We discovered 2 or 3 metapopulations of the imperiled Notophthalmus perstriatus (Striped Newt) using 15 wetlands on Princess Place Preserve and the adjacent Pellicer Creek Conservation Area in Flagler County, FL. Some of these wetlands are too ephemeral for successful reproduction most years, but a 5.1-ha dome swamp, 2.9-ha basin marsh, and 4 smaller wetlands contain paedomorphic populations that probably have annual recruitment. Most wetlands are in or near open-canopied or recently restored sandhill habitat with suitable conditions for terrestrial life stages. Since the state and county purchased these properties circa 1995, clear-cutting of Pinus clausa (Sand Pine), prescribed burning, and thinning of P. elliottii (Slash Pine) and Quercus spp. (oaks) have improved upland habitat for the Striped Newt.

Information on a species' population dynamics, such as changes in abundance and distribution, can be used to identify declining populations and initiate conservation efforts and protections. For the Ornate Chorus Frog (Pseudacris ornata), anecdotal observations of local extirpation and population declines have been noted, but trends in its range-wide population status are generally unknown. We used 2227 verified records of Ornate Chorus Frog presence from across the species' distribution, grouped into 407 populations, and a modified Cormack-Jolly-Seber survival analysis to estimate the probability that historical Ornate Chorus Frog populations persist in the year 2024. Our results suggested that > 36% of historical Ornate Chorus Frog populations are possibly extirpated (probability of persistence < 0.5) and that 33% of populations had a probability of persistence > 0.9. Many of these extant populations occurred in northwestern Florida, southeastern Alabama, and southern Georgia, USA. The probability of persistence was positively influenced by habitat suitability and mean winter precipitation and negatively influenced by urban imperviousness. Ornate Chorus Frogs in protected areas had a higher average probability of persistence compared to populations that were not in protected areas. Our study fills a knowledge gap by identifying regions where Ornate Chorus Frog populations are likely thriving and regions where they may be extinct.

A disjunct population of Sceloporus woodi (Florida Scrub Lizard) occurs in 2 scrub patches on Bluefield Ranch Preserve in southwestern St. Lucie County, FL. This population occupies a small ridge in the Osceola Plain Province in a presumed 105-km-wide distribution gap for the species between the Atlantic Coastal and Lake Wales Ridge complexes. Genetic analyses could determine the origin and length of isolation of this population, but it is likely derived from the Atlantic Coastal Ridge Complex, which is similar to 35 km to the east and separated by the Upper St. Johns River Valley Province.

