Ichthyology & Herpetology Volume 2012: Issue 2

Many studies have focused on the effects of anthropogenic habitat alterations on animals, but little attention has been given to the effects of natural changes in habitat. The purpose of our study was to examine the effects of flooding caused by Beaver (Castor canadensis) dams on the spatial ecology of the federally endangered Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata), in a bog in Ontario that was historically drained for peat extraction. We hypothesized that home range sizes and daily distances traveled would be greater after flooding and that habitat selection would change because turtles would exploit the increase in aquatic habitats post-flooding. Using 12 years of mark–recapture data, radio telemetry, and GIS software, we compared movements and habitat selection before and after flooding. Distances traveled and home range sizes were larger post-flood compared to pre-flood conditions, indicating that turtles were opportunistically exploring the new aquatic habitat. During pre-flooding, turtles primarily selected the drainage ditches created to facilitate peat extraction; these were the only aquatic habitat available. After flooding, there was a strong preference for newly flooded areas and drainage ditches, showing that turtles exploited the increase in available aquatic habitat. Our findings indicate that natural habitat alteration resulting from Beaver dam flooding may be beneficial for Spotted Turtles, although observations also suggest that nesting habitat may be limited due to the flooding, and further research is needed to determine the effect of the flooding on recruitment into the population.

Northern Cricket Frogs, Acris crepitans, are experiencing population declines throughout their range for unknown reasons. Habitat alteration is one potential explanation, so evaluating habitat use and movement of Cricket Frogs could be valuable to protect and manage this species. To understand how altered landscapes influence Cricket Frog movements, we initiated a study at a golf course to assess the dispersal of adults on a variety of terrestrial habitat types (mown grass, unmown grass, or the ecotone between mown and unmown grass) released at different distances from a single pond (10, 20, or 40 m). We monitored movements of adult male frogs by marking individuals with fluorescent powder. Distance from the pond did not appear to affect movement or orientation toward the pond. However, Cricket Frog movement was significantly affected by habitat type. Cricket Frogs produced longer paths in unmown grass and were more likely to orient toward the pond than frogs released at the ecotone, which may be beneficial during dispersal events. Frogs released in both unmown and mown grass moved in straighter paths than frogs released at the ecotone between these habitats, suggesting that, when given the choice, both habitat types are used to potentially optimize travel, foraging, and/or avoiding predation. Our research suggests that while managed green spaces may provide suitable habitat for connecting pond-breeding amphibians, habitat with more structure (i.e., unmown grass) may offer Cricket Frogs the greatest benefits.

We describe the diet composition of six species of dipsadines (Sibon longifrenis, S. argus, S. annulatus, S. nebulatus, Dipsas nicholsi, Dipsas sp.) from two montane forest sites in central Panama. Between 2005 and 2007 we captured 473 individual snakes, of which 305 contained no prey and two contained gut contents. Of the 166 fecal samples collected, 41 had no identifiable prey and 125 contained identifiable prey. We analyzed fecal samples and found that dipsadines at our study sites feed on mollusks, annelids, and amphibian eggs. None of the six species examined feed exclusively on mollusks, although most do feed on a variety of soft-bodied prey. Dipsas feeds extensively on earthworms, S. annulatus feeds on mollusks and earthworms, and S. longifrenis and S. argus feed heavily on amphibian eggs when available.

THE BLEEKER AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED CONTRIBUTIONS TO INDO-PACIFIC ICHTHYOLOGY

THE Scientific Advisory Committee for the Indo-Pacific Fish Conference (IPFC) offers an award for distinguished contributions to Indo-Pacific ichthyology. The award honors the father of Indo-Pacific ichthyology, Pieter Bleeker. The first Bleeker awards were presented in 2005 at the 7^th IPFC, Taiwan, to John E. Randall and J. Howard Choat.

