Month: February 2021

Jason P. Ross

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Jason worked on several projects for us in the herpetology lab including Eastern Massasauga searches, Illinois Mud Turtle radio-telemetry, and Blanding’s Turtle work in the Chicago Region.  He completed his M.Sc. in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois in 2016.  His project examined the population and spatial ecology of the Smooth Softshell Turtle (Apalone mutica) in the Kaskaskia River.  In particular, he studied how high rates of flow affected the spatial biology and behavior of this species.  The project focused on two reaches of the Kaskaskia River, below the Lake Shelbyville Dam and below the Carlyle Lake Dam.  Jason then moved to be an Associate Herpetologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey in the Urban Biotic Assessment Program. Currently, Jason has started his own environmental consulting firm focusing on turtle conservation and ecology.
INHS Report
Link to Thesis

Dr. Ethan J. Kessler

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Dr. Kessler then remained in the lab to begin as a postdoctoral researcher, where he began work on numerous projects. He has continued the Alligator Snapping Turtle reintroduction project for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. He has since expanded his research repertoire to include eDNA sampling methods. Currently, Dr. Kessler has ongoing eDNA projects covering the Alligator Snapping Turtle, Mudpuppy, and Salamander Mussel.

Dr. Kessler began work in the herpetology lab aiding with herpetofaunal surveys, a large-scale assessment of ephemeral wetlands quality for amphibians, and aided in the radio-telemetry of the Smooth Softshell Turtle.  He began his research under my advisement in the spring of 2014 as a master’s student in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois. He later switched to the Ph.D. program and graduated in 2020.  His project was part of a multi-state effort to recovery the Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii ).  Specifically, he examined how wildlife health, habitat use, behavior, and thermal ecology affected survival rates in repatriated turtles raised under different conditions. His project aided in determining measures of success or failure for the repatriation efforts and hence help guide future recovery efforts of the species in Illinois.
Dissertation
News Gazette Article