1 Copyright is held by the authors. Articles in R&A are made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license. Florida has more established, nonnative herpetofaunal species than any other place in the world (Meshaka et al. 2004; Krysko et al. 2016, 2019), and densities of nonnative lizard species can be high in anthropogenic habitats. In Florida, Mediterranean Geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus) occurred at densities as high as 1,463 per ha in Tampa, Pinellas County (Punzo 2001), and Brown Anoles (Anolis sagrei) can reach ca. 12,000 per ha (Campbell and Echternacht 2003). Florida lacks native nocturnal lizard species, and several species of introduced geckos have exploited this vacant ecological niche, often feeding around artificial lights on buildings (Meshaka et al. 2004; Krysko et al. 2019). The only native species utilizing edificarian habitats at night are several species of treefrogs (Hyla spp.), but their presence requires a nearby suitable wetland for breeding. Assuming invertebrate prey around lights is a limited resource, native hylids may be deleteriously impacted by the presence of geckos and the larger, nonnative Cuban Treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis), which also preys upon other hylids and hemidactyline geckos (Meshaka 2001; Punzo 2001). In many areas of peninsular Florida, Cuban Treefrogs fill an underexploited terrestrialarboreal structural niche that is analogous to their native mesophytic forest habitat (Meshaka 2001). The expansion of Brown Anoles throughout peninsular Florida has reduced native Green Anole (A. carolinensis) populations in some habitats, particularly suburban settings with reduced vegetative complexity (Campbell 2000; Kamath et al. 2013). The Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) has the most varied diet of any North American owl species and preys opportunistically upon terrestrial and aquatic animals (Ritchison et al. 2017), including larval and adult amphibians, soft-shelled turtles (Apalone spp.), lizards, and small snakes (Craighead and Craighead 1956; Ritchison and Cavanagh 1992; Gehlbach 2008). It nests in tree cavities and bird boxes and is often the most common avian predator in wooded suburban and urban habitats (Ritchison et al. 2017). Screech-Owls typically pounce on prey from perches 1.3–3 m high that allow an unobstructed view of the ground; perch height varies depending on the prey being hunted and moonlight availability (Abbruzzese and Ritchison 1997). Although Eastern Screech-Owls are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular, they are occasionally active during the day (Alderfer and Dunn 2006). During the second week of April 2022, a pair of Eastern Screech-Owls started using a nest box in a yard in Palmetto, Manatee County, Florida. They were periodically observed from 1930 to 2200 h until 20 May, when the last of three nestlings fledged. Vertebrate prey primarily consisted of four nonnative species: the Brown Anole (Fig. 1; left), Indo-Pacific Gecko (H. garnotii) (Fig. 1; right), Mediterranean Gecko and Cuban Treefrog. These species have not been previously reported as prey of the Eastern Screech-Owls. During the egg incubation period, the male would typically bring one or two Brown Anoles to the perching female around dusk before she returned to the nest box. As the night progressed, the male usually brought beetles, geckos, or occasionally Cuban Treefrogs to feed the female. Once the eggs hatched, the female would briefly hunt at dusk and usually return with Brown Anoles or geckos. These four nonnative species were the most commonly observed herpetofaunal species in this residential yard. Although Florida has five Hemidactylus species, only three species are widely distributed in the peninsula (Krysko et al. 2019). The Mediterranean Gecko was first observed in Key West in 1910 and subsequently invaded cities throughout Florida (Krysko et al. 2019). However, populations in the southern two-thirds of the peninsula have mostly been replaced by the parthenogenic Indo-Pacific House Gecko Predation of the Cuban Treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) and Three Nonnative Lizard Species by Eastern Screech-Owls (Megascops asio) in Manatee County, Florida, USA

An inherent challenge in managing rare or cryptic species is data deficiency. For this reason, ancillary data is a potentially valuable resource for generating key population estimates for priority species. We compiled ancillary commensal data collected between 1982 and 2020 during surveys of gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) burrows to estimate the terrestrial distribution of gopher frogs (Rana capito) from potential breeding wetlands. Gopher frogs were detected in gopher tortoise burrows 30-3,879 m from identified wetlands. A global model of all records from all sites indicated that the probability of a gopher frog residing in a gopher tortoise burrow declined with increasing distance from a wetland. This pattern also held for 4 of 5 sites with a sufficient number of gopher frog detections to model independently. Based on the full data set, we estimated that 50%, 90%, and 99% of gopher frog observations occurred within 392 m, 1,019 m, and 2,752 m of the nearest wetland, respectively. Our results indicate a higher proportion of gopher frogs emigrate longer distances from wetlands than was previously reported using other methods, such as radio-telemetry. This information can directly assist with management decisions, notably the spatial extent for application of habitat management surrounding breeding wetlands. More generally, this study illustrates the capacity of ancillary data to fill data deficiencies for a rare and cryptic species and highlights the importance of these data.

Combat has been described in captive but not in wild Macrochelys temminckii (Alligator Snapping Turtle). Combat may be seldom observed in the wild because of the habitats used by these highly aquatic, cryptic turtles. We report 1 observation of fighting in M. temminckii and 3 observations of fighting in M. suwanniensis (Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle) from Florida and Georgia. Combat involved wrestling and biting of heads and front feet, and it was usually accompanied by dramatic bubbling of the water surface from submerged turtles. Observations were made in September, October, and December, outside of the presumed courtship and mating season.

With the conservation status of Macrochelys (alligator snapping turtles) being examined at the national level, our objective was to compile categorical data on threats from anthropogenic interactions. We included information from (1) author-collected anecdotes on human-turtle interactions and (2) radiographs to assess the prevalence of ingested fishing hooks. We placed 173 interactions involving 192 incidents into 9 IUCN threat categories and found bycatch involving fish hooks to be 4 times more numerous than the second-most numerous threat, turtle persecution. Fishing bycatch resulted in a high proportion of turtle mortalities (39%), and bycatch incidents in several cases preceded the highest-mortality threat (53%), persecution of individuals involving shooting or blunt trauma. We recommend fishing bycatch-mitigation measures and educational efforts to help conserve Macrochelys.

