Jackie Litzgus completed her Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology from the University of South Carolina in 2003. While a Ph.D. student and briefly as a post-doc, Jackie conducted research in the Hopkins’ laboratory as a Visiting Research Fellow. She is currently a full Professor at Laurentian University (Canada).

Jackie is interested in geographic variation in the life history, demographics, and behavior of long lived ectotherms, particularly freshwater turtles. She has been studying spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata) from two populations at opposite extremes of the species’ distribution, Ontario and South Carolina, to test hypotheses related to adaptive variation in body size and reproductive output. She is also interested in geographic variation in seasonal activity patterns, habitat and temperature selection, and home range size as they relate to management plans designed to conserve populations of turtles.

While working in the Hopkins lab she pursued questions related to the physiological basis for some of the behaviors of spotted turtles, particularly summer dormancy. Her work focused on the effects of temperature on metabolic rate in the spotted turtle and mud turtle.

Website

jlitzgus

Representative Publications

Colley, M.*, S. Lougheed, K. Otterbein, and J.D. Litzgus. 2016. Nerodia sipedon sipedon (Northern Watersnake). Reproduction / Arboreal mating. Herpetological Review 47(1): 149-150.

Hughes, G.H.*, L. Monck-Whipp, and J.D. Litzgus. 2016. Glyptemys insculpta (Wood Turtle). Potential anting behavior. Herpetological Review 47(3): 445-446.

Laverty, J.F.*, B. Korol, and J.D. Litzgus. 2016. Measuring the effects of water-based recreation on the spatial ecology of Eastern Musk Turtles (Sternotherus odoratus) in a Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada. Copeia 104(2): 440-447 (doi: 10.1643/CE-15-284).

Baxter-Gilbert*, J.H., J.L. Riley*, D. Lesbarrères, and J.D. Litzgus. 2015. Mitigating reptile road mortality: Fence failures compromise ecopassage effectiveness. PLoS ONE (doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120537).

Baxter-Gilbert*, J.H., J.L. Riley*, C.J.H. Neufeld*, J.D. Litzgus, and D. Lesbarrères. 2015. Road mortality responsible for billions of pollinating insect deaths annually. Journal of Insect Conservation 19(5): 1029-1035 (doi: 10.1007/s10841-015-9808-z).

Riley, J.L.*, S. Freedberg, and J.D. Litzgus. 2014. Incubation temperature influences hatchling phenotype of two freshwater turtle species in the wild. Evolutionary Ecology Research 16: 397-416.

Yagi, K.T. and J.D. Litzgus. 2012. The effects of flooding on the spatial ecology of Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata) in a partially-mined peatland. Copeia 2012(2): 179-190.

Paterson, J.E., B. Steinberg, and J.D. Litzgus. 2012. Generally specialized or especially general? Habitat selection by Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) in central Ontario. Canadian Journal of Zoology 90: 139-149.

Paterson, J.E., M. McDermott, B. Steinberg, and J.D. Litzgus. 2011. Emydoidea blandingii (Blanding’s Turtle). Hatchling behaviour. Herpetological Review 42(3): 418-419.

Riley, J.L., M. Keevil, P. Moldowan, and J.D. Litzgus. 2011. Emydoidea blandingii (Blanding’s Turtle). New largest egg size. Herpetological Review 42(3): 417-418.
Bennett, A.M., M. Keevil, and J.D. Litzgus. 2010. Spatial ecology and population genetics of Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica) in fragmented and continuous habitats in Canada. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 9(2): 185-195.

Edge, C.B., B.D. Steinberg, R.J. Brooks, and J.D. Litzgus. 2010. Habitat selection by Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) in a relatively pristine landscape. Écoscience 17(1): 90-99.

Litzgus, J.D. and S.E. Smith. 2010. Geographic variation in sexual size dimorphism in Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta). Journal of Herpetology 44(2): 321-327.

Rasmussen, M.L. and J.D. Litzgus. 2010. Patterns of maternal investment in spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata): Implications of trade-offs, scales of analyses, and incubation substrates. Écoscience 17(1): 47-58.

Rasmussen, M.L. and J.D. Litzgus. 2010. Habitat selection and movement patterns of Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata): Effects of spatial and temporal scales of analyses. Copeia 2010(1): 86-96.

Litzgus, J.D., and Hopkins, W.A. 2003. Effect of temperature on metabolic rate of the mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum). Journal of Thermal Biology 28:595-600.