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:

Dr. Gabriel Blouin-Demers, Professor, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
Dr. Jim Bogart, Professor Emeritus, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario
Dr. Ron Brooks, Professor Emeritus, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario
Dr. Grégory Bulté, Biology Instructor, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario
Dr. Christina Davy, Assistant Professor, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario
Dr. Marc Dupuis-Desormeaux, Contract faculty member, York University (Glendon College), Toronto, Ontario
Dr. David Green, Professor and Director of Redpath Museum, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
Dr. Patrick Gregory, Professor, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia
Dr. Stephen Hecnar, Associate Professor, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Dr. Tom Herman, Professor, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS
Dr. Thomas Hossie, Assistant Professor, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario
Dr. Julie Lee-Yaw, Assistant Professor, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta
Dr. David Lesbarrères, Associate Professor, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario
Dr. Jacqueline D. Litzgus, Professor, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario
Dr. Stephen Lougheed, Professor, Queens University, Kingston, Ontario
Dr. Luke Mahler, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
Dr. Marc J. Mazerolle, Associate Professor, Université Laval, Québec, Québec
Dr. Steve Mockford, Associate Professor, Acadia University Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Dr. Dennis Murray, Associate Professor, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario
Dr. Cynthia Paszkowski, Professor, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
Dr. Julia Riley, Assistant Professor, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick
Dr. Njal Rollinson, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
Dr. Anthony Russell, Professor, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
Dr. Pamela Rutherford, Associate Professor, Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba
Dr. Christopher Somers, Professor, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan
Dr. Glenn Tattersall, Professor, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario