The Benard Lab at CWRU

We study the ecology, evolution, and conservation of amphibians are based out of the Biology Department at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.  Here you can learn about the people in the lab, our research, and how to get in touch with us. Recent research in the lab includes: 

1. Long-term demographic studies of the effects of habitat modification and wetland restoration on populations of unisexual Ambystoma salamanders and smallmouth salamanders.

2. Experimental and multi-year observational studies of the effects of variation in phenology (the annual timing of life history events like breeding) on amphibian population and community ecology.

3. Experimental investigation of how amphibians are affected by habitat degradation, such as chemical pollutants and artificial light pollution at night. 

Recent Publications:

Neptune, T. C., & Benard, M. F. 2024. Longer days, larger grays: carryover effects of photoperiod and temperature in gray treefrogs, Hyla versicolor. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 291(2026), 20241336.  https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.1336 

Benard, M. F., Burke, D. J., Carrino-Kyker, S. R., Krynak, K., & Relyea, R. A. 2024. Effects of amphibian genetic diversity on ecological communities. Oecologia, 205(3), 655-667. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-024-05599-8 

Benard, M.F. and K.R. Greenwald. 2023. Environmental Drivers of Amphibian Breeding Phenology across Multiple Sites. Diversity (15) 253. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020253 

Dimitrie, D.A. and M.F. Benard. 2023. Female treefrog preference for breeding sites matches offspring performance in the presence of two anuran competitors. Ecology. e4164.  https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4164

Neptune, T.C. and M.F. Benard. 2023. Photoperiod effects in a freshwater community: Amphibian larvae develop faster and zooplankton abundance increases under an early‐season photoperiod. Ecology and Evolution. 13(8)e10400.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10400

Rollins, H.B. and M.F. Benard.  2020. Challenges in predicting the outcome of competition based on climate change-induced phenological and body size shifts. Oecologia. 193: 749-759. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-020-04705-w

Dananay, K.L. and M. F. Benard. 2018. Artificial light at night decreases metamorphic duration and juvenile growth in a widespread amphibian.  Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 285: 20180367. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.0367