Reptile Monitoring - Annual Field SummariesHere we present some preliminary summaries of our field efforts to date. Please note that all content should be considered preliminary and is not intended for citation or other use. We will add to or update these summaries at least annually.
2015 Great Plains Reptile Monitoring Project - video! |
Preliminary Samples by county, 2013-2015Figure 1. (right)
Summary of all reptile observations reported for the project (counties in green) during the 2013 - 2015 field seasons in the Great Plains LCC. These observations include those made during both standardized survey efforts and opportunistic encounters. Of the ~84 species of terrestrial reptile found within the Great Plains LCC, we documented >50 species during the first 3 years of the project! |
Sample photos of species observed
Example photos of some of the reptile species observed during the project in 2013-2015. Many (but not all) photos displayed here were taken during the project, and are intended to show the diversity of species recorded by the project (not all species observed are displayed below). In some cases we display photos of a species from several states to show their natural variation (or lack thereof!).
publications, Presentations, & Reports
The list below includes publications and presentations that discuss (at least in part) planning or results of work conducted both during previous 'pilot' survey efforts and the current research effort, related to D. Martin's dissertation. Published versions will be posted here for download when available (click on black text to download pdf). Project personnel are listed in bold text in authorship lists.
*This website is considered a personal site of D. Martin in support of his professional work. Work conducted for his dissertation and resulting publications were funded largely by federal and state governments; thus publications are provided here to the public at no cost.
*This website is considered a personal site of D. Martin in support of his professional work. Work conducted for his dissertation and resulting publications were funded largely by federal and state governments; thus publications are provided here to the public at no cost.
Publications (peer-reviewed)
- Martin, D. J., L. E. R. Martin, D. Wojnowski, and B. Fisher. 2015. Aspidoscelis tesselata, Common Checkered Whiptail: Geographic Distribution. Herpetological Review 46(4):568.
- Taylor, H. L., L. J. Livo, D. J. Martin, W. R. Maynard, A. Estep, R. Clawges, R. Roth, J. Kellner, and T. Jackson. 2015. New northern distribution records for pattern classes A, B, and D of parthenogenetic Aspidoscelis neotesselata (Colorado Checkered Whiptail) in Colorado, and biogeographic sources of northern colonists. Herpetological Review 46(3):312-319.
- Martin, D. J., C. R. Bycenski, B. A. Wittmann, D. L. Jacobs, J. R. Milford, C. L. Aldridge, and L. L. Bailey. 2015. Lampropeltis holbrooki, Speckled Kingsnake: Geographic Distribution. Herpetological Review 46(1):62.
Publications (popular & Electronic media)
- Martin, D. J., B. Aucone, & R. E. Lovich. 2016. Southwest PARC’s Flat-tailed Horned Lizard Biomonitoring Training [sidebar]. Pages 173–174 in L. L. C. Jones, K. J. Halama, & R. E. Lovich, eds. Habitat Management Guidelines for Amphibians & Reptiles of the Southwestern United States. Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, Technical Publication HMG-5, Birmingham, AL. 193 pp.
- Martin, D. J., and R. E. Lovich. 2016. Appendix B: Developing a Management Plan. Page 31 in L. L. C. Jones, K. J. Halama, & R. E. Lovich, eds. Habitat Management Guidelines for Amphibians & Reptiles of the Southwestern United States. Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, Technical Publication HMG-5, Birmingham, AL. 193 pp.
- Martin, D. 2015. Reptile Roundup: Studying reptile diversity on Colorado's Eastern Plains. Colorado Outdoors 64(3):30-31.
- Thompson, M., M. Parren, and D. Martin. 2015. Common Lesser Earless Lizard (Holbrookia maculata) impaled on barbed wire. Sonoran Herpetologist 28(1):13.
- Martin, D. 2014. Great Plains reptile monitoring project – request for volunteers and rangeland access. Colorado Outdoors 63(2):28–29.