Co-authored Abstracts

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  1. 2004 – 31st Natural Areas Conference, Chicago, Illinois. Phillips, C. A., M. J. Dreslik, and D. B. Shepard. Tracking the continued decline of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus c. catenatus) in Illinois.
  2. 2004 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma. Wilson, T. P., M. J. Dreslik, and C. H. Ernst. Growth of the spotted turtle, Clemmys guttata, from Pennsylvania.
  3. 2004 – 4th Snake Ecology Group meeting (SEG–IV), Touch of Nature Environmental Center, Carbondale, Illinois. Phillips, C. A., M. J. Dreslik, T. G. Anton, D. Mauger, T. P. Wilson, D. B. Shepard, A. Resetar, and B. C. Jellen. Tracking the continued decline of the Eastern Massasauga, Sistrurus c. catenatus, in Illinois.
  4. 2003 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Manaus, Brazil. Jellen, B. C., J. E. Martin de Camilo, C. A. Phillips, M. J. Dreslik, and D. B. Shepard. Reproduction in the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus c. catenatus).
  5. 2003 – 50th Anniversary meeting of the Southwestern Association of Naturalists. University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma. 10 – Shepard, D. B., M. J. Dreslik, C. A. Phillips, and B. C. Jellen. Foraging ecology of neonate Eastern Massasaugas (Sistrurus c. catenatus).
  6. 2002 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Kansas City, Missouri. Shepard, D. B., M. J. Dreslik, C. A. Phillips, and B. C. Jellen. Ecology of neonate Eastern Massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus c. catenatus).
  7. 2001 – Joint Meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and the Herpetologists’ League, Indianapolis, Indiana. Phillips, C. A., Dreslik, M. J., D. B. Shepard, and B. C. Jellen. Home range and movement of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus.
  8. 2001 – Joint Meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and the Herpetologists’ League, Indianapolis, Indiana. Kuhns, A. R., M. J. Dreslik, and B. C. Jellen. Species composition, density, and biomass of a southern Illinois turtle community.
  9. 2001 – Joint Meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and the Herpetologists’ League, Indianapolis, Indiana. Shepard, D. B., C. A. Phillips, M. J. Dreslik, and B. C. Jellen. Population ecology of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus.
  10. 2001 – Joint Meeting of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and the Herpetologists’ League, Indianapolis, Indiana. Jellen, B. C., C. A. Phillips, M. J. Dreslik, and D. B. Shepard. Reproductive ecology of the Eastern  Massasauga Rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus.
  11. 2001 – 93rd Annual Meeting of the Illinois State Academy of Sciences, Macomb, Illinois. Kuhns, A. R., and M. J. Dreslik. Species composition, density, and biomass of a southern Illinois turtle community.
  12. 2001 – 93rd Annual Meeting of the Illinois State Academy of Sciences, Macomb, Illinois. Shepard, D. B., C. A. Phillips, M. J. Dreslik, and B. C. Jellen. Population ecology of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus.
  13. 2001 – 93rd Annual Meeting of the Illinois State Academy of Sciences, Macomb, Illinois. Jellen, B. C., C. A. Phillips, M. J. Dreslik, and D. B. Shepard. Reproductive ecology of the Eastern  Massasauga Rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus.
  14. 2000 – 92nd Annual Meeting of the Illinois State Academy of Sciences. Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. Kuhns, A. R., and M. J. Dreslik. Early season basking in the Red–Eared Slider, Trachemys scripta.
  15. 2009 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Portland, Oregon. J. Ray, R. King, M. Duvall, J. Robinson, M. Dreslik, B. Swanson, H. L. Gibbs. Genetic variation of the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake: implications for conservation and captive breeding.
  16. 2007 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. St. Louis, Missouri. Baker, S. J., M. J. Dreslik, and C. A. Phillips. Response of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) to flooding at Carlyle Lake, Illinois.
  17. 2007 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. St. Louis, Missouri. Banning, W. J., M. J. Dreslik, C. A. Phillips, and D. Mauger. Resource partitioning along a spatial gradient within a turtle assemblage in northeastern Illinois.
  18. 2007 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. St. Louis, Missouri. Banning, W. J., M. J. Dreslik, and C. A. Phillips. Spatial ecology and habitat preference of a turtle community in a northeastern Illinois prairie wetland.
  19. 2006 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologist League. New Orleans, Louisiana. Banning, W. J., M. J. Dreslik, and C. A. Phillips. Spatial ecology and habitat preference of the Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) in a northeastern Illinois prairie wetland community.
  20. 2006 – 67th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Omaha, Nebraska. Baker, S. J., M. J. Dreslik, and C. A. Phillips. Effects of habitat fragmentation on grassland snake communities in southwestern Illinois.
  21. 2006 – 67th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Omaha, Nebraska. Banning, W. J., M. J. Dreslik, and C. A. Phillips. Population ecology of the Blanding’s turtle in northeastern Illinois.
  22. 2006 – 4th Annual Meeting of the Turtle Survival Alliance, St. Louis, Missouri. Banning, W. J., M. J. Dreslik, C. A. Phillips, D. Mauger, and T. P. Wilson. Population ecology of the Blanding’s turtle in northeastern Illinois.
  23. 2005 – 19th Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology, Universidade de Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil. Shepard, D. B., M. J. Dreslik, B. C. Jellen, and C. A. Phillips. Reptile road mortality around an oasis in the Illinois corn desert, with emphasis on the endangered Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus c. catenatus).
  24. 2005 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Tampa, Florida. Shepard, D. B., M. J. Dreslik, B. C. Jellen, and C. A. Phillips. Reptile road mortality around an oasis in the Illinois corn desert, with emphasis on the endangered Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus c. catenatus).
  25. 2005 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Tampa, Florida. Mauger, D, M. J. Dreslik, and T. P. Wilson. Ecology of the Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) from a dedicated Nature Preserve.
  26. 2005 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Tampa, Florida. Readel, A. M., M. J. Dreslik, J. K. Warner, W. J. Banning, and C. A. Phillips. Ontogenetic divergence in secondary sexual characteristics in the slider (Trachemys scripta).
  27. 2005 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Tampa, Florida. Banning, W. J., M. J. Dreslik, J. K. Warner, and A. M. Readel. Habitat use of juvenile slider turtles (Trachemys scripta).
