Why salamanders?

One question I get a lot from people is “why salamanders”? While I’ve worked with different taxa, I do have a unique fondness for salamanders. This year PARC (Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation) has designated it the year of the salamander. So in honor of the year of the salamander I would like to…

What is ABC analysis?

Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) analysis is a computational method that is increasingly being applied to estimate parameter values and model selection in population genetics and phylogenetic. With its rising popularity in genetic studies, many software programs are being designed for ease of use for the biologist. So how does ABC work? Here are the basic…

SEPARC Meeting 2014: Importance of Thorough Field Work and Knowing your Species…but I’m a Population Geneticist…

So what’s worth driving through Snowmageddon 2014 to a lake resort park in Kentucky? Hanging out with a bunch of fellow herp (reptile and amphibians) lovers on Valentine’s Day and talking about how to conserve these charismatic creatures! That’s what I did this weekend at the annual Southeast Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (SEPARC)…

Dogs in Conservation Part 2: Wildlife Tracking Dogs

                So because everyone loves dogs, let’s talk about how else they’re being using in conservation efforts! In particular, how they are being used to track elusive and endangered species. Dogs are trained to locate or retrieve species of interest for a variety of conservation studies. This is not a new practice, in fact many…

Environmental DNA: An exciting method for species detection

A few years ago at a conference I saw a presentation on environmental DNA, or eDNA, that got me very excited. Animals and plants shed DNA into their surrounding environment in the form of feces, urine and skin cells. This DNA can then be collected from environmental sources such as stream or pond water, sediment,…

Changing Public Attitudes towards Wildlife with Education and Outreach

I have had a love for frogs and salamanders since childhood and have made them the focus of the majority of my research. Being engaged in this field, most of the people I interact with have similar feelings towards herps causing me to forget that this isn’t “the norm” public attitude towards these animals. This…