Trachemys scripta
R. Brent Thomas
Associate Professor of Biology
Emporia State University


Contact Information:
Department of Biological Sciences
Campus Box 4050
Emporia State University
Emporia KS 66801
Phone: 620-341-5608
e-mail: rthomas2 AT emporia.edu (note: “AT” equals @)
Office Location: Science Hall 168

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I teach ZO 200 Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology, GB 750 Research Design & Analysis, ZO 556 Natural History of Vertebrates, and Herpetology. My research interests include Behavioral and Evolutionary Ecology, Conservation Biology, and Natural History. Vertebrates (primarily reptiles and amphibians) usually serve as the test subjects for the bulk of my research. Most of my published research projects have involved freshwater turtles (usually Slider Turtles). Recent projects on slider turtles have involved male alternative mating tactics, characteristics of the foreclaw display behaviors of females, overland movements, and various aspects of their basking behaviors. I enjoy getting students involved with research projects and encourage students interested in conducting (undergraduate or master’s level) research to contact me. I am currently serving as an associate editor for Herpetological Review and as a member of the World Conservation Union/Species Survival Commission’s Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group.

Education
B.S. Biology, University of the Ozarks (1991)
M.S. Biology, Missouri State University (1993)
Ph.D. Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University (1999)

Previous Positions
Associate Professor: University of South Carolina Upstate, 8/05 – 5/06
Same duties as below
Assistant Professor: University of South Carolina Upstate, 8/99 – 8/05
Taught Human Anatomy + lab, Human Physiology + lab, General Biology lab, Bioscience II (equivalent to General Zoology) + lab, Human Biology and Society, and Biology; Introduction to Ecology and Evolutionary Biology + lab; Evolutionary Biology + lab; and Senior Seminar. Provided research opportunities for undergraduates and served as an academic advisor to undergraduates.
Teaching Assistant: - Mississippi State University / Biological Sciences, 9/95-5/99
Lab instructor for General Ecology, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, and Biology of Vertebrates, and Human Anatomy lectures
Part-time Faculty Mississippi University for Women, 7/96-8/96
Taught General Biology lecture during their summer session
Research Biologist, Missouri Department of Conservation, 1/95-8/95
Conducted herpetofaunal surveys within several Missouri River floodplain habitats.
Part-time Faculty Ozarks Technical Community College, 1/94-12/94
Taught the lecture and lab components of Anatomy and Physiology.
Research Assistant Southwest Missouri University, 6/93-12/93
Coordinator for the implementation of a faunal survey of two military bases in southwestern Missouri, responsible for coordinating and supervising the activities of a crew of my peers (other graduate students) and writing the final reports for the Army National Guard.
Teaching Assistant, Southwest Missouri State University, 9/91-5/93
Lab instructor for General Biology.

  Publications

Thomas, R. B., I. M. Nall, and W. J. House. 2008. Relative Efficacy of Three Different Baits for Trapping Pond-dwelling Turtles in East-central Kansas. Herpetological Review-Accepted

Thomas, R. B., and R. Altig. 2006. Characteristics of the foreclaw display behaviors of female Trachemys scripta (Slider Turtles). Southeastern Naturalist.5:227-234.

Taylor, C. M., R. A. Fiorillo, L. R. Williams, R. B. Thomas, T. L. Holder, and M. L. Warren, Jr. 2006. Distribution, abundance, and diversity of upland stream fishes under variable environmental conditions. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 63:43-54.

Thomas, R. B.  2006. Conservation status of the slider turtle (Trachemys scripta).  In: The Conservation Biology of Florida’s Freshwater Turtles, Meylan, P. (Ed.). Chelonian Research Foundation, Lunenburg, Massachussetts.  In Press.

                                    Thomas, R. B., and K. P. Jansen. 2006. Conservation status of the Florida cooter (Pseudemys floridana).  In: The Conservation Biology of Florida’s Freshwater Turtles, Meylan, P. (Ed.). Chelonian Research Foundation, Lunenburg, Massachussetts.  In Press.

                                    Taylor, C. M., L. R. Williams, R. A. Fiorillo, R. B. Thomas, and M. L. Warren, Jr.  2004.  Fish assemblage structure under variable environmental conditions in the Ouachita Mountains (pgs. 239-245).  In: Ouachita and Ozark Mountains Symposium: ecosystem management research, Guldin, J. M. (Ed.). Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-74.  Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station.

                                    Thomas, R. B. 2002. A conditional mating strategy in a long-lived vertebrate: ontogenetic shifts in the mating tactics of male slider turtles (Trachemys scripta). Copeia. 2002:456-461.

Thomas, R. B., and W. S. Parker. 2000. Intrasexual variations in overland movements of slider turtles (Trachemys scripta).  Journal of Herpetology 34:469-472.

                        Thomas, R. B., N. Vogrin, and R. Altig. 1999. Sexual and seasonal differences in behavior of Trachemys scripta (Testudines:Emydidae).  Journal of Herpetology 33:511-515.

Fiorillo, R. A., R. B. Thomas, M. Warren, and C. M. Taylor. 1999. Structure of the helminth assemblage of an endemic madtom catfish (Noturus lachneri). Southwestern Naturalist  44:522-526.

                                    Thomas, R. B., D. Beckman, K. Thompson, K. Buhlmann, J. W. Gibbons, and D. Moll.  1997. Estimation of age for Trachemys scripta and Deirochelys reticularia by counting annual growth layers in claws.  Copeia  1997:842-845.

                                    Thomas, R. B., and J. Bradford. 1997. Geographic Distribution. Graptemys pulchra.  Herpetological Review  28:209.