  28. 2005 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Tampa, Florida. Hunkapiller, T. J., M. J. Dreslik, E. J. Menzel, and J. M. Mui. Spatial relationships in the breeding chorus of the Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica).
  29. 2005 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Tampa, Florida. Menzel, E. J., T. H. Hunkapiller, M. J. Dreslik, and J. M. Mui. Post–breeding spatial ecology of male Rana sylvatica.
  30. 2005 – Department of Defense Natural Resources Training Workshop, National Military Fish and Wildlife Association Meeting, Arlington, Virginia. Taylor, S. J., J. K. Krejca, M. L. Denight, K. Hackley, S. E. Greenberg, M. J. Dreslik, J. E. Smith, and M. Muyot. Structure of cave communities and cave cricket foraging behavior at Fort Hood, Texas.
  31. 2005 – 97th Annual Meeting of the Illinois State Academy of Sciences, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois. Banning, W. J., M. J. Dreslik, J. K. Warner, and A. M. Readel. Habitat use of juvenile slider turtles (Trachemys scripta).
  32. 2005 – 97th Annual Meeting of the Illinois State Academy of Sciences, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois. Readel, A. M., M. J. Dreslik, J. K. Warner, and W. J. Banning. Ontogenetic divergence in secondary sexual characteristics in the slider (Trachemys scripta).
  33. 2005 – 25th Annual Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois. Banning, W. J., M. J. Dreslik, J. K. Warner, and A. M. Readel. Habitat use of juvenile slider turtles (Trachemys scripta).
  34. 2005 – 25th Annual Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois. Readel, A. M., M. J. Dreslik, J. K. Warner, and W. J. Banning. Ontogenetic divergence in secondary sexual characteristics in the slider (Trachemys scripta).
  35. 2005 – Biology of the Rattlesnakes Symposium, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California. Aldridge, R. D., M. J. Dreslik, C. A. Phillips, B. C. Jellen, M. C. Allender, and J. M. Cox. Reproductive biology of the massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) from south central Illinois.
  36. 2005 – Biology of the Rattlesnakes Symposium, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California. T. G. Anton, Dreslik, M. J., C. A. Phillips, D. Mauger, T. P. Wilson, D. B. Shepard, A. Resetar, B. C. Jellen. Monitoring the continuing decline of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) in Illinois.
  37. 2014 – Turtle Survival Alliance, Orlando Florida. Ross, J. P., and M. J. Dreslik. Population and community structure of Smooth Softshell (Apalone mutica) and Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera) Turtles in the Kaskaskia River of Illinois.
  38. 2014 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Chattanooga, Tennessee. Anthonysamy, W. J. B., S. Wylie, M. J. Dreslik, M. A. Davis, M. A. Douglas, M. E. Douglas, and C. A. Phillips. Genetic assessment of an Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) population in Illinois.
  39. 2014 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Chattanooga, Tennessee. Wylie, D. B., M. C. Allender, S. J. Wylie, M. J. Dreslik, and C. A. Phillips. A test of non-invasive detection methods for snake fungal disease.
  40. 2014 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Chattanooga, Tennessee. Wylie, S. J., D. B. Wylie, M. J. Dreslik, and C. A. Phillips. Translocation as a conservation tool for an endangered rattlesnake in Illinois.
  41. 2014 – Biology of the Pitvipers 2, Symposium, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Anthonysamy, W. J. B., S. J. Wylie, M. A. Davis, M. J. Dreslik, M. R. Douglas, M. E. Douglas, and C. A. Phillips. Genetic assessment of a bottlenecked Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) population in Illinois.
  42. 2014 – Biology of the Pitvipers 2, Symposium, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Wylie, D. B., S. J. Wylie, M. J. Dreslik, C. A. Phillips, and M. C. Allender. Prevalence of snake fungal disease in the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) from Illinois.
  43. 2014 – Biology of the Pitvipers 2, Symposium, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Wylie, D. B., M. C. Allender, S. J. Wylie, M. J. Dreslik, and C. A. Phillips. A test of non-invasive detection methods for snake fungal disease.
  44. 2014 – 46th Annual Conference of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, Orlando Florida. Allender, M., D. Wylie, S. Wylie, M. J. Dreslik, C. Phillips, and C. Maddox. The changing epidemiology of Ophiodiomyces in free-ranging snakes: surveillance, experimental challenge, and development of new diagnostics.
  45. 2014 – 74th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Kansas City, Missouri. Wylie, S, D. Wylie, M. Dreslik, and C. Phillips Spatial ecology and mortality in neonate Eastern Massasaugas.
  46. 2013 – 11th Annual Meeting of the Turtle Survival Alliance, St. Louis, Missouri. Anthonysamy, W., G. Klut, D. Thompson, A. Kuhns, M. Dreslik, D. Kirk, and C. Phillips. Genetic diversity and gene flow of Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) populations across northeastern Illinois, USA.
  47. 2013 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Albuquerque New Mexico . Anthonysamy, W., M. Dreslik, D. Mauger, and C. A. Phillips. Habitat partitioning in a Midwest turtle assemblage.
  48. 2013 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Albuquerque New Mexico . Wylie, D., S. Wylie, M. Allender, M. Dreslik, and C. Phillips. Detection of Chrysosporium infections in two North American viper species.
  49. 2013 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Albuquerque New Mexico . Wylie, S, D. Wylie, M. Dreslik, and C. Phillips Spatial ecology and mortality in neonate Eastern Massasaugas.
  50. 2011 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Minneapolis, Minnesota . Banning-Anthonysamy, W. J., M. J. Dreslik, M. R. Douglas, N. K. Marioni, and C. A. Phillips. Mating system and reproductive success in Blanding’s turtles (Emys blandingii).
  51. 2011 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Minneapolis, Minnesota . Banning-Anthonysamy, W. J., D. Mauger, M. J. Dreslik, M. R, Douglas, and C. A. Phillips. Population genetics of the spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) in Illinois.
  52. 2010 – Midwest Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation meeting. Oregon, Illinois. Banning, W. J., M. J. Dreslik, M. R. Douglas, N. K. Marioni, and C. A. Phillips. Mating Systems and Determinants of Reproductive Success in Blanding’s Turtles in Illinois.
  53. 2017- Turtle Survival Alliance, Charleston, South Carolina. Hedrick, A. R., H. M. Klondaris, L. C. Corichi, M. J. Dreslik. J. B. Iverson. The effects of climate on annual variation in reproductive output in Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina).
