CheloniaCast

How do Reptiles Know Where They are Going?

On Episode 18 of CheloniaCast Jason, Michael, Jack, and Ken sit down with Dr. Kraig Adler, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at Cornell University and co-founder of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, for a discussion about how reptiles sense the world around them. The discussion focuses on chelonians, but covers squamates as well. Topics discussed include how turtles orient to water and in the open ocean, how polarized light can be used as a directional vector in reptilian navigation, the contributions of early herpetologists, and stories from past Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologist meetings.
 
 
A summary/bibliography of Dr. Adler's works can be found here: https://nbb.cornell.edu/kraig-adler
More about the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles can be found here: https://ssarherps.org/
More about the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists can be found here: https://www.asih.org/meetings
Find out more about the show and access the CheloniaCast Student Research Fund at: theturtleroom.org/cheloniacast
 
 
Find us on Instagram @CheloniaCast Host socials (Instagram/Facebook) - Jason Wills - @chelonian.carter / Michael Skibsted - @michael.skibstedd / Jack Thompson - @jack_reptile_naturalist_302 / Ken Wang - @americanmamushi

The Turtles of India

On Episode 17 of CheloniaCast Jason, Michael, Jack, and Ken sit down with Anuja Mital to talk about her research on the community ecology and habits of India's turtles. Anuja is currently a PhD student in the Integrative Conservation and Ecology Program at the University of Georgia, and recieved her masters from A.V.C. College in India. This exciting conversation touches on a variety of topics including the life history of Morenia petersi, differences in habitat use among speciees of turtle within the Sarju and Ghagra Rivers, what it is like to do field work in a remote part of India, and the future of conservation.
 
Make sure to check out theturtleroom.org/cheloniacast where you can learn more about the CheloniaCast Podcast and access our student research fund.
 
Guest socials - @anujamital on Instagram / https://www.researchgate.net/profile/...
 
Host socials (Instagram/Facebook) - Jason Wills - @chelonian.carter / Michael Skibsted - @michael.skibstedd / Jack Thompson - @jack_reptile_naturalist_302 / Ken Wang - @americanmamushi
 
Find us on Instagram @cheloniacast

Turtle Conservation and Adventures in Myanmar

On Episode 16 of CheloniaCast Jason, Michael, Jack, and Ken sit down with WCS Herpetologist for Southeast Asia and China Dr. Steven Platt to talk about his work with turtles, particularly in Myanmar. The conversation ranges from rediscovering species thought to be extinct, giant softshell nesting strategies, stories from trekking through the Arakan Hills, and what it is like working with Star Tortoises.
 
 
Find us and the CheloniaCast Student Research Fund at theturtleroom.org/cheloniacast and on Instagram and Facebook @cheloniacast
 
 
Guest socials - Steve Platt on Facebook / https://www.researchgate.net/scientif...
 
 
Host socials - Jason Wills @chelonian.carter / Michael Skibsted @michael.skibstedd / Jack Thompson @jack_reptile_naturalist_302 / Ken Wang @americanmamushi

Guide to Graptemys

On Episode 15 of CheloniaCast Jason, Michael, Jack, and Ken sit down with Dr. Peter Lindeman, professor of biology at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, to talk about the map turtles and sawbacks in the genus Graptemys. The discussion ranges from the use of independent contrasts in unraveling correlations in change of map turtle morphology over time, feeding ecology, the recent proposal to list megacephalic species on the Endangered Species Act, historic surveys and what they can and can’t tell us about abundance, and adventures pursuing Graptemys in the field for research.
 
Peter Lindeman is the author of “The Map Turtle and Sawback Atlas: Ecology, Evolution, Distribution, and Conservation” which can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Map-Turtle-Saw...
Definitely give this a read if you haven’t already
 
Guest Socials - Peter Lindeman on Facebook
 
Host Socials (Instagram) - Jason Wills - @chelonian.carter / Michael Skibsted - @michael.skibstedd / Jack Thompson - @jack_reptile_naturalist_302 / Ken Wang - @americanmamushi

Terrapins and the Sexy Son Hypothesis

In Episode 13 of CheloniaCast Jason, Michael, Jack, and Ken sit down with doctoral student Iwo Gross to talk about his work investigating population genetics, multiple paternity, and sexual selection in Diamondback Terrapins along the Gulf Coast. The conversation ranges from phenotypic variation in terrapins to the tenets of the sexy son hypothesis.
 
