Daniel Knapp

PhD Candidate - Wildlife and Fisheries Biology
Forestry and Environmental Conservation Department

Office: G12D Lehotsky
Phone:

Email: ddknapp@clemson.edu
Vita: Download CV

Educational Background

M.S. Biology
University of Alabama 2019

B.S. Biology
Pennsylvania State University 2012

Courses Taught

General Biology Lab I (BIOL 1050)
General Biology Lab II (BIOL 1060)
Wildlife Management Techniques Lab (WFB 4101)
Animal Behavior and Personality Creative Inquiry (FNR 4700-076)
Hellbender Ecology Creative Inquiry (FNR 4700-043)

Profile

For my M.S. research, I studied how development, interspecific morphology, and predators influence the body stoichiometry of larval anurans. For my Ph.D., I am investigating the predator-prey interactions between eastern hellbenders and their primary prey, crayfish. Specifically, I am examining hellbender prey selection, and the influence of hellbenders on the anti-predator, spatial, and ecosystem-processing behaviors of crayfish.

Research Interests

Behavioral ecology
Predator-prey interactions
Ecosystem processes
Developmental plasticity
Nutrient cycling

Publications

Knapp, D.D., S. Unger, J. Kerr, L.A. Williams, A.L. DeLoache, and C.M.B. Jachowski. 2026. Using DNA metabarcoding to assess dietary selection and seasonal dietary patterns in eastern hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) Food Webs, e00467.

Knapp, D.D., L. Diaz, S. Unger, C.N. Anderson, S.F. Spear, L.A. Williams, A.D. Kidd-Weaver, M.W. Green, O.M. Poelmann, J. Kerr, and C.M. Jachowski. 2023. Long-term retention, readability, and health effects of visible implant elastomer (VIE) and visible implant alpha (VI Alpha) tags in larval eastern hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis). Journal of Herpetology 57(2):133–141.

Atkinson, C.L., D.D. Knapp, and L.L. Smith. 2021. Long-term patterns of amphibian diversity, abundance and nutrient export from small, isolated wetlands. Diversity, 12(3): 598.

Knapp, D.D., L.L. Smith, and C.L. Atkinson. 2021. Larval anurans follow predictions of stoichiometric theory: implications for nutrient storage in wetlands. Ecosphere, 12(4):e03466.

Atkinson, C.L., T.B. Parr, B.C. van Ee, D.D. Knapp, M.M. Winebarger, K.J. Madoni, and W.R. Haag. 2020. Length-mass equations for freshwater unionid mussel assemblages: Implications for estimating ecosystem function. Freshwater Science, 39(3):000–000.

Knapp, D.D., J.M. Howze, C.M. Murphy, M.C. Dziadzio, and L.L. Smith. 2018. Prescribed fire affects vertebrate use of gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) burrows in a longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forest. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 13:551–557.

Murphy, C.M., D.D. Knapp, J.M. Howze, M.C. Dziadzio, and L.L. Smith. 2018. An evaluation of the efficacy of box snake trap arrays and a suggested new trap design. Herpetological Review, 49:253–257.

Murphy, C.M., J.M. Howze, D.D. Knapp, S.K. Hoss, and L.L. Smith. 2018. Crotalus horridus hibernation behavior. Herpetological Review, 49:127.

Long, A.K., D.D. Knapp, L. McCullough, L.L. Smith, M.L. Conner, and R.A. McCleery. 2015. Southern toads alter their behavior in response to red-imported fire ants. Biological Invasions, 17:2179–2186.

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