  54. 2017- Turtle Survival Alliance, Charleston, South Carolina. Ross, J. P., C. Y. Feng, and M. J. Dreslik. Evaluating turtle passage gates using remote camera traps and visual encounter surveys.
  55. 2017 – Biology of Snakes Conference, Rodeo, New Mexico. Baker, S. J., M. J. Dreslik, C. A. Phillips, and M. C. Allender. Impact of snake fungal disease on population viability.
  56. 2017 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Austin, Texas. Baker, S. J., M. J. Dreslik, C. A. Phillips, and M. C. Allender. Impact of snake fungal disease on population viability.
  57. 2017 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Austin, Texas. Ross, J. P., C. Y. Feng, and M. J. Dreslik. Evaluating reptile and amphibian passage gates using remote camera traps. Presentation.
  58. 2017 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Austin, Texas. Sites, A. J., J. L. Sherwood, J. S. Tiemann, and M. J. Dreslik. Assessing the distribution of Iowa Darters (Etheostoma exile) in streams of northern Illinois. Presentation.
  59. 2016- Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. New Orleans, Louisiana. Baker, S. J., M. J. Dreslik, Christopher A. Phillips, and Matthew C. Allender. Hematology and emergence of snake fungal disease in Illinois Easter Massasaugas (Sistrurus catenatus).
  60. 2016- Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. New Orleans, Louisiana. Davis, Mark A., M. J. Dreslik, Sarah J. Baker, Christopher A. Phillips, Charles Smith, Roger Repp, and Gordon Schuett. A comparative assessment of pitviper life histories using robust quantification.
  61. 2016- Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. New Orleans, Louisiana. Feng, C. Y., and M. J. Dreslik. Sex differentiation in the growth of Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata).
  62. 2016- Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. New Orleans, Louisiana. Feng, C. Y., D. Mauger, J. P. Ross, and M. J. Dreslik. A long-term demographic analysis of Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata) in Illinois.
  63. 2016- Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. New Orleans, Louisiana. Ross, J. P., and M. J. Dreslik. Spatial ecology of the Smooth Softshell turtle (Apalone mutica) in the Kaskaskia River of Illinois.
  64. 2016- Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. New Orleans, Louisiana. Ross, J. P., and M. J. Dreslik. Population and community structure of Smooth Softshell (Apalone mutica) and Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera) turtles in the Kaskaskia River of Illinois.
  65. 2016- Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. New Orleans, Louisiana. Stites, A. J., J. Sherwood, J. S. Tiemann, and M. J. Dreslik. Reassessment of Iowa Darter habitat in Illinois.
  66. 2016 – MidwestFish and Wildlife Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Baker, S. J., M. J. Dreslik, and C. A. Phillips. Long-term monitoring of the Eastern Massasauga in Illinois.
  67. 2016 – Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Feng, C. Y., and M. J. Dreslik. Sex differentiation in the growth of Spotted Turtles, Clemmys gutatta.
  68. 2016 – Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Kessler, E. J., J. P. Ross, C. A. Phillips, and M. J. Dreslik. Brownian bridge movement models using telemetry data: a case study with Eastern Box Turtles, Terrapene carolina.
  69. 2016 – Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Stites, A. J., J. L. Sherwood, J. S. Tiemann, and M. J. Dreslik. Reassessment of Iowa Darter habitat in Illinois.
  70. 2016 – Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Tiemann, J. S., S. J. Baker, S. A. Douglass, C. A. Phillips, and M. J. Dreslik. Assessment of a freshwater mussel community and short distance translocation in Northern Illinois.
  71. 2015 – Turtle Survival Alliance, Tucson, Arizona. Kessler, E. J., M. C. Allender, S. J. Baker-Wylie, and M. J. Dreslik. Assessing health through hematology in head-started Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii).
  72. 2015 – Turtle Survival Alliance, Tucson, Arizona. Kessler, E. J., S. R. Ballard, C. A. Phillips, and M. J. Dreslik. Preliminary results of a translocation of head-started Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii) in Illinois.
  73. 2015 – Turtle Survival Alliance, Tucson, Arizona. Kessler, E. J., J. P. Ross, C. A. Phillips, and M. J. Dreslik. Using Brownian Bridge movement models to estimate home range size in Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina).
  74. 2015 – Turtle Survival Alliance, Tucson, Arizona. Ross, J. P., and M. J. Dreslik. Spatial ecology of the Smooth Softshell Turtle (Apalone mutica) in the Kaskaskia River of Illinois.
  75. 2015 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists and Herpetologists’ League. Reno, Nevada. W. Anthonysamy, M. Dreslik, M. Douglas, D. Thompson, G. Klut, A. Kuhns, D. Mauger, G. Glowacki, C. Phillips. Genetic patterns among rare and common turtle species.
  76. 2015 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists and Herpetologists’ League. Reno, Nevada. Kessler, E. J., M. C. Allender, and M. J. Dreslik. Assessing health through hematology in head-started Alligator Snapping Turtles (Macrochelys temminckii).
  77. 2015 – International Urban Wildlife Conference, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois. Tiemann, J. S., S. J. Baker-Wylie, C. A. Phillips, and M. J. Dreslik. Fish Community structure along the I-90 Tollway.
  78. 2015 – International Urban Wildlife Conference, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois. Baker-Wylie, S. J., J. S. Tiemann, C. A. Phillips, and M. J. Dreslik. Assessment of a freshwater mussel community and short distance translocation in northern Illinois.
  79. 2015 – 9th Biennial Freshwater Mussel Conservation Society, St. Louis, Missouri. Baker-Wylie, S. J., J. S. Tiemann, M. J. Dreslik, and C. A. Phillips. Assessment of a freshwater mussel community and short distance translocation in northern Illinois.
  80. 2015 – 53rd Annual Meeting of the Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Pere Marquette, Illinois. Baker-Wylie, S. J., J. S. Tiemann, M. J. Dreslik, and C. A. Phillips. Assessment of a freshwater mussel community and short distance translocation in northern Illinois.
  81. 2015 – 75th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana. Kessler, E. J., M. J. Dreslik, and S. R. Ballard Recovery of the Alligator Snapping Turtle in Illinois: background and large-scale results.
  82. 2015 – 75th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana. Baker-Wylie, S. J., D. B. Wylie, M. J. Dreslik, and C. A. Phillips Prevalence of snake fungal disease (Sistrurus catenatus) from Illinois.
  83. 2015 – 75th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Indianapolis, Indiana. Ross, J. P., and M. J. Dreslik. Population and community structure of Smooth Softshell (Apalone mutica) and Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera) turtles in the Kaskaskia River, Illinois.

