The UTC Graduate School is pleased to announce that Carissa Turner will present Master’s research titled, Determining Habitat Preferences of Dasypus novemcinctus and Assessing Prevalence of Hansen’s Disease in Tennessee with Assistance from Community Science Data on 11/07/2022 at 8:00-10:30am in UTC Library 118A. Everyone is invited to attend.
Environmental Science
Chair: Dr. Timothy Gaudin
Co-Chair: Dr. Thomas Wilson
Abstract:
The nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus L.) is currently considered an invasive species in parts of its range in the United States. As they continue to expand their range, more states may begin to consider armadillos an invasive or nuisance species and will need to make management decisions regarding this species as (1) a pest for landowners or land managers, (2) a possible threat to other species of conservation concern, and (3) a vector for Hansen’s disease (leprosy). Although research funds are scarce for a species that is currently not seen as a threat or endangered animal, there are ways to use limited resources and community science to assist in filling knowledge gaps, which can then provide a baseline on where to begin researching efforts. My research used community science and roadkill surveys to study habitat preferences across the state and tested roadkill for Hansen’s disease prevalence.