Monica E. McGarrity, M.S.

Monica McGarrity works with Dr. Steve Johnson at the UF/IFAS Plant City Campus as a Biological Scientist. Her current research pursuits focus on the ecology of the invasive Cuban Treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis), and topics of investigation include trends in sexual size dimorphism, movements and habitat use, and homing behavior. Monica also assists in research projects conducted by Dr. J and his students, assists with teaching, and works to develop and promote extension publications and programs that emphasize invasive wildlife biology and urban wildlife education, including venomous snake safety. Monica serves as webmaster for this site, which serves to educate the public on the topics of invasive species and urban wildlife interactions.

Education

• M.S. 2005   -  Biology, Florida Atlantic University
• B.S. 2003    -  Biology, Old Dominion University

Professional Experience

• Biological Scientist
  University of Florida, IFAS
  Plant City Campus, Plant City, FL
  Jul. 2006 – Present
• Science Teacher
  Life Skills Center Charter School
  Lakeland, FL
  Nov. 2005 – June 2006
• Teaching Assistant
  Florida Atlantic University
  Boca Raton, FL
  Aug. 2003 - Jul. 2005
• Research Assistant
  Old Dominion University Marine Ecology Lab
  Norfolk, VA
  Jun. 2003 – Aug. 2003
• Animal Care Technician - Herps
  Old Dominion University Herpetology Lab
  Norfolk, VA
  Dec. 2001 – Jul. 2002

Selected Publications

Extension Fact Sheets

• McGarrity, M.E. and S.A. Johnson. 2009. How to Make a Treefrog House. Florida Cooperative Extension Service Publication WEC .
• Johnson, S.A. and M.E. McGarrity. 2009. Florida's Introduced Birds: An Overview. Florida Cooperative Extension Service Publication WEC 252.
• Johnson, S.A. and M. McGarrity. 2009 In Publication. Florida's Introduced Birds: Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus). Florida Cooperative Extension Service Publication.
• Johnson, S.A. and M.E. McGarrity. 2007. Dealing with snakes in Florida’s residential areas: Introduction. Florida Cooperative Extension Service Publication WEC 219.
• Johnson, S.A. and M.E. McGarrity. 2007. Dealing with snakes in Florida’s residential areas: Identifying commonly encountered snakes. Florida Cooperative Extension Service Publication WEC 220.
• Johnson, S.A. and M.E. McGarrity. 2007. Dealing with snakes in Florida’s residential areas: Preventing encounters. Florida Cooperative Extension Service Publication WEC 221.
• Johnson, S.A. and M.E. McGarrity. 2007. Dealing with snakes in Florida’s residential areas: Emergency planning. Florida Cooperative Extension Service Publication WEC 222.
• Johnson, S.A. and M.E. McGarrity. 2006. “Black Snakes”: Identification and Ecology. Florida Cooperative Extension Service Publication WEC 214.

Scientific Journal Articles

• Johnson, S.A., M.E. McGarrity and C.L. Staudhammer. In Press. An Effective Chemical Deterrent for Invasive Cuban Treefrogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis). Human-Wildlife Conflicts.
• Hoffmann, K.E., S.A. Johnson and M.E. McGarrity. In Press. Interspecific Variation in Use of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipe Refuges by Hylid Treefrogs: A Potential Source of Capture Bias. Herpetological Review.
• McGarrity, M.E. and S.A. Johnson. In Press. A Radio Telemetry Study of Invasive Cuban Treefrogs. Florida Scientist.
• Xuan, L., Yiming, L. and M.E. McGarrity. 2009. Geographical variation in body size and sexual size dimorphism of introduced American Bullfrogs in southwestern China (327KB pdf). Biological Invasions Online First.
• McGarrity, M.E. and S.A. Johnson. 2009. Geographic trend in sexual size dimorphism and body size of Osteopilus septentrionalis: implications for invasion of the southeastern United States (291KB pdf). Biological Invasions 11:1411-1420.
• Hoffmann, K., M.E. McGarrity, and S.A. Johnson. 2008. Technology meets tradition: A combined VIE-C technique for individually marking anurans (825KB pdf). Applied Herpetology 5:265-280.