Contributed Posters

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  1. 2017 – Biology of Snake 2017 Conference, Rodeo, New Mexico. Factors affecting the movements of Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) from the mid-Atlantic coastal plain. Co-authored with C. E. Petersen, S. M. Goetz, J. D. Kleopfer, and A. H. Savitzky.
  2. 2017 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Austin, Texas. Spatial ecology of the Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) from the mid-Atlantic coastal plain. Co-authored with C. E. Petersen, S. M. Goetz, J. D. Kleopfer, and A. H. Savitzky.
  3. 2007 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. St. Louis, Missouri. Patterns of habitat use in the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus c. catenatus). Co–authored with D. B. Shepard, B. C. Jellen, S. J. Baker, and C. A. Phillips.
  4. 2006 – 4th Annual Meeting of the Turtle Survival Alliance, St. Louis, Missouri. Turtle assemblages in northeastern Illinois. Co–authored with A. R. Kuhns and W. J. Banning.
  5. 2006 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. New Orleans, Louisiana. Turtle assemblages in northeastern Illinois. Co–authored with A. R. Kuhns.
  6. 2005 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Tampa, Florida. Fidelity to over–wintering refugia in the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus c. catenatus). Co–authored with C. A. Phillips, B. C. Jellen, and D. B. Shepard.
  7. 2004 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma. Tracking the continued decline of the Eastern Massasauga, Sistrurus c. catenatus, in Illinois. Co– authored with T. G. Anton, C. A. Phillips, D. Mauger, T. P. Wilson, D. B. Shepard, A. Resetar, and B. C. Jellen.
  8. 2004 -Snake Ecology Group IV, Touch of Nature, Carbondale, Illinois. Tracking the continued decline of the Eastern Massasauga, Sistrurus c. catenatus, in Illinois. Co– authored with T. G. Anton, C. A. Phillips, D. Mauger, T. P. Wilson, D. B. Shepard, A. Resetar, and B. C. Jellen.

