Tropical Vertebrate Biology: Reptiles and Amphibians

1
Tropical Vertebrate Biology Reptiles and
Amphibians

• Background, introduction and discussion starters

2
Goals

• Use independent research projects to study
  aspects of the biology of tropical
  reptiles/amphibians
• Learn and practice scientific inquiry by
  conceiving, designing, implementing and reporting
  the results of an independent study
• Discover basic principles of the biology of
  reptiles/amphibians that can be applied in any
  context (even Ohio!)

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My research interests

• Physiological ecology and life history variation
  in fence lizards
• Life span and reproductive characteristics
• Effects of environment and genetics
• Phenotypic modification
• Locomotor physiology
• What factors affect speed and endurance in
  lizards
• Population biology
• Competition and predation
• Behavior
• Territoriality
• Home range size
• Population biology and ecology of Salamanders

4
How do we get started?

• Introduction to the critters
• Reptiles
• Amphibians
• Some activities
• What do you already know about the biology of
  amphibians and reptiles?
• What is known about the herps of San Salvador
  (Bahamas)?
• What are you interested in finding out about the
  herps of San Salvador?

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Reptiles

• Lizards
• Northern Curly-tailed Lizard (Leiocephalus
  carinatus)
• Anoles
• Bark (Anolis distichus)
• Brown (Anolis sagrei)
• Iguanine (Cyclura rileyi)
• Gecko (Sphaerodactylus corticola)
• Snakes
• Blind (Leptotyphlops, Typhlops)
• Brown racer (Alsophus vudii)
• Bahamas Boa (Epicrates striatus)

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Amphibians

• Greenhouse frog (Eleutherodactylus planirostris)
• Cuban treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis)

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What do you already know?

• On a sheet of paper, list 3 general facts you
  know about amphibians or reptiles (5 min.)
• Gather into two equally-sized groups (10 min.)
• Combine individual lists of facts into a single
  list with no repeats (compile unique list)
• Discuss if you can extend the list of unique
  items (i.e., jog one-anothers memory)
• Report out (5 min.)
• Back in your large groups, for each fact, make a
  simple prediction that follows from the fact (15
  min.)
• e.g., some lizards can change from green to
  brown very rapidly (green anoles). I expect that
  if lizards change color for crypsis, then lizards
  observed on brown substrates are more likely to
  be brown than green and vice versa.

8
What is known about Bahamian herps

• In groups of two, do some searches using the
  species list (20 min.)
• Web.e.g., google, dogpile, etc
• ISI web of science
• Use your searches to report back on something
  about the biology of one critters (or a related
  critter) (10 min)

9
Prepare for Mondays session Brainstorming
project ideas

• Given what we have discovered about herps today
  (or from previous information)
• Individually list three things you would be
  interested in studying (be as specific as you
  can), and be able to explain why your interested
  (10 minutes)
• In pairs, explain your list to a partner