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 focused on pythons and other predators 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

Claunch NM, Clancey KL, Harman MEA, Hengstebeck KC, Juarez-Sanchez D, Haro D, Vilchez M, McKee RK, Sutton A, & Romagosa CM (2023). Welcome to paradise: snake invasions on islands. Invited book chapter in Island Snakes Volume II. Eds Lillywhite, H. and Martins, M.

McKee RK, Buhlmann KA, Moore CT, Allender MC, Stacy NI, & Tuberville TD (2022). Island of misfit tortoises: waif gopher tortoise health assessment following translocation. Conservation Physiology, 10(1), coac051.

McKee RK, Buhlmann KA, Moore CT, Hepinstall‐Cymerman J, & Tuberville TD (2021). Waif gopher tortoise survival and site fidelity following translocation. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 85(4), 640-653.

Tuberville TD, McKee RK, Gaya HE, & Norton TM (2021). Survival of immature gopher tortoises recruited into a translocated population. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 85(4), 631-639.

McKee RK, Cecala KK, & Dorcas ME (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

Oral Presentations

McKee RK, Zeitoune, S.*, & McCleery RA. "Unraveling the Impacts of Burmese Python Invasion on Florida's Biodiversity: Insights into Prey Naivete and Ecological Functioning." Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society Annual Conference. Cape Coral, FL. April 2024.

McKee RK, Zeitoune, S.*, & McCleery RA. "Navigating new threats: Evolutionary experience with snake predation predicts mammalian response to python cues." Southeastern Partners in Reptile and Amphibian Conservation. Nauvoo, AL. Feb 2024.

Tuberville TD, Ramstad KM, Edwards TA, Grosse AM, Dillman WD, McKee RK, Young H, & Buhlmann KA. "Reproductive integration of gopher tortoises following multiple population augmentation." Turtle Survival Alliance. Charleston, SC. Aug 2023.

Rothermel, BB, McKee RK, Tuberville TD, West A, White N, Yuan M, & Zamudio K. "Relative body size and genetic relatedness affect female social networks in gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus)". Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Norfolk, VA. July 2023.

McKee RK, Buhlmann KA, Dillman WD, Kesler B, Stacy N, Allender, MA, Moore CM, & Tuberville TD. "An island of misfit tortoises: Assessing the use of waif animals to recover populations on the brink." Turtle Survival Alliance. Tucson, AZ. Aug 2019.

McKee RK, Buhlmann KA, Tuberville TD, Dillman WD, Kesler B, & Moore CM . "Staying alive: waif gopher tortoise survival following translocation." Southeastern Partners in Reptile and Amphibian Conservation (SEPARC). Black Mountain, NC. Feb 2019.

McKee RK, Buhlmann KA, Dillman WD, Kesler B, Moore CM, & Tuberville TD. "An island of misfit tortoises: Estimating the survival of translocated waif tortoises." Gopher Tortoise Council Meeting. Venus, Florida. Oct 2018.

McKee RK, Buhlmann KA, Dillman WD, Kesler B, Stacy N, Moore CM, & Tuberville TD. "An island of misfit tortoises: health and survival of waif gopher tortoises following translocation." The Integrative Conservation Conference. Athens, GA. Sep 2018.

McKee RK, Buhlmann KA, Tuberville TD, Dillman WD, Kesler B, & Moore CM . "Health and stress of waif gopher tortoises following translocation." UGA Student Chapter of Wildlife Disease Association. Athens, GA. April 2018.

McKee RK, Buhlmann KA, Tuberville TD, Dillman WD, Kesler B, & Moore CM . "Waif tortoise health following translocation." Southeastern Partners for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Meeting. Helen, GA. Feb 2018.

McKee RK, Buhlmann KA, Dillman WD, Kesler B, Moore CM, & Tuberville TD. "Waif tortoise health following translocation." Warnell Graduate Student Symposium. Athens, GA. Jan 2018.

McKee RK, Buhlmann KA, Dillman WD, Kesler B, Moore CM, & Tuberville TD. "An island of misfit tortoises: using waif animals to recover populations on the brink." Gopher Tortoise Council Meeting. Aiken, SC. Oct 2017.

McKee RK, KK Cecala, & ME Dorcas. "The role of bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) on diamondback terrapin catch and behavior." Association of Southeastern Biologists Meeting. Spartanburg, SC. April 2014.

*Undergraduate mentee.

Poster Presentations

Soto KM*, McKee RK, Newman JC. 2023. "Conservation Action Plan: Green Salamander Complex" The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting. Louisville, KY. Nov 2023.

Zeitoune S*, McKee RK, McCleery RA, Romagosa C, & Carthy RR. "Cotton rats may be pre-adapted to recognize cues of invasive pythons." The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting. Louisville, KY. Nov 2023.

Soto KM*, McKee RK, Newman JC. 2023. "Conservation Action Plan: Green Salamander Complex" Southeast Partners in Amphibians and Reptiles Conservation, Black Mountain, NC. February 2023.

McKee RK, & Wilde S. "Assessing Scientific Literacy in Online Learning: Insight from Efforts to Revamp an Introductory Course in the Natural Sciences." University System of Georgia Teaching and Learning Conference. Athens, GA. April 2019.

McKee RK, Buhlmann KA, Dillman WD, Kesler B, Moore CM, & Tuberville TD. "An Island of Misfit Tortoises: Health and Survival of Waif Gopher Tortoises Following Translocation." The Wildlife Society Annual Meeting. Cleveland, OH. Oct 2018.

McKee RK, Buhlmann KA, Dillman WD, Kesler B, & Tuberville TD. "An Island of Misfit Tortoises: Using Waif Animals to Recover Populations on the Brink." Turtle Survival Alliance Meeting. Charleston, SC. Aug 2017.

McKee RK, KK Cecala, & Dorcas ME. "The Role of Bycatch Reduction Device Orientation on Blue Crab and Diamondback Terrapin Catch." Diamondback Terrapin Working Group. Kiawah, SC. Sep 2013.

*Undergraduate mentee.