UGA Coastal Ecology Lab

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UGA Coastal Ecology Lab

A program of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. Our research takes place on the Georgia coast and the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica.

The objective of the Coastal Ecology Lab is to conduct field research that guides the conservation of wildlife populations in developed landscapes and the management of their interface with people. Dr. Kimberly Andrews is faculty at the Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant in Brunswick, GA. This lab exists because of the collaborations, partnerships, and generous sponsors and funders that support our research.

06/01/2026

Happy Monday! We often talk about how a male alligator's home range increases in the spring, during mating season, but what does this increased movement actually look like? Well, thanks to Telonics satellite tags and our partnership with The Ford Field and River Club, we can show you!

This movement map shows the movements of three 10ft+ American alligators during April and May, the height of alligator breeding season. As the animals begin to move, you can see that the red line (Munch) and the blue line (Croc N Roll) stay within a fairly small area; as we get to the middle and end of April, however, their movement begins to increase in size. This is because male alligators do not just mate with one female; they will attempt to mate with as many females as possible, and to do this, they have to cover a lot of ground. Their typical home range sizes even change during mating season, as can be seen with the blue line. Croc N Roll typically stays mostly in one lake, but during mating season, he visits four different lakes and the Ogechee River. This could be because he is out looking for mates, but the movements of the other two alligators suggest that Croc N Roll is being chased out of certain areas. Along with increased movements, male alligators also become more territorial during mating season, which can cause alligators to be forced out of their normal home range as the largest males try to retain access to areas with the most females. If you watch the blue line, it overlaps with the red line, and after a while, he leaves that area and enters an overlap with the green line (Nick), before leaving for the river and eventually coming back into the lakes. Along with informing us of movement patterns, it also shows us that Munch and Nick may be more dominant than Croc N Roll, as they are able to maintain their territories over the course of mating season.

A big thanks to the Kirsch family, the Carrier family, and the Canter Family for sponsoring the satellite tags that allowed us to capture these behaviors and learn more about alligators in human-dominated landscapes.

05/31/2026

🚨 !🚨Many spiders hide in plain sight; however, the Spiny-Backed Orb Weaver looks straight out of a cartoon. With vibrant colors, sharp spikes, and even markings that can resemble smiley faces, Gasteracantha cancriformis is one of the most recognizable spiders in the southeastern United States.

Found throughout most of the southeastern United States, these spiders are known for their unusual crab-like abdomen covered in hard spines. Individuals can appear in several different color forms, including white, yellow, orange, and red, often decorated with black spots and patterns that give some of the spiders a smiling-like appearance on their abdomen.

Despite their intimidating spikes, spiny-backed orb weavers are relatively harmless spiders. If a human is bitten by a spiny-backed orb weaver, it will only result in pain similar to a minor bee sting. Like other orb weavers, they spend most of their time sitting in the center of large circular webs waiting for flying insects to become trapped. They often build their webs between tree branches and shrubs where flying insect activity is more common.

The large spines covering their abdomen serve as a defense against predators like birds and lizards, making the spider more difficult to swallow or attack. Their hardened exoskeleton also adds a layer of protection uncommon in many softer-bodied spiders.

Spiny-backed orb weavers play an important ecological role by controlling populations of flying insects, including mosquitoes, flies, and small moths. Their webs act as highly efficient insect traps, helping reduce pest populations naturally throughout forests and gardens.

So next time you walk through your garden or even in the woods, you may see a little smiley face looking back at you from its web, and you can remember one of nature's little architects.

📷:Spinybacked Orbweaver by iNaturalist user “glmory”
(https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4943311)

📷:Spinybacked Orbweaver by iNaturalist user “carlosalexandreraposo”
(https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/279458988)

📷:Spinybacked Orbweaver by iNaturalist user “judygva”
(https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4160127)

05/30/2026

Welcome back to another ! Depending on the species, snakes use a few different methods to capture their prey. One way is by envenomation, which requires the snake to bite its victim and wait for the venom to immobilize it for easy ingestion. Typically, venomous snakes have one type of venom that is the same across a region; however, sometimes the venom composition itself may change. This is called Intraspecific Venom Variation, and it occurs in many species of venomous snake, including the Canebrake/ Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus).

The Canebrake/ Timber Rattlesnake is found in a wide range spanning from New England, Minnesota, Texas, and all the way down to Florida. This large-bodied snake can get up to 74.5in (189.2cm), and they are known for their distinctive "Chevron" pattern that runs across the length of their body. In Georgia, there is a subtle difference between the northern Canebrakes and the southern variety.

