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Education

  • PhD Ecology – In progress. University of Georgia , School of Ecology , Athens , GA. Dissertation title – Evaluating the utility of translocation for turtle conservation: a case study based on the behavioral and demographic responses of the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus). Advisor: J. Whitfield Gibbons. Anticipated completion of degree requirements: February 2008.
  • M.S. Conservation Ecology and Sustainable Development. University of Georgia , Institute of Ecology , Athens , GA. Thesis title: Effects of soil disturbance by gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) on vegetation structure and composition in a pine-oak sandhills community. Advisor: J. Whitfield Gibbons. December 1998.
  • B.S. Biology. Furman University , Greenville , SC. Magna cum laude. Spring 1993.

Research Interests

  • Conservation and management of reptile and amphibian populations
  • Translocation and reintroduction as management tools for reptiles and amphibians
  • Conservation genetics as a tool to understanding individual behavior in captive and free-ranging (particularly reintroduced) wildlife populations

Professional Experience

Research Professional. August 2001-present.
Savannah River Ecology Lab, Herpetology Program
Supervisor: J. Whitfield Gibbons

Research Technician. August 2005-December 2007.
Savannah River Ecology Lab, Applied Ecological Genetics Program
Supervisor: Travis C. Glenn

Natural Areas Conservation Planner. June 2000-August 2001.
Virginia Department of Conservation, Division of Natural Heritage
Supervisor: Larry Smith

Research Technician. September 1993-June 2000.
Savannah River Ecology Lab, Herpetology Program
Supervisors: J. Whitfield Gibbons, Judith L. Greene

Research Intern. Summer 1993.
National Science Foundation-Research Experience for Undergraduates
Supervisor: Vincent J. Burke, Savannah River Ecology Lab

Research Intern. Summer 1992.
National Science Foundation-Research Experience for Undergraduates
Research topic: Stinging trichomes as a defensive mechanism against invertebrate herbivores
Supervisor: Joseph Pollard, Furman University

Intern Naturalist. 1991.
Roper Mountain Science Center , Greenville , SC
Supervisor: Peter DeBoer

Volunteer. 1998
Raptor Rehabilitation Center , Clinton , TN
Supervisor: John Byrd

Teaching Experience

General Biology Lab Instructor. Spring 2007.
University of South Carolina-Aiken, Aiken , SC

General Biology Lab Assistant. 1992-1993
Furman University , Greenville , SC

Ongoing Collaborations

  • Long-term monitoring of translocated populations of gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus).
    • Savannah River Site, Aiken , SC. Collaborator: Kurt Buhlmann (SREL/SCDNR) and Whit Gibbons (SREL), Pete Johnston ( USFS-Savannah River )
    • St. Catherines Island , GA. Collaborator: Terry Norton ( St. Catherines Island Foundation)
    • Aiken Gopher Tortoise Preserve, SC. Collaborators: Kurt Buhlmann (SREL/SCDNR), Steve Bennett (SCDNR), Brett Moule (SCDNR).
  • Repatriation of Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) to Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Collaborators: Kurt Buhlmann (SREL), Stephanie Koch (USFWS), Libby Herland (USFWS), and Brian Butler (Oxbow Associates, Inc.).
  • Mating system in a captive population of box turtles (Terrepene carolina) prior to repatriation. Collaborators: Joe Mitchell, Susan Walls, Stephanie Foertmeyer, and Kurt Buhlmann.