You can find Iwo @iwogross on Instagram
 
Host socials - Jason Wills @chelonian.carter / Michael Skibsted @michael.skibstedd / Jack Thompson @jack_reptile_naturalist_302 / Ken Wang @americanmamushi
 
Find us at theturtleroom.org/cheloniacast

Toadheads

Toadheads discuss toadhead turtles: This informative conversation focuses on the conservation, distribution, taxonomy, and natural history of this underrated group of Chelines. Find Stephan’s book “Toad-Headed Turtles of the Genus Mesoclemmys: Distribution, Natural History, Husbandry” at: https://www.naturalhistorybooks.com/p...
Hosts Jason, Michael, Jack, and Ken meet with Steffan Etmar to discuss the Mesoclemmys genus in Episode 12! -------- Find us, and the CheloniaCast Student Research Fund, at: https://theturtleroom.org/cheloniacast/
 
Guest socials - @zoocon_at on Instagram / Stephan Ettmar on Facebook
 
Host socials - Jason Wills - @chelonian.carter / Michael Skibsted @michael.skibstedd / Jack Thompson @jack_reptile_naturalist_302 / Ken Wang @americanmamushi
 
Follow us on Instagram @cheloniacast

From SNPs to Map Turtles

On Episode 11 of CheloniaCast Jason, Michael, Jack, and Ken sit down with Dr. Grover Brown of Jacksonville State University to discuss his turtle research and explorations. The conversation spans from how population genetics can help inform questions in ecology, how and why certain turtles can develop extreme megacephaly, and dispersal of turtle species in one of the most biodiverse river systems in the world and what this means for the health of the system as a whole. Join us for this exciting conversation. Find us, and the CheloniaCast Student Research Fund, at: https://theturtleroom.org/cheloniacast/
 
 
Guest socials - @groverbrown on Instagram
 
 
Host socials - Jason Wills - @chelonian.carter / Michael Skibsted @michael.skibstedd / Jack Thompson @jack_reptile_naturalist_302 / Ken Wang @americanmamushi Follow us on Instagram @cheloniacast

Brazil, Ghost Tortoises, and the State of the Ploughshare

In Episode 10 of CheloniaCast Jason, Michael, Jack, and Ken sit down with co-founder of the Turtle Conservancy, Maurice Rodrigues, to talk about some of his adventures in turtle conservation. The discussion ranges from travels as a teenager in Brazil in pursuit of wildlife to graveyard tortoises, tips for successful turtling, and the future of Madagascar’s chelonians.
 
Guest socials - turtleconservancy.org @turtleconservancy on Instagram / Facebook / Twitter
 
Host socials - Jason Carter @chelonian.carter / Michael Skibsted @michael.skibstedd / Jack Thompson @jack_reptile_naturalist_302 / Ken Wang @americanmamushi
 
Follow us on Instagram @cheloniacast

Turtle Adventures

On Episode 9 of CheloniaCast Jason, Michael, Jack, and Ken sit down with Wyatt Keil and Parker Gibbons to discuss their recent trip to Florida. The discussion ranges from run ins with alligators in murky water to spotted turtle research, salamander morphometrics, and exploding cars. There is a roundtable discussion pertaining to everyone’s upcoming herpetology/research related plans.
 
Guest socials Parker Gibbons - @parker_gibbons_herpetology Instagram/Facebook Wyatt Keil - @wyatts_wildlife_photography Instagram/Facebook
 
Host socials - Jason Carter @chelonian.carter / Michael Skibsted @michael.skibstedd / Jack Thompson @jack_reptile_naturalist_302 / Ken Wang @americanmamushi
 
Follow us on Instagram @cheloniacast

Saga of the Snapping Turtle

On Episode 8 of CheloniaCast Jason, Michael, Jack, and Ken sit down with Greg Brashear of Greg’s Turtle Haven to discuss southeastern turtles, with an emphasis on Alligator Snapping Turtles. Greg has many years of experience working with turtles, both in the wild, and in captivity. He hosts the popular YouTube channel, GregsTurtleHaven, where he documents his turtle adventures and shares information about all aspects of Chelonia. The discussion is packed with information and stories from Greg’s many turtle trips, and includes topics ranging from Alligator Snapping turtle research in the rivers of Georgia to hybrid snapping turtles and herping the southeast. For those interested in how best to keep Alligator Snapping Turtles in ex situ environments, this episode details many aspects of their ecology from primary observation that is useful to implement for happy and healthy turtles.
 
Guest socials - @GregsTurtleHaven on Instagram and YouTube
 
Host socials - Jason Carter - @chelonian.carter / Michael Skibsted - @michael.skibstedd / Jack Thompson - @jack_reptile_naturalist_302 / Ken Wang - @americanmamushi