We translocated 48 male and 54 female Florida Scrub Lizards (Sceloporus woodi) to the Hypoluxo Scrub Natural Area (Hypoluxo) in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, and established a reproducing population that persisted at least 2 y later. The translocation site has contained habitat suitable for S. woodi for at least 30 y, but populations were apparently extirpated for unknown reasons. The range of this endemic species, which has been petitioned for U.S. federal listing as Threatened, had contracted 77 km northward along the Atlantic Coast in the past 30 y, and this reintroduced population extends its current range 37 km southward. We monitored the population monthly during the first year and bimonthly thereafter using meander surveys. Lizards had dispersed at least 350 m south 17 mo after release. The success of this reintroduction, which required relatively little time and money, suggests the possibility of reestablishing additional populations where this species has been extirpated. Longer term monitoring of this population is warranted.

We determined the occurrence in Florida, USA, of the Gopher Frog (Rana capito) primarily by conducting dipnet surveys of 1,330 potential breeding ponds on 113 conservation lands in 44 counties and 23 ponds on private lands in 12 counties. We compared recent and historical records to determine distributional trends, and we developed a Maxent Potential Habitat Model to gain a better picture of its possible distribution in unsurveyed areas. This model identified 1,177,002 ha on the peninsula and 292,751 ha in the Panhandle; 30.1% of the habitat was on conservation lands. While conducting dipnet surveys, we found Gopher Frog tadpoles in 356 ponds on 59 conservation lands in 31 counties and in six ponds on private property in five counties. Across public and private property, dipnet surveys found 294 new breeding ponds; frogs heard calling accounted for 38 new breeding ponds; and incidental observations accounted for four new breeding ponds. Historical and recent records show that Gopher Frogs have been reported from 109 conservation lands and 488 ponds, and populations are presumably extant on 96 conservation lands. We estimated that at least 114 metapopulations were likely extant by combining records within 7 km of each other provided they were not separated by barriers to movement. Gopher Frogs have been recorded from 56 of 67 counties of Florida, and we suspect populations are extant in at least 44 counties. Urbanization, however, may have eliminated populations at the southernmost extent of the range of the species in Palm Beach, Broward, and Collier counties.

Geological processes influence water chemistry and biological productivity along the Suwannee River and divide the mainstem of the river into 6 distinct ecological reaches ( ERs) in Florida. Because of these distinctions, we hypothesized that the Macrochelys suwanniensis (Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle) population varies among ERs. During 2011-2013, we sampled two 5-km sites in each ER to investigate spatial variation in relative abundance, sex ratio, size-class distribution, and body size of M. suwanniensis. Capture rates and male body sizes were greater in the middle ERs than in the upstream and downstream ERs. Sex ratios were male-skewed only in the middle ERs. Additional research is needed to understand the ecological drivers of M. suwanniensis population dynamics in this river.

For approximately four decades, scientists have known of the existence of several undescribed species of Siren in the southeastern United States Coastal Plain. One of these species, S. reticulata, was recently described, but a small, seepage-dwelling species has remained undescribed until now. To resolve outstanding questions concerning the phylogeny of Siren, we collected sequence and morphometric data from specimens across the range of Siren. We found S. lacertina and S. reticulata to represent strongly supported monophyletic groups, with S. reticulata having a sister relationship to all other Siren. Additionally, we found five distinct mtDNA lineages within what has been recognized as S. intermedia. Siren lacertina and type-locality S. intermedia (lineage A) are sister mtDNA lineages, whereas S. intermedia lineages B and C show a high level of mitogenomic divergence from type-locality S. intermedia. Analyses of two scnDNA loci revealed that S. lacertina is monophyletic but nested with low positional support in a clade including the three S. intermedia mtDNA lineages. Further study is needed to determine whether S. intermedia lineages A, B, and C represent distinct species or incompletely sorted lineages. We restrict the range of S. intermedia to the region from the Escambia and Perdido river drainages of Florida and Alabama eastward through Virginia (the combined ranges of lineages A, B, and C). We also elevate S. i. nettingi (lineage E) to species status and include the larger S. i. texana form in that taxon, generating a species that occurs from the Mobile Bay drainages westward through the Mississippi Basin and southwest into northeastern Mexico. Lastly, we describe a new miniature species, S. sphagnicola, that ranges from the Florida Parishes of Louisiana eastward to the westernmost tributary creeks of Choctawhatchee Bay in the western Florida panhandle.

