1st North Carolina Congress of Herpetology
A joint meeting hosted by:
Special Thanks to our Meeting Sponsors!
AGENDA
Click here for printable meeting agenda (PDF)
Click here for speaker information and abstracts (PDF)
Click here for poster abstracts (PDF)
Friday, April 19
12:00 – 1:00 Arrival, registration, check-in, and silent auction drop-off all begin
1:00 – 1:30 Welcome, NCPARC – NCHS overview, SEPARC update, NCPARC
working group reports
1:30 – 2:00 The Sea Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network: Monitoring of Sea Turtle
Strandings in North Carolina Sarah Finn, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
2:00 – 2:30 Conservation Lands of the NC Herpetological Society Ed Corey, NC Division of Parks and Recreation
2:30 – 2:45 Break
2:45 – 3:15 Isolated Wetland Restoration and Amphibian Colonization in the NC Sandhills Jeff Humphries, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
3:15 – 3:45 Conservation of the Lao Newt, an Enigmatic Species Threatened by the International Pet Trade, Bryan Stuart, NC State Museum of Natural Sciences
3:45 – 4:00 Break
4:00 – 4:30 The Evolution of Coral Snake Mimicry David Kikuchi, UNC Chapel Hill
4:30 – 5:00 Conservation and Management Practices and Strategies for an Endangered Amphibian: Testing Head-starting Efficiency and Habitat Preference and Suitability for the Houston Toad (Bufo houstonensis) Melissa Jones, Texas State University
5:00 – 5:15 Announcements
5:15 – 6:00 Break & Social
6:00 – 7:00 Plenary Address: Discovering the Hidden Biodiversity of Reptiles and Amphibians: And Teaching Others to Appreciate It Whit Gibbons, Savannah River Ecology Lab
7:00 – 9:30 p.m. Dinner, Silent Auction, and Poster Session
Saturday, April 20th
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Registration and Refreshments
9:00 – 9:15 a.m. Welcome and Announcements; Workshop Explanation
9:15 – 11:15 a.m. Workshops (5 concurrent workshops or self-tour of Zoo – see below for details)
11:15 – 11:30 a.m. Break
11:30 – 12:00 p.m. Thinking Outside the Bog - A Holistic View of the Bog Turtle's Ecology in North
Carolina Dennis Herman
12:00 – 12:30 p.m. Fun and Facts: Teaching the Community About Herps and Habitat With Puppets Terry Tomasek, Elon University
12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Lunch and NCHS Business Session
2:00 – 3:15 p.m. Live Auction
3:15 – 3:45 p.m. The Future: STEM, Herps, Leadership and Youth Molly Paul, Junior Curator, NC State Museum of Natural Sciences
3:45 – 4:15 p.m. The Evolution of Mimicry in a Peruvian Poison Frog Kyle Summers, East Carolina University
4:15 – 4:30 p.m. Break
4:30 – 5:00 p.m. The Flexible Organism: Polyphenism and the Origins of Diversity David Pfennig, UNC Chapel Hill
5:00 – 5:15 p.m. Raffle Drawing, Announcements
5:15 – 6:00 p.m. Break & Social
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Plenary Address: History of NC Herpetology Kraig Adler, Cornell University
7:00 – 9:30 p.m. Group Dinner, Social, Poster Session, Silent Auction (ends at 8:30)
Sunday, April 21st
Possible Field Trips (more details will be available soon):
1. Uwharrie National Forest and surrounding areas
2. WRC sites in the area – King Mountain, etc.
3. Herp Blitz of three Zoo sites nearby: Ridges Mountain Nature Preserve, Nichols Longleaf Pine Preserve, and Ward Nature Preserve
4. Self-tour of the Zoo (provided free of charge)
Saturday Workshop Descriptions:
Believing is Seeing (What Really Happens During Photography) Wayne Van Devender, Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
The old adage about a picture being worth a thousand words is true if the photographer already knew those thousand words. That type of valuable image begins in the mind of the photographer. He/she then works with the tools and subjects available to generate the final image. In this workshop we will discuss the value of photography and some simple ways to increase the value of our photographs. We will them break into groups to deal with some herp models (non-union pay scale) to try to achieve stunning images that also live up to the adage in terms of information content. Along the way, we can deal with lots of tips about “nature-faking” and the reality behind different images. Bring along your cameras and some scaly or slimy friends and put them on center stage.
