Stanley E. Trauth is an American herpetologist and professor of zoology and environmental studies at Arkansas State University. He is also the curator of the herpetological collection of the Arkansas State University Museum of Zoology.Trauth, S.E. 2013. Standard Operating Procedure and Manifesto of the Arkansas State University Museum of Zoology (ASUMZ) Herpetology Collection. http://myweb.astate.edu/strauth/Herpetology%202014/ASUMZ%20Herp%20museum%20protoco-J.Stanley.%20May%202013.docx
Early life and education Trauth was born September 5, 1948, in St. Louis, Missouri, but moved to Arkansas as a child in 1955.Walter Burl Trauth, 79, Mountain Home. Obituaries. Mt. Echo Newspaper. Feb. 6, 2001. Trauth attended Mountain Home High School in Mountain Home, Arkansas, where he played quarterback on the football teamSports Section. Northwest Arkansas Times. Fayetteville, Arkansas Nov. 13, 1965. and played basketball.Sports Section. Northwest Arkansas Times. Fayetteville, Arkansas. March 14, 1966. He earned his BS (1970) and MS (1974) in zoology from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where he worked on collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris) under James M. Walker. He earned his PhD from Auburn University (1980), where he worked on six-lined racerunners (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus) under Robert Mount (who graduated under Archie Carr).
Research Trauth's research concerns conservation, microscopic anatomy, histology, reproductive biology parasitology, natural history, and behavior of amphibians and reptiles.
Conservation
Trauth's work with his student Benjamin A. Wheeler and University of Florida professor Max Nickerson, on the federally endangered Ozark hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) was important in its obtaining protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1972. Trauth has surveyed populations of this species in Arkansas and Missouri.Trauth, S. E., J. D. Wilhide, and P. Daniel. 1992. Status of the Ozark hellbender, Cryptobranchus bishopi (Urodela: Cryptobranchidae), in the Spring River, Fulton County, Arkansas. Proceedings of the Arkansas Academy of Science 46:83-86.Trauth, S. E., J. D. Wilhide, and P. Daniel. 1993. The Ozark hellbender, Cryptobranchus bishopi, in Arkansas: distributional survey for 1992. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 28:81-85.Wheeler, B. A., M. L. McCallum, and S. E. Trauth. 2002. Abnormalities in the Ozark hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi. Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science 56:250-252.Hiler, W. R., B. A. Wheeler, and S. E. Trauth. 2005. Abnormalities in the Ozark hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) in Arkansas: A comparison between two rivers with a historical perspective. Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science 59:88-94.Moser, W. E., D. J. Richardson, B. A. Wheeler, K. J. Irwin, B. A. Daniels, S. E. Trauth, and D. J. Klemm. 2008. Placobdella cryptobranchii (Rhynchobdellida: Glossiphoniidae) on Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi (Ozark Hellbender) in Arkansas and Missouri. Comparative Parasitology 75(1):98-101.Hiler, W. R., B. A. Wheeler, and S. E. Trauth. 2013. The decline of the Ozark hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) in the Spring River, Arkansas, USA. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 8:114-121.Christian, A. D., S. E. Trauth, and B. A. Wheeler. Ozark hellbender habitat characterization and assessment in the Eleven Point and Spring rivers in Arkansas. Final Report – Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. 25 March 2005. 122 pp.Wheeler, B. A., W. R. Hiler, and S. E. Trauth. Non-invasive monitoring of Ozark hellbenders. Final Report – Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. 29 April 2005. 19 pp. His studied the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminickii) for over 20 years.Rauschenberger, R. H., S. E. Trauth, and J. L. Farris. 2004. Incubation of alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) eggs in natural and agricultural soils. Applied Herpetology 2:299-309.Trauth, S. E., H. W. Robison, and M. V. Plummer. 2004. The Amphibians and Reptiles of Arkansas.University of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville. xviii + 421 pp.Hiler, W. R., B. A. Wheeler, and S. E. Trauth. 2006. Macrochelys temminckii (Alligator Snapping Turtle). Feeding Behavior. Herpetological Review 37(2):217.Demography, genetic structure, and identification of reproductive fidelity in the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) from Arkansas. Chelonian Research Foundation Linnaeus Fund Turtle Research Award. 2000-2001.Upton, S. J., C. T. McAllister, and S. E. Trauth. 1992. Description of a new species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the alligator snapping turtle, Macroclemys temminckii (Testudines: Chelydridae). Journal of the Helminthological Society of Washington 59:167-169.Trauth, S. E., J. D. Wilhide, and A. Holt. 1998. Population structure and movement patterns of alligator snapping turtles (Macroclemys temminckii) in northeastern Arkansas. Chelonian Conservation and Biology 3:64-70.Population dynamics of alligator snapping turtles (Macroclemys temminckii) from two drainage systems in northeastern Arkansas. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. 1995. He led captive rearing programs for these species with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Mammoth Spring Fish Hatchery and the Arkansas State fish Hatchery in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas.Captive propagation in the Ozark hellbender. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. 2000-2001.Wheeler, B. A. and S. E. Trauth. Captive Propagation of the Ozark Hellbender: Progress Report for 2000-2001. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. 31 December 2001. 20 pp. Trauth led the first inventories of amphibians and reptiles of the Arkansas Post National Memorial, George Washington Carver National Memorial, Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, and Ozark National Scenic Waterways for the National Park Service and United States Geological Survey.McCallum, M. A., S. E. Trauth, and V. Hoffman. A herpetological inventory of George Washington Carver National Monument, Newton County, Missouri. Final Report. National Park Service, Heartland I&M Network. 