UGA Coastal Ecology Lab

Hi everyone! Today’s post is about the Cuban Treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis). A non-native frog species that has slowly spread through the southeastern United States since its introduction through shipping routes in the early 1930’s. They vary in coloration but key distinguishing features include large toepads, large eyes and a large body, growing over five inches at maturity. That’s 2x the size of the United States largest treefrog (Barking treefrog) who reaches 2 inches at maturity! Due to their large size, they have been documented outcompeting native species, even eating them in some cases. Listed below are some resources that help to report any sightings you may have.
eddmaps.org
bugwood.org
gainvasives.org
Photo by “fr1gate_b1rd13” CC-BY-NC, iNaturalist [inaturalist.org/observations/379573015]

Happy !
Meet the double-crested cormorant (Nannopterum auritum), a sleek water-loving bird often seen along the coast and in freshwater habitats. These skilled hunters dive underwater to chase and catch fish, and can often be seen perched near the waters edge to dry off and rest.

If you’ve ever had one sit unusually close like the one pictured here, it has likely learned to associate people with food due to someone feeding it in the past. While it may feel like a special moment, feeding wildlife can harm animals by reducing their natural hunting behaviors, increasing risk of injury or illness, and making them dependent on humans. Let’s keep wildlife wild by observing from a respectful distance!

Happy Monday! Last week we asked what you guys wanted to learn more about, and we got some great questions! Over the next several weeks, we are going to do a series answering your questions. The first question came from Debbie Kirsch, and she asked, "How large is an alligator's territory?" Luckily, as part of our research in the Okefenokee Swamp, we have been studying this and have some cool data sets to answer that question.

The short answer is it varies. An alligator's territory can vary based on a number of things, including location, food and water availability, s*x, and even season. Alligators on the coast, for example, tend to have larger territories than some inland alligator populations. In our study, we used satellite tags, like the one on the back of the alligator in the 3rd picture, to track 10 adult alligators at the Okefenokee Swamp Park, and the maps below show where they went and what their territories were. As has been documented in other alligator studies, males had much larger territories than females; the largest male territory was 165 acres, while the largest female territory was only 17 acres. While these seem quite large, as we mentioned earlier, some coastal alligators have even larger territories and will even travel between barrier islands. The 2nd and 4th pictures show the territories of males versus females, and if you pay attention to the scale bar, you can see how much the size of their territories differs. Much of this has to do with their s*x specific natural history. Male alligators are trying to mate with as many females as possible, so they travel much farther distances in search of females. Females, on the other hand, need to establish and protect their nesting habitat. In places like the swamp where there isn't a lot of land, good nesting habitat is at a premium. Additionally, once their young hatch, they must be able to stay nearby to protect them; both of these result in females having smaller territories than males.

Now Debbie did have a second part to her questions: "Do alligators tolerate overlapping, or is that seasonal, like times when they are mating, or food is scarce?" However, that question will have to wait for a future post as that starts to get a bit more complicated, but if you look closely at our maps, you may begin to see some answers to that question.

Hello everyone and welcome back to another 🐍! We have just closed out July, and now is the time when we are starting to see some of the new juveniles come from the first rounds of mating that occur in the spring. Both babies of oviparous (egg-laying) and viviparous (live-birth) species of snakes will be more frequent in the coming couple of months. That being said, it is important to be able to identify these new snakes. In some species, the young can sometimes look very different from their adult forms.

One notable example is one of our more recognizable species here in the South, the North American Racer (Coluber constrictor). Often sighted as a fast black streak slithering through the grass, the adult form of this species is typically black in color with a lighter shading on the underside of their chin. The juvenile of this species vastly differs in appearance. They are gray or lighter in color with light brown blotches running along the dorsal side of the body. At first glance, you may think that it was an entirely different species. Now you may be wondering why they look completely different and it is actually quite simple. These patterns allow them to be camouflaged until they reach a large enough size to be able to escape using their speed. Eventually, the patterns and coloration will change and the juvenile will develop the adult color scheme.

North American Racers have used these unique adaptations to allow for higher success of their offspring and survival of their species. Pictured below is a comparison between the adult form and juvenile form. This is yet another example of how nature can be ingenious with it's creativity.

📷 Photos by:
bonesigh (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/384588123)
lminicuci93 (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/384798714)

We have a couple of positions open for our gopher tortoise project!

We have opportunities for a seasonal technician (6-8 mos) and a permanent staff (min 1 yr commitment requested) positions. Both will be working on our gopher tortoise survey crew. Their time will focus on fieldwork, specifically conducting surveys that will include walking transects to identify burrows and other surface-active wildlife, followed by scoping all underground refugia with burrow cameras. Surveys will occur during the winter in accordance with peak indigo snake season and will frequently involve staying overnight in hotels. This position will work in a variety of habitat types, including but not limited to sandhills, forests, and agricultural fields. In addition to fieldwork, they will also participate in data management and GIS mapping. They will be based in Brunswick, GA at the Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant station.

The staff position will additionally serve as a field crew lead on surveys and take part in some of our research on tortoises and habitat management. They additionally will have opportunities for data analysis and publications.

Staff (Sep, min 1 yr requested): https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/496419

Seasonal Tech (~Sep-Apr): https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/488743

Applications must be submitted via the UGA website to be considered. Interested candidates can apply for either or both positions.

Hello everyone! Today’s post is all about a small yet surprisingly agile frog known as the Southern Cricket Frog (Acris gryllus).