- Martin, D. November 2013. “This is How I Did It: Voucher Photography of Reptiles (& Amphibians)”. EcoPress, the Graduate Student blog for CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory. [http://nrelscience.org/2013/10/30/this-is-how-i-did-it-voucher-photography-of-reptiles-amphibians/]
- Martin, D. October 2013. “lizards, snakes, and turtles – oh my!” Photo-blog for EcoPress, the Graduate Student blog for CSU’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory. [http://nrelscience.org/2013/10/03/ecopics-6-lizards-snakes-and-turtles-oh-my/]
Presentations
- Martin, D. 3 Dec. 2018. Ecology & Conservation of Terrestrial Reptiles in the Great Plains: Monitoring Taxa Vulnerable to a Changing Landscape. [DISSERTATION SEMINAR]. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
- Martin, D. 27 Nov. 2018. Ecology & Conservation of Terrestrial Reptiles in the Great Plains. [INVITED LECTURE]. FW 104 undergraduate course @ Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
- Martin, D., & R. Warrier. 25–29 Jun. 2018. An Introduction to Modeling Species Distributions. Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India. [WORKSHOP funded by the Indo-U.S. 21st Century Knowledge Initiative; Host: Dr. Karthikeyan Vasudevan].
- Martin, D., L. Bailey, C. Aldridge, R. Reed, D. Manier. 18 Jun. 2018. Models & Field Sampling to Inform Reptile Conservation in the Great Plains of the U.S. Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India [GUEST SEMINAR].
- Martin, D., L. Bailey, C. Aldridge, R. Reed, D. Manier. Sep. 2017. Species Distribution & Occupancy Models to Inform Reptile Conservation. The Wildlife Society, Albuquerque, NM.
- Martin, D., D. Manier, C. Aldridge, L. Bailey, R. Reed. 13 Sep. 2017. Great Plains Reptile Monitoring Project: Informing Reptile Conservation. Great Plains Landscape Conservation Cooperative Science Webinar Series [WEBINAR].
- Martin, D., L. Bailey, C. Aldridge, R. Reed, & D. Manier. Jul. 2017. A Comparison of Species Distribution and Occupancy Models for Informing Reptile Conservation. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists, Austin, TX.
- Martin, D. Apr. 2017. Conservation of Reptiles in a Changing World. HONR 293 / Knowing Across Cultures: Wildlife Conservation Issues, Colo. State Univ., Ft. Collins, CO. [INVITED LECTURE].
- Martin, D., L. Bailey, C. Aldridge, R. Reed, & D. Manier. Aug. 2016. A Standardized Sampling Approach for Guiding Conservation of Terrestrial Reptiles. Southwest Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, Alpine, TX.
- Martin, D., C. Aldridge, L. Bailey, D. Manier, R. Reed, C. Jarnevich, & M. O’Donnell. Jul. 2016. Distributions of Reptiles in the Great Plains: Ecological Insight from Historical Observations. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists, New Orleans, LA.
- Martin, D., L. Bailey, C. Aldridge, R. Reed, & D. Manier. Jul. 2016. A Standardized Sampling Approach for Guiding Conservation of Terrestrial Reptiles. Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists & Herpetologists, New Orleans, LA. [POSTER].
- Suh, J., and D. Martin. Feb. 2016. Great Plains Reptile Monitoring Project. Colorado Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, 4th Annual Meeting, Longmont, CO. [VIDEO PRESENTATION].
- Seefeld, C., D. Martin, A. Yackel Adams, T. Mathies, and C. Aldridge. May 2015. Effects of weather on body condition of neonate Short-horned Lizards from birth to brumation. Skills for Undergraduate Participation in Ecological Research, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO. [POSTER]
- Jacobs, D., Martin, D., and C. Aldridge. 24 Feb. 2015. Climate variables affecting detection probability of Short-horned Lizards on the eastern grasslands of Colorado. 21st Annual Front Range Student Ecology Symposium, Ft. Collins, CO. [POSTER] *Best Undergraduate Student Poster Presentation Award.
- Martin, D., J. Milford, C. Aldridge, and L. Bailey. 31 Jan. 2015. Opportunities to help test volunteer-based standardized surveys for reptiles in the Great Plains. Colorado Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, 3rd Annual Meeting. Greeley, CO.
- Jacobs, D., Martin, D., and C. Aldridge. 31 Jan. 2015. Climate variables affecting detection probability of Short-horned Lizards on the eastern grasslands of Colorado. Colorado Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, 3rd Annual Meeting. Greeley, CO. [POSTER] *Best Student Poster Award
- Martin, D., C. Aldridge, and L. Bailey. 20 Nov. 2014. Conservation of terrestrial reptiles in a changing landscape. NREL Today Symposium. Ft. Collins, CO. [POSTER]
- Martin, D., C. Aldridge, and L. Bailey. 9 Nov. 2014. Opportunities to help test volunteer-based standardized surveys for reptiles in the Great Plains. Kansas Herpetological Society, 41st Ann. Meeting. Manhattan, KS.
