CAREER: Effects of Urbanization on Amphibian and Reptile Populations

大多数动物种群面临的主要威胁是城市化(即人类发展)造成的栖息地破坏。城市化可能会对两栖和爬行动物的数量造成特别的破坏，因为在许多地区，两栖和爬行动物的数量正在急剧下降。在这份职业计划中，多卡斯博士将在本科生研究的基础上开发一个项目，研究城市化对两栖动物和爬行动物的影响。他将建立一项研究，探索城市化对生活在北卡罗来纳州小溪中的火蜥蜴造成有害影响的原因。将从溪流中系统地采集火蜥蜴样本，并比较它们在溪流流域开发之前、期间和之后的数量。PI还将研究栖息在小池塘中的半水栖海龟对城市化的反应。海龟将在发育之前、期间和之后被诱捕，并将使用无线电遥测来监测它们的活动。因为两栖动物和爬行动物可能比其他一些动物对环境退化更敏感，所以像这样的研究可以提供环境退化的早期证据。许多本科生将有各种各样的机会参与高质量的研究。最后，对当地社区和当地学校的外展计划将使社区成员密切参与研究，并将增加对两栖动物和爬行动物作为我们自然遗产的重要组成部分的欣赏。

The major threat facing most animal populations is habitat destruction due to urbanization (i.e., human development). Urbanization may be especially destructive to populations of amphibians and reptiles, which are declining precipitously in many regions. In this CAREER proposal, Dr. Dorcas will develop a program based on undergraduate research to examine the effects of urbanization on amphibians and reptiles. He will establish a study to explore reasons for an already documented detrimental effect of urbanization on salamanders living in small streams in North Carolina. Salamanders will be systematically sampled from streams and their numbers compared before, during, and after development of the streams' watersheds. The PI will also examine how semi-aquatic turtles inhabiting small ponds respond to urbanization. Turtles will be trapped before, during, and after development, and radiotelemetry will be used to monitor their movements. Because amphibians and reptiles may be more sensitive to environmental degradation than some other animals, studies such as this one can provide early evidence of environmental degradation. Many undergraduate students will be presented with a wide variety of opportunities to participate in high-quality research. Finally, an outreach program to the local community and to local schools will intimately involve community members in the research and will increase appreciation of amphibians and reptiles as important parts of our natural heritage.