Thomas, R. B., D. Moll, and J. Steiert. 1994. Evidence of a symbiotic relationship between cellulolytic bacteria and a freshwater herbivorous turtle. Southwestern Naturalist 39:386-388.

 

  Presentations at Professional Meetings

Nall, I. M., and R. B. Thomas. 2007. Linkage between foreclaw growth rate and stage of melanism in male slider turtles (Trachemys scripta): comparisons within and among populations. Kansas Herpetological Society. Topeka, Kansas.

House, W. J., I. M. Nall, and R. B. Thomas. 2007. Effectiveness of selected baits for trapping pond-dwelling turtles in east-central Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society. Topeka, Kansas.

Nall, I. M., and R. B. Thomas. 2007. Relationship between foreclaw growth rate and stage of ontogenetic melanism of male slider turtles (Trachemys scripta). Southwestern Association of Naturalists. Stephenville, Texas.

Thomas, R. B. 2006.  Sampling methods for studies of freshwater turtles: does methodology influence our estimates of abundance, richness, and diversity. Kansas Herpetological Society. Hays, Kansas.

Thomas, R. B. 2006.  Sampling methods for studies of freshwater turtles: does methodology influence our estimates of abundance, richness, and diversity. Association of Southeastern Biologists.  Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Thomas, R. B., and Shirin Treadwell. 2002. The influence of basking duration and food availability on growth rate of hatchling slider turtles (Trachemys scripta). Association of Southeastern Biologists.  Boone, North Carolina.

Taylor, C. M., L. R. Williams, R. A. Fiorillo, R. B. Thomas, M. L. Warren, Jr.  2001.  Fish assemblage structure and stability under variable environmental conditions in the Ouachita Mountains.  American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.  University Park, Pennsylvania. 

Fiorillo, R., R. B. Thomas, M. L. Warren, Jr., and C. M. Taylor. 2000. Helminth community structure of the Ouachita madtom (Noturus lachneri). Association of Southeastern Biologists.  Chatanooga, Tennessee.

Thomas, R. B., K. Thompson, D. Beckman, K. Buhlmann, J. W. Gibbons, and D. Moll.  1996.  Estimation of age for Trachemys scripta and Deirochelys reticularia by counting annual growth layers in claws. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.  New Orleans, Louisiana.

Turner, L. K., R. B. Thomas, and D. Moll. 1995. Effects on reproduction in Pseudemys concinna, inhabiting a cold water reservoir. Southwestern Association of Naturalists. Shreveport, Louisiana.

                                    Turner, L. K., and R. B. Thomas. 1995. Effects on reproduction in Pseudemys concinna, inhabiting a cold water reservoir. Graduate Student Council Interdisciplinary Forum at Southwest Missouri State University.  Springfield, Missouri.

Davis, S. D., R. B. Thomas, and D. Moll. 1995. Diet and reproduction of the stinkpot, Sternotherus odoratus, inhabiting a cold water reservoir. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Boone, North Carolina.

Turner, L. K., R. B. Thomas, and D. Moll. 1994. Life history and ecology of the Missouri river cooter, Pseudemys concinna. Missouri Herpetological Association.  Steeleville, Missouri.

Thomas, R. B., and L. Robbins. 1994. Utilization of the LCTA plot summary methodology for reptile and amphibian surveys. Missouri Herpetological Association.  Steeleville, Missouri.

Thomas, R. B., D. Moll, and J. Steiert. 1993. Evidence of a symbiotic relationship between cellulolytic bacteria and a freshwater herbivorous turtle. Missouri Herpetological Association. Steeleville, Missouri.

Thomas, R. B., and D. Moll. 1993. Depressed growth rate of Trachemys scripta and Graptemys geographica in a thermally altered environment. Missouri Herpetological Association. Steeleville, Missouri.

Thomas, R. B., and D. Moll. 1993. The composition, status, and ecology of the turtle community of Lake Taneycomo, a cold water reservoir in southwest Missouri. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Bloomington, Indiana.

Thomas, R. B., and D. Moll. 1993. The composition, status, and ecology of the turtle community of Lake Taneycomo, a cold water reservoir in southwest Missouri.  Southwestern Association of Naturalists. Springfield, Missouri.

 

Invited Presentations

Thomas, R. B. 2007. The science of turtle trapping: integrating original research into the undergraduate laboratory. Departmental Seminar, Department of Biology, Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri.

Thomas, R. B. 2004. Selected biases of common methods of collecting freshwater turtles: implications for survey, monitoring, and conservation efforts.  Tri-Beta Seminar Series, Department of Biology, Shorter College, Rome, Georgia.

Thomas, R. B. 2002. Herpetology: career pathways and projects. Departmental Seminar, Department of Biology, Maryville College, Maryville, Tennessee.

Thomas, R. B. 2000. Ontogenetic shifts in the mating tactics of male slider turtles (Trachemys scripta): A conditional mating strategy in a long-lived vertebrate. Departmental seminar, Department of Environmental Toxicology, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina.

Thomas, R. B. 1999. Alternative mating tactics in the slider turtle (Trachemys scripta). Departmental Seminar, University of Mississippi, Oxford, Mississippi.

Thomas, R. B. 1999. The potential threats to the native turtles of Florida posed by the exotic red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans). Second Symposium on the Status and Conservation of Florida Turtles, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida. 

 

Click Here to Check Out Herpetological Research at
Emporia State University


Eumeces fasciatus


Ian Nall (graduate student) setting a basking trap







Ian Nall (ESU grad student) setting a basking trap


Bill House (graduate student) handling a snapping turtle.








Bill House (ESU grad student) holding a common snapper

This page last updated on 6 December  2007