Carl Qualls

Carl Qualls is a Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, specializing in conservation biology and herpetology. His work focuses on reptile and amphibian population genetics, habitat ecology, and conservation strategies for endangered species such as turtles and salamanders. He holds a PhD from the University of Sydney (1995) and a BS from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (1990).

Education:

• PhD, University of Sydney, 1995
• BS, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 1990

His research emphasizes genetic diversity analysis, population structure of reptiles, and development of conservation tools using molecular markers. Key areas include freshwater turtle population dynamics, tick sialotranscriptomics, and environmental DNA (eDNA) methodologies for species detection. His work often integrates field ecology with lab-based genetic analysis to address biodiversity challenges.

Recent publications analyze the distribution of alligator snapping turtles, gopher tortoise genetics, and conservation strategies for megacephalic map turtles. While no formal awards are listed, his contributions to reptile conservation genetics are notable in academic circles.

His studies frequently involve cross-species microsatellite loci development for conservation applications, reflecting expertise in both molecular biology and field ecology. Research locations include the Gulf Coastal Plain and Desoto National Forest, Mississippi.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with institutions on projects involving reptile conservation, eDNA sampling, and population genomics.