C.V.

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CHARLES F. SMITH

DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
STORRS, CT 06268
CHARLES.SMITH@UCONN.EDU
(alternate: smithcf@hotmail.com)
860-486-4158/508-450-8216

EDUCATION

THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT Storrs, CT

Ph.D., May 5, 2007, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Graduate GPA: 3.972

DISSERTATION TITLE: Sexual dimorphism, and the spatial and reproductive ecology of the northern copperhead snake, Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen

THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA Columbia, SC

Bachelor of Science, December 1997, Biology
Major GPA: 4.0, Overall GPA: 3.989
Magna cum laude


RESEARCH INTERESTS

Ecology, animal behavior; herpetology; influence of habitat structure and phylogenetic history on spatial and temporal behavioral and reproductive patterns.


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

5/2008 to 10/2009 THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT Storrs, CT
Project Director, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and the University of Connecticut, Center for Conservation and Biodiversity

Project title: Population status, movements and habitat use of timber rattlesnakes in the southern portion of Meshomasic State Forest and surrounding private land.


8/2007 to present THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT & BERKSHIRE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Storrs, CT & Pittsfield, MA
Research Associate, Western Massachusetts Rare Snake Conservation Initiative


5/08 to 7/08 THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT Storrs, CT
Academic Advisor, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences


8/07 to present THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT Storrs, CT
Assistant Professor-In-Residence

Courses (Summer Session I)

  • Biology of the Vertebrates (EEB 2214).


Courses (Spring 2008):

  • Topics in Modern Biology (EEB 196 honors)
  • Writing in Ecology (EEB 244W)
  • Introductory Biology (BIOL 108)


Courses (Fall 2007)

  • Biology of the Vertebrates (EEB 214)
  • Introductory Biology (BIOL 108)


5/07 to 7/07 THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT Storrs, CT
Academic Advisor, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences


9/98 to 5/07 THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT Storrs, CT
Ph.D. Candidate

My dissertation research involved an intensive three-year field and laboratory study examining mating system evolution in the copperhead snake, Agkistrodon contortrix. The project included extensive work with radio-telemetry and GPS/GIS as well as processing of endocrinological and DNA samples obtained in the field. Immunocytochemistry and standard light histology were also used to gather preliminary data on seasonal brain steroid receptor densities in males and females, and to document seasonal gonad and sexual segment of the kidney (SSK) cycles. Several hundred individual snakes were included in this study which represents the largest multi-disciplinary study of this species to date.


9/98 to 12/02 THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT Storrs, CT
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow


6/05 to 8/05 BELIZE FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Punta Gorda, C.A.
Acting Managing Director


2/02 to 5/07 THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT Storrs, CT
Lecturer/Laboratory Instructor/ Teaching Assistant


9/05 to 12/05 THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT Waterbury, CT
Lecture Assistant


9/97-4/98 THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA ROTC PROGRAM Columbia, SC
Tutor


1/98-4/98 THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA Columbia, SC
Research Specialist


1/98-4/98 THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA Columbia, SC
Laboratory Lecturer


8/97 - 12/97 THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA Columbia, SC
Laboratory Lecturer


8/97-12/97 THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA Columbia, SC
Research Associate


6/95 - 7/95 AMERICAN MUSEUM NATURAL HISTORY SOUTHWESTERN RESEARCH STATION Portal, AZ
Researcher


6/94 - 7/94 AMERICAN MUSEUM NATURAL HISTORY SOUTHWESTERN RESEARCH STATION Portal, AZ
Researcher


9/93 - 12/93 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE MUSEUM Columbia, SC
Research Intern


11/91 - 1/93 ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM Tucson, AZ
Herpetologist


3/89 - 11/91 RIVERBANKS ZOOLOGICAL PARK AND BOTANICAL GARDENS Columbia, SC
Senior Herpetologist


11/85 - 3/89 BUFFALO ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS Buffalo, NY
Herpetologist


2/84 - 11/85 NEW ENGLAND SCIENCE MUSEUM Worcester, MA
Zookeeper


2/84 – 11/85 NEW ENGLAND SCIENCE MUSEUM Worcester MA
I.S.I.S (International Species Inventory System) representative


5/81 - 2/84 MASON RESEARCH INSTITUTE Worcester, MA
Animal Caretaker II


4/79 - 5/81 WORCESTER ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE Worcester, MA
Supervisor


