Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #Herpetology

#Turtle folks - if you've built your own basking #traps , what have you used for floats? Am looking to replicate design in @tony_gamble1 (2006) pub, but want to avoid using Styrofoam if possible (and affordable).

1/n

Will need to clean & sanitize traps between sites to prevent spread of #disease & #invasive species, so the more durable & less absorbent, the better.

Maybe capped & sealed PVC pipe floats could work? Any other ideas? 💡🐢

#herpetology
#turtles

Can find original pub from @tony_gamble1 here: researchgate.net/publication/25…

Rhianna Goble

@RhiannaGoble

[1/6] #Climatechange can affect #amphibians indirectly, but few studies look at changes in size or #morphology
For my MSc by research @DICE_Kent I’m deciphering crest growth in #GreatCrestedNewts at individual and population levels. 🐸🦎
#DICECON20 #SpsMon3 #phenology #frogfriday

[2/6]
Male #GCNs grow ornamental crests every year during aquatic breeding period.
As UK seasons become less distinct, #pond arrival times are less predictable.
So what is happening with #crest development?🧐
#DICECON20 #SpsMon3 #sexualselection #ecology

[3/6]
We photographed >100 individual #newts over 2 breeding periods and tracked changes in crest size + shape using #ImageJ software.

Does early arrival = Early growth peak?
Or ⬆ growth period i.e. potential mating advantage?
#DICECON20 #SpsMon3 #phenology #herpetology

Read 7 tweets

Any folks out there teaching #herpetology with a lab in Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 #online , #hybrid or needing to prepare to do so?

I am currently planning on #HerpFall2020 being hybrid with outdoor labs for as long as we can in MN.

(1/2)

If enough #herpetology folks are in a similar boat and would want to bounce around ideas 💡 as a group, we could organize a virtual brainstorming meeting (or if this is happening already, let me know).
🧠 ⛈ 🐸 🐢 🦎

If interested, plz comment & share!

UPDATE: there is a good bit of interest in a discussion about #online #herpetology ! 👍🏽 👍🏽

Please DM your preferred email and I’ll get our brainstorming 🧠 ⛈ 🐸 organized.

I have enjoyed getting to know ASIH better, especially now that, as a #NewPI I am trying to involve interested students in ichs & #herpetology

I fully support changing the name. (1/3)

https://twitter.com/IchsAndHerps/status/1276713372436836355

I’d be *proud* as a #HERper to talk about future & past pubs as being in the “Ichs & Herps journal (formerly Copeia).” That opens doors to convo (eg Public: “why did the name change?” Us: “we wanted to strengthen our society by showing it’s a place for all scientists.”). (2/3)

It also feels more just and less shameful than saying “in the journal Copeia, which is only interested in one facet of the scientist for whom it is named...ignore that other stuff.”
(3/3)
#ichsandherps

#gecko & #anole #lizard tweeps, reading lit on life history & have a Q:

Is invariant clutch size in each of these groups a consequence/phylogenetic constraint of descent from a narrow bodied/arboreal ancestor?

🦎 🥚

OR has invariant clutch size evolved multiple times as arboreal habitats have been invaded? (i'm thinking this one)

So I guess this is a question of which came first? Few eggs 🥚🥚 or the tree 🌳🌳

...yes...the humor is getting worse while #WFH
#herpetology

I’m interested to hear more opinions about doing #fieldwork based #research over the next 2 months in the US.

Am bringing it up bc it feels like more discussion needed actos fields (inc #herpetology )

Some good points in the 🧵 below, & starting a new 🧵 here.

https://twitter.com/BeckyTonietto/status/1245034198722842626

What do folks think about fw this spring/summer in light of #COVID19 ? #PlzRT poll for broad audience.

I think opinions of folks doing #fieldwork likely differ, & that they differ from folks who aren’t often in the field.

A few IMOs (am actively ⚖️ +/- & op may change):
- if under strict stay at home right now, delay #fieldwork plans
- should not promote solo FW, *esp.* w/new scientists
- some types *may be* ok if u can be safe & do #SocialDistancing (but is a short list I think)

Amphibian Survival Alliance

A thread on #ImageAnalysis & #color in animals:

#AcademicTwitter ,#Herpetology , & folks that analyze #color from images:

Any recommendations for ways to collect data about color & pattern from images of #wildlife? We want to quantify things like %cover by a color & intensity.

Have enjoyed reading some of the work by Davis & Grayson on quantifying #color, hue, % coverage in #newts and other animals.

They used Fovea Pro, a Photoshop add in. The newer version (QIA-64) costs ~$800 😬

researchgate.net/publication/26…

Am also considering the methods of Paterson & Blouin-Demers where they quantify continuous variation in throat color in #lizards using Adobe & ultimately analysis in #imageJ (but haven't had time to test it out yet)

researchgate.net/publication/31…

Read 4 tweets

@amphibiansorg

The @AgentAmphibian CiCi Blumstein has organized a symposium on novel approaches to #ScienceCommunication and #conservation engagement in #herpetology at the #9WCH. Follow this thread to learn more about the talks!

ASA Future Leader of Amphibian Conservation @TeresaCamacho_B talked about @romeothefrog, an inspiring work conducted together with ASA partner @Global_Wildlife! #9WCH #WCHerp2020

Steven Allain @stevoallain gave a great talk about using social media to promote positive outcomes for amphibians and reptiles! #WCH9

Read 7 tweets

It’s the time of year where I grade #HerpFall2019 field notebooks! Always fun to see how they remember things and express themselves.

Favorites below in thread
#herpetology #fieldwork

Some #HerpFall2019 students thought belastomatid #insects were “nightmare fuel” 😂

We caught a few of these aquatic predators in our minnow traps. They’ll absolutely eat #amphibians

Whereas the #hognose #snake was a hit

Read 8 tweets

Out of curiosity, what is the #herpetology Twitter take on ordering #herps (#amphibians or #reptiles ) for dissection in classes from companies like Carolina or others?

#PlzRT & comment below

My current vote: uncertain leaning towards being against it.

Primarily bc I can't always confirm where the animals are sourced from. Are they farmed (perhaps the case for bull #frogs but prob not for other #amphibians or for non- #turtles )? If not, is take sustainable?

Update: I asked & Carolina responded! They source their Ambystoma from the bait industry.

Behold! A hatchling blue-spotted #salamander (<24 hrs hatched).

In anticipation of #fieldwork with later stage #ambystoma larvae, here's a quick #herpetology quiz:

See those straight things sticking out of its head and downward. What do you think they are? Poll is👇

What are those things sticking out of this #salamander #larva 's head and downward?

There are 4 days on the poll. Tune back in later this week for the answer!