Contributed Papers

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  1. 2017 – Biology of Snake Conference, Rodeo, New Mexico.. Spatial ecology of the Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) from the mid-Atlantic coastal plain. Co-authored with C. E. Petersen, S. M. Goetz, J. D. Kleopfer, and A. H. Savitzky.
  2. 2017 – Biology of Snake Conference, Rodeo, New Mexico.. Detection probability and capture yield of an imperiled species. Co-authored with J. A. Crawford, S. J. Baker, W. E. Peterman, and C. A. Phillips.
  3. 2017 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Austin, Texas.. Factors affecting the movements of Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) from the mid-Atlantic coastal plain. Co-authored with C. E. Petersen, S. M. Goetz, J. D. Kleopfer, and A. H. Savitzky.
  4. 2016 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. New Orleans, Louisiana.. Factors affecting the detection probability and capture yield of an imperiled species. Co-authored with J. A. Crawford, S. J. Baker, W. E. Peterman, and C. A. Phillips.
  5. 2016 -76th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Factors affecting the detection probability and capture yield of an imperiled species. Co-authored with J. A. Crawford, S. J. Baker, W. E. Peterman, and C. A. Phillips.
  6. 2014 – Biology of the Pitvipers 2, Symposium, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Life in a mosaic: survival and reproduction of an Eastern Massasauga population (Sistrurus catenatus) isolated within an agricultural landscape. Co-authored with M. A. Davis, S. J. Wylie, and C. A. Phillips.
  7. 2011 – 71st Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Population dynamics of the Eastern Massasauga from a 12–year study.
  8. 2006 – 67th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Omaha, Nebraska. Demography and viability of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) in Illinois. Co–authored with S. J. Baker and C. A. Phillips.
  9. Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. New Orleans, Louisiana. Demography and viability of the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) at Carlyle Lake. Co–authored with C. A. Phillips, D. B. Shepard, and B. C. Jellen.
  10. 2005 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Tampa, Florida. Demographic trends of the River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna) over a decade of monitoring. Co–authored with A. R. Kuhns and C. A. Phillips.
  11. 2004 – 65th Annual Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Indianapolis Indiana. Spatial ecology of the Eastern Massasauga from the southern range limit. Co–authored with C. A. Phillips and D. B. Shepard.
  12. 2004 – 31st Natural Areas Conference, Chicago, Illinois. Home range and movement of the Eastern Massasauga from the Carlyle Lake region. Co–authored with C. A. Phillips and D. B. Shepard.
  13. 2004 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma. Growth and sexual size dimorphism of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus c. catenatus) from its southern range limit. Co–authored with C. A. Phillips, D. B. Shepard, and B. C. Jellen.
  14. 2004 – 4th Snake Ecology Group Meeting, Touch of Nature Environmental Center, Carbondale, Illinois. Seasonality in the movement patterns of a North American viper (Sistrurus c. catenatus). Co–authored with D. B. Shepard, C. A. Phillips, and B. C. Jellen.
  15. 2002 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Kansas City, Missouri . Thermal and behavioral relationships of the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus c. catenatus). Co–authored with: C. A. Phillips, B. C. Jellen, and D. B. Shepard.
  16. 2001 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Indianapolis, Indiana . Microhabitat characteristics of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus, at the Southern Range Limit. Co–authored with: C. A. Phillips, D. B. Shepard, and B. C. Jellen.
  17. 2001 – Illinois State Academy of Sciences. Macomb, Illinois. Home range and movement in the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus. Co–authored with: C. A. Phillips, D. B. Shepard, and B. C. Jellen.
  18. 2001 – Illinois State Academy of Sciences. Macomb, Illinois. Microhabitat characteristics of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus, at the Southern Range Limit. Co–authored with: C. A. Phillips, B. C. Jellen, and D. B. Shepard.
  19. 2000 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. La Paz, Mexico. Application of population estimation to pond breeding salamanders. Co–authored with: C. A. Phillips, J. A. Johnson, and J. E. Petzing.
  20. 1999 – Illinois Chapter of the Wildlife Society. Allerton Park, Illinois. Geographic comparisons of Illinois chelonian communities.
  21. 1998 – 18th Annual Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference, Charleston, Illinois. Dietary notes on the Red–Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta) and River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna) from Southern Illinois.
  22. 1998 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Guelph, Ontario. Modeling organismal growth in turtle populations: assumption validation and practicality. Co–authored with L. P. Comerford.
  23. 1997 – Illinois Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Collinsville, Illinois. Ecology of the River Cooter, Pseudemys concinna, from a southern Illinois flood–plain lake.
  24. 1997 – Joint Meeting of American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, and Herpetologists’ League. Seattle, Washington. Geographic comparisons of Illinois chelonian communities. Co–authored with E. O. Moll.
  25. 1996 – Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Lawrence, Kansas Some aspects of River Cooter, Pseudemys concinna, ecology from a southern Illinois backwater.

