Nancy E. Karraker
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View article: Stable isotope analysis successfully identifies wild-caught individuals of threatened Asian freshwater turtles in illegal trade
Stable isotope analysis successfully identifies wild-caught individuals of threatened Asian freshwater turtles in illegal trade Open
Laundering of wild-caught animals as captive-bred is a frequent practice in the illegal wildlife trade. Stable isotope analysis is a promising tool for distinguishing wild and captive-bred animals. We use Hong Kong freshwater turtles to te…
View article: Evaluating slash piles as habitat for a threatened salamander
Evaluating slash piles as habitat for a threatened salamander Open
Background Amplified wildfire activity in forests of the western United States threatens biodiversity. Fuel treatments can reduce fire severity, modify fire behavior, and restore forest structure and composition, yet impacts of some treatm…
View article: Genetic Diversity and Interpopulation Variability of the Hong Kong Newt (<i>Paramesotriton hongkongensis</i>) in an Urbanized and Deforested Landscape
Genetic Diversity and Interpopulation Variability of the Hong Kong Newt (<i>Paramesotriton hongkongensis</i>) in an Urbanized and Deforested Landscape Open
Population genetics is a valuable tool for conservationists to quantify population‐level genetic variation and identify priority conservation units. The Hong Kong newt ( Paramesotriton hongkongensis ) is a tropical salamander restricted to…
View article: The Collaborative to Combat the Illegal Trade in Turtles: Addressing Illegal Wildlife Trade with an Adaptive Socio-Ecological Approach
The Collaborative to Combat the Illegal Trade in Turtles: Addressing Illegal Wildlife Trade with an Adaptive Socio-Ecological Approach Open
Illegal wildlife trade is a complex and lucrative transnational crime that involves social, ecological, cultural, political, and economic factors. It is also a significant conservation challenge that can threaten species, ecosystems, and s…
View article: Stable Isotope Analysis Successfully Identifies Wild-Caught Individuals of Threatened Asian Freshwater Turtles in Illegal Trade
Stable Isotope Analysis Successfully Identifies Wild-Caught Individuals of Threatened Asian Freshwater Turtles in Illegal Trade Open
View article: A new approach for increasing graduate students’ science communication capacity and confidence
A new approach for increasing graduate students’ science communication capacity and confidence Open
There is an increasing demand for emerging scientists to improve their ability to communicate with public audiences, yet little research investigates the effectiveness of science communication training for graduate students. We responded t…
View article: Peer Review #3 of "Developing bottom drifters to better understand the stranding locations of cold-stunned sea turtles in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts (v0.1)"
Peer Review #3 of "Developing bottom drifters to better understand the stranding locations of cold-stunned sea turtles in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts (v0.1)" Open
Every fall, juvenile sea turtles in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean are threatened by rapidly declining water temperatures.When sea turtles become hypothermic, or cold-stunned, they lose mobility-either at the surface, subsurface, or the bott…
View article: Developing bottom drifters to better understand the stranding locations of cold-stunned sea turtles in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts
Developing bottom drifters to better understand the stranding locations of cold-stunned sea turtles in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts Open
Every fall, juvenile sea turtles in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean are threatened by rapidly declining water temperatures. When sea turtles become hypothermic, or cold-stunned, they lose mobility—either at the surface, subsurface, or the bot…
View article: Peer Review #3 of "Developing bottom drifters to better understand the stranding locations of cold-stunned sea turtles in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts (v0.2)"
Peer Review #3 of "Developing bottom drifters to better understand the stranding locations of cold-stunned sea turtles in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts (v0.2)" Open
Every fall, juvenile sea turtles in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean are threatened by rapidly declining water temperatures.When sea turtles become hypothermic, or cold-stunned, they lose mobility-either at the surface, subsurface, or the bott…
View article: The identity of Tokays (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Gekko) from Hong Kong
