Research

I am interested in both theoretical and applied wildlife ecology research. Because knowledge of a species' ecology is required for effective management and accurate modeling, I am very interested in studying animal behavior and species interactions. My doctoral research work focuses on the effects of invasive Burmese pythons on mammals in the Florida Everglades.

With scarce resources for management and a growing number of conservation challenges, it is also essential to evaluate the efficiency of management activities. Both my undergraduate and MS theses focused on assessing conservation efforts for diamondback terrapins and gopher tortoises, respectively.

Publications

McKee, R. K., Buhlmann, K. A., Moore, C. T., Allender, M. C., Stacy, N. I., & Tuberville, T. D. (2022). Island of misfit tortoises: waif gopher tortoise health assessment following translocation. Conservation Physiology, 10(1), coac051.

McKee, R. K., Buhlmann, K. A., Moore, C. T., Hepinstall‐Cymerman, J., & Tuberville, T. D. (2021). Waif gopher tortoise survival and site fidelity following translocation. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 85(4), 640-653.

Tuberville, T. D., McKee, R. K., Gaya, H. E., & Norton, T. M. (2021). Survival of immature gopher tortoises recruited into a translocated population. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 85(4), 631-639.

McKee, R. K., Cecala, K. K., & Dorcas, M. E. (2016). Behavioural interactions of diamondback terrapins with crab pots demonstrate that bycatch reduction devices reduce entrapment. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 26(6), 1081-1089

Presentations

"Evaluating the Use of Waif Animals to Recover Populations on the Brink" Turtle Survival Alliance. Tuscon, AZ. Aug 2019."

"Staying Alive: Waif Gopher Tortoise Survival and Population Dynamics Following Translocation." Southeastern Partners in Reptile and Amphibian Conservation. Black Mountain, NC. Feb 2019.

"Aiken Gopher Tortoise Heritage Preserve: A Project History and Overview of Success to Date." Heritage Trust Advisory Board Meeting. Columbia, South Carolina. Nov 2018.

"An Island of Misfit Tortoises: Estimating the Survival of Translocated Waif Tortoises." Gopher Tortoise Council Meeting. Venus, Florida. Oct 2018.

"An Island of Misfit Tortoises: Health and Survival of Waif Gopher Tortoises Following Translocation." The Integrative Conservation Conference. Athens, GA. Sep 2018.

"Health and Stress of Waif Gopher Tortoises Following Translocation." UGA Student Chapter of Wildlife Disease Association. Athens, GA. April 2018.

"Waif Tortoise Health Following Translocation." Southeastern Partners for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Meeting. Helen, GA. Feb 2018.

"Waif Tortoise Health Following Translocation." Warnell Graduate Student Symposium. Athens, GA. Jan 2018.

"An Island of Misfit Tortoises: Using Waif Animals to Recover Populations on the Brink." Gopher Tortoise Council Meeting. Aiken, SC. Oct 2017.

"The Role of Bycatch Reduction Devices (BRDs) on Diamondback Terrapin Catch and Behavior." Association of Southeastern Biologists Meeting. Spartanburg, SC. April 2014.