RESEARCH INTERESTS:
My research interests are focused in conservation biology and herpetology, especially regarding Plethodontid salamanders. Here at Ohio State, I am studying green salamanders (Aneides aeneus), an endangered species in Ohio which is only found in the extreme southern portion of the state. This salamander is associated almost exclusively with rock crevices and is semiarboreal. Due to these unique habitat requirements, I am hoping to model the landscape connectivity of how populations salamanders may interact between different rock faces. I also hope to provide the State with a more comprehensive understanding of where this salamander is found across Ohio.
My research interests are focused in conservation biology and herpetology, especially regarding Plethodontid salamanders. Here at Ohio State, I am studying green salamanders (Aneides aeneus), an endangered species in Ohio which is only found in the extreme southern portion of the state. This salamander is associated almost exclusively with rock crevices and is semiarboreal. Due to these unique habitat requirements, I am hoping to model the landscape connectivity of how populations salamanders may interact between different rock faces. I also hope to provide the State with a more comprehensive understanding of where this salamander is found across Ohio.
BACKGROUND:
I received a B.S. in Wildlife Conservation with a minor in Wetland Science from Virginia Tech in May 2022. As I undergraduate, I had the opportunity to be involved with multiple herpetological based research projects. I tested the effectiveness of various snake guard designs for Eastern Ratsnakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) to address a series of power outages in North Carolina. Continuing on snake research, I spent 2 summers surveying for northern pinesnakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) in the mountains of Virginia using AHDriFT surveys and citizen science outreach. The northern pinesnake hasn’t been seen in the state for over 30 years and although we were unable to reconfirm this species in the state, we managed to obtain a new record from 2013. As part of an undergraduate research project, I also worked on delineating the range between two newly described species of salamander, Plethodon jacksoni and Plethodon dixi.
I received a B.S. in Wildlife Conservation with a minor in Wetland Science from Virginia Tech in May 2022. As I undergraduate, I had the opportunity to be involved with multiple herpetological based research projects. I tested the effectiveness of various snake guard designs for Eastern Ratsnakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) to address a series of power outages in North Carolina. Continuing on snake research, I spent 2 summers surveying for northern pinesnakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) in the mountains of Virginia using AHDriFT surveys and citizen science outreach. The northern pinesnake hasn’t been seen in the state for over 30 years and although we were unable to reconfirm this species in the state, we managed to obtain a new record from 2013. As part of an undergraduate research project, I also worked on delineating the range between two newly described species of salamander, Plethodon jacksoni and Plethodon dixi.
Green Salamander, Aneides aeneus