Paul Stone, Ph.D.

I am interested in the ecology and conservation of reptiles, particularly turtles. For the past 25 years, I have been conducting (with Marie Stone and other colleagues) a mark-recapture study of Sonoran mud turtles (Kinosternon sonoriense) in the Peloncillo Mountains, New Mexico and Arizona. Our primary interests in this study have been population demography, movements of individuals, natural history, and conservation. Further projects include measurement of growth rates, survival of hatchlings, and aquatic habitat restoration.

In addition, I studied freshwater turtles in a group of farm ponds in Central Oklahoma for 13 years, also focussing on population demography, movements, and natural history. Since 2004, I have collaborated with numerous colleagues on the invasion of UCO campus (and central Oklahoma in general) by Mediterranean Geckos (Hemidactylus turcicus).

I am currently mentoring graduate students on the following projects:

1. Aquatic Invertebrate Assemblages in the Peloncillo Mountains
2. Population Genetics of Sonoran Mud Turtles in the Madrean Sky Islands
3. Effects of Road Mortality of Turtles in Oklahoma
4. Distribution of the Western Chicken Turtle in Oklahoma
5. Conversation of Radiated Tortoises in Madagascar

The classes I currently teach are:

General Biology for Majors - Principles

Environmental Biology

Conservation Biology

Herpetology

Ph.D. in Biology, University of New Mexico, 1995

MS in Zoology, Auburn University, 1990

BS in Wildlife Ecology, University of Florida, 1987

AA, Broward Community College, 1984

Matheny, A. M., L. B. Kimmel, P. A. Stone, and A. M. Fenwick. 2018. Comparative Population Genetics of Red Imported Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta) at the University of Central Oklahoma and Lake Arcadia, Edmond, Oklahoma. American Midland Naturalist (in press).

Rosen, P., and P. A. Stone. 2017. Kinosternon sonoriense ssp. longifemorale.The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T96710001A91328680.

Butler, C. J., B. D. Stanila, J. B. Iverson, P. A. Stone, and M. Bryson. 2016. Projected changes in climatic suitability for Kinosternonturtles by 2050 and 2070. Ecology and Evolution 6:7690-7705.

Peno, S. S., B. D. Stanila, M. E. B. Stone, and P. A. Stone. 2016. Inverse relationship between biting and head retraction in an ontogenetic series of Sonoran Mud Turtles (Kinosternon sonoriense). Journal of Herpetology 50:26-28.

Stone, P. A., K. J. Locey, S. Laverty, B. D. Stanila, and M. E. B. Stone. 2015. Conservation implications of male-biased movements in Sonoran Mud Turtles (Kinosternon sonoriense) inhabiting intermittent aquatic habitats. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 10:728-739.

Stone, M. E. B, T. A. Baird, and P. A. Stone. 2015. Is melanism a consequence of sexual selection in Red-eared Sliders, Trachemys scripta elegans? Journal of Herpetology 49:574-578.

Stone, P. A., J. D. Congdon, and C. L. Smith. 2014. Conservation triage of Sonoran mud turtles (Kinosternonsonoriense). Herpetological Conservation and Biology 9:448-453.

Massengill, J. K., B. R. Faught, and P. A. Stone. 2014. Kinosternon sonoriense(Sonoran Mud Turtle). Winter Mortality. Herpetological Review 45:316.

Hites, R., G. Caddell, M. E. B. Stone, and P. A. Stone. 2013. Relationships of body size and male melanism to biting propensity in red-eared sliders (Trachemysscripta). Herpetolgical Review: 44:46-49.

Stabler, L. B., W. L. Johnson, K. J. Locey, and P. A. Stone. 2011. A comparison of Mediterranean Gecko (Hemidactylusturcicus) populations in two temperate zone urban habitats. Urban Ecosystems 15:653-666.

Stone, P. A., M. E. B. Stone, B. D. Stanila, and K. J. Locey. 2011. Terrestrial flight response: a new context for terrestrial activity in Sonoran mud turtles. American Midland Naturalist 165:128-136.

Stone, P. A., and D. B. Ligon. 2011. Bufo punctatus(Red-spotted Toad) and Thamnophis cyrtopsis(Black-necked Garter Snake). Prey-Predator. Herpetological Review 42:82-83.

Jordan, M. A., J. L. Hollis, P. A. Stone, and H. L. Snell. 2008. Habitat as a source of intrapopulational variation of ornament size in Galapagos lava lizards (Microlophusalbemarlensiscomplex). Amphibia-Reptilia 29:278-283.

Locey, K. J., and P. A. Stone. 2008. Ontogenetic factors affecting diffusion dispersal in the introduced Mediterranean Gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus. Journal of Herpetology 42:593-599.

