The research and other work of Coastal Plains Institute biologists have been featured in many documentaries, TV shows, newspaper articles, and other media over the years. Click on the links below to see details.
Our Striped Newt project was featured on WFSU’s Local Routes Program! This 7-min video provides a great overview of our project and associated educational activities.
Internet, Magazine, and Newspaper Articles
Documentaries/Television
“Apalachicola Lowlands Preserve: A Family’s Labor of Love.” 2021. A 7-minut video, produced by WFSU’s Ecology Blog, that talks about the work we have been doing to restore our 80-acre preserve.
“Striped Newts and Ephemeral Wetlands in the Apalachicola National Forest.” 2018. A 3-minute video, produced by WFSU’s Ecology Blog, that features Ryan and Rebecca Means’ striped newt repatriation project
“Bringing the Striped Newt back to the Munson Sandhills” 2016. A 7-minute video, produced by WFSU’s Ecology Blog, that features Ryan and Rebecca Means’ striped newt repatriation project and associated educational activities.
“Frog-Licking and Other Florida Wonders.” 2015. Video for National Geographic from the Florida Wildlife Corridor’s Glaces2Gulf Trek.
“Lost Worlds with Monty Halls and Leo Houlding, Waterfalls episode.” 2015. An hour-long video exploring two of the world’s most remote and least known giant waterfalls in the ancient Guiana Shield. Discovery Channel.
“Lost Worlds with Monty Halls and Leo Houlding, Rainforest episode.” 2015. An hour-long video exploration of Guyana’s remotest outback, including catching anacondas, matamata turtles, and carnivorous crabs on the Burro Burro River. Discovery Channel.
“Return to the Tepuis.” 2013. Jenny Nichols, Pongo Media Productions. A 9-minute documentary film about Dr. Bruce Means’s descent into a 200-ft deep chasm on Weiassipu Tepui in Guyana in search of a rare frog.
“Deadly 60, Series 3. Florida.” 2012. D. B. Means facilitated an hour-long BBC Bristol Productions documentary about Florida’s wildlife.
“Life, Extraordinary Animals, Extreme Behavior.” 2009. One segment of the series is “Amphibians and Reptiles,” an hour-long BBC documentary film featuring a 7-minute segment of two species of pebble toads, genus Oreophrynella, filmed in remote South America with D. B. Means as off-camera facilitator.
“Corridors of Life, St. Andrews Bay Watershed.” 2008. D. B. Means is co-producer and on-camera host of a documentary film about the three missions of the Northwest Florida Water Management District (to protect the water, to protect habitat, and provide recreation), and the geology, hydrology, and ecology of Econfina Creek and springs in the St. Andrews Bay watershed. Running time: 58 minutes. GOLD AWARD winner in the 2009 Audio Visual Awards Competition.
“Ultimate Viper.” 2007. A National Geographic Ultimate Explorer documentary film featuring the re-creation of D. B. Means’s snakebite by the eastern diamondback rattlesnake.
“Legends of the Lost World.” 2007. A documentary film about an expedition in Guyana to remote tepuis, in which D. B. Means explains the geology and ecology of the Guiana Shield region of South America. Produced by North Face and Rush HD Television Channel.
“Red Hills.” 2006. A documentary film about a large upland region in southwest Georgia and the eastern panhandle of Florida. Produced for Georgia Outdoors televison program of Georgia Public Broadcasting, Atlanta, Ga.
“Red Hills Horse Trials and Nature Walk.” 2004. An On Location production of the City of Tallahassee television channel. D. B. Means appears explaining some of the natural history of a walking trail in Elinor Klapp Phipps Park.
“Everglades Trail.” 2004. Stories of the Everglades narrated by Charles Osgood on a two-disc set of CD-ROM. Produced by Wilderness Graphics, Inc. D. B. Means narrates a segment about Everglades wildlife.
“Into the Lost World.” 2004. A National Geographic Ultimate Explorer documentary film about a 30-day walking and climbing expedition through trackless rainforests of Guyana to the northern “Prow” of Mt. Roraima, the mysterious mountain that inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Lost World” novel.
“Saving the King of Snakes.” 2004. One of the series, “Snake Wranglers II,” for the National Geographic Television Channel about Bruce Means’s discovery, study, and naming of a distinct new race of the common kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula, in the Florida panhandle.
“Smart Reptiles.” 2004. Episode 2 of the BBC Television series “Dragons Alive,” about the interesting sensory biology of the world’s snakes.
“Diamondback Survivors.” 2003. An episode in National Geographic Channel’s “Snake Wranglers” series about how the eastern diamondback rattlesnake survives in the face of human onslaught. Features D.B. Means and Ryan Means, working together on offshore barrier islands of Georgia and Florida.
“Giant Toad.” First aired 12 February 2003. WCTV Good Morning Show. An animal interest program featuring D. B. Means talking about a world-record, giant Southern Toad from Jefferson County, Florida; a case of true gigantism.
“Bad Rap Vipers.” 2003. An episode in National Geographic Channel’s “Snake Wranglers” series about how venomous snakes get a bad rap, featuring D. B. Means talking about defensive behavior in the eastern diamondback rattlesnake.
“Quest for the Rainbow Serpent.” 2002. A National Geographic Explorer documentary about the snakes of Australia co-produced by D. B. Means and David Wright.
“FSU Alumnus Stars in National Geographic Special.” 2002. A segment of FSU Headlines, a half-hour pubic affairs program (PBS) airing throughout the state on Sunshine Network and WFSU-TV.
“The Secret Seashore.” 2001. A Georgia Public Television documentary about the barrier islands of the Georgia seacoast. D. B. Means explains the biology of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake population there.
“Close Encounters.” 2000. WCTV Good Morning Show, animal interest program by Art Meyer featuring the ecological importance of the American alligator with naturalist D. B. Means.
“The Natural World–Deadly Vipers.” 2000. BBC Television documentary about venomous vipers and pitvipers of the world. D. B. Means assisted in filming and served as a scientific consultant.
“Flatwoods salamander: A new threatened species.” 1999. Interview by Sidney Fisher aired on evening news programs for WTXL Channel 27, Tallahassee, FL.
“Florida, the Outdoor Adventure, Northwest Region.” 1999. Film produced by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission and aired on PBS. D. B. Means is featured in a two-minute segment about the biodiversity of panhandle Florida.
“Rattlesnake Man.” 1999. Clips of D. B. Means interviewed in Florida by Matt Lauer, aired on NBC’s Today Show, Dateline, and National Geographic Explorer Special Edition.
“King Rattler.” 1999. A National Geographic Explorer documentary about the natural history and conservation problems of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, featuring D. B. Means
“How Florida Got Cool, The invention of refrigeration.” 1998. Florida Public Broadcasting Service, Inc. A film including clips of D. B. Means talking about environmental problems facing Floridians.
“Amphibian underpass for Rare Amphibians.” Fox News Release for national affiliate stations. Aired January, 1998, all over the U. S.
“Road Crossing for Amphibians.” WTWC Channel 40 news clip, Tallahassee, FL. Aired Friday, January 2, 1998.
“Amphibian Underpass: FSU researcher studies ponds.” WTXL Channel 27 news clip, Tallahassee, FL. Aired December 17, 1997.
“Amphibian