Tennessee Herpetological Society • c/o ETSU Department of Biological Sciences • Johnson City, TN 37614 USA
Office: (423) 439-8459• Web: http://www.tnherpsociety.org/• E-mail: Laughlin@etsu.edu
NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 13, 2010
First-ever Chadwick Lewis Memorial Grants announced
by Tennessee Herpetological Society
The Tennessee Herpetological Society (THS) is pleased to announce that recipients of the first-ever Chadwick Lewis Memorial Grant in herpetology are Nathan Haislip (University of Tennessee – Knoxville) and Chris O’Bryan (Austin Peay State University). Haislip, under the direction of Dr. Matthew J. Gray of the UT Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries, recently completed a laboratory study of environmental stressors and their effects on the susceptibility of amphibian larvae to the widespread pathogen, Ranavirus. O’Bryan, currently under the direction of Dr. Floyd Scott of the APSU Department of Biology, is investigating the in situ presence of Ranavirus in amphibian populations in West Tennessee. Both studies are key to our understanding the potential impact this group of pathogens may have to amphibian populations in Tennessee.
In recognition of their outstanding research on amphibian diseases, each student’s sponsoring program has been awarded $500 to assist their work. The THS is pleased to support the UT Center for Wildlife Health and the APSU Department of Biology in these efforts.
“I am greatly appreciative and truly honored to receive the Chad Lewis Scholarship award. The Tennessee Herp Society and its members have played a huge part in helping me to become the herpetologist that I am. I cherish the friends and mentors I have gained through the society and hope to instill Chad Lewis' personality, spirit, and enthusiasm with my actions and deeds. Thank you all for the lessons learned, the memories shared, and the experiences gained.”
Nathan Haislip
Fort Worth Zoo
“Through support for research by undergraduate and graduate students in herpetology in Tennessee, the Chad Lewis family and the Tennessee Herpetology Society are helping train the scientists that will be needed in the coming years to meet the challenges stemming from multiple threats to our native herpetofauna. The generous grant awarded Austin Peay undergraduate Chris O’Bryan will help support his attempt to document Ranavirus in populations of amphibians in West Tennessee, an area where tests have yet to be done.”
A. Floyd Scott, PhD
Department of Biology and Center of Excellence for Field Biology
Austin Peay State University
“Many thanks to both the Tennessee Herpetological Society and the Lewis family for their generous support of herpetological research in Tennessee. The grant awarded me will help reveal the status of Ranavirus and its impact on amphibian populations in West Tennessee. It will also aid in developing techniques for future management and conservation of species at-risk to this unrelenting pathogen.”
Chris J. O'Bryan
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Department of Biology and Center of Excellence for Field Biology
Austin Peay State University
The Chadwick Lewis Memorial Grant was established in honor of its namesake following his untimely passing in 1995. Chad earned his undergraduate degree in biology from East Tennessee State University and was pursuing his master’s degree in biology under the direction of Professor O. Ray Jordan at Tennessee Technological University at the time of his death. His primary love was for Appalachian salamanders and he spent countless hours documenting their populations across his favorite landscape- Unaka Mountain in Unicoi County.
The grant was created to honor his memory and to promote herpetological studies across Tennessee. Contributions to the fund have been made annually during the regular THS member meeting, primarily from the spirited auction held each year. Chad’s father, Charlie Lewis of Erwin, Tennessee, has contributed significant monies to the fund. This year’s award represents the culmination of 15 years of fund development, and the first opportunity the THS has had to appropriate grant monies for herpetological research. We know Chad would be quite pleased to see that they will be used for such worthy study.
The Tennessee Herpetological Society (THS) is a not for profit organization dedicated to promoting the study and conservation of reptiles and amphibians worldwide, but particularly within Tennessee. The THS was established at the 5th Annual Conference on Herpetology in Tennessee in October of 2000. Loosely organized as a group since 1992, conference attendees decided to establish an official organization to promote research, conservation, and education regarding reptiles and amphibians. In 1995 conference members worked hard to pass state legislation naming the Tennessee cave salamander (Gyrinophilus palleucus) as our official State Amphibian, and the eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) as our official State Reptile.
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For more information about the Chadwick Lewis Memorial Grant please contact Pete Wyatt of the TWRA at 423-522-2451 (pete.wyatt@tn.gov). For general information about the Tennessee Herpetological Society please contact THS President Brian Butterfield at 800-FHU-FHU-1 x6954 (bbutterfield@FHU.EDU). For information about the annual meeting contact THS Secretary Kevin Hamed at 276-739-2431 (khamed@vhcc.edu).