & noise pollution, disease, invasive species, habitat fragmentation, and population genetics. Collaborations play an important role in our conservation research, and there are great opportunities for students to make connections with biologists at regulatory agencies such as the Southern Research Station of the U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Some future projects of interest include (but are not limited to):
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Example Publications
Kobisk, A., and M. A. Kwiatkowski. 2023. Effects of anthropogenic light on anuran calling site. Environmental Pollution 333, 15 September 2023, 122005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122005
Maynard, R. J., N. C. Aall, D. Saenz, P. S. Hamilton, and M. A Kwiatkowski. 2016. Road-edge effects on herpetofauna in a lowland Amazonian rainforest. Tropical Conservation Science 9:264-290.
Kwiatkowski, M. A., D. C. Rudolph, and J. Pierce. 2014. Conservation genetics of Louisiana Pine Snakes, Pituophis ruthveni. Final report to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Saenz, D., T. L. Hall, and M. A. Kwiatkowski. 2014. Effects of urbanization on the occurrence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis: Do urban environments provide refuge from the amphibian chytrid fungus? Urban Ecosystems 18:333-340
Sullivan, B. K., E. M. Nowak, and M. A. Kwiatkowski. 2014 Problems with mitigation translocation of herpetofauna. Conservation Biology (Online 15 July 2014).
Cotten, T., M. A. Kwiatkowski, D. Saenz, and M. Collyer. 2012. Effects of an invasive plant, Chinese Tallow (Triadica sebifera), on development and survivorship of anuran larvae. Journal of Herpetology 46:186-193.
Kwiatkowski, M. A., G. W. Schuett, R. A. Repp, E. M. Nowak, and B. K. Sullivan. 2008. Does urbanization affect the spatial ecology of Gila Monsters in the Sonoran Desert? Journal of Zoology 276:350-357.
Sullivan, B. K., M. A. Kwiatkowski, and G. Schuett. 2004. Translocation of urban Gila Monsters: A problematic conservation tool. Biological Conservation 117:235-242.
Kobisk, A., and M. A. Kwiatkowski. 2023. Effects of anthropogenic light on anuran calling site. Environmental Pollution 333, 15 September 2023, 122005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122005
Maynard, R. J., N. C. Aall, D. Saenz, P. S. Hamilton, and M. A Kwiatkowski. 2016. Road-edge effects on herpetofauna in a lowland Amazonian rainforest. Tropical Conservation Science 9:264-290.
Kwiatkowski, M. A., D. C. Rudolph, and J. Pierce. 2014. Conservation genetics of Louisiana Pine Snakes, Pituophis ruthveni. Final report to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Saenz, D., T. L. Hall, and M. A. Kwiatkowski. 2014. Effects of urbanization on the occurrence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis: Do urban environments provide refuge from the amphibian chytrid fungus? Urban Ecosystems 18:333-340
Sullivan, B. K., E. M. Nowak, and M. A. Kwiatkowski. 2014 Problems with mitigation translocation of herpetofauna. Conservation Biology (Online 15 July 2014).
Cotten, T., M. A. Kwiatkowski, D. Saenz, and M. Collyer. 2012. Effects of an invasive plant, Chinese Tallow (Triadica sebifera), on development and survivorship of anuran larvae. Journal of Herpetology 46:186-193.
Kwiatkowski, M. A., G. W. Schuett, R. A. Repp, E. M. Nowak, and B. K. Sullivan. 2008. Does urbanization affect the spatial ecology of Gila Monsters in the Sonoran Desert? Journal of Zoology 276:350-357.
Sullivan, B. K., M. A. Kwiatkowski, and G. Schuett. 2004. Translocation of urban Gila Monsters: A problematic conservation tool. Biological Conservation 117:235-242.
Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology
We also investigate various aspects of behavioral ecology and evolutionary ecology in herps. Much of our work focuses on signalling, especially in the context of sexual selection, but not exclusively. Some of our most recent work has addressed the evolution of facial stripes in pitvipers. Some future projects of interest include (but are not limited to):
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Example Publications
Schott, R. K., L. Perez, M. A. Kwiatkowski, V. Imhoff, and J. M. Gumm. 2022. Evolutionary analyses of visual opsin genes in anurans reveals diversity and positive selection suggestive of functional adaptation to distinct light environments. Ecology and Evolution 12 (2):1-18. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8595
Perez, L. J. Childress, M. Kwiatkowski, D. Saenz, and J. Gumm. 2021. Call phenology and call structure of sympatric treefrogs in eastern Texas. Ichthyology and Herpetology 109:219-227. https://doi.org/10.1643/h2019326
Kavanagh, B. T., and M. A. Kwiatkowski. 2016. Sexual dimorphism, movement patterns, and diets of the Razorback Musk Turtle (Sternotherus carinatus). Southeastern Naturalist 15 (SI 9): 116-132
Kwiatkowski, M. A., and D. Brent Burt. 2011. Evolutionary losses of facial stripes in New World pitvipers. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 104:923-933.
Sullivan, B. K., and M. A. Kwiatkowski 2007. Courtship displays in anurans and lizards: theoretical and empirical contributions to our understanding of costs and selection on males due to female choice. Functional Ecology 21:666-675.
Kwiatkowski, M. A., and B. K. Sullivan. 2002. Geographic variation in sexual selection among populations of an iguanid lizard, Sauromalus obesus (= ater). Evolution 56:2039-2051.
Kwiatkowski, M. A., and B. K. Sullivan. 2002. Mating system structure and population density in a polygynous lizard, Sauromalus obesus (= ater). Behavioral Ecology 13:201-208.
Schott, R. K., L. Perez, M. A. Kwiatkowski, V. Imhoff, and J. M. Gumm. 2022. Evolutionary analyses of visual opsin genes in anurans reveals diversity and positive selection suggestive of functional adaptation to distinct light environments. Ecology and Evolution 12 (2):1-18. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8595
Perez, L. J. Childress, M. Kwiatkowski, D. Saenz, and J. Gumm. 2021. Call phenology and call structure of sympatric treefrogs in eastern Texas. Ichthyology and Herpetology 109:219-227. https://doi.org/10.1643/h2019326
Kavanagh, B. T., and M. A. Kwiatkowski. 2016. Sexual dimorphism, movement patterns, and diets of the Razorback Musk Turtle (Sternotherus carinatus). Southeastern Naturalist 15 (SI 9): 116-132
Kwiatkowski, M. A., and D. Brent Burt. 2011. Evolutionary losses of facial stripes in New World pitvipers. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 104:923-933.
Sullivan, B. K., and M. A. Kwiatkowski 2007. Courtship displays in anurans and lizards: theoretical and empirical contributions to our understanding of costs and selection on males due to female choice. Functional Ecology 21:666-675.
Kwiatkowski, M. A., and B. K. Sullivan. 2002. Geographic variation in sexual selection among populations of an iguanid lizard, Sauromalus obesus (= ater). Evolution 56:2039-2051.
Kwiatkowski, M. A., and B. K. Sullivan. 2002. Mating system structure and population density in a polygynous lizard, Sauromalus obesus (= ater). Behavioral Ecology 13:201-208.
Collaborators and Mentors
Cory Adams, Southern Research Station, U.S.D.A. Forest Service Dr. John Alcock, Arizona State University Dr. Brent Burt, Stephen F. Austin State University Dr. Geoff Carpenter, Herptech Metalworks Dr. Michael Collyer, Western Kentucky University Dr. Dale DeNardo, Arizona State University Dr. Marlis Douglas, University of Arkansas Dr. Michael Douglas, University of Arkansas Dr. Jason Fritzler, Weber State Univesity Dr. Brent Graves, Northern Michigan University Dr. Matthew Grober, Georgia State University Dr. Jenny Gumm, Stephen F. Austin State University Dr. Toby Hibbitts, Texas A&M University Dr. Steve Mullin, Stephen F. Austin State University Dr. Erika Nowak, Northern Arizona University Josh Pierce, Southern Research Station, U.S.D.A. Forest Service Dr. Craig Rudolph, Southern Research Station, U.S.D.A. Forest Service Dr. Ron Rutowski, Arizona State University Dr. Dan Saenz, Southern Research Station, U.S.D.A. Forest Service Dr. Gordon Schuett, Chiricahua Desert Museum Dr. Brian Sullivan, Arizona State University Dr. Walt Whitford, New Mexico State University Dr. Naida Zucker, New Mexico State University (retired) |