What is Herpetology?
Herpetology is a discipline within Biology that involves the study of Amphibians
(caecilians, frogs, toads, salamanders) and Reptiles (amphisbaenians, lizards, snakes,
turtles, tuatara, crocodilians). These studies range from molecular to community level
investigations of the evolutionary relationships, physiology, ecology, and conservation
of these fascinating animals. Although amphibians and reptiles are not closely related
from an evolutionary perspective, they are often studied together because they live in
similar habitats and share certain traits that make them susceptible to the same threats.
For example, all amphibians and reptiles are ectothermic, meaning that they rely on the
external environment to regulate their bodily functions, such as body temperature. Thus,
the behaviour and habitat use of both reptiles and amphibians are largely governed by
environmental conditions. Many species of amphibians and reptiles are at risk of
extinction, largely as a result of human-caused threats, such as habitat destruction,
road mortality, environmental contamination, the spread of invasive species and illegal
poaching. Thus, research into many aspect of the biology and ecology of our native
herpetofauna is critical in informing effective conservation and management solutions.
CHS Research Committee
Director and Chair: Dr. Amanda Bennett
The purpose of the Research Committee is to promote herpetological research,
including investigations relevant to the conservation of amphibian and reptile
populations in Canada, and to disseminate the results.
Herpetology Researchers at Academic Institutions in Canada
If you are interested in pursuing research in the field of Herpetology, or in using
amphibians or reptiles as study subjects to address questions within broader biological
concepts, there are several professors across Canada whose university research programs
focus on the evolution, ecology, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles. Following
is a list of some of these Canadian researchers:
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Dr. Gabriel Blouin-Demers, Professor, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
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Dr. Jim Bogart, Professor Emeritus, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario
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Dr. Ron Brooks, Professor Emeritus, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario
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Dr. Grégory Bulté, Biology Instructor, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario
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Dr. Christina Davy, Assistant Professor, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario
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Dr. Marc Dupuis-Desormeaux, Contract faculty member, York University (Glendon College), Toronto, Ontario
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Dr. David Green, Professor and Director of Redpath Museum, McGill University,
Montreal, Quebec
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Dr. Patrick Gregory, Professor, University of Victoria, Victoria, British
Columbia
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Dr. Stephen Hecnar, Associate Professor, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay,
Ontario
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Dr. Tom Herman, Professor, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS
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Dr. Thomas Hossie, Assistant Professor, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario
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Dr. Julie Lee-Yaw, Assistant Professor, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta
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Dr. David Lesbarrères, Associate Professor, Laurentian University, Sudbury,
Ontario
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Dr. Jacqueline D. Litzgus, Professor, Laurentian University, Sudbury,
Ontario
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Dr. Stephen Lougheed, Professor, Queens University, Kingston, Ontario
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Dr. Luke Mahler, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
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Dr. Marc J. Mazerolle, Associate Professor, Université Laval, Québec, Québec
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Dr. Steve Mockford, Associate Professor, Acadia University Wolfville, Nova
Scotia
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Dr. Dennis Murray, Associate Professor, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario
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Dr. Cynthia Paszkowski, Professor, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
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Dr. Julia Riley, Assistant Professor, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick
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Dr. Njal Rollinson, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
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Dr. Anthony Russell, Professor, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
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Dr. Pamela Rutherford, Associate Professor, Brandon University, Brandon,
Manitoba
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Dr. Christopher Somers, Professor, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan
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Dr. Glenn Tattersall, Professor, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario