Philosophy

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Herpetology Societies



Canadian Herpetological Society


What is Herpetology?

Herpetology is a discipline within Biology that involves the study of Amphibians (caecilians, frogs, toads, salamanders) and Reptiles (amphisbaenians, lizards, snakes, turtles, tuatara, crocodilians). These studies range from molecular to community level investigations of the evolutionary relationships, physiology, ecology, and conservation of these fascinating animals. Although amphibians and reptiles are not closely related from an evolutionary perspective, they are often studied together because they live in similar habitats and share certain traits that make them susceptible to the same threats. For example, all amphibians and reptiles are ectothermic, meaning that they rely on the external environment to regulate their bodily functions, such as body temperature. Thus, the behaviour and habitat use of both reptiles and amphibians are largely governed by environmental conditions. Many species of amphibians and reptiles are at risk of extinction, largely as a result of human-caused threats, such as habitat destruction, road mortality, environmental contamination, the spread of invasive species and illegal poaching. Thus, research into many aspect of the biology and ecology of our native herpetofauna is critical in informing effective conservation and management solutions.

CHS Research Committee

Director and Chair: Dr. Jacqueline Litzgus
The purpose of the Research Committee is to promote herpetological research, including investigations relevant to the conservation of amphibian and reptile populations in Canada, and to disseminate the results.

Herpetology Researchers at Academic Institutions in Canada

If you are interested in pursuing research in the field of Herpetology, or in using amphibians or reptiles as study subjects to address questions within broader biological concepts, there are several professors across Canada whose university research programs focus on the evolution, ecology, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles. Following is a list of some of these Canadian researchers:
  • Dr. Gabriel Blouin-Demers, Professor, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
  • Dr. Jim Bogart, Professor Emeritus, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario
  • Dr. Ron Brooks, Professor Emeritus, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario
  • Dr. David Green, Professor and Director of Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
  • Dr. Patrick Gregory, Professor, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia
  • Dr. Stephen Hecnar, Associate Professor, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario
  • Dr. Tom Herman, Professor, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS
  • Dr. David Lesbarrères, Associate Professor, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario
  • Dr. Jacqueline D. Litzgus, Professor, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario
  • Dr. Stephen Lougheed, Professor, Queens University, Kingston, Ontario
  • Dr. Steve Mockford, Associate Professor, Acadia University Wolfville, Nova Scotia
  • Dr. Dennis Murray, Associate Professor, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario
  • Dr. Cynthia Paszkowski, Professor, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
  • Dr. Anthony Russell, Professor, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
  • Dr. Pamela Rutherford, Associate Professor, Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba
  • Dr. Glenn Tattersall, Professor, Brock University, St. Catharines,�Ontario


 Canadian Herpetological Society (CHS).
The mandate of CHS is to foster research and conservation of Canada's reptiles and amphibians, collectively known as herpetofauna. This website provides information about Canada's herpetofauna, as well as resources to assist researchers and conservation professionals within Canada.
We are still developing the content for some of our pages. Links to pages that are not yet available will be marked as "coming soon". We hope to have all of the content on our site complete by early 2016.


What is the Canadian Herpetological Society?

The Canadian Herpetological Society is a registered Canadian charity that advances reptile and amphibian research and conservation in Canada by:
  • promoting scientific research on reptiles and amphibians and disseminating the results;
  • facilitating collaboration among amateur and professional herpetologists;
  • advancing public understanding of our native reptile and amphibian species, the threats they face and the conservation solutions that exist; and
  • promoting, supporting and leading conservation and stewardship projects.
CHS is made up of researchers, conservation practitioners, naturalists, educators, and other individuals with an interest in Canada's reptiles and amphibians.
The Society holds an annual general meeting and conference where members can present their work, learn what others are doing, and identify opportunities for partnerships and collaborations.
The Canadian Herpetologist is a bi-annual publication of the CHS that is available to all members. Back issues are posted on the web-site and are available to non-members.

Mission

The Canadian Herpetological Society is devoted to fostering scientific research on amphibians and reptiles and, in recognition of the inherent value of all native amphibians and reptiles, conserving Canada’s native species of amphibians and reptiles and their ecological and evolutionary functions in perpetuity.


Governing Documents

Our History

The Canadian Herpetological Society was formed when the Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Network (CARCNET) and the Canadian Association of Herpetologists (CAH) decided to come together to form one society in the fall of 2013.
The Canadian Association of Herpetologists was formed in 1986 as a venue to disseminate news and information of relevance to Canadian Herpetologists. Membership of this organization was primarily professional academic herpetologists with interests such as morphology, systematic, ecology and behavior. The Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Network grew from the Declining Amphibians Populations Task Force in Canada (DAPCAN) which began in 1991. After some time, those involved in DAPCAN decided that they wanted to focus on amphibians and reptiles, as well as active conservation of these species rather than simply documenting declines. The Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Network was born as a more proactive group, and became a registered charity (Charitable Reg. No. 88078-1562-RR0001) in 1997.
Recently, CAH and CARCNET began co-hosting annual meetings and also merged their two bulletins into a joint bi-annual publication, The Canadian Herpetologist. Following from this close collaboration and a significant overlap in general membership and the Boards of Directors, the time came to formally merge into one organization. Although CAH was focused more on academic research and CARCNET on conservation, there is inherent overlap between these mandates and it is difficult to have one without the other. For example, although CARCNET's primary mandate was conservation, there has always been a significant focus on applied research that can inform conservation work, as well as disseminating research findings amongst the membership. In recognition of this, the new Canadian Herpetological Society includes both research and conservation in its mandate.
 

Herpetology Links




Quotes & Trivia
 
Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher. ---Wordsworth
 
In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous. ---Aristotle
 
No man ever steps in the same river twice. ---Heraclitus
 
Nothing in biology makes sense except in light of evolution.
---Dobzhansky
 
To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering. ---Leopold
 
A bad day in the field is still better than a good day in the lab. ---Hecnar


http://www.canadianherpetology.ca/


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Philadelphia Herpetological Society
P.O. Box 52261, Philadelphia PA 19115-7261 USA
 
Top Herpetology Links:
  EMBL Reptile Database (Taxonomy - Species Level)

  Kaplan's Herpetology Resources  (good selection)

  Names of Amphibians & Reptiles (translations, bios, more)   

  Contemporary Herpetology (online peer reviewed journal)  

 sci.bio.herp - newsgroup also on the Deja web site   Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles   Center for North American Amphibians and Reptiles (updated!)   Amphibian Specialist Group   Breck Bartholomew's Herplit Database (excellent!)   Savannah River Ecology Laboratory Herpetology Lab   "Virtual "Whole Frog  Project"(anatomy simulation)
  Herpetology.com  
Herpetology is the scientific study of reptiles and amphibians. Herpetoculture is the art and science of breeding snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, amphibians, and other herpetozoa in captivity. This site contains information and links to these subjects and associated topics.



 
Reptile / Amphibian Books and Reviews



  Herp Web Database
Search or add URL










http://herpetology.com/phs.html












 
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