Raymond Semlitsch: saving salamanders and raising awareness
by Kyla Berendzen, posted Oct. 23, 2008
With registration approaching for the spring 2009 semester, many students, especially those in the School of Natural Resources, may be interested to know that professor Raymond Semlitsch will be co-teaching the popular MU herpetology course along with professor Howard Gerhardt.
The herpetology course is only offered every other spring semester, so this is an opportunity to jump on, especially when considering the enthusiasm and experience of professor Semlitsch.
Semlitsch, a biologist who runs an amphibian research lab at MU, loves his job and passes on that enthusiasm to his students.
“I love coming into work every day and finding new things about amphibians,” Semlitsch said.
His passion for these animals is obvious from his office in 212 Tucker Hall. The colorful amphibian posters and wetland maps that cover the walls, the amphibian tracking equipment on the cabinets, and the salamanders in a box under his desk all show his interest in amphibians and his passion for conserving them.
Semlitsch’s research focuses on amphibian responses to altered habitat and ways to conserve and manage amphibians and their habitat. The research that he and his lab of graduate students have conducted has led to some important findings that have earned recognition, especially after he won the National Wetlands Award in May. Their award-winning work recognized the importance of the terrestrial as well as aquatic habitat that amphibians are dependent upon, according to the National Wetlands Awards Web site.
“The protection of the terrestrial habitat surrounding wetlands has been some of our most important work,” Semlitsch said. “Since most research is done on the aquatic stage of amphibians, our work on the terrestrial environment is going to be critical to reverse amphibian population decline.” Semlitsch is currently working on four different amphibian research projects. The LEAP, Land-use Effects on Amphibian Populations, project explores how land alteration, such as logging, affects amphibian population dynamics. His three other projects investigate the effects of riparian buffers, vegetation “filter” zones designed to keep pollutants out of rivers, on stream salamanders; the impacts of agricultural runoff on amphibian growth and population dynamics; and the effectiveness of small, man-made wetlands.
Research for these projects often involves collecting amphibians from traps, wading in streams, or going out after or during a rain to catch them. This can be wet, muddy and hands-on work, something that potential spring 2009 herpetology students should note because they would participate in some of this as well. However, Semlitsch said he enjoys this aspect of his career.
“I grew up in rural, upstate New York and spent my childhood outdoors hunting and fishing,” he said. “Though I started out as an art major, I realized that I had a passion for being outdoors and became a biology major.”
Semlitsch has been working at MU since 1993, and he teaches some graduate classes as well as co-teaches the MU herpetology class. He also works closely with graduate students in his lab and helps them with their graduate studies.
“Dr. Semlitsch helps mostly with ideas, experimental design and the publication process,” said Julia Earl, a graduate student who is working on the LEAP project as she earns her doctorate in biology. “He's almost always around for help; leaving his door open for whenever I or other graduate students need to talk.”
Semlitsch is passing on his enthusiasm for his work to his students, and he has the experience to help any dedicated student get to know reptiles and especially amphibians. His students undoubtedly get a dose of his devotion to conservation as well.
“Dr. Semlitsch is very passionate about amphibian conservation,” Earl said. “He, and the whole lab, hope that our research helps land managers make important decisions that affect amphibians every day.”
The spring 2009 herpetology class could be the perfect opportunity for an interested student to learn about reptiles and amphibians and to experience Semlitsch’s enthusiasm and devotion to conservation.
