My Master's thesis has two parts. Part One is using a site occupancy model (Mackenzie, 2001) to attempt to correllate amphibian presence to hydrological regime and vegetation of upland (rocky pine glades) habitats in Everglades National Park. My research will contribute to a much larger Everglades restoration model designed by Dr. Don DeAngelis. B. quercicus and other upland amphibian species will supply an upland ("upland" in ENP is about 1 foot!) amphibian component, which will be used to asses the overall Everglades Restoration Project (CERP) and possibly predict the effects of further restoration efforts.

Chapter two of my thesis deals with comparing the photoperiod related activity patterns between two South Florida Bufonids (Bufo quercicus and B. terrestris). During field studies I noticed a large disparity in activity patterns between these two toad species. Preliminary lab experiments suggest that B. quercicus exhibits a cathmeral pattern of activity as opposed to the previously suggested diurnal pattern. I would like to compare adults and larvae of these toads in relation to: behavior (activity patterns), metabolism (metabolic activity pattern) and neuroanatomy by comparing the suprachiasmatic nucleus or zeitgeber of these toads which regulates circadian rhythms.

Mark is also involved in starting a Pipa pipa prey detection and feeding project, which we are all excited about.