The identity of Tokays (Squamata: Gekkonidae: Gekko) from Hong Kong Open
The Tokay gecko (Gekko gecko), found throughout Southeast Asia and India, is a heavily harvested species of high commercial value. Recent studies have supported the elevation of the black morph of Tokay gecko, found only in southern China …
View article: Online sale of small turtles circumvents public health regulations in the United States
Online sale of small turtles circumvents public health regulations in the United States Open
In the United States (U.S.), pet turtles have been associated with outbreaks of salmonellosis, a serious and sometimes-fatal intestinal illness caused by Salmonella bacteria, with nearly 300,000 people being infected in some years. Childre…
View article: Post‐emergence movements and habitat use by hatchling diamondback terrapins
Post‐emergence movements and habitat use by hatchling diamondback terrapins Open
Diamondback terrapins ( Malaclemys terrapin ) inhabit estuarine environments, and adult females typically nest in coastal uplands. Hatchlings emerging from nests overwinter on land and in coastal salt marshes, but the proportions that use …
View article: Assortative mixing in eastern spadefoot (<i>Scaphiopus holbrookii</i>) spatial networks is driven by landscape features
Assortative mixing in eastern spadefoot (<i>Scaphiopus holbrookii</i>) spatial networks is driven by landscape features Open
Biotic and abiotic factors drive assortative mixing (preference for or sorting with individuals with similar characteristics) in animal populations on a landscape, with implications for dispersal, population structuring, and other ecologic…
View article: Estimating Road Mortality Hotspots While Accounting for Imperfect Detection: A Case Study with Amphibians and Reptiles
Estimating Road Mortality Hotspots While Accounting for Imperfect Detection: A Case Study with Amphibians and Reptiles Open
Wildlife road mortality tends to aggregate spatially at locations commonly referred to as road mortality hotspots. Predictive models can be used to identify locations appropriate for mitigation measures that reduce road mortality. However,…
View article: Defining a Flexible Notion of “Good” STEM Writing Across Contexts: Lessons Learned From a Cross-Institutional Conversation
Defining a Flexible Notion of “Good” STEM Writing Across Contexts: Lessons Learned From a Cross-Institutional Conversation Open
We respond to a surging interest in science communication training for graduate scientists by advocating for a focus on rhetorically informed approaches to STEM writing and its assessment. We argue that STEM communication initiatives would…
View article: Germination percent and rate for seeds ingested by Cuora amboinensis
Germination percent and rate for seeds ingested by Cuora amboinensis Open
To determine if seed germination was enhanced following ingestion by a turtle, we conducted germination trials of ingested seeds from fecal samples compared with control seeds collected from the forest. Control seeds were collected by find…
View article: Training Graduate Students in Multiple Genres of Public and Academic Science Writing: An Assessment Using an Adaptable, Interdisciplinary Rubric
Training Graduate Students in Multiple Genres of Public and Academic Science Writing: An Assessment Using an Adaptable, Interdisciplinary Rubric Open
There is an urgent need for scientists to improve their communication skills with the public, especially for those involved in applying science to solve conservation or human health problems. However, little research has assessed the effec…
View article: A <scp>low‐investment</scp> , <scp>high‐impact</scp> approach for training stronger and more confident graduate student science writers
A <span>low‐investment</span> , <span>high‐impact</span> approach for training stronger and more confident graduate student science writers Open
Scientists in applied fields, including conservation biology, face increasing expectations to communicate their research across multiple audiences. As environmental issues become more complex, the need for scientists to clearly communicate…
View article: THE AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF RAWA AOPA WATUMOHAI NATIONAL PARK, SOUTHEAST SULAWESI
THE AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES OF RAWA AOPA WATUMOHAI NATIONAL PARK, SOUTHEAST SULAWESI Open
Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park (105.194 ha) in Southeast Sulawesi is one of the important conservation areas in Wallacea. This study aimed to measure the diversity of herpetofauna, relative abundance and community similarity in four dif…
View article: Assessing the diet of the endangered Beale’s eyed turtle (<scp><i>Sacalia bealei</i></scp>) using faecal content and stable isotope analyses: Implications for conservation