This difference is in their venom and how it targets the internal mechanisms of their prey. In the North, their venom is more hemotoxic, which means that when injected, it will attack and target the blood cells and disrupt the natural clotting processes. This quickly incapacitates the prey item that gets injected. The southern variety of individuals possesses a more neurotoxic venom that attacks the nervous system and can induce respiratory failure. These two venom types affect different systems, but they are both successful in obtaining the snake a meal. Adaptations such as this are crucial in the survival of the species because the venom they use is targeted to the prey that live in their environment.

Without amazing and unique adaptations such as these, nature would not be nearly as exciting!

📷 Photo by iNaturalist user: brett_riffel (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/366174689)

05/29/2026

Welcome to the ! Pineland Ginseng (Tetragonotheca helianthoides), also commonly known as Squarehead, is a native wildflower found growing in Georgia’s pine savannas, sandhills, and forested uplands. Although its name suggests otherwise, it is not related to true ginseng. The species is actually a member of the sunflower family, . Its yellow blooms appear in late summer and provide nectar for a great variety of native pollinators.

Pineland Ginseng thrives in open, sunny, fire-maintained habitats alongside wiregrass and other Coastal Plain plants. Its nickname “Squarehead” comes from the plant’s angular flower buds that are enclosed by 4 sepals, giving it a square shape.

05/27/2026

Happy ! Check out this post by UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant on how to safely share the water with marine mammals!

05/26/2026

Hello everyone! Today’s post will be a quick highlight of the Three-Lined Salamander (Eurycea guttolineata).

This medium-sized salamander can grow up to 6.25 inches (15.9cm) at maturity. They are tan-yellow with three prominent black lines extending longitudinally down the body. The belly has large marbling with black and white coloration. Looking at their scientific name, “gutto” and “lineata” are both Latin, meaning “spot” and “lined”. This naming is derived from some of their most stark physical traits. The tail is often long in proportion to their body, taking up to 2/3rds of their entire body length.

They are found throughout most of the southeastern United States, except for higher elevations, southern Georgia, and most of Peninsular Florida. Three-lined salamander habitat can be rather variable depending on weather and habitat conditions. They prefer living near and around bodies of water like swamps, streams, and surrounding forested habitats. Three-lined salamanders are nocturnal, opting to hide near bodies of water, choosing natural litter and debris as cover. During particularly rainy or humid stints, they can venture further out into surrounding forested habitats. They are mostly terrestrial, but at home in water, and are described as good swimmers. Adults and juveniles are known to share the same habitats, suggesting a lack of, or less frequent instances of, cannibalization present in other salamander species. Three-lined salamanders are considered abundant and or stable in most of their range, possessing no federal protections, and no state protections in Georgia as of current post time.

Photo 1 by mfranzen, CC-BY-NC, iNaturalist [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/321684529]
Photo 2 by amielhopkins, CC-BY-NC, iNaturalist [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/318061047]

05/25/2026

Happy Monday and happy . This Memorial Day, we honor those who served while enjoying the outdoors they helped protect. Whether you're boating, fishing, or relaxing by the water, remember to stay alligator safe if you are hanging out by the water.

To keep humans, pets, and gators safe this Memorial Day, make sure to follow these simple rules.

1. Never feed an alligator - alligators have an incredible capacity for learned behavior. If you feed an alligator once, they will beg for food from then on.
2. Only swim in designated areas– normally, we appear much too big for an alligator to consider food, but when we get in the water, we appear much smaller, and an alligator may think a human is a potential prey item.
3. Do not crouch down by the edge of the water - when you crouch down by the edge of the water, you look significantly smaller to an alligator. This again may lead an alligator to think you are a potential prey item.
4. Keep pets away from the edge of the water - alligators cannot distinguish between prey and pets. When they see a dog, they see a small four-legged animal, one of their main prey sources
5. Give alligators their space - Viewing alligators can be exciting, but when doing so, one should stay at least 50ft away.
6. Assume alligators are present – One should assume every fresh body of water has an alligator in it. Alligators have great camouflage, so just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean they aren't present.

Recreating or lounging by the water can be a great way to spend a long weekend, but it's important to always stay alligator safe.

05/24/2026

🚨 🚨 At first glance this creature may just look like nothing more than a twig laying on top of a branch, but within the forests of Georgia one of those twigs may just start walking. This week's spotlight goes to the master of camouflage, the Southern two-striped walkingstick (Anisomorpha buprestoides).

Common in the southeastern United States, this species is called by many names two-striped walkingstick, devil rider, or even musk mare. This is often due to its long and lanky appearance often resembling a twig. Their long, narrow shape makes them excellent at blending in with the surrounding shrubbery of their habitat during the day.

