Herpetological Surveys and Research at Ohio Northern University’s Tidd-Oakes Farm Nature Preserve
Advisor(s)
Dr. Katherine Krynak
Dr. Leslie Riley
Dr. Robert Verb
Confirmation
1
Document Type
Poster
Location
ONU McIntosh Center; McIntosh Activities Room
Start Date
21-4-2023 12:00 PM
End Date
21-4-2023 12:50 PM
Abstract
The Tidd-Oakes Farm (TOF) was established in 1999 after 350 acres of agricultural land was donated to Ohio Northern University (ONU). This NRCS enrolled conservation easement is composed of woodlots, prairies, permanent ponds, ephemeral pools, and wet meadows, all of which provide excellent habitats for a variety of herpetofauna. ONU has conducted herpetological surveys since 2001 at TOF. Our methods include active and passive call surveys, trapping for ambystomid salamanders, dipnetting for larval anurans, baited hoop traps for aquatic turtles, snake coverboard arrays, and visual encounter surveys. In addition to this work, we are also investigating the mitochondrial and nuclear lineages of Ambystoma unisexual salamanders and surveying for the presence of Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (snake fungal pathogen). With long-term monitoring, research, and active land management efforts to protect the varied wetland, prairie, and wooded habitats on this property, we hope to provide a safe-haven for existing herpetofauna taxa and assess the potential for reestablishment, or local translocation of, imperiled species to this protected habitat.
Recommended Citation
Brown, Gregory; Goehring, Haley; and Lepard, Joseph, "Herpetological Surveys and Research at Ohio Northern University’s Tidd-Oakes Farm Nature Preserve" (2023). ONU Student Research Colloquium. 26.
https://digitalcommons.onu.edu/student_research_colloquium/2023/posters/26
Restricted
Available to ONU community via local IP address and ONU login.
Herpetological Surveys and Research at Ohio Northern University’s Tidd-Oakes Farm Nature Preserve
ONU McIntosh Center; McIntosh Activities Room
The Tidd-Oakes Farm (TOF) was established in 1999 after 350 acres of agricultural land was donated to Ohio Northern University (ONU). This NRCS enrolled conservation easement is composed of woodlots, prairies, permanent ponds, ephemeral pools, and wet meadows, all of which provide excellent habitats for a variety of herpetofauna. ONU has conducted herpetological surveys since 2001 at TOF. Our methods include active and passive call surveys, trapping for ambystomid salamanders, dipnetting for larval anurans, baited hoop traps for aquatic turtles, snake coverboard arrays, and visual encounter surveys. In addition to this work, we are also investigating the mitochondrial and nuclear lineages of Ambystoma unisexual salamanders and surveying for the presence of Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (snake fungal pathogen). With long-term monitoring, research, and active land management efforts to protect the varied wetland, prairie, and wooded habitats on this property, we hope to provide a safe-haven for existing herpetofauna taxa and assess the potential for reestablishment, or local translocation of, imperiled species to this protected habitat.