Research Interests:
Evolutionary Ecology, Life History Theory, Physiological Ecology, and Herpetology
My research program combines field and lab-based approaches, and basic and applied science. Projects in my lab address questions in the areas of evolutionary ecology and conservation biology of reptiles, including examination of the adaptive significance of life history variation at geographic extremes (e.g., at northern range limits), and the application of these data to the design of conservation plans. Recent and current research examined/examines variation in the life history and ecology of federally-listed turtle species, including Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata), Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta), Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), and Stinkpots (Sternotherus odoratus), with emphasis on maternal investment, spatial ecology, and habitat selection. The physiological research examines questions about the adaptive bioenergetic, fitness, and thermoregulatory consequences of certain behaviours, particularly summer and winter dormancy, in reptiles.
The journal Ecoscience has chosen one of our photographs for the front cover
of the journal (2010, Volume 71(1)! Chris Edge, my former M.Sc. student, took the photo.
Select Publications:
Yagi, K.T. and J.D. Litzgus. In press. The effects of flooding on the spatial ecology of Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata) in a partially-mined peatland. Copeia
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. (pdf)
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. (pdf)
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. (pdf)
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. (pdf)
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. (pdf)
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. (pdf)
Bennett, A.M., M. Keevil, and J.D. Litzgus. 2009. Demographic differences among populations of Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica) in intact and fragmented sites. Canadian Journal of Zoology 87: 1147-1157. (pdf)
Edge, C.B., B.D. Steinberg, R.J. Brooks, and J.D. Litzgus. 2009. Temperature and site selection by Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) during hibernation near the species’ northern range limit. Canadian Journal of Zoology 87: 825-834. (pdf)
Enneson, J.J. and J.D. Litzgus. 2009. Stochastic and spatially explicit population viability analyses for an endangered freshwater turtle, Clemmys guttata. Canadian Journal of Zoology 87: 1241-1254. (pdf)
Greaves, W.F. and J.D. Litzgus. 2009. Variation in life history characteristics among North American populations of wood turtles: A view from the north. Journal of Zoology 279: 298-309. (pdf)
Hughes, G., W.F. Greaves and J.D. Litzgus. 2009. Nest site selection by wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) in a thermally limited environment. Northeastern Naturalist 16(3): 321-338. (pdf)
Rasmussen, M.L., J.E. Paterson, and J.D. Litzgus. 2009. Foraging ecology of Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata) in Ontario. Herpetological Review 40: 286-288.
Enneson, J.J. and J.D. Litzgus. 2008. Using long-term survey data and a stage-classified matrix to assess conservation strategies for an endangered turtle (Clemmys guttata). Biological Conservation 141: 1560-1568. (pdf)
Greaves, W.F. and J.D. Litzgus. 2008. Chemical, thermal, and physical properties of sites selected for overwintering by northern wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta). Canadian Journal of Zoology 86: 659-667. (pdf)
Litzgus, J.D., F. Bolton, and A.I. Schulte-Hostedde. 2008. Reproductive output depends on body condition in spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata). Copeia 2008: 84-90. (pdf)
Reeves, D.J. and J.D. Litzgus. 2008. Demography of an island population of spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata) at the species’ northern range limit. Northeastern Naturalist 15(3): 417-430. (pdf)
Tucker, W.T., J.D. Litzgus, S. Ferson, H.R. Akçakaya, M.E. Thompson, D.J. Fort, and J.P. Lortie. 2008. Population-level effects of PCBs on wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) breeding in vernal pools associated with the Housatonic River, Pittsfield to Lenoxdale, Massachusetts. pp 97-122. In Demographic Toxicity: Methods in Ecological Risk Assessment. Edited by H.R. Akçakaya, J.D. Stark, and T.S. Bridges, Oxford University Press, New York, NY.
Greaves, W.F. and J.D. Litzgus. 2007. Overwintering ecology of wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) at the species’ northern range limit. Journal of Herpetology 41: 31-39. (pdf)
Litzgus, J.D. 2006. Sex differences in longevity in the spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata). Copeia 2006: 281-288. (pdf)
Litzgus, J.D. and T.A. Mousseau. 2006. Geographic variation in reproduction in a freshwater turtle (Clemmys guttata). Herpetologica 62: 132-140. (pdf)
Litzgus, J.D. and T.A. Mousseau. 2004. Home range and seasonal activity of southern spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata): Implications for management. Copeia 2004: 804-817.
Litzgus, J.D. and T.A. Mousseau. 2004. Demography of a southern population of the spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata). Southeastern Naturalist 3: 391-400.
Litzgus, J.D., S.E. DuRant, and T.A. Mousseau. 2004. Clinal variation in body size and cell size in a widely distributed vertebrate ectotherm. Oecologia 140: 551-558. (pdf)
Litzgus, J.D. and W.A. Hopkins. 2003. Effect of temperature on metabolic rate of the mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum). Journal of Thermal Biology 28: 595-600.
Current Graduate Student Projects in the Litzgus Lab:
James Baxter-Gilbert (M.Sc.) – The effectiveness of mitigation measures on reducing road mortality of reptiles along the Highway 69/400 corridor
Matthew Keevil (Ph.D.; OGS scholar) – Dispersal of Snapping Turtles and Painted Turtles: A comparative investigation of a cryptic life history trait
Julia Riley (M.Sc.; NSERC scholar) – The importance of nest micro-environment for turtle conservation, hatchling overwintering strategy, and fitness
Kiyoshi Sasaki (Post doc) – Impact assessment and development of ecological restoration strategies for reptiles and amphibians inhabiting mining-disturbed environments
Team Litzgus Graduate Student Alumni:
Amanda Bennett (M.Sc. 2009) – Effects of habitat fragmentation on the spatial ecology and genetics of Northern Map Turtles (Graptemys geographica)
Christopher Edge (M.Sc. 2008) – Multiple scale habitat selection in Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii)
Jean Enneson (M.Sc. 2007) – Population viability analysis and response to habitat change in Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata)
William Greaves (M.Sc. 2007; OGS-Tembec scholar) – A cold and harsh environment: Demography and spatial ecology of a northern population of Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta)
Jolene Laverty (M.Sc. 2010) – Measuring the effects of water-based recreation on turtle populations in an Ontario Park
Michelle Martin (M.Sc. 2011, co-supervised with J. Hamr) – Spatial behaviour and habitat use by Elk (Cervus elaphus) in response to highway construction and interprovincial relocation
James Paterson (M.Sc. 2011; NSERC scholar) – Resource selection in a freshwater turtle community in Central Ontario
Megan Rasmussen (M.Sc. 2009) – Habitat selection, foraging ecology, and maternal investment in a Lake Huron population of Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata): Implications for conservation and management
Dan Reeves (M.Sc. 2007) – Modeling critical breeding habitat and body size variation in the federally endangered Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata)
Katharine Yagi (M.Sc. 2010) – The effects of flooding on the spatial ecology and thermoregulation of Spotted Turtles (Clemmys guttata) in a southern Ontario population