Peer-Reviewed Publications

•  Tsyusko, O.V., T.D. Tuberville, M.B. Peters, N. Crawford, C. Hagen, S.G. Weller, A.K. Sakai, and T.C. Glenn. 2007. Microsatellite markers isolated from polyploidy wood-sorrel (Oxalis alpina). Molecular Ecology Notes 7:1284-1286. (PDF)

•  Tsyusko, O.V., M.B. Peters, C. Hagen, T.D. Tuberville, T.A. Mousseau, A.P. Moller, and T.C. Glenn. 2007. Microsatellite markers isolated from barn swallows (Hirundo rustica). Molecular Ecology Notes 7:833-835. (PDF)

•  Tsyusko, O.V., M.B. Peters, T.D. Tuberville, C. Hagen, S.M. Eppley, and T.C. Glenn. 2007. Microsatellite markers isolated from saltgrass (Distichlis spicata). Molecular Ecology Notes 7:883-885. (PDF)

•  Smith, L.L., T.D. Tuberville, and R.A. Seigel. 2006. Workshop on the ecology, status, and management of the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center , Newton , GA , 16-17 January 2003: Final results and recommendations. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 5: 326-330. (PDF)

•  Gibbons, J.W.,… T.D. Tuberville (13 th of 24 authors). 2006. Remarkable amphibian biomass and abundance in an isolated wetland: implications for wetland conservation. Conservation Biology 20:1457-1465. (PDF)

•  Tuberville, T. D., E. E. Clark, K. A. Buhlmann and J. W. Gibbons. 2005. Translocation as a conservation tool: site fidelity and movement of repatriated gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus). Animal Conservation 8: 349-358, (Cover article). (PDF)

•  Tuberville, T.D., J.D. Willson , M.E. Dorcas, and J.W. Gibbons. 2005 . Herpetofaunal diversity of southeastern National Parks. Southeastern Naturalist 4:537-569. (PDF)

•  Tuberville, T. D., K. A. Buhlmann, R. H. Kerr, and D. Booher. 2005. Ecology of the Jamaican slider turtle (Trachemys terrapen), with implications for conservation and management. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 4:908-915. (PDF)

•  Smith, R.B., T.D. Tuberville, A.L. Chambers, K.M. Herpich, and J.E. Berish. 2005 . Gopher tortoise burrow survey methods: external characteristics classification, burrow cameras, and truth. Applied Herpetology 2:161-170. (PDF)

•  Tuberville, T. D., and M. E. Dorcas. 2001. Winter survey of a gopher tortoise population in South Carolina . Chelonian Conservation and Biology 4: 182-186. (PDF)

•  Tuberville, T. D., J. R. Bodie, J. B. Jensen, L. LaClaire, and J. W. Gibbons. 2000. Apparent decline of the southern hognose snake, Heterodon simus . Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 116: 19-40. (PDF)

•  Gibbons, J. W. . . . T. D. Tuberville (5 th of 11 authors). 2000. The global decline of reptiles, déjà vu amphibians. BioScience 50:653-666. (PDF)

•  Buhlmann, K. A., and T. D. Tuberville. 1998. Use of Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT) tags for marking small freshwater turtles. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 3:102-104. (PDF)

•  Gibbons, J. W., ... T. D. Tuberville (5th of 29 authors). 1997. Perceptions of species abundance, distribution and diversity: Lessons from four decades of sampling on a government-managed reserve. Environmental Management 21:259-268. (PDF)

•  Tuberville, T. D., J. W. Gibbons, and J. L. Greene. 1996. Invasion of new aquatic habitats by male freshwater turtles. Copeia 1996: 713-715. (PDF)

•  Tuberville, T. D., P. G. Dudley, and A. J. Pollard. 1996. Responses of invertebrate herbivores to stinging trichomes of Urtica dioica and Laportea canadensis . Oikos 75: 83-88.

•  Semlitsch, R. D., J. W. Gibbons, and T. D. Tuberville. 1995. Timing of reproduction and metamorphosis in the crawfish frog (Rana capito) in South Carolina . Journal of Herpetology 29: 612-614. (PDF)

•  Tuberville, T. D., and V. J. Burke. 1994. Do flag markers attract turtle nest predators? Journal of Herpetology 28: 514-516. (PDF)

Books

•  Turtles of the Southeast. By Kurt Buhlmann, Tracey Tuberville , and Whit Gibbons. University of Georgia Press , Athens , GA. In press. Anticipated release date: April 2008.

