The Moorish Gecko, Tarentola mauritanica, is a large species of gecko native to the Mediterranean Region of Europe and northern Africa. As with many other species of geckos, T. mauritanica has been introduced outside of its native range, often through jump dispersal and hitchhiking through the trade of commercial goods. Here, we summarize the occurrence of this species in the United States and present new data on an established population in Bexar County, Texas. Surveys conducted in 2022 and 2023 resulted in 59 vouchered specimens collected from 11 separate, distinct sites across the San Antonio metropolitan area. Photographic observations of this species in the area exist from 2018, and further support the widespread occurrence of this species in the region. Currently, T. mauritanica is known from three states in the USA (California, Florida, Texas), though it may soon spread into new areas. Future studies are needed to examine the ecological consequences of this non-native species.

Davis DR, Genter BW, LaDuc TJ. 2024. Invasion history of the Moorish gecko, Tarentola mauritanica (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae), in the USA, with new records of an established population in Texas. Reptiles & Amphibians 31:e21502. [PDF]

In a recent Perspective, Byrne (2023) emphasized that natural history museums “are essential hubs for research and education” but that their mission should be reimagined to focus on nonlethal collecting. We endorse many of the practices advocated by Byrne, including the storage of tissues, recordings, photos, and other data; embracing new technologies such as massively parallel DNA sequencing, μCT scanning, and stable isotope analysis; and large-scale digitization of collections and associated metadata. We also welcome the call to provide stable financial support to maintain and expand the infrastructure of existing collections. However, we do not support the call to use new technologies “to replace the need for whole animal bodies.” Byrne’s position overstates the potential of new technologies to replace specimen-based research and fails to acknowledge the importance of whole-organism–based research in building the foundations of modern biology and in continuing to promote new discoveries. Our goal is to underscore the tremendous value of ongoing, whole-organism specimen collection by highlighting some of the key scientific and societal gains that arise from this research.

Ranavirosis is a disease of high concern for amphibians due to widespread documentation of its lethal and sublethal impacts and its high transmission potential across populations and species. We investigated whether Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) ranavirus prevalence and viral load were associated with habitat characteristics, genetic diversity, corticosterone levels, and body size. In 2015 and 2016, we sampled 34 recently created vernal pools in the Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia, USA. We collected tail clippings from 1,128 Spotted Salamander larvae and waterborne hormone samples from 436 of those larvae, along with eight environmental characteristics of the pools. Over the 2-yr period, we detected ranavirus in 62% of pools, with prevalence ranging from 0% to 63% (mean, 7.68%). Spotted Salamander size was positively correlated with ranavirus presence and viral load; however, we did not find associations between ranavirus prevalence or viral load and habitat characteristics, Spotted Salamander genetic diversity, relatedness, effective number of breeders, or corticosterone levels. The widespread occurrence of ranavirus in the vernal pools illustrates the potential for rapid natural introduction of the pathogen to created wetlands. Managers could consider monitoring local distributions of ranavirus before creation of new vernal pools to guide strategic placement of the wetlands to minimize occurrence and prevalence of this pathogen.

Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens, 1868) is a large parastacid crayfish (Decapoda: Parastacidae) native to Australia and Papua New Guinea. Due to various factors, C. quadricarinatus is an emerging invasive species in an increasing number of regions across the world. Deleterious ecological effects of C. quadricarinatus introduction have been documented in many of these regions, and its spread has been monitored and restricted where possible. Previously, only a small, isolated population of C. quadricarinatus in southern California had been reported within the continental United States. Here, we report the collection of three adult C. quadricarinatus from Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas, the first record of this species in the state and only the second record for the continental United States. Given the connectivity of aquatic habitats in the area and the duration for which the population has likely been present, there is evidence that C. quadricarinatus is poised to invade subtropical watersheds of the southern United States. The ecological effects of C. quadricarinatus on aquatic ecosystems in the region are not yet fully understood, but further research is warranted to effectively mitigate negative impacts that may occur and to guide efforts to manage or eradicate these populations.

Turtle populations around the world are continually confronted with changing environments that affect their ecology and conservation status. Among freshwater turtles, population dynamics are thought to be mediated by complex yet often cryptic causes. One recent direction of focus in addressing these causes is the turtle-associated microbiota. In turtles, the gut-associated microbiota is of exceptional interest due to its continual association with host species under changing conditions. Diet-based fluctuations and changes in microbial diversity may correspond to varying external environments at both the individual and population level. Environmental responses are of particular interest due to the anthropogenic changes that may underlie them. Pollutants, disruption of climatic patterns, and habitat fragmentation all have the potential to affect turtle-associated microbiota and subsequent population and species conservation. To better understand potential human-induced changes, the diversity of turtle-associated microbiota over local spatial gradients must be better understood.We examined microbial community a- and b-diversity among 30 adult False Map Turtles (Graptemys pseudogeographica) at three sites within the lower Missouri River, United States. Our results indicate significant microbial community centroid differences among sites (b-diversity), which are likely mediated by various local environmental factors. Such factors will have to be carefully considered in any future attribution of anthropogenic determinants on turtle-associated microbiota as it relates to turtle population dynamics.

Madison JD, Butterfield MM, Davis DR, Kerby JL. 2022. Spatial dynamics of false map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica) bacterial microbiota in the lower Missouri River, United States. Journal of Herpetology 56:258–265. [PDF]

I recently revised and expanded (along with Travis J. LaDuc, Curator of Herpetology at The University of Texas at Austin) two chapters in the 71st Edition of the Texas Almanac: one on Texas wildlife and the other on threatened and endangered wildlife. We were able to greatly expand the chapter on Texas wildlife by revising and updating the previous mammal section and adding in new lists of fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. In previous editions, these non-mammal sections were not included. The Texas Almanac is available for purchase through the Texas State Historical Association or through Amazon.

Davis DR, LaDuc TJ. 2022. Texas’ threatened and endangered wildlife. In Hatch R (ed.), Texas Almanac 2022–2023, 71st edition, p. 101. Texas State Historical Association, Austin, Texas.

Davis DR, LaDuc TJ. 2022. Texas wildlife. In Hatch R (ed.), Texas Almanac 2022–2023, 71st edition, p. 75–100. Texas State Historical Association, Austin, Texas.