Alligator snapping turtles (genus Macrochelys) are the largest freshwater turtles in North America. Despite strong interest in their conservation, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of their natural history, including behaviors associated with terrestrial activity. We reviewed the literature and solicited unpublished observations of terrestrial movements of these highly aquatic turtles. We compiled 206 observations of terrestrial activity from 9 states. The majority of observations were associated with nesting behavior. Observations expanded our knowledge regarding the spatial extent and timing of terrestrial movements and the nesting season. In addition, we compiled observations of terrestrially foraging animals, as well as males and juveniles traveling overland and crossing roads. Collectively, this information clarifies the extent of terrestrial movement by Macrochelys, behaviors that should be considered in conservation plans.

The Mimic Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus mimicus) is endemic to the Coastal Plain of the southeastern U.S. To assess its current status and distribution, we compiled 84 historical (pre-2000) and 45 recent (2000-2022) records by searching museum collections, databases, and the literature. We conducted field visits to 38 recent and 40 historical Mimic Glass Lizard sites to evaluate habitat type and condition. Most records are from opencanopied, hydric-mesic, fire-managed Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) habitats with grassy ground cover, including mesic and wet pine flatwoods (61 sites, 78.2%), wet prairie (13 sites, 16.6%), and seepage slope (five sites, 6.4%) communities. The range of the species is now highly fragmented, with recent records restricted to conservation lands in the Florida Panhandle (n = 4) and adjacent southern Alabama (n = 1), and near the coast in southeastern North Carolina (n = 2). Specimens are seldom collected in the field but have been found on roads and in funnel traps along drift fences. We summarized size data, survey methods, and activity of this poorly known species. Given the evidence of range-wide population declines, few recent records, and few known sites for Mimic Glass Lizards, we recommend immediate conservation attention by state and federal agencies, including a species status review for listing under the Endangered Species Act.

We trapped 4 large alluvial rivers (Ochlockonee, Apalachicola, Choctawhatchee, and Escambia), 10 of their tributaries, and 22 other streams during 2014-2018 to determine the distribution of Macrochelys ( alligator snapping turtles) in the Florida panhandle. We trapped three 5-km sections of the 4 large rivers and 130.1347-m sections of 32 smaller streams. We captured 179 turtles in 855 trap nights (TN) for an overall catch per unit effort (CPUE) of 0.21, recording the first observations from Cypress, Bear, Dry, and Wetappo creeks. We failed to capture Macrochelys in 13 streams but suspect populations occur in most streams of all types between the Sopchoppy and Perdido rivers with adequate water depths and cover in the form of deep holes, undercut banks, or fallen trees. We had low trapping success (CPUE = 0.012) in 243 TN in the Choctawhatchee drainage despite apparently suitable habitat. The male: female ratio was 1.44:1, which was significantly different from 1: 1. The 4 large rivers had proportionally larger females than smaller streams.

Beginning in July 2019, numerous free-ranging brown anoles (Anolis sagrei), an invasive lizard species in Florida, USA, were reported with large, soft, subcutaneous masses and disfiguring facial swellings. Postmortem evaluations of six affected animals, including cytology, histology, and electron microscopy, identified the presence of myriad chain-forming coccoid bacteria surrounded by a prominent clear capsule and abundant lightly basophilic matrix material with minimal associated granulomatous inflammation and effacement of normal tissue. Standard PCR and sequencing of the lesions revealed 100% nucleotide identity to Enterococcus lacertideformus. This bacterium was first observed in 2014 as the cause of a severe, multisystemic infection in several species of lizards (geckos and skinks) on Christmas Island, an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean. Previously, analysis of E. lacertideformus had been hindered by an inability to grow the bacterium in standard culture conditions. We successfully cultured the organism on primary anole kidney cells. Given the growing recognition of host species diversity and geographic distribution noted for this organism, there is potential concern for spread to native North American lizards, especially the green anole (Anolis carolinensis), whose population numbers have apparently decreased due to introduced brown anoles.