HONORS

• University of Connecticut Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Award for Outstanding Graduate Teaching in Biology 2005-2006
• National Science Foundation Predoctoral Research Fellowship
• University of Connecticut Graduate Incentive Scholarship, September 1998
• Henri Siebert Award, Honorable Mention, for outstanding student paper, Joint Herpetological Meeting (SSAR/HL), Kansas City, MO
• T.O.A.S.T. Student Achievement Award, The University of South Carolina, March 1997
• South Carolina Wildlife Federation Scholarship, April 1997
• University of South Carolina Graduate Incentive Scholarship, Chronobiology Laboratory, Summer 1997
• National Science Foundation R.E.U. Supplement, The University of South Carolina
• KPMG Peat Marwick Scholar's Award (Outstanding Senior), Golden Key National Honor Society, 1996
• A.C. Moore Department of Biology Scholarship, The University of South Carolina, 1996
• Nominated Participant, Leadership Carolina, The University of South Carolina, 1996
• Howard Hughes Research Fellowship, The University of South Carolina, 1996
• Barnard Baruch Scholarship, The University of South Carolina, 1995, 1996, 1997
• The University of South Carolina Adult Continuing Education Scholarship, 1993
• Nominated to Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, 1996, 1997
• National Dean's List, The University of South Carolina, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
• President's Honor Roll (4.0 G.P.A.), The University of South Carolina, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
• Member, Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society
• Gamma Beta Phi National Honor Society
• Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society
• Golden Key National Honor Society
• Excellence in Journalism Award, AAZK, 1994, 1995



RESEARCH FUNDING

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection $70,000
National Science Foundation $75,000
National Science Foundation Supplement $10,000
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection $5,000
Howard Hughes Fellowship $3,000
American Wildlife Foundation $1,000
Sigma Xi $1,000
Barnard Baruch Fund $600
University of Connecticut Wetzel Fund $500


PEER REVIEW

Journal of Herpetology
Copeia
Journal of Experimental Zoology
Bioscience
Herpetological Biology and Conservation


COMMITTEES

Introductory biology textbook selection committee

Faculty Advisor: University of Connecticut Undergraduate Biology Organization


RECENT SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Smith, C.F., K. Schwenk, G.W. Schuett, and R. Early (2008). Sexual dimorphism of the tongue in a North American pitviper. Journal of Zoology 274:367-374.

_________., G.W. Schuett, R. L. Earley, and K. Schwenk. (in review). The spatial and reproductive ecology of the copperhead snake, Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen, at the northeastern extreme of its range. Herpetol. Monogr.

_________, G.W. Schuett, and K. Schwenk. (submitted). Plasma sex steroids and mating season in wild-living copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) at the northeastern extreme of their range . Gen. Comp. Endocrin.

_________, K. Schwenk, G.W. Schuett, E. Van Kirk, and R. Early (in prep). Hormone cycles in gravid and non-gravid female northern copperhead snakes, Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen, in nature.

_________, G.W. Schuett, and K. Schwenk. (in prep). Determinants of male mating success in the North American pitviper, Agkistrodon contortrix.

_________ and K. Schwenk. (in review). Evaluation of Thermochron iButtons™ for monitoring over-winter body temperatures in free-ranging snakes. Copeia.


OLDER SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND NOTES

Smith, C.F..1997. A preliminary herpetological inventory of the Tillman Sand Ridge Heritage Preserve, Tillman, South Carolina. J. Northern Ohio Assoc. Herp. 17:2-15.

_________. 1997. Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix (southern copperhead) Diet. Herpetol. Rev. 28(3):53.

_________. 1997. A population of albinistic Thamnophis sirtalis from Lucas County, Ohio. Bull. Maryland Herp. Soc. 33(2):68.

_________. 1994. A behavior resembling “death-feigning’ in the slender glass lizard, Ophisaurus longicaudus. Bull. Maryland. Herp. Soc. 30(2):107.

_________. 1994. Fish tags for observing free-ranging rattlesnakes. Herpetol. Rev. 25(2):58.

_________. 1994. Geographic Distribution. Crotalus adamanteus. Herpetol. Rev. 25(4):166.

_________. 1993. Crotalus adamanteus Behavior. Herpetol. Rev. 23(4):118.

_________. 1993. Reptiles and amphibians found on the Tillman Sand Ridge Heritage Preserve, Jasper County, South Carolina. South Carolina Dept. Wild. Marine Res. Pub.

