SWOSU Students Study Wildlife Alongside Researchers at Beavers Bend

SWOSU students take a break after a long hike searching for reptiles and amphibians.

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) students put classroom lessons into practice during two recent field trips to Beavers Bend State Park. Working alongside faculty and researchers, students studied amphibians and reptiles in their natural habitats and learned methods for identifying species, recording observations and preparing specimens for natural history collections.

Students enrolled in SWOSU's Herpetology course attended the first trip Sept. 18-20. Dr. Renan Bosque, assistant professor in the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences and curator of the SWOSU Natural History Museum, organized and led the herpetology field activities. Dr. Marcella G. Santos of SWOSU and Dr. Stuart Nielsen of Louisiana State University (LSU) also accompanied the students and helped guide their work.

The second trip, Oct. 2-4, brought Herpetology students and additional SWOSU students to BioBlitz at Beavers Bend. They worked alongside researchers, naturalists and other participants to document the region's biodiversity. Students met specialists studying different groups of organisms and discussed field methods, species identification and research in ecology, natural history and conservation.

SWOSU herpetology students prepare for a nighttime search for reptiles and amphibians at Beavers Bend State Park. From left to right: Dr. Renan Bosque, Austin Buchanan, Camile Crossland, Mckaegan Gregory, Kenzi Nix, Grant Conley, Madi Crisp, Darby Elmore, Kim Harris, Wake Frymire, Leo Lora, Erica Kline, Dr. Stuart Nielsen.

Camille holds a salamander she found at Beavers Bend State Park.

Dr. Stuart Nielsen of LSU shows SWOSU students a skink he found in the field.

During these trips, students conducted daytime and nighttime surveys to locate amphibians and reptiles and document their habitats. They searched for and collected animals, identified species and recorded field observations using techniques introduced in class. Their training also included the preparation and documentation of specimens for natural history collections.

At BioBlitz, Dr. Rickey Cothran, professor in SWOSU's Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, led an aquatic invertebrate activity. Students sampled aquatic habitats and learned about the diversity of organisms living in streams and other freshwater environments. The activity gave them additional experience in field sampling and species identification while examining connections between aquatic and terrestrial life.

Dr. Bosque points out a cottonmouth along a creek at Beavers Bend State Park.

SWOSU students search for reptiles and amphibians during a night hike.

Field experiences are an important part of SWOSU's Herpetology course. The specimens, observations and information gathered during the trips also support the SWOSU Natural History Museum, whose collections are used for student training, scientific research and documentation of Oklahoma's biodiversity.

For more information about SWOSU's Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, visit swosu.edu/biological-sciences.

About Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves more than 5,000 students and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.

For more information about Southwestern Oklahoma State University, visit www.swosu.edu.