4 October 2002. 21 pp.Hoffman, V., S. E. Trauth, and M. L. McCallum. An aquatic/semi-aquatic herpetofaunal inventory of Hot Springs National Park, Garland County, Arkansas. Final Report. National Park Service, Heartland I&M Network. 10 October 2002. 28 pp.McCallum, M. L., S. E. Trauth, and V. Hoffman. A herpetological inventory of Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, Christian-Greene County, Missouri. Final Report. National Park Service, Heartland I&M Network. 4 October 2002. 40 pp.McCallum, M. L., S. E. Trauth, and V. Hoffman. A herpetological inventory of Arkansas Post National Memorial, Arkansas County, Arkansas. Final Report. National Park Service, Heartland I&M Network. 10 October 2002. 35 pp. Inventory work such as these provide the baseline population and community information on which to base future management decisions.Cooperrider, A. Y., R.J. Boyd, and H. R. Stuart, eds. 1986. Inventory and monitoring of wildlife habitat. U.S. Dept. Inter. Bur. Land Manage. Service Center. Denver, Co. xviii. 858 pp. His study on fire ant predation of lizard eggs was among the first. His work with Joseph Milanovich (Loyola University [Chicago]), David Saugey (US Forest Service) and Robyn Jordan demonstrated that climate change could have severe impacts on terrestrial populations.Milanovich, JosephR, Stanley E. Trauth, David A. Saugey, and Robyn R. Jordan. "Fecundity, reproductive ecology, and influence of precipitation on clutch size in the western slimy salamander (Plethodon albagula)." Herpetologica 62, no. 3 (2006): 292-301. His work with Dr. Joy Trauth and Malcolm L. McCallum showed that Illinois chorus frogs (Pseudacris illinoesis) were experiencing a severe range contraction,McCallum, M. L., and S. E. Trauth. "An investigation of the distribution and status of the Illinois chorus frog (Pseudacris streckeri illinoensis) and condition of breeding habitat in northeastern Arkansas: A needs assessment for conservation." Final Report to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Little Rock (2002). largely due to changed land use policies connected to US Environmental Protection Agency's Best Management Practices for controlling runoff on farm fields in Arkansas.Trauth, Joy B., Stanley E. Trauth, and Ronald L. Johnson. "Best management practices and drought combine to silence the Illinois chorus frog in Arkansas." Wildlife Society Bulletin 34.2 (2006): 514-518.
Microscopic anatomy, histology and reproductive biology
Trauth is the director of the Arkansas State University Electron Microscopy Facility, although his work in these areas includes other techniques (such as light, fluorescence, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy). He has studied spermatogenesis and spermatogenic cycles in amphibians and reptiles, and his work on sperm morphology and glandular epithelium includes the first descriptions for many species. Much understanding of the reproductive biology of amphibians and reptiles in Arkansas comes from Trauth's work.Anonymous. 2008. A TRIBUTE TO DRs. STAN AND JOY TRAUTH. Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science 62:23
Parasitology Trauth has a long on-going collaboration with Christopher T. McAllister investigating the parasites of amphibians and reptiles. Together, they have published at least 40 articles on helminths, coccidea, and other parasitic organisms, including descriptions of at least eight species new to science. The species Eimeria trauthi, a species of coccidia found in marbled salamanders (Ambystoma opacum) was named in his honor.
Behavior
Trauth's parental care studies on the western slimy salamander (Plethodon albagula) conducted with coauthors Robyn Jordan, Joseph Milanovich, David Saugey and Malcolm L. McCallum drew international attention when David Attenborough of the BBC chose to cover their work on his mini-series Life in Cold Blood.Trauth, S. E. 2008. Sir David Attenborough Visits Arkansas. Pp. 113-122. In Adventures in the Wild: Tales from Biologists from the Natural State (J. Trauth and A. Romero, eds.). University of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville The group met Attenborough in the Ouachita Mountains of southwestern Arkansas and he descended into an abandoned mine shaft where female western slimy salamanders were found on the walls guarding their eggs from predators, including other females of their species.Life in Cold Blood. "The Land Invaders"(April 13). In cold blood: Salamander intrigue. Local educator's research on crafty amphibians to reach national TV audience. by Aaron Brand. Texarkana Gazette. In one case, a female returned to the same ledge in the back of the mine each year for several years in a row.Trauth, Stanley E., Malcolm L. McCalluml, and Robyn R. Jordan. "Brooding Postures and Nest Site Fidelity in the Western Slimy Salamander, Plethodon albagula (Caudata: Plethodontidae), from an Abandoned Mine Shaft in Arkansas". Herpetological Natural History 9.2 (2006): 141-149. His work has also been featured on Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe and by news outlets.
Teaching Trauth has advised and graduated two PhD students while faculty at Arkansas State University: Malcolm L. McCallum (2003) and Benjamin A. Wheeler (2005). He also graduated master's degree students including the following who later earned their PhD from other advisors: Brian Butterfield (Freed-Hardeman University), Walter E. Meshaka, Jr.Meshaka, W.E. 1988. Reproductive cycles of the Ozark Zigzag Salamander (Plethodon angusticlavius) from northcentral Arkansas. Arkansas State University Masters Thesis. Jonesboro, Arkansas. (Cover page lists advisor and committee members) (State Museum of Pennsylvania), Richard (Heath) Rauschenberger (US Fish and Wildlife Service), and Joseph Milanovich (Loyola University of Chicago).Adler, Kraig, ed. (2012). Contributions to the History of Herpetology. Volume 3. Vancouver, British Columbia: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. .