_________. 1993. Checklist of South Carolina Amphibians and Reptiles. Privately published, 12 pp.

_________. 1992. Literature of the International Zoo Yearbook, Vol. 19-29 (1979- 1990). Herpetol. Rev.

_________. 1992. An albino Thamnophis sirtalis from Fairfield County, South Carolina. Bull. Maryland. Herp. Soc. 28(2):65-66

_________. 1992. Rattle length in Crotalus horridus atricaudatus. Bull. Maryland Herp. Soc. 28(5):77.

_________. 1991. An aberrantly marked Farancia abacura from South Carolina. Bull. Maryland Herp. Soc. 27(4):219-200.

_________. and C.S. Pfaff. 1990. An amelanistic partial albino Crotalus horridus, timber rattlesnake, from South Carolina. Bull. Maryland Herp. Soc. 26(2):72.

_________. and F.L. Paine. 1989. A system for rearing tadpoles at the Buffalo Zoological Gardens. Int. Zoo Yb. Vol. 28:58-59.

Crawshaw, G., B. Johnson, R. Lacy, F.L. Paine, C.F. Smith, and P.J. Tolson. 1989. Status of the Puerto Rican Crested Toad, Peltophryne lemur. Int. Zoo Yb. Vol. 28:53-58.

_________. and F.L. Paine. 1987. Amphibian habitat design and management at the Buffalo Zoological Gardens. AAZPA Reg. Conf. Proc., pp. 73-81.

_________. and G.M. Mastrovito. 1987. Fauna of the Tillman Sand Ridge Heritage Preserve. Part 1: Reptiles and Amphibians. Privately published, 25 pp.


PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS

Smith, C.F. 2007. The spatial and reproductive biology of the copperhead snake. Northeast Conference on Snake Biology. The University of Massachusetts, November 30-Dec 1.

_________. 2002. Sexual Dimorphism in the Lingual Structure of Copperhead Snakes. 2002 Joint Herpetological Meeting (SSAR/HL), Kansas City, MO.


PUBLISHED SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATIONS

Smith, C.F. 1997. Illustrations: Crotalus willardii. 1997 North American Ridgenose Rattlesnake Studbook. J. Perry, ed. Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

_________. 1995. Illustrations: Heloderma horridum. 1995 North American Beaded Lizard Studbook. J. Perry-Richardson and C. Ivanyi, eds. Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona.

_________. 1994. Illustration: Dipsosaurus dorsalis. USA; Arizona; Pima County. Herpetol. Rev. 25(2):43.

_________. 1993. Illustration: Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix. USA; South Carolina; Jasper County. Herpetol. Rev. 24(3):93.

_________. 1993. Illustration: Crotalus scutulatus. USA; Arizona; Pima County. Herpetol. Rev. 24(4):124.

_________. 1993. Illustration: Phrynosoma solare. USA; Arizona; Pima County. Herpetol. Rev. 24(4):156.


POPULAR AND GENERAL ARTICLES ABOUT HERPETOLOGY (AND SOME REALLY OLD NOTES)

Smith, C.F. 1996. Serpent, heal thyself. J. Northern Ohio Assoc. Herp.

_________. 1995. The “Swamp Road.” Reptile & Amphibian Magazine, June 1995.

_________. 1995. A lightweight, easily disinfected shift box for venomous snakes. AAZK Keepers Forum 22(4):144-145.

_________. 1995. Techniques for creating artificial rockwork. AAZK Keepers Forum 22(12):489-492.

_________. 1995. Book Review: Geckoes: Biology, Husbandry, and Reproduction. Henkel/Schmidt. AAZK Keepers Forum.

_________. 1995. Construction of small fiberglass exhibits for reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. AAZK Keepers Forum.22(2)54-57.

_________. 1995. An update on Okeetee and Sun City East. J. Northern Ohio Assoc. Herp. 12(3):2-3.

_________. 1995. King’s stump. J. Northern Ohio Assoc. Herp. 23(2):6-11

_________. 1994. Care of the desert tortoise. Bull. Assoc. Rep. Amphib. Vet. 4(1):12-15.

_________. 1994. Thoughts on housing amphibians, incubating snake eggs, and inducing captive snakes to feed voluntarily. Captive Breeding Magazine, vol. 2, no. 3.

_________. 1994. The hognose of Sulfur Springs. J. Northern Ohio Assoc. Herp. 21(6):2-6.

_________. 1994. Life and death of Okeetee. J. Northern Ohio Assoc. Herp. 21(5):15-16.

_________. 1993. Inducing ball pythons to feed. Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 28(6):129.

_________. and K. Winton. 1993. Captive husbandry and reproduction of the rosy boa, Lichanura trivirgata trivirgata, at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Captive Breeding Magazine, vol. 1, no. 3.