Delineating genetically distinct population segments of threatened species and quantifying population connectivity are important steps in developing effective conservation and management strategies aimed at preventing extinction. The gopher frog (Rana capito) is a xeric-adapted, pond-breeding species endemic to the Gulf and Atlantic coastal plains of the southeastern United States. This species has experienced extensive habitat loss and fragmentation in the formerly widespread longleaf pine-wiregrass savanna where it lives, resulting in individual abundance declines and population extinctions throughout its range. We used individual-based clustering methods along with Bayesian inference of historical migration based on almost 1500 multilocus microsatellite genotypes to examine genetic structure in this taxon. Clustering analyses identified panhandle and peninsular populations in Florida as distinct genetic clusters separated by the Aucilla River, consistent with the division between the Coastal Plain and peninsular mitochondrial lineages, respectively. Analysis of historical migration indicated an east–west population divergence event followed by immigration to the east. Together, our results indicate that the genetically distinct Coastal Plain and peninsular Florida lineages should be considered separately for conservation and management purposes.

Abstract - The published literature does not provide a consensus regarding maximum body sizes of North America's largest wild freshwater turtles (genus Macrochelys). The largest known wild M. suwanniensis (Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle) currently exists as a curated specimen measuring 713 mm straight-midline carapace length, 801 mm maximum carapace length, 619 mm maximum carapace width, and 236 mm maximum head width. The turtle was never weighed, but we used morphometric data from our studies in the Santa Fe and Suwannee rivers to estimate that it weighed ∼76.4 kg (168 lbs) when captured. Our 95% prediction interval (67.6–86.3 kg [149–190 lbs]) suggests that speculative estimates and anecdotal reports of M. suwanniensis that weigh ≥90 kg (≥200 lbs) are dubious.

Abstract. Freshwater megafauna populations, which are declining worldwide, are well known but often overlooked and understudied compared with marine and terrestrial megafauna. One species of freshwater megafauna is the Suwannee alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys suwanniensis), which is endemic to the Suwannee River drainage in Georgia and Florida. Several trapping studies have examined M. suwanniensis distribution, body size, and population structure, but little information exists regarding its population status. The objectives of our study were to 1) estimate population size, 2) estimate apparent survival, and 3) model population growth rates (k) by conducting a capture–mark–recapture study of M. suwanniensis in the Suwannee River in Florida. From 2011 to 2013, we repeatedly sampled 12 randomly selected 5-km sites along the Suwannee River for M. suwanniensis using baited hoop-net traps. We captured 126 individuals and had 29 recaptures. Both adult males and adult females had very high apparent survival (0.99), whereas juveniles had lower apparent survival (0.32). We estimated a population density of 6.6 turtles/river km, indicating a population of 1709 (95% CI, 1205–2694) M. suwanniensis from the town of White Springs to the upper limit of the estuary in the main stem of the Suwannee River (approximately 259 river km). We constructed 2 postbreeding census matrix population models for M. suwanniensis and incorporated parameters from this study and from the literature. Both matrix population models suggested a slightly decreasing population (k = 0.99), but because of the uncertainty around our estimates, we consider the population trend to be unclear. Elasticity analysis revealed that k was most sensitive to changes in adult survival compared with other model components. This is a conservation concern because adult M. suwanniensis may be incidentally killed by fishing gear. Our study was short-term, and our analyses had limitations; therefore, we recommend future areas of research, including long-term population monitoring.

Effective management of a species requires that resource managers know critical aspects of its ecology, including information on home range and habitat use. We conducted the first telemetry study on the Suwannee alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys suwanniensis), and we examined movements at an upper river (UR) site and a lower river (LR) site in the Suwannee River in Florida, USA. We estimated home range size with kernel density estimates (KDE) using the FishTracker GIS toolbox, and we examined potential differences in KDEs with Generalized Linear Models (GLMs). We also used GLMs (family = binomial) to examine habitat selection for M. suwanniensis. We used an information-theoretic approach to rank and select the most parsimonious models. Overall, our models revealed that M. suwanniensis possessed larger 90% KDEs in the LR site than the UR site, and in both sites, turtles moved into the floodplain during flooded conditions. Remarkably, these movements continued even after water levels receded and the aquatic links were severed. Interestingly, M. suwanniensis selected shallow water with some type of subsurface cover, especially large woody debris (LWD). Instream LWD is likely extremely important, especially during low water levels when undercut banks and other bank habitats are unavailable, so the removal of LWD, including deadhead logs, could negatively affect the species. Minimum flows have been established in the drainage, but river water levels have declined an estimated 40% since human settlement, partly because of groundwater withdrawal outside the drainage, potentially imperiling this state Threatened species.