Unlike most insects that rely on camouflage, southern two-striped walkingsticks have a powerful backup defense. When disturbed, it can spray a strong defensive chemical from glands near its thorax. The spray is aimed with surprising accuracy and can irritate the skin, nose, and especially the eyes. This defense can make predators think twice before trying to make a meal out of one.

These walking sticks feed mostly on the leaves of shrubs and small trees, especially oak, blackberry, and rose family plants. Although sometimes walkingsticks will gather in groups, their still posture and twig like bodies often make them easy to overlook.

Even with their unusual defenses, two-striped walkingsticks are an important contributor to local ecosystems in Georgia. They can often help shape plant communities through herbivory and also serve as prey for birds and other predators that have adapted to their chemical defenses.

Next time when you are in the woods surrounded by shrubbery, look a little closer and you may just see one of these masters of camouflage at work.

📷: Southern Two-striped Walkingstick by iNaturalist user “daniel_e” (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/318298454)

📷: Southern Two-striped Walkingstick by iNaturalist user “lucanus95” (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/255000362)

📷: Southern Two-striped Walkingstick by iNaturalist user “lightbed” (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/93651825)

05/23/2026

Hello everyone, and welcome back to another ! Anyone who wants to learn about the snake species found here in the South will often start out with all the large species, such as the Eastern Indigo snake and the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake. The larger species are always more popular; however, Georgia has plenty of smaller species that are just as amazing, such as today's highlight species, the Ringneck snake.

The Ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus) is a common species throughout Georgia and is found across most of the United States. This species gets its name from, you guessed it, the yellow, red, or sometimes orange band around its neck. Some subspecies do not exhibit a complete colored ring around their necks, and in others, it may be only partially present, if at all. Along with the ring on their neck, they also have belly scales that match the coloration of their ring. The subspecies recognized here in South Georgia (D. p. punctatus) can grow up to a maximum of 20.5 in (52.07 cm). This may not seem very small, however, in comparison to an Eastern Indigo snake that can reach up to 9.2ft (280.41 cm), Ringneck snakes are quite small indeed.

Though this species has one of the most widespread ranges here in the United States, it can be more elusive. The habitat for the Ringneck subspecies in the South mainly consists of riparian zones near wetlands and covered areas with places to hide. These types of habitats allow them to hide in the daytime and come out at night to hunt. The diet of Ringneck snakes includes small invertebrates such as earthworms and slugs, but they are known to eat small salamanders, frogs, lizards, and other juvenile snake species as well.

To aid in the capturing of prey, the Ringneck snake has a secret mechanism it uses. Ringneck snakes use a type of venom to help incapacitate their prey so they can swallow them. This venom is produced by the Duvernroy's gland, which uses their rear fangs as vectors to transfer the venom into the prey. Now you may be wondering if you need to keep clear of these little snakes because they are technically venomous. The truth is that their venom is very mild and does not pose a threat to humans in any way!

When threatened, Ringnecks, like most snakes, do not use biting as their first means of defense. Upon being threatened, the first response they choose is to curl their tail and flash their bright colored scales in an attempt to trick the predator into thinking they are potentially dangerous. The tail is usually red in color, or it may be the same color as the ring on their neck, but the brighter the color, the more effective this tactic is. The second defense they utilize is the release of musk, which attacks the olfactory senses of a predator. Only if the first two methods do not work may they then resort to attempting to bite.

Tiny but mighty, the Ringneck snake is another one of the amazing species of snakes found here in the South that you may or may not have known about. Keep your eyes peeled when out at night and maybe you will be lucky enough to spot one of these little guys for yourself!

📷 Photo by iNaturalist user: tropidoclonion (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/362769771)

05/22/2026

Welcome to the ! Our favorite state reptile, Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus), are primarily herbivorous and spend much of their day foraging for their favorite plants to snack on. They primarily graze on broadleaf grasses, legumes, wildflowers, and low-growing fruits that grow in the sunny, fire adapted longleaf pine forest and sandhill habitats that they call home. There are over 300 species of plants that Gopher tortoises are known to eat. Their feeding habits help shape the landscape and disperse seeds around their ecosystems.

Southern Wiregrass (Aristida beyrichiana) is one of the most important food sources for Gopher Tortoises. They also commonly eat Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia spp.), Gopher Apple (Geobalanus oblongifolius), Pawpaw (Asimina spp.), and Milkpeas (Galactia spp.). Tortoises have also been known to be opportunistic omnivores, sometimes eating insects or carrion. Studies have also shown that they injest calcium rich shells or stones for nutritional supplement.

Address

University Of Georgia Marine Extension
Brunswick, GA
31520

Website

https://coastalecologylab.wixsite.com/gacoast

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