Human activity is the largest contributor of environmental contaminants at the global level. In many areas, legacy contaminants like mercury and contaminants of emerging concern, including per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) and microplastics, enter the environment through surface waters. These contaminants pose risks to natural resources, including water and wildlife, mainly where wildlife is consumed as part of recreational or commercial harvest. As contaminants of emerging concern, research on PFAS and microplastics is critical to addressing data gaps to quantify and understand potential impacts on wildlife; one management strategy to assess and monitor water quality is using indicator species that reflect the biotic or abiotic state of the environment.

American alligators are ubiquitous in freshwater and brackish wetlands throughout the southeastern United States, including the coastal plain of South Carolina. Alligators are currently used as indicators of exposure to contaminants, particularly metals and persistent organic pollutants. Moreover, they are a highly managed species, captured annually for research and management programs and harvested legally through public and private hunting. As such, there is potential to explore alligators as candidate indicator species for PFAS and microplastics in South Carolina and across their range. In addition to contaminants, there is a lack of data regarding alligator diet throughout much of the range. As the primary exposure pathway for contaminants, determining trends in the alligator diet is vital to elucidating patterns of contaminant exposure in alligators.

This project leverages an 8-state collaborative network to collect alligator stomach contents, blood, and tail muscle from wild alligators through live capture and stomach flushing, as well as from hunter-harvest. We have collected over 400 samples in the first two years from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. We are analyzing samples to explore regional alligator diet, alligator-ingested microplastic, and a regional census of PFAS exposure in alligators.

Publications 

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Boucher, M., M., Stoner, T. R., Rainwater, L., Sigler, and J. T. Anderson. 2024. Conquering the Crush: a Novel Tool for Crocodilian Snout Opening. Wildlife Society Bulletin, e1534.

I was a co-project lead on a snake mark-recapture project to monitor populations during an infrastructure development project, and to establish a long-term monitoring program. Project duties involved liasing with provincial regulators, industry clients, and private landowners. We collected data from prairie rattlesnkes, bullsnakes, wandering gartersnakes, and plains gartersnakes for three seasons using mark-recapture, and passive antenna arrays at den openings. I collected, organized, and analyzed field data to synthesize annual reports. I analyzed morphometric and demographic data to compare among sampling periods and generated preliminary populations estimates using POPAN models in the statistical program R.

I have diverse experience with crocodile research and wildlife conservation in Central America. All work I have been involved with has been done with an emphasis on local capacity building and in collaboration with local governments, wildlife managers, and communities.  

As a research technician, I supported Dr. Marisa Tellez's parasitology research on crocodiles in Belize. During this period, I assisted in collecting parasites through gastric lavage of captured crocodiles and collection of parasites in crocodile prey species from sites across Belize.

As the Research Coordinator for the Crocodile Research Coalition (CRC), I organized and led various research projects on crocodiles throughout Belize. I led data collection for the nationwide Morelet's crocodile population surveys from 2017 - 2019 and for the nationwide American crocodile surveys from 2018 -2019. This research involved conducting nocturnal eyeshine counts and capturing crocodiles to initiate a national mark-recapture program. I collected morphometric and demographic data from crocodiles throughout the country. I synthesized annual reports for the Belize Forest Department and disseminated results through peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations. During my time with the CRC I also initiated two new projects in their preliminary stages. Alongside Dr. Tellez, we deployed the first satellite transmitter on an American crocodile in Belize. I also was awarded funding through a National Geographic Early Career Grant to conduct population surveys of caiman and crocodiles in Rio San Juan, Nicaragua. 

Publications 

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Tellez, M., and M. Boucher. 2018. Historic Review of the Status of American Crocodiles in Belize and Future Management Considerations. Herpetological Review 49: 492 – 498. 

Tellez, M., S. Heflick, M. Boucher, A. Austin. 2017. Cannibalism in Crocodylus moreletii. Herpetological Review 48: 34 – 35.

Tellez, M., M. Boucher, and K. Kohlman. 2016. Population Status of the American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in Caye Caulker, Belize. Mesoamerican Herpetology 3: 450 – 460.

I designed and implemented a project studying American crocodile acoustic call production and the time-activity budgets for crocodiles in Belize. This project was completed as part of my M.S. thesis under Dr. James T. Anderson at West Virginia University. I determined the call structure of American crocodile distress calls for all size classes and compared production frequency among sites with varying degrees of anthropogenic disturbance. I conducted diurnal behavior observations to determine seasonal patterns in the time-activity budgets of adult American crocodiles. In complement to my thesis research, I modified a methodology to uniquely identify crocodiles by their tail spot patterns for use on American crocodiles and Morelet's crocodiles. I formulated all research questions, completed data collection, analyzed the data, and published all chapters of the M.S. thesis.

Publications 

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Boucher, M., M. Tellez, and J. T. Anderson. 2021. Activity Budget and Behavioral Patterns of American Crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) In Belize. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 16: 86 – 94.

Boucher, M., M. Tellez, and J. T. Anderson. 2020. Differences in Distress: Variance and Production of American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) Distress Calls in Belize. Ecology and Evolution 10: 9624 – 9634. 

Boucher, M., M. Tellez, and J. T. Anderson. 2017. A Tail of Two Crocs: Individual Identification of American (Crocodylus acutus) and Morelet’s (Crocodylus moreletii) Crocodiles by 

   Tail-spot Patterns. Mesoamerican Herpetology 4: 759 – 772.