Local researchers publish two books
By RACHEL JOHNSON
Staff writer
The University of Georgia Press and local researchers recently completed work on two comprehensive field guides highlighting amphibians, reptiles and turtles of the region.
"The purpose of the books is to instill a sense of value and appreciation for these fascinating animals and an understanding of their role and significance in natural habitats," explained Aiken resident Whit Gibbons who served as coauthor on both publications.
The first of the two books "Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia," coauthored by editors John B. Jensen, Carlos D. Camp, Gibbons and Matt J. Elliott, serves as a complete reference tool for students, professional herpetologists, biologists, ecologists, conservationists, land managers and amateur naturalists. It offers detailed information about 170 species of frogs, salamanders, crocodilians, lizards, snakes and turtles.
Incorporating brilliant photographs with detailed species accounts, each page provides information about size, appearance and other identifying characteristics while focusing on the need for conservation. Additionally the book documents declines in species as well as the loss of populations. Range maps show where each species occurs in Georgia county by county.
The book has been a long time coming as the idea has been talked about by researchers for almost 25 years. The collaboration of the four authors brought together different expertise culminating in a tremendous resource.
The second book recently released by the Georgia Press "Turtles of the Southeast" was coauthored by three University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology (SREL) researchers Kurt Buhlmann, Tracey Tuberville and Gibbons. The aim is to teach people how to recognize and distinguish the many different species of turtles native to the region and to suggest conservation strategies to help reduce problems faced by turtles of the Southeast.
The book serves as No. 2 in a series. The first book, released in 2005, "Snakes of the Southeast," claimed the National Wildlife Award.
"Turtles of the Southeast" features in-depth descriptions of 42 native species, more than 400 color photographs, distribution maps, descriptions of each species, sidebars containing fun facts, size charts, identifiers and information about habitat, behavior, food, reproduction, predators and conservation.
Both of the books are available at nature book stores, at National Park stores, Barnes and Noble or online at www.ugapress.uga.edu.
Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@aikenstandard.com
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