Invited Speaker

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  1. 2017 – Eastern Massasauga Conservation and Coordination Meeting, Carlyle, Illinois. Status of the Eastern Massasauga in Illinois.
  2. 2016 – Blanding’s & Wood Turtle Conservation Symposium, Westborough, Massachusetts. Blanding’s Turtle conservation and management in Illinois.
  3. 2015 – Annual IDNR Division of Natural Heritage Retreat, Springfield, Illinois. Controlled burning and amphibians and reptiles – a hot topic.
  4. 2013 – Midwest Herpetological Symposium, Peoria, Illinois. Ecology and conservation of the Eastern Massasauga through long-term study.
  5. 2011 – Biology of the Rattlesnakes Symposium, Tucson, Arizona. Demography and life history of the Eastern Massasauga: long–term study at the southern range limit.
  6. 2010 – Chicago Wilderness Blanding’s Turtle Workshop. Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, Illinois. Population Biology of Emydoidea blandingii: Challenges for Conservation.
  7. 2008 – United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Ten–year status assessment of the Eastern Massasauga, East Lansing, Michigan. The Massasauga Saga: Summary of the Biology of Sistrurus catenatus. (Co–presented with Richard Seigel and Bruce Kingsbury.
  8. 2008 – Meeting of Michigan Eastern Massasauga Working Group. East Lansing, Michigan. Population viability and demography of the Eastern Massasauga: a risk assessment.
  9. 2007 – Reintroduction and translocations of wildlife: challenges and strategies for wildlife managers, a workshop. Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois. Monitoring turtles and snakes: methods, considerations, and uses.
  10. 2006 – Illinois State Museum Seminar Series, Springfield, Illinois. Ecology and conservation of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus).
  11. 2005 – 66th Annual Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Symposium, Grand Rapids, Michigan. A turtle’s pace: Conservation strategies for Midwestern turtle species. Co–authored with W. J. Banning and C. A. Phillips.
  12. 2004 – 3rd Annual Illinois Wilds Institute for Nature – Reptiles and Amphibians, Cache River, Illinois. Life history and ecology of the Eastern Massasauga.
  13. 2004 – Champaign Area Society of Herpetoculturists, Champaign, Illinois. An ecological portrait of a critically imperiled species: The Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus c. catenatus) in Illinois.
  14. 2003 – Central Illinois Herpetological Society. Peoria, Illinois. An ecological portrait of a critically imperiled species: The Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus c. catenatus) in Illinois.
  15. 2003 – Central Illinois Prairie Conference. Champaign, Illinois. An ecological portrait of a critically imperiled species: The Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus c. catenatus) in Illinois.
  16. 2002 – Department of Biology, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Illinois. Spatial dynamics of the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake, Sistrurus c. catenatus and their application to reserve design and conservation.
  17. 2002 – Chicago Herpetological Society. Natural history of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus.
  18. 2001 – Herpetology Group. George Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. Conservation and ecology of the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) at Carlyle Lake. Co–presented with Dr. C. A. Phillips, D. B. Shepard, and B. C. Jellen.
  19. 2000 – Department of Ecology, Ethology and Evolution – Eco–lunch. University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign, Illinois. Evidence of ontogenetic dimorphism in the chelonian shell.
  20. 1998 – 99th meeting of the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board. Springfield, Illinois. Ecology of the River Cooter, Pseudemys concinna, from a southern Illinois flood–plain lake.
  21. 1998 – Department of Ecology, Ethology and Evolution – Eco–lunch. University of Illinois, Urbana–Champaign, Illinois. Growth modeling in turtles: assumption reduction and further advances.

