Scott D Farnsworth | Washington State University (original) (raw)

Scott D Farnsworth

My primary interests are in conservation biology,disease ecology, population biology, and spatial ecology of reptiles and amphibians. I got my B.S. in Ecology from Idaho State University, working with Charles Peterson. I received my M.S in Biology at Towson University, working with Richard Seigel. I also worked for 4 years as a wildlife technician for the non-game department of Idaho Fish and Game while I was working on my undergraduate degree.

During my work on my Master's degree in Maryland, I studied the survival and overwinter ecology of Eastern Box Turtles to evaluate on-site translocations as a mitigation technique. This was done in conjunction with a large highway construction project in central Maryland. During that study, I found that a disease (Ranavirus) was likely responsible for large numbers of turtles within that population dying. This has led me to my current interest in disease ecology and the conservation implications of emerging diseases as well as what allows diseases to change hosts.
Phone: 509-335-4708 (office)
Address: School of Biological Sciences
Washington State University
PO Box 644236
Pullman WA 99164-4236

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Talks by Scott D Farnsworth

Research paper thumbnail of Study of highway construction mitigation leads down an unexpected road: Concurrent die-offs of turtles, salamanders, and frogs at one site in Maryland, USA

Research paper thumbnail of On-Site and Off-Site Translocations of Eastern Box Turtles: Lack of Difference in Survival May Point to Ranavirus

Research paper thumbnail of Simultaneous Effects of a Ranavirus Outbreak on Amphibians and Box Turtles

Research paper thumbnail of Short and Long Distance Translocations of Box Turtles on the ICC: Do Fences Make Good Neighbors or Conservation Practices?

Research paper thumbnail of Short and long distance translocations: Movement and survival in eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina)

Papers by Scott D Farnsworth

Research paper thumbnail of Responses, Movements, and Survival of Relocated Box Turtles During Construction of the Intercounty Connector Highway in Maryland

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Responses, Movements, and Survival of Relocated Box Turtles During the Construction of the Inter-County Connector Highway in Maryland

Transportation Research Record, 2013

We compared the success of different techniques of relocations as a means of mitigating the impac... more We compared the success of different techniques of relocations as a means of mitigating the impacts of the construction of a major highway on Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina) in Maryland. We compared the movement patterns, home range size, and survival of turtles from three treatment groups between 2008-2011; turtles native to the study site and not moved during the study (native turtles), turtles native to the site, but which were moved from the limit of disturbance (LOD) of the highway (on-site relocations), and turtles not native to the site, which were relocated onto the site (off-site relocations). Turtles in the off-site relocation group had larger home ranges and moved longer distances than either on-site or native turtles. However, unlike other studies, off-site relocated turtles did not make directional movements off of the study area nor did they have difficulty finding suitable sites for overwintering. We found no statistically-significant differences in survival between our three treatment groups. However, overall survival rates were <65% over the three years of our study, considerably lower than rates seen in other Box Turtle populations, perhaps due to an emerging pathogen (Ranavirus), which caused numerous deaths of Box Turtles. Our recommendations for “Best Practices” centered on the need for more effective wildlife exclusion fences to be built and maintained earlier in the construction timeline. Failure to create and maintain such a barrier in our study lead to numerous “trespass” events, where turtles moved onto the LOD and would likely have been killed without our intervention

Thesis Chapters by Scott D Farnsworth

Research paper thumbnail of ON-SITE AND OFF-SITE TRANSLOCATIONS OF EASTERN BOX TURTLES (TERRAPENE CAROLINA CAROLINA): COMPARISONS OF SURVIVAL AND OVERWINTERING ECOLOGY

Human development represents a threat to wildlife populations through habitat loss and incidental... more Human development represents a threat to wildlife populations through habitat loss and incidental mortality from construction activities. One approach to mitigate mortalities is translocation. Translocations of reptiles primarily involve moving animals off-site, beyond their normal home range. Studies of translocation often report higher mortality in translocated animals, especially during the overwintering period. One alternative is to move animals on-site, with the individuals remaining within their home ranges, but separated from construction activity by a barrier. This may eliminate problems of translocation but has not been tested extensively. I tracked on-site and off-site translocated Box Turtles as well as native Box Turtles in order to compare survival and overwintering ecology. I found no differences in survival or overwinter ecology between the three groups and little overwinter mortality. Survival of all turtles was lower than expected due to disease, specifically Ranavirus. My data suggest that on-site relocations may be a valid management alternative, but further research is needed.

Research paper thumbnail of Responses, Movements, and Survival of Relocated Box Turtles During Construction of the Intercounty Connector Highway in Maryland

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Responses, Movements, and Survival of Relocated Box Turtles During the Construction of the Inter-County Connector Highway in Maryland

Transportation Research Record, 2013

We compared the success of different techniques of relocations as a means of mitigating the impac... more We compared the success of different techniques of relocations as a means of mitigating the impacts of the construction of a major highway on Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina) in Maryland. We compared the movement patterns, home range size, and survival of turtles from three treatment groups between 2008-2011; turtles native to the study site and not moved during the study (native turtles), turtles native to the site, but which were moved from the limit of disturbance (LOD) of the highway (on-site relocations), and turtles not native to the site, which were relocated onto the site (off-site relocations). Turtles in the off-site relocation group had larger home ranges and moved longer distances than either on-site or native turtles. However, unlike other studies, off-site relocated turtles did not make directional movements off of the study area nor did they have difficulty finding suitable sites for overwintering. We found no statistically-significant differences in survival between our three treatment groups. However, overall survival rates were <65% over the three years of our study, considerably lower than rates seen in other Box Turtle populations, perhaps due to an emerging pathogen (Ranavirus), which caused numerous deaths of Box Turtles. Our recommendations for “Best Practices” centered on the need for more effective wildlife exclusion fences to be built and maintained earlier in the construction timeline. Failure to create and maintain such a barrier in our study lead to numerous “trespass” events, where turtles moved onto the LOD and would likely have been killed without our intervention

Research paper thumbnail of ON-SITE AND OFF-SITE TRANSLOCATIONS OF EASTERN BOX TURTLES (TERRAPENE CAROLINA CAROLINA): COMPARISONS OF SURVIVAL AND OVERWINTERING ECOLOGY

Human development represents a threat to wildlife populations through habitat loss and incidental... more Human development represents a threat to wildlife populations through habitat loss and incidental mortality from construction activities. One approach to mitigate mortalities is translocation. Translocations of reptiles primarily involve moving animals off-site, beyond their normal home range. Studies of translocation often report higher mortality in translocated animals, especially during the overwintering period. One alternative is to move animals on-site, with the individuals remaining within their home ranges, but separated from construction activity by a barrier. This may eliminate problems of translocation but has not been tested extensively. I tracked on-site and off-site translocated Box Turtles as well as native Box Turtles in order to compare survival and overwintering ecology. I found no differences in survival or overwinter ecology between the three groups and little overwinter mortality. Survival of all turtles was lower than expected due to disease, specifically Ranavirus. My data suggest that on-site relocations may be a valid management alternative, but further research is needed.

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