- *Jacobs, D., Martin, D., and C. Aldridge. 9 Nov. 2014. Climate variables affecting detection probability of Short-horned Lizards on the eastern grasslands of Colorado. Kansas Herpetological Society, 41st Ann. Meeting. Manhattan, KS. [POSTER]
- Martin, D., C. Aldridge, and L. Bailey. 1 Feb. 2014. Great Plains Reptile Monitoring Project: Goals & 2013 Summary. Colorado Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, 2nd Annual Meeting,. Denver, CO.
- Martin, D. 8 May 2013. Habitat Patch-Use Dynamics of Short-horned Lizards on a Managed Shortgrass Prairie. FW662 / Wildlife Population Dynamics, Colo. State Univ.. Ft. Collins, CO. [COURSE REQUIREMENT]
- Martin, D., C. Aldridge, and L. Bailey. 20 Feb. 2013. Conservation of terrestrial reptiles in a changing landscape. 19th Ann. Front Range Student Ecology Symposium. Ft. Collins, CO. [POSTER]
- Martin, D., C. Aldridge, and L. Bailey. 6–8 Feb. 2013. Conservation of terrestrial reptiles in a changing landscape. Colorado Chapter of The Wildlife Society Ann. Meeting. Colorado Springs, CO. [POSTER]
- Martin, D., L. Bailey, and C. Aldridge. 26 Jan. 2013. How Colorado PARC can help monitor terrestrial reptile populations. 1st Ann. Meeting of Colorado Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. Ft. Collins, CO.
- Martin, D., C. Aldridge, and L. Bailey. 13 Nov. 2012. Conservation of terrestrial reptiles in a changing landscape. Wyoming Chapter of The Wildlife Society Ann. Meeting. Laramie, WY. [POSTER]
- Martin, D. 14 Jan. 2012. The need for a standardized survey methodology to monitor reptile populations. Colorado Field Herpetologists, 2nd Ann. Winter Meeting. Denver, CO.
- Martin, D. 6 Nov. 2011. What about neonates? Use of natural marks to track individuals for mark-recapture studies. Kansas Herpetological Society, 38th Ann. Meeting. Wichita, KS.
In the News
"Researcher studies how lizards and turtles adapt to changing habitats" by Deborah Huth Price, 12 Dec. 2013 in the Reporter-Herald.
Behind the scenes - the Colorado State University Field Crews at work
In addition to conducting standardized surveys using robust, probability-based sampling methods, CSU crews captured 6 reptile species when possible: Ornate Box Turtles, Texas Horned Lizards, Short-horned Lizards, Round-tailed Horned Lizards, Common Checkered Whiptails, and Colorado Checkered Whiptails. This work was done under necessary scientific collection permits from state wildlife agencies and following approved CSU Animal Care & Use Committee guidelines.
A note about handling reptiles (or any wildlife):
Please don't capture/handle reptiles without necessary permits and training! Our crews follow strict protocols that follow Animal Care & Use Committee approval and under state and federal permits. We take care to reduce stress to captured animals (e.g., we never move them from their site of capture, handle them in shade, and typically release them within 10 minutes of capture), and protect them from potential injury or pathogen transmission (i.e., disinfecting hands and equipment between capture sites). We understand the excitement of learning through handling wildlife, and encourage those interested to do so in a manner that is respectful of relevant laws and of the animals that we all care about! Volunteering with permitted researchers or wildlife agencies can be a great way to learn in a way that is legal and follows capture/handling protocols that follow current animal welfare standards while informing our scientific understanding of these unique species.
A note about handling reptiles (or any wildlife):
Please don't capture/handle reptiles without necessary permits and training! Our crews follow strict protocols that follow Animal Care & Use Committee approval and under state and federal permits. We take care to reduce stress to captured animals (e.g., we never move them from their site of capture, handle them in shade, and typically release them within 10 minutes of capture), and protect them from potential injury or pathogen transmission (i.e., disinfecting hands and equipment between capture sites). We understand the excitement of learning through handling wildlife, and encourage those interested to do so in a manner that is respectful of relevant laws and of the animals that we all care about! Volunteering with permitted researchers or wildlife agencies can be a great way to learn in a way that is legal and follows capture/handling protocols that follow current animal welfare standards while informing our scientific understanding of these unique species.