Nominations are now solicited for the third round of the Pieter Bleeker Awards for Excellence in Indo-Pacific ichthyology. The prize is awarded to an ichthyologist for “an outstanding body of published work in Indo-Pacific ichthyology, mainly in systematics and

Phenological Differences of Two Sympatric Ranid Frogs in the Southeastern United States

George C. Brooks,

Ryan M. Moore,

Brandon K. Rincon,

Thomas A. Gorman, and

Carola A. Haas

The Effects of Flooding on the Spatial Ecology of Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata) in a Partially Mined Peatland

Terrestrial Movements and Habitat Preferences of Male Cricket Frogs on a Golf Course

Goo-Eaters: Diets of the Neotropical Snakes Dipsas and Sibon in Central Panama

Herbivory in Liolaemus poecilochromus, a Small, Cold-Climate Lizard from the Andes of Argentina

Behavior of Larval Butterflyfishes (Teleostei: Chaetodontidae) at Settlement on Coral Reefs

Nesting Ecology of a Population of Gopherus agassizii at a Utility-Scale Wind Energy Facility in Southern California

Ultrastructural Evidence of Oogenesis of the Rusty Parrotfish, Scarus ferrugineus (Teleostei: Scaridae)

Reproductive Characteristics of the Turquoise Darter (Etheostoma inscriptum) in the Upper Piedmont of South Carolina

A New Genus and Species of Cheirodontine Fish from South America (Teleostei: Characidae)

A New Mesophotic Clingfish (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae) from the Bahamas

Two New Species of Snailfishes of the Genus Careproctus (Scorpaeniformes: Liparidae) from the Bering Sea and Eastern North Pacific Ocean, with a Redescription of Careproctus ovigerus

A New Species of Cascudinho of the Genus Hisonotus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae: Hypoptopomatinae) from the Upper Rio Tapajós Basin, Brazil

Rediscovery of the Rare Sea Snake Hydrophis parviceps Smith 1935: Identification and Conservation Status

A New Species of Sexually Dimorphic Electric Knifefish from the Amazon Basin, Brazil (Gymnotiformes: Apteronotidae)

Molecular and Morphological Evidence of Distinct Evolutionary Lineages of Awaous guamensis in Hawai'i and Guam

Mitochondrial DNA Variation in the Ouachita Map Turtle

Integrating Museum and GIS Data to Identify Changes in Species Distributions Driven by a Disturbance-Induced Invasion

Mapping Anuran Habitat Suitability to Estimate Effects of Grassland and Wetland Conservation Programs

Characterizing Movement Patterns and Spatio-temporal Use of Under-road Tunnels by Long-toed Salamanders in Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada

Contrasting Latitudinal Variations in Vertebral Number and Sex Determination in Pacific Versus Atlantic Silverside Fishes

Joseph T. Collins 1939–2012

Handbook of Venoms and Toxins of Reptiles

Reproductive Biology and Phylogeny of Snakes

Turtles in Your Pocket: A Guide to Freshwater and Terrestrial Turtles of the Upper Midwest

Frogs and Toads in Your Pocket: A Guide to Amphibians of the Upper Midwest

Invasive Pythons in the United States: Ecology of an Introduced Predator

The Biology of Gobies

Certainly More Than You Want to Know About The Fishes of The Pacific Coast—A Postmodern Experience

Fishes: The Animal Answer Guide

Do Fish Sleep? Fascinating Answers to Questions About Fishes

The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Special Publications

THE BLEEKER AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED CONTRIBUTIONS TO INDO-PACIFIC ICHTHYOLOGY

The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Special Publications

The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Special Publications

Phenological Differences of Two Sympatric Ranid Frogs in the Southeastern United States

Description of a New Species of Hyphessobrycon (Characiformes: Acestrorhamphidae) from Rio Madeira, a Greatly Impacted Region of the Amazon Rainforest, Apuí, Brazil

Field Thermoregulatory Behavior in the African Spiny-Tailed Lizard Uromastyx acanthinura

Temperature Manipulation Induces Ecdysis in Lab-Held Rattlesnakes

Mapping an Unseen Landscape: An Analysis of Scale Texture in Two Darter Fishes