Smith, G.M. and C.F. Smith. 1993. Silent spring? The dramatic decline of amphibians. Carolina Herp. 1(3):6-9.

_________. 1993. An inexpensive simulated thundershower for small enclosures. AAZK Keeper Forum 20(9):322-323.

_________. 1993. Carolina’s “little cobra.” Carolina Herp. 1(3):1-2.

_________. 1992. South Carolina’s Venomous Snakes. Riverbanks Magazine, Spring 1992, pp.16-19

_________. 1991. Reproduction of Masticophis flagellum at the Riverbanks Zoo. South Carolina Herp. Soc. 1(1):1-7.

_________. 1991. What I did on my Autumn vacation: an Australian adventure. South Carolina Herp. Soc.

_________. 1990. In search of the Pine Barrens Tree Frog. Riverbanks Magazine. September/October, pp. 10-13.

_________. 1990. Record rattle? South Carolina Herp. Soc. 1(3):2.

_________. 1990. An aberrantly patterned Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix from South Carolina. South Carolina Herp. Soc. 1(3):2.

_________. 1990. The Riverbanks Zoo reptile house. South Carolina Herp. Soc. 1(1):2-4.

_________. and L. Radford. 1989. Cannibalism in the Colombian rattlesnake, Crotalus durissus cumanensis. J. Northern Ohio Assoc. Herp. 15(1):34.

_________. and F.L. Paine. 1988. Courtship and copulation in captive West African Gaboon Vipers, Bitis gabonica rhinoceros. J. Northern Ohio Assoc. Herp. 14(1):1-7.

_________. 1985. Treatment of mouth rot in Python molurus bivittas. AAZK Keepers Forum. January 1985, pp. 14.

_________. 1985. Notes on a method for mounting snake skins. AAZK Keepers Forum. December 1985.

_________. 1983. Treatment of an abscess in Boa constrictor. J. Northern Ohio Assoc. Herp. 10(7):7.

_________. 1984. Notes on a cage for small snakes. J. Northern Ohio Assoc. Herp. 12(3):13.

_________. 1979. Notes on the shedding of an Agkistrodon contortrix. J. Northern Ohio Assoc. Herp. 6(11):4.


RECENT POPULAR ARTICLES ABOUT MY WORK

Faculty Profile. Connecticut State Museum of Natural History Bulletin, Summer 2008

Tracking copperheads through Connecticut, by Gary Frank, Traditions Magazine, March 2007.

Copperheads captivate biology researcher, by Karen McCormick, University of Connecticut College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Profiles, Spring 2007.

Snakes on the Brain, by Steve Grant, The Hartford Courant, December 3, 2006

Learning More About the Copperhead Snake, by Steven Berube, Connecticut Wildlife, January/February, 2003.


MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

Rattlers, Peepers, and Snappers; Discovering New England's Amphibians & Reptiles (DVD), Peregrine Productions, Waterbury, VT. released June 2008.

KAST (Kids Are Scientists Too) Instructor, Biodiversity Module. July 2008.

Kids learn about biodiversity in new summer science module. University of Connecticut Advance, Vol 26, No. 34, July 21, 2008

Kids Examine Local Diversity. The Broadcaster. July 25, 2008

Kettlebottom Outdoor Pursuits. New England Sports Network segment on snake biology.



RECENT PRESENTATIONS

The spatial and reproductive ecology of the copperhead at the northern extreme of its range. Cornell University, May 5, 2008

Reproductive ecology of the copperhead snake. University of Connecticut Undergraduate Biology Organization. March 6, 2008

Biology of the copperhead snake at the northern extreme of its range. Connecticut Audubon Society. March 5, 2008

The spatial and reproductive biology of the copperhead snake. Northeast Conference on Snake Biology. The University of Massachusetts, November 30-Dec 1

The Copperhead Snake in Connecticut: A Species at the Northern Extreme of it’s Range. September 23, 2007. Connecticut Museum of Natural History Lecture Series. University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT

The spatial and reproductive ecology of the copperhead snake. Departmental Seminar. April 27, 2006. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT

Analyzing the spatial ecology of snakes using radio-telemetry. September 2005. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT

Sexual Dimorphism in the Lingual Structure of Copperhead Snakes. 2002 Joint Herpetological Meeting (SSAR/HL), Kansas City, MO