Book Chapters & Other Contributions

•  Buhlmann, K.A., T.D. Tuberville, Y. Leiden, T.J. Ryan, S. Poppy, C.T. Winne, J.L. Greene, T.M. Mills, D.E. Scott, and J.W. Gibbons. 2005. Amphibians and reptiles. In J.C. Kilgo and J.I. Blake (eds). Ecology and Management of a forested landscape: Fifty years of environmental stewardship on the Savannah River Site. Island Press, Washington, D.C.

•  Birkhead, R., and T.D. Tuberville. 2008. Gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus. In J. Jensen, C. D. Camp, J. W. Gibbons, and M. Elliott, (eds.). The Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia. University of Georgia Press. Athens, GA. In press .

•  Mason, P.A., and T.D. Tuberville. 2008. Pine snake, Pituophis melanoleucus . In J. Jensen, C. D. Camp, J. W. Gibbons, and M. Elliott, (eds.). The Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia. University of Georgia Press. Athens, GA. In press.

•  Tuberville, T.D., and K.A. Buhlmann. 2008. Eastern hognose snake, Heterodon platyrhinos. In J. Jensen, C. D. Camp, J. W. Gibbons, and M. Elliott, (eds.). The Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia. University of Georgia Press. Athens, GA. In press.

•  Tuberville, T.D., and J.W. Gibbons. 2008. Eastern Coachwhip, Masticophis flagellum. In J. Jensen, C. D. Camp, J. W. Gibbons, and M. Elliott, (eds.). The Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia. University of Georgia Press. Athens, GA. In press.

•  Tuberville, T.D., and J.B. Jensen. 2008. Southern hognose snake, Heterodon simus. In J. Jensen, C. D. Camp, J. W. Gibbons, and M. Elliott, (eds.). The Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia. University of Georgia Press. Athens, GA. In press.

Technical Reports & Other Literature

•  Tuberville, T.D., K.A. Buhlmann, H.E. Balbach, S.H. Bennett, J.P. Nestor, J.W. Gibbons, and R.R. Sharitz. 2007. Habitat selection by the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus). Report to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory. ERDC/CERL TR-07-01. (PDF)

•  Mitchell, J.C., T.D. Tuberville, and K.A. Buhlmann. 2005. Siebenrockiella crassicollis (Black marsh turtle) fire scars. Herpetological Review 36:169.

•  Mitchell, J.C., T.D. Tuberville, and K.A. Buhlmann. 2004. Heosemys grandis (Giant Asian pond turtle) anophthalmia. Herpetological Review 35:55.

•  Wilson , I.T., and T. Tuberville. 2003. Virginia 's precious heritage: a report on the status of Virginia 's natural communities, plants, and animals, and a plan for preserving Virginia 's natural heritage resources. Natural Heritage Technical Report 03-15. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, 217 Governor Street , 3 rd Floor, Richmond , Virginia . 82 pages plus appendices.

•  Tuberville, T.D. 2001. Conservation plan for the Saint Francis' satyr (Neonympha mitchelli francisci) in Virginia . Natural Heritage Technical Report 01-18. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, 217 Governor Street , 3 rd Floor, Richmond , Virginia .

•  Tuberville, T. D. 1999. The Cave Dweller. The World and I. May 1999. (Magazine article)

•  Tuberville, T. D. 1998. Effects of soil disturbance by gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) on vegetation structure and composition in a pine-oak sandhills community. M.S. Thesis, University of Georgia , Athens, GA. 94 p.

In Review

•  Tuberville, T.D., T. M. Norton, B.D. Todd, and J. S. Spratt. Long-term apparent survival of translocated gopher tortoises: a comparison of newly released animals and previously established residents. Submitted to Biological Conservation, 29 Jan 2008.

In Preparation (selected list)

•  Glenn, T.C., S.L. Lance, T.D. Tuberville, L. Dueck, P.L. Trosclair III, and R.M. Elsey. Long-term mate fidelity in American alligators.

