Biography
I am an evolutionary ecologist, herpetologist, and science communicator. I am especially interested in how organisms respond and adapt to the increasingly anthropogenic world. I frame my investigations within the contexts of conservation, evolution, urban ecology, and invasion biology, and strive to integrate my findings into actionable applications to ecological problems. Often this requires looking for new ways to engage people and communities to take part in the scientific process and how we can make science more approachable and meaningful to the broader public.
Publications
* indicates an MtA student author
A specialist surrounded by suburbia: the ecology of a newly described Four-toed Salamander population in New Brunswick. AMJ Leal*, GA Christie*, JL Riley, J Baxter-Gilbert (2026) PeerJ 14, e21370
Vertebrate Glucocorticoid Physiology and Road Ecology. J Baxter-Gilbert, SP Boyle, OL Crino (2026) Road Ecology: Synthesis and Perspectives, 85-95
Changes in the chemical defenses of an invasive toad indicate drivers and limitations of adaptation. M Mühlenhaupt, J Baxter-Gilbert, JL Riley, BG Makhubo, NS Dludla, C Baider, FBV Florens, X Porcel, A de Villiers, WAL van Otterlo, J Measey (2026) iScience 29 (4), 115401
Hemidactylium scutatum (Four-toed Salamander) Colouration. AMJ Leal*, GA Christie*, J Baxter-Gilbert (2025) Herpetological Review 56 (3), 297
Getting a Leg Up in the World: Observations of Food Provisioning Maternal Care in the Common Candy-Striped Spider, Enoplognatha ovata (Clerck). JL Auguscinski*, J Baxter-Gilbert (2025) Northeastern Naturalist 32 (3), N39-N45
Plethodon Cinereus (Eastern Red-Backed Salamander) Scoliosis. C Yang*, A Gigeroff*, JL Riley, J Baxter-Gilbert, J Porter (2025) Herpetological Review 56 (2), 176
Establishing a Baseline: Assessing the Presence of Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola on Snakes in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada. IM Acker*, J Baxter-Gilbert, JL Riley (2025) Herpetological Conservation and Biology 20 (3), 624-638
Plethodon cinereus (Eastern Red-backed Salamander): Plastic Ingestion. MJ Williams*, JL Riley, J Baxter-Gilbert (2024) Herpetological Review 55 (3), 403-405
Island hopping through urban filters: Anthropogenic habitats and colonized landscapes alter morphological and performance traits of an invasive amphibian. J Baxter-Gilbert, JL Riley, C Wagener, C Baider, FBV Florens, P Kowalski, M Campbell, J Measey (2022) Animals 12 (19), 2549
First report of Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) on Newfoundland. J Baxter-Gilbert, L King, J Riley (2022) The Canadian Field-Naturalist 136 (1), 5-9
A full publication list can be found here.
Education
Postdoctoral Research: DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology Fellow, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, WC, South Africa
PhD: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
MSc: Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada
GDip: Science Communication Program, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada
BSc: Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada
Teaching
BIOL 1001 – Foundations of Biology, Fall
BIOL 4991 – Adapting to the Anthropocene, Fall
BIOL 3751 – Comparative Chordate Anatomy, Winter
BIOL 3271 – Science Communication for Biology, Winter
Research
Currently, my research is focused on examining the evolutionary ecology and distribution on non-native and invasive species in Atlantic Canada, with a strong emphasise on amphibians and reptiles in Newfoundland. This research includes facets of both the biological and environmental perspective (e.g., how invasion impacts the invaders and the ecosystems they colonise), but also the human perspective of how we can better connect people with science and how communities can be more involved and integrated in biological research. That said, I am also always keen to chat about cool research ideas and am a strong advocate for multi-discipline collaborations to tackle ecological challenges. So, if you have a research idea and would like to discuss it do not hesitate to reach out.