This little frog grows up to 1.4 inches (3.5cm) at maturity, with females being on the slightly larger end. Their skin is warty and variable in coloration, being green to black with reds and many other colors present. Their hind limbs are long, and their feet lack toepads. A dorsal stripe is often present, broken up by a triangular pattern between the eyes. While very similar in appearance to the northern cricket frog, they can be distinguished by range and a few key characteristics. The southern cricket frog’s call is slower in comparison to the northern cricket frog's. Both species have thigh stripes, but the southern cricket frogs are straight, smooth-edged, and bordered by a light stripe. The northern cricket frog's leg stripes are jagged and irregular.

Though their body plan looks similar to some treefrogs at first glance, you will not find them in trees or on the sides of vertical structures. They are not arboreal, rarely climbing. Southern cricket frogs prefer moist habitats with an abundance of vegetation for cover. They are usually found in and around shallow ponds, ditches, and slow-moving streams. The southern cricket frog's call is described as a rapid clicking akin to that of a cricket or marbles slamming together. During breeding season (spring-summer), males will defend their calling grounds, though in a less aggressive manner than their northern counterparts. An incredible feat of this little frog is its ability to jump. The southern cricket frog's jumping ability can be up to 60x its body length. That would be like a person jumping over a high-rise building!

As of writing this post, the southern cricket frog is considered widespread and abundant throughout their range, possessing no federal protections or significant conservation concerns.



Photo 1 by “tysmith” CC-BY-NC, iNaturalist [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/360869463]
Photo 2 by “andreaeld” CC-BY-NC, iNaturalist [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/348972485]
Photo 3 by “animalsaremyjam” CC-BY-NC, iNaturalist [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/348947683]

Happy Monday!

We love sharing information about alligators and the research we're conducting with our wonderful community, but we want to ensure we're discussing topics that interest you all. So, let us know in the comments below: What questions do you have about alligators? What topics do you want to learn more about? These can be about anything alligator-related, from what they eat and how they swim to how to keep your pets safe. Depending on the question, we may answer it in the comments or create a future post about it if it requires a more in-depth discussion. We look forward to hearing what you guys want to learn more about!

🚨 🚨There are few sights that capture the feeling of a southern summer quite like a field filled with the flashing lights of fireflies after a sunset. While many species produce their own unique light displays, one of the most familiar across the eastern United States is the Big Dipper Firefly (Photinus pyralis).

Found throughout most of eastern North America, the Big Dipper Firefly gets its name from the distinctive J-shaped flash pattern males produce as they fly about. At dusk, males cruise low over fields, forest edges, and backyards, tracing a glowing arc through the air while searching for females waiting in nearby vegetation.

Their display isn’t just for show, it’s a carefully evolved form of communication. Each firefly species has its own unique flash pattern, allowing males and females to recognize members of their own species in the darkness. Females will respond with their own flashes at precisely timed intervals, guiding interested males to their location.

The light itself is produced through a chemical reaction called bioluminescence, where a molecule known as luciferin reacts with oxygen in the presence of the enzyme luciferase. Unlike a light bulb, nearly all of the energy from this reaction is released as light instead of heat, making it one of nature’s most efficient forms of illumination.

While adults spend warm summer evenings searching for mates, their larvae live hidden beneath leaf litter and in moist soil, where they prey on snails, slugs, and other small invertebrates. These predatory larvae help regulate populations of soft bodied garden pests long before they ever take to the skies as growing adults.

Unfortunately, many firefly populations have declined due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and increasing light pollution. Artificial lights can interfere with their flashing signals, making it more difficult for males and females to find one another and reproduce successfully.

So next time you find yourself outside on a warm summer evening, take a moment to watch the glowing arcs drifting through the darkness, you might just be witnessing one of nature’s most remarkable courtship displays.

📷:Common Eastern Firefly by iNaturalist user “kimh1”
(https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/173920616)

📷:Common Eastern Firefly by iNaturalist user “xpda”
(https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/135188021)

📷:Common Eastern Firefly by iNaturalist user “woolcarderbee”
(https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/252672666)

We got it! Such a huge deal for such a special place! Thank you to everyone who has been supporting the !! ❤🐊

After 44 years, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has been inscribed as the 27th World Heritage Site in the United States! 💫

✅ the very first ever managed by the National Wildlife Refuge System
✅ the first in the state of Georgia
✅ the second in Florida

It is the first natural site added to the U.S. list in more than 30 years.

This is an incredible moment, only made possible because of you believing it was possible. To our partners, our investors, our community, and the incredible staff who steward this refuge every day, thank you for walking this 44-year journey with us.

The Okefenokee is home to 1200+ unique species of plants and animals, and the largest remaining undisturbed peat deposit on the North American Coastal Plain. It is truly a place unlike anywhere else on Earth, and is now recognized as one of the world's most treasured landscapes.

We cannot wait to welcome you here. Come experience the wonder of the Okefenokee for yourself. 🌿🐊🛶

Grad students: we have a new state fellowship opportunity! 🦪

Applications are now open for the Oyster Outreach Fellowship, a unique opportunity to lead coastal conservation, education, and community engagement along the Georgia coast. Led by ECO in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and our UGA Shellfish Research Lab and Oyster Hatchery, this fellow will play a key role in advancing the Georgia Oyster Resiliency Initiative.

The primary focus of this role is education and outreach, connecting with K through 12 students to highlight the many job opportunities on our working waterfronts through hands-on exposure to oyster fisheries and restoration work. Beyond the classroom, this fellow will drive community engagement throughout the coastal Georgia region by working closely with potential growers, consumers, and the seafood industry, including local restaurants, to ensure that scientific knowledge translates into sustainable growth and healthy coastal ecosystems.

If you are passionate about marine science, environmental education, and community-driven impact, we invite you to apply for this position by August 16, 2026. You can learn more about the Oyster Outreach Fellowship and submit your application at https://bit.ly/4ynreVP