Other Agencies

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  1. Arkansas State Wildlife Grant Program
    2013. Habitat requirements, occupancy estimations and status of primary burrowing crayfishes in southwestern Arkansas.Chelonian Research Foundation, Linneaus Fund
    1997. Reproductive ecology, home range, and dispersal of the River Cooter, Pseudemys concinna, from Illinois.Chicago Wilderness
    2005. Ecology of the threatened Blanding’s Turtle, Emydoidea blandingii, in the Chicago Wilderness Area. Co-investigated with A. R. Kuhns and C.A. Phillips.

    Eastern Illinois University Council on Faculty Research
    1994. Community relationships of freshwater turtles from a southern Illinois backwater of the Ohio River. Co–investigated with Dr. E. O. Moll.

    Eastern Illinois Honors Program, Undergraduate Research Award
    1993. Population ecology of the state endangered River Cooter, Pseudemys concinna.

    Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
    2017. Demographic monitoring of Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) at Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve. Co-investigated with Dr. S. J. Baker.

    Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
    2016. Assessment of a species distribution model for the Spot-Tailed Lizard (Holbrookia lacerta) in Texas. Co-investigated with Dr. M. L. Niemiller, and Dr. M. A. Davis.

    United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Discretionary Funds
    2004. Field Surveys for the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) in southern Cook and northern Will counties, Illinois. Co–investigated with Dr. C. A. Phillips.

Illinois ESPB

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  1. 2007. Spatial ecology and over–winter survival of neonate Eastern Massasauga rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) at Carlyle Lake. Co–investigated with S. J. Baker.
  2. 2007. Population size and genetics of the Blanding’s Turtle at Goose Lake State Natural Area Grundy County, Illinois – Year 1. Co–investigated with W. J. Banning.
  3. 1997. Reproductive ecology, home range, and dispersal of the River Cooter, Pseudemys concinna, from Illinois.
  4. 1993. Status of the River Cooter, Pseudemys concinna, in the Illinois backwaters of the Wabash and Ohio Rivers. Co–investigated with Dr. E. O. Moll.

State Wildlife Grants

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  1. 2017. Critical conservation issues and adaptive management of imperiled herpetofauna in Illinois. Co-investigated with Dr. C. A. Phillips, A. R. Kuhns, Dr. J. A. Crawford, Dr. J. K. Warner, and E. J. Kessler.
  2. 2015. Eastern Massasauga conservation through refined modeling, habitat management, and species detection. Co-investigated with the Michigan Department of Natural Resource, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Dr. C. A. Phillips and S. J. Baker-Wylie.
  3. 2014. Recovery of the Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) in the Mississippi River Valley Drainages of Southern Illinois, Oklahoma & Louisiana. Co-investigated with S. Ballard (IL), Dr. D. Ligon, (MO) and Dr. J. L. Carr (LA).
  4. 2013. Ecology of the Smooth Softshell in the Kaskaskia River: implications for managing flows in an altered system. Co–investigated with R. Bluett.

USFWS Section 6 Funds

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  1. 2015. Conservation genetics of the Eastern Massasauga (Sistrurus catenatus) in Illinois. Co–investigated with Dr. W. J. B. Anthonysamy, S. J. Baker, Dr. M. A. Davis, and Dr. C. A. Phillips.
  2. 2012. Detection of Chrysosporium and an assessment of neonate survival in the Eastern Massasauga. Co–investigated with Dr. M. C. Allender and Dr. C. A. Phillips.
  3. 2010. Prevalence of Chrysosporium in the Eastern Massasauga using a wildlife health epidemiologic approach. Co–investigated with Dr. M. C. Allender, Dr. C. A. Phillips, and S. J. Baker.
  4. 2009. Feasibility of Reintroduction and Translocation of Neonate Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes as a Tool for Population Recovery (Year 1). Co–investigated with S. J. Baker.
  5. 2007. Assessment of habitat restoration on the Eastern Massasauga at Carlyle Lake: Year 2 Post–Restoration Monitoring. Co–investigated with S. J. Baker.
  6. 2006. Assessment of habitat restoration on the Eastern Massasauga at Carlyle Lake. Co–investigated with Dr. C. A. Phillips.
  7. 2004. Field Surveys for the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (istrurus catenatus) in southern Cook and northern Will counties, Illinois. Co–investigated with Dr. C. A. Phillips.
  8. 2003. Ecology and conservation of the eastern Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Sistrurus c. catenatus, at Carlyle Lake, Illinois. Co–investigated with Dr. C. A. Phillips.
  9. 2002. Ecology and conservation of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Sistrurus c. catenatus, at Carlyle Lake, Illinois. Co–investigated with Dr. C. A. Phillips and D. B. Shepard.