•  Tuberville, T.D., J.W. Gibbons, and H.E. Balbach. Modeling extinction risk of native and translocated gopher tortoise populations: developing a decision tree for managing “at-risk” populations.

•  Tuberville, T.D., T.M. Norton, T.C. Glenn, and B.J. Waffa. Genetic mating system of mixed-source population of translocated gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus).

Grants Received

•  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Research Lab. 2007. Individual behavior-based modeling of population viability for species at risk. To J.W. Gibbons and T.D. Tuberville. ($26.4K)

•  J. Larry Landers Student Research Award, Gopher Tortoise Council. 2006. Landscape-scale conservation genetics of Heterodon platirhinos and H. simus: A comparison of two closely related sympatric species with contrasting spatial ecologies. ($900)

•  Chelonian Research Foundation, Linnaeus Fund. 2006. Modeling Extinction Risk of Native and Translocated Gopher Tortoise Populations: Developing a Decision Tree for Managing “At Risk” Populations. To T.D. Tuberville and T. Norton. ($1.5K)

•  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Research Lab. 2006. Modeling Extinction Risk of Native and Translocated Gopher Tortoise Populations: Developing a Decision Tree for Managing “At Risk” Populations. To J.W. Gibbons and T.D. Tuberville. ($43K)

•  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Research Lab. 2003. Effects of Forestry Practices on the Gopher Tortoise as an Extension to SERDP Project CS 1302 (see below). To J.W. Gibbons and T.D. Tuberville. ($100K for 2003-2004)

•  Impacts of Military Training and Land Management on Threatened and Endangered Species in the Southeastern Fall Line/Sandhills Community. 2002. Lead PI: Rebecca Sharitz (TDT is 1 of 7 PI's). See http://www.uga.edu/srel/ESSite/Sharitz_SERDP_Dec02.pdf for more information.

•  Heritage Trust Program, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. 2000. To J. W. Gibbons, T. D. Tuberville, K.A. Buhlmann. Development of a Conservation Strategy for a Small, Isolated Population of Gopher Tortoises on a Public Preserve in South Carolina . ($9K)

•  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. To J. W. Gibbons, T. D. Tuberville. 1999. Activity and Movement Patterns of the Southern Hognose Snake (Heterodon simus) in South Carolina. ($10K)

•  Gopher Tortoise Council. 1998. To T. D. Tuberville. Activity and Movement Patterns of the Southern Hognose Snake (Heterodon simus) in South Carolina. ($1K)

•  Chelonian Research Foundation. 1998. To K. A. Buhlmann, R. H. Kerr, T. D. Tuberville. Distribution, Population Size Structure, and Effects of Harvesting in the Jamaican Slider Turtle (Trachemys terrapen). ($800)

•  Heritage Trust Program, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. 1997. To J. W. Gibbons, T. D. Tuberville, and M. E. Dorcas. Population Survey of Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) on the Tillman Sand Ridge Heritage Preserve, Jasper Co., SC. ($5K)

Awards and Honors

  • 2004. Student Award Finalist, Society for Conservation Biology.
  • 2004. Student Poster Award, 2nd place, Savannah River Ecology Lab Graduate Student Symposium
  • 1997. Student Travel Award, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
  • 1996. Student Research Award in Aquatic Biology, Association of Southeastern Biologists
  • 1994. Research Award for Best Undergraduate Paper, Sigma Xi
  • 1993. Induction into Phi Beta Kappa
  • 1993. Distinguished Research in Biology Award, Furman University
  • 1992-1993. All American Scholar
  • 1992-1993. Secretary, Beta Chi Biology Club
  • 1990-1993. Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society

Journal Referee

  • Amphibia-Reptilia
  • Animal Conservation
  • Applied Herpetology
  • Biological Conservation
  • Conservation Biology
  • Herpetological Conservation and Biology
  • Journal of Herpetology
  • Journal of Wildlife Management

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