The 30th annual Seibert Awards were presented at the 63rd Annual Meeting of SSAR held in conjunction with the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, hosted by Gonzaga University and Eastern Washington University, 27-31 July 2022. For the first time since 2019 we returned to a fully in-person format. The SSAR Seibert awards are named in honor of Henri C. Seibert, an early and tireless supporter of SSAR who served as an officer for more than 20 years. In recognition of outstanding student presentations at the annual meeting, a single award was given in each of the following categories: Evolution/Systematics (6 presentations), Ecology (4 presentations), Physiology/Morphology (5 presentations) and Conservation (5 presentations). All awardees received a check for $200 and a book courtesy of Chuck Crumley of Taylor and Francis Publishing. Both winners and honorable mentions will be formally announced in an upcoming issue of Herpetological Review.
The Winners
Systematics/Evolution: Cynthia Carter (University of Georgia), “Genomic Data Reveal Patterns of Hybridization in Appalachian Salamanders”
Ecology: Sierra Smith (Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, “Venomous Snakes Reveal Ecological and Phylogenetic Factors Influencing Variation in Gut and Oral Microbiomes”
Conservation: Christopher Cousins (Oregon State University), “Evaluation the Efficacy of Environmental DNA Sampling for Two Cryptic Species of Torrent Salamanders”
Physiology/Morphology: Analisa Shields-Estrada (The University of Texas at Austin, “Spectral Reflectance as a Thermoregulatory Mechanism in Hyla Tree Frogs”
Honorable Mentions
Systematics/Evolution: Daniel Doucet (Sam Houston State University), “Major and Minor Scales: Thorough Investigation of Integumentary Characters Across Squamate Reptiles”
Ecology: Kannon Pearson (University of California, Berkeley), “A Review of Chemical Defense in Harlequin Toads (Bufonidae: Atelopus)”
Conservation: Jessica Yates (Stephen F. Austin State University), “Sneak Snakes: Detection and Occupancy of Sympatric Waternakes (Colubridae: Nerodia) in the Brazos River Watershed, Texas”
Physiology/Morphology: Savannah Weaver (California Polytechnic State University), “Sweating it Out in the Sauna: Heat and Humidity Increase Cutaneous Evaporative Water Loss in Lizards”
SSAR thanks this year’s Seibert Committee for their service: Betsy Bancroft, Umilaela Arifin, André Luiz Carvalho, Michelle Koo, Robert Burroughs, R. Graham Reynolds, Hardin Waddle, Scott Parker, Rory Telemeco, J. Tom Giermakowski, John Rowe, and Gareth Hopkins (Chair).
By category
Systematics/Evolution
1) Winner: Cynthia Carter (University of Georgia), “Genomic Data Reveal Patterns of Hybridization in Appalachian Salamanders”
2) Honorable Mention: Daniel Doucet (Sam Houston State University), “Major and Minor Scales: Thorough Investigation of Integumentary Characters Across Squamate Reptiles”
Ecology
1) Winner: Sierra Smith (Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, “Venomous Snakes Reveal Ecological and Phylogenetic Factors Influencing Variation in Gut and Oral Microbiomes”
2) Honorable Mention: Kannon Pearson (University of California, Berkeley), “A Review of Chemical Defense in Harlequin Toads (Bufonidae: Atelopus)”
Conservation
1) Winner: Christopher Cousins (Oregon State University), “Evaluation the Efficacy of Environmental DNA Sampling for Two Cryptic Species of Torrent Salamanders”
2) Honorable Mention: Jessica Yates (Stephen F. Austin State University), “Sneak Snakes: Detection and Occupancy of Sympatric Waternakes (Colubridae: Nerodia) in the Brazos River Watershed, Texas”
Physiology/Morphology
1) Winner: Analisa Shields-Estrada (The University of Texas at Austin, “Spectral Reflectance as a Thermoregulatory Mechanism in Hyla Tree Frogs”.
2) Honorable Mention: Savannah Weaver (California Polytechnic State University), “Sweating it Out in the Sauna: Heat and Humidity Increase Cutaneous Evaporative Water Loss in Lizards”.