2021 Annual Meeting

|Dec. 8th – Dec. 11th|

Welcome to the 2021 Annual Meeting information page! Due to continuing health concerns about the pandemic, this year’s annual meeting will be mostly virtual, with Zoom presentations. But despite our separation, we plan to make this event as interactive as possible! It will kick-off with a virtual social hour on Wednesday, December 8th. This three day extravaganza will be chock o’block full of presentations from excellent local herpetologists and researchers sharing information on South Carolina’s reptiles and amphibians. We are also excited to offer in-person field trips throughout the state as a part of this year’s annual meeting!  

This page will continue to be updated so please check in for new information!

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, Dec. 8th
6:00 – 6:30pm: Social Hour (Virtual)

To kick off the 2021 Annual Meeting join SCPARC members for a virtual social hour. This years prompt: describe a favorite wildlife encounter from this past year, herps or otherwise.

6:30 – 7:30pm: “Update from the State” (Virtual)

Andrew Grosse| SCDNR State Herpetologist | Click here to see the recording
This hour, Andrew Grosse, the SCDNR State Herpetologist, will be sharing all the work being done to promote reptile and amphibian conservation throughout the state. Tune in to learn about topics such as wetland restoration and introduced exotic species.

Thursday, Dec. 9th
6:00 – 8:00pm – Presentations (Virtual)

“Sampling biases during long-term study of diamondback terrapins at Kiawah Island, South Carolina”Kristin Cecala | University of the South | Click here to see the recording

“Assessing potential dietary exposure from recreationally harvested alligator meat” Laura Kojima | University of Georgia | Click here to see the recording

“Using stable isotopes to investigate trophic transfer of mercury and radiocesium in Nerodia floridana – Dr. Melissa Pilgrim | University of South Carolina Upstate | Click here to see the recording

“Habitat Usage of The Northern Watersnake Along the Riverine System at Table Rock State Park” – Dr. Jeffrey Mohr | Southern Wesleyan University | Click here to see the recording

“Influence of habitat on occurrence and diet of semi-aquatic snakes on the Savannah River Site” – Dr. Andrew Durso | Florida Gulf Coast University | Click here to see the recording

Selection, Gene Flow, and the Evolution of Watersnakes – Tristan Schramer | Clemson University | Click here to see the recording

Friday, Dec. 10th
6:00 – 7:30pm – Presentations (Virtual)

“Comparative ecology of two species of semiaquatic snakes in southeastern North America”Dr. Jeffrey Camper | Francis Marion University | Click here to see the recording

“Environmental physiology: using lab and field-based approaches to study the secret
lives of reptiles” Dr. Scott Parker | Coastal Carolina University | Click here to see the recording

“Radiotelemetry and habitat use of Northern Pine Snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus) in South
Carolina.” 
– Alan Jones | Coastal Carolina University | Click here to see the recording

Optimizing eDNA Identification of Northern Pine Snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus)” – Tiffany Bogan | Coastal Carolina University | Click here to see the recording

Saturday, Dec. 11th 
10:00 – 11:00am – SCPARC Business Meeting (Virtual)

This hour, the SCPARC Co-Chairs will be discussing what SCPARC has been up to this past year, as well as what’s in store for 2022. You will also be invited to vote on the South Carolina herp species to be featured on next year’s 2022 t-shirt design!

1:00 – 4:00pm: Field Trips (In-person)

We’re excited to host in-person field trips this year! (It is a “mostly virtual” meeting, after all!). Safety is our top priority for our in-person field trips. To continue ensuring safety during the lingering pandemic, we will be limiting our groups to 15 participants. Sign ups for fields trips will open on December 1st. All participants will be required to sign the ARC COVID agreement prior to the trip. The ARC COVID agreement and field trip directions/instructions will be emailed to each registered participant. Thank you in advance for your compliance and understanding. We look forward to seeing you in the field!

Field Trip 1: Salleyland – Salley, SC
Trip Leaders: Parker and Whit Gibbons
Join other SCPARC members for a fun-filled day of herping at the Gibbon’s property in Salley, South Carolina. Salleyland is an approximately 100-acre property with a diversity of habitats and a plethora of herps. This time of year, we can expect to find a variety of salamanders, and might even get lucky enough to see a rare Chamberlain’s Dwarf Salamander

Field Trip 2: The Turtle Survival Center – Cross, SC
Trip Leaders: Cris Hagen, Jeff Camper, and Mike Frees
Did you know that some of the most endangered species of turtles in Asia can be found in South Carolina? The Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) is dedicated to protecting these sensitive species , some of which are researched and watched-over in a facility right here in South Carolina. Join us for a tour of the facility and to meet some of TSA’s fascinating turtles!

Field Trip 3: Caw Caw Interpretive Center – Charleston, SC
Trip Leaders: Jake Zadik and Kristina Wheeler
Caw Caw is a 600+ acre country park with a variety of habitat surrounding swampland and reclaimed rice fields. Loaded with wildlife, we will explore these different habitats in search of herps. We will also set some aquatic traps to try and see some of the life living beneath the surface of the swamp.