Herpetology Range Students
Anthony Lau
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Division of Herpetology
Florida Museum of Natural History
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-7800, USA
Telephone: 352 273-1945, Fax: 352 846-0287
E-mail: alau0924@ufl.edu – Personal webpage
Research Interests
My primary research interest is ecology of amphibians and reptiles. More specifically, I am interested in the effects on anthropogenic disturbances on wild populations. For my graduate studies, I am investigating the effects of various biological, environmental, and anthropogenic factors on habitat use and home range of the Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) in Florida's coastal sand dunes at Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Esturaine Research Reserve. Gopher Tortoises are understudied in this unique habitat, and the results of my research will hopefully improve understanding of its ecology and foster better management actions.
In the past 4 years, I have been involved in a long term mark-recapture study on freshwater turtles in the Santa Fe River, a spring-fed black water stream. The freshwater turtle assemblage on the Santa Fe is highly diverse (>10 species), including two State listed Species of Special Concern, the Suwannee Cooter (Pseudemys suwanniensis) and Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii). Both of these species have a long history of human exploitation for food, despite having been listed and protected for many decades. The State of Florida has recently implemented new legislation, which effectively ceased wild turtle harvesting. This study will establish baseline data on population ecological status for future comparison.
As an aspiring conservation biologist, I am also interested in the application of molecular techniques, such as the use of genetics and stable isotopes to understand large scale ecological processes within biological communities.
Ultimately, I would like to utilize these skills and knowledge to contribute to the conservation of critically endangered Asian turtles in their native habitats.
Dissertation Title
M.S. Thesis: Ecology of Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus)
Primary Faculty Advisor: Dr. C. Kenneth Dodd Jr. and Dr. Raymond Carthy
Representative Publications
Coming soon!