Going Herping? There’s an App for That! Jeff Hall, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Advances in technology, of smart phones and other handheld devices, have opened up a world of opportunities for people on the go. Why should it be any different for naturalists in the field? Come and learn about a wide variety of apps that can be downloaded and used for herp outings, or general nature outings. The vast majority of apps discussed will be free (mostly because I’m too cheap to buy them!). The primary platform to be discussed will be Android, although Apple users (iPod, iPhone, etc.) may be able to download and use many of the same products. Subject areas covered will include GPS and mapping, basic field tools, field guides, and more.
[CANCELED] Make and Take HERP Education Terry Tomasek, Elon University; Ann Somers, UNC-G
This workshop will offer you the opportunity to explore a variety of education experiences related to reptiles and amphibians. Handouts will be provided as well as the chance to actually complete many different activities so that you will be able to take samples back home with you. These activities have been conducted with children through adults.
Introduction to Amphibian Health Management Daniel S. Dombrowski, M.S., D.V.M., NC State Museum of Natural Sciences; Ryan S. De Voe, D.V.M., MSpVM, Dipl. ACZM, Dipl. ABVP (Avian), Dipl. ABVP (Reptile/Amphibian), NC Zoo
Clinical and husbandry techniques in health evaluation and medical management of amphibians should in general be developed with due consideration to stress reduction and limited handling. Health management of amphibians should be approached as it is with fish, keeping in mind their unique anatomical and physiological features. Although most adult amphibians have lungs, premetamorphic larval forms typically have gills and face similar aquatic environmental challenges as fish. The importance of monitoring and maintaining good water quality for aquatic amphibians should be stressed. It is important to understand that the vast majority of health concerns faced when keeping amphibians are still husbandry related. Establishing standard quarantine protocols is critical in order to provide adequate protection of animals already in established systems and collections. Health management of any amphibian should take into account both Amphibian Chytrid Fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) and Amphibian Ranavirus. Keepers should be aware that, in amphibians, both are listed as globally notifiable diseases by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
This interactive presentation will provide participants with an introduction to basic health management of amphibians including a demonstration of useful tricks and standard techniques in health evaluations. In addition, this presentation will provide participants with an introduction to standard quarantine procedures for amphibians. Participants will be provided with a hands-on opportunity in sample collection for laboratory screening of Amphibian Chytrid Fungus and be lead in a discussion of the current state and potential impact of declining amphibian health on a global scale.
Telemetry & Research at the Zoo Hendrik Smock and David Strickler, North Carolina Zoological Park
Staff will conduct a radio telemetry demonstration showcasing protocols and techniques that we have used for venomous snakes and box turtles at the zoo for the last several years. Discussions in the field will include how to use the equipment and how to translocate an animal with an antenna. Problems with the equipment caused by geological structures and terrain will also be discussed. The science and art of this technique will be explained. Participants will have the opportunity to locate a transmitter in a group setting.
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The NCHS HERP SHOP will have items for sale including an assortment of T-shirts, books, posters, greeting cards, mugs, jewelry, and other items. Do all your Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, and summer birthday shopping in one spot! (Volunteers may be needed to help staff the Herp Shop during the meeting. If you are available and interested, please contact Sandy Durso.)
AUCTIONS: Always one of the more entertaining features of our meetings, we will have both a live and silent auction. Auctions will feature the usual (or unusual) assortment of herpetologically-oriented items. Bring money and a bidding attitude. Credit cards will be accepted. If you have items to donate (literature, prints, photos, posters, artwork, cages, hooks, field equipment, decorative items, toys, clothing, jewelry, etc.), please bring them to the meeting (early), or get them to Jeff Beane or Jeff Hall before the meeting. No live herps or herp parts will be auctioned, but almost anything else goes (as long as it lies somewhere near the realm of legality). Items donated to the auction are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Proceeds will be split between NCPARC and NCHS.
RAFFLE: This meeting’s raffle will probably again feature one or more items made and donated by Joe Morgan. Raffle tickets will be available at the registration table for $1 each. You may buy as many as you want, and you need not be present to win. The drawing will be held at the end of the meeting.
Both Friday and Saturday nights will feature a SOCIAL with POSTER SESSION. Plan to stay for these if you can—our socials are always enjoyable, and an excellent way to get to know other members. Attendees wishing to bring a poster can elect to do so on the registration form. Please email abstracts to jeff.hall@ncwildlife.org. Abstracts of posters will be made available to all attendees closer to the meeting.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Several motels are within the Asheboro area. However, we have a block of rooms reserved at the Holiday Inn Express for $75 a night. This is a good rate for this time of year since the furniture market will be coming into play. Holiday Inn Express, 1113 E. Dixie Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203, 336-636-5222. Mention you are with NCPARC/NCHS.