Anthropogenic effects on amphibian populations       

Development of conservation strategies and management techniques to minimize human impacts on wildlife

Bridging gaps between the general public and scientific community

Habitat destruction and alteration is considered the number one cause of the loss of biodiversity, and amphibians are no exception. Unfortunately, it is unrealistic to think that trends in land use and development will cease or be reversed. However, by creating a balance between land use and the protection of the wildlife, we can develop realistic ways of preserving biodiversity even as humans’ activities continue and populations increase.

Golf is one of the world’s most popular sports and is unique in the fact that it requires a large amount of land for its practices. There are currently over 17,000 golf courses in the United States alone, and considering the average course is 150 acres, there are over 2.5 million acres of land in our country tied up in golf courses. Often times more than 70% of a course consists of rough non-play areas. The goal of my research is to find a balance between the land used for golf and protection of the wildlife that occurs on golf courses.

My project focuses specifically on stream salamanders on golf courses in the southern Appalachian Mountains. My research takes place on 10 golf courses in the Highlands, North Carolina region. I will be measuring the abundance, diversity, and “health” of stream salamanders located on these courses and will compare their populations to those located in nearby National Forests. I will also be quantifying habitat characteristics in the streams and adjacent riparian areas to correlate to the numbers and health of the salamanders we capture. One of the major outcomes of this project will be a document drafted for the United States Golf Association (USGA) listing suggestions for best land management techniques for the maintaining or improving of in-stream and riparian areas on golf courses. This will serve as a guide to superintendents in the maintenance and upkeep of their courses.

Gerald GW, Mackey MJ. & Claussen DL. 2008. Effects of Temperature and Perch Diameter on Arboreal Locomotion in the Snake Elaphe guttata. Journal of Experimental Zoology 309A: 147-156.