Assessing the diet of the endangered Beale’s eyed turtle (<span><i>Sacalia bealei</i></span>) using faecal content and stable isotope analyses: Implications for conservation Open
Turtles from Asia are on the brink of extinction with 53% of species considered endangered or critically endangered. Unfortunately, the ecology of many threatened species remains largely unknown. In this study, the diet of the endangered B…
View article: Confirmation Bias Perpetuates Century-Old Ecological Misconception: Evidence Against ‘Secretive’ Behavior of Eastern Spadefoots
Confirmation Bias Perpetuates Century-Old Ecological Misconception: Evidence Against ‘Secretive’ Behavior of Eastern Spadefoots Open
Despite a 1944 publication questioning the misconception that Eastern Spadefoots (Scaphiopus holbrookii) and other Scaphiopodidae are 'secretive' outside of rain-induced migration and breeding aggregations, confirmation bias has perpetuate…
View article: Novel reproductive behavior in an Asian frog: sex‐reversed inguinal amplexus
Novel reproductive behavior in an Asian frog: sex‐reversed inguinal amplexus Open
Amphibians exhibit diverse reproductive behaviors, including nine documented types of amplexus, the behavior in which male and female frogs position themselves for courtship, oviposition, and fertilization. All known forms of amplexus invo…
View article: Road mortality threatens endemic species in a national park in Sulawesi, Indonesia
Road mortality threatens endemic species in a national park in Sulawesi, Indonesia Open
View article: Non‐marine turtle plays important functional roles in Indonesian ecosystems
Non‐marine turtle plays important functional roles in Indonesian ecosystems Open
The Southeast Asian box turtle ( Cuora amboinensis ) is numerically the most important turtle exported from Indonesia. Listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN, this turtle is heavily harvested and exported for food and traditional medicine in Chi…
View article: Reproduction of endangered Big-headed Turtle, Platysternon megacephalum (Reptilia: Testudines: Platysternidae)
Reproduction of endangered Big-headed Turtle, Platysternon megacephalum (Reptilia: Testudines: Platysternidae) Open
The big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) is heavily harvested to support tremendous demands from food and pet markets, and thus its ecology remains poorly understood. The presence of self-sustaining populations in Hong Kong (22°09…
View article: Population demography of Oldham’s leaf turtle (<i>Cyclemys oldhamii</i>) in protected and disturbed habitats in Thailand
Population demography of Oldham’s leaf turtle (<i>Cyclemys oldhamii</i>) in protected and disturbed habitats in Thailand Open
Background Freshwater turtle populations are vulnerable to a range of human activities because of particular life history attributes, and anthropogenic impacts can cause shifts in demographic traits, including survival, density and populat…
View article: A Comparison of the Population Genetic Structure and Diversity between a Common (Chrysemys p. picta) and an Endangered (Clemmys guttata) Freshwater Turtle
A Comparison of the Population Genetic Structure and Diversity between a Common (Chrysemys p. picta) and an Endangered (Clemmys guttata) Freshwater Turtle Open
The northeastern United States has experienced dramatic alteration to its landscape since the time of European settlement. This alteration has had major impacts on the distribution and abundance of wildlife populations, but the legacy of t…
View article: Native amphibian larvae exhibit higher upper thermal limits but lower performance than their introduced predator Gambusia affinis
Native amphibian larvae exhibit higher upper thermal limits but lower performance than their introduced predator Gambusia affinis Open
View article: Signals of forest degradation in the demography of common Asian amphibians
Signals of forest degradation in the demography of common Asian amphibians Open
Background Lowland areas in tropical East and Southeast Asia have a long history of conversion from forestland to agricultural land, with many remaining forests being chronically degraded by wood cutting, livestock grazing, and burning. We…
View article: Better science through rhetoric: A new model and pilot program for training graduate student science writers
Better science through rhetoric: A new model and pilot program for training graduate student science writers Open
Graduate programs in the sciences offer minimal support for writing, yet there is an increasing need for scientists to engage with the public and policy makers. To address this need, the authors describe an innovative, cross-disciplinary, …