Stanila, B. D., K. J. Locey, and P. A. Stone. 2008. Kinosternonsonoriense(Sonoran Mud Turtle). Diet. Herpetological Review 39:345.

Locey, K. J., and P. A. Stone. 2007. Hemidactylus turcicus(Mediterranean gecko). Nesting. Herpetological Review 38:455-456.

Locey, K.J., and P. A. Stone. 2006. Factors affecting range expansion in the introduced Mediterranean Gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus. Journal of Herpetology 40:528-532.

Stone, P. A., and M. E. Babb. 2005. A test of the annual growth line hypothesis in red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans). Herpetologica 61:409-414.

Stone, P. A., S. M. Powers, and M. E. Babb. 2005. Freshwater turtle assemblages in central Oklahoma farm ponds. Southwestern Naturalist 50:166-171.

Stone, P. A., M. E. Babb, B. D. Stanila, G. W. Kersey, and Z. S. Stone. 2005. Kinosternon sonoriense. Diet. Herpetological Review 36:167-168.

Ligon, D. B., and P. A. Stone. 2003. Radiotelemetry reveals terrestrial estivation in Sonoran mud turtles (Kinosternon sonoriense). Journal of Herpetology 37:750-754.

Ligon, D. B., and P. A. Stone. 2003. Kinosternon sonoriense(Sonoran mud turtle) and Bufo punctatus(red-spotted toad). Predator-prey. Herpetological Review 34:241-242.

Stone, P. A., H. L. Snell, and H. M. Snell. 2002. Island biogeography of morphology and social behavior in the lava lizards of the Galápagos Islands. Pages 190-239 InS. Fox, J.K. McCoy, and T.A. Baird, editors, Lizard Social Behavior. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.

Stone, P. A., and T. A. Baird. 2002. The effect of sample size on space use data: the Rose model revisited. Journal of Herpetology 36:427-436.

Stone, P. A., and H. L. Snell. 2002. Microlophus albemarlensis(Galápagos lava lizard). Cannibalism. Herpetological Review 33:53.

Stone, P. A. 2001. Movements and demography of the Sonoran mud turtle, Kinosternonsonoriense. The Southwestern Naturalist 46:41-53.

Peterson, C. C., and P. A. Stone. 2000. Physiological capacity for estivation of the Sonoran mud turtle, Kinosternon sonoriense. Copeia 2000:684-700.

Stone, P. A., and J. B. Iverson. 1999. Cutaneous surface area in freshwater turtles.  Chelonian Conservation and Biology 3:512-515.

Stone, P. A. 1998. Behaviour, implications for conservation. Pages 72-73 InP. Calow, editor, The Encyclopedia of Ecology & Environmental Management. Blackwell Science Ltd., Oxford.

Stone, P. A., and J. M. Hranitz. 1997. Trachemys scripta elegans(red-eared slider). Colonization. Herpetological Review 28:150.

Couch, L., P. A. Stone, D. W. Duszynski, H. L. Snell, and H. M. Snell. 1996. A survey of coccidian parasites of reptiles from islands of the Galápagos Archipelago: 1990-1994. Journal of Parasitology 82:432-437.

Snell, H. M., P. A. Stone, and H. L. Snell. 1996. A summary of the geographical characteristics of the Galápagos Islands. Journal of Biogeography 23:619-624.

Snell, H, H. Snell, P. A. Stone, M. Altamirano, A. Mauchamp, and I. Cruz. 1995. La Diversidad Biologica de las Islas Galapagos. Volume 1: Analisis de la Flora. Fundacion Charles Darwin para las Islas Galapagos. Quito, Ecuador, 65 pp.

Stone, P. A., H. L. Snell, and H. M. Snell. 1994. Behavioral diversity as biological diversity: introduced cats and lava lizard wariness. Conservation Biology 8:569-573.

Snell, H. L., H. M. Snell, and P. A. Stone. 1994. Accelerated mortality of Opuntiaon Isla Plaza Sur: another threat from an introduced vertebrate? Noticias de Galápagos 53:19-20.

Stone, P. A., J. B. Hauge, A. F. Scott, C. Guyer, and J. L. Dobie. 1993. Temporal changes in two turtle assemblages. Journal of Herpetology 27:13-23.

Stone, P. A., J. L. Dobie, and R. P. Henry. 1992. Cutaneous surface area and bimodal respiration in soft-shelled (Trionyx spiniferus), stinkpot (Sternotherus odoratus), and mud turtles (Kinosternon subrubrum). Physiological Zoology 65:311-330.

Stone, P. A., J. L. Dobie, and R. P. Henry. 1992. The effect of aquatic O2 levels on diving and ventilatory behavior in soft-shelled (Trionyx spiniferus), stinkpot (Sternotherus odoratus), and mud turtles (Kinosternon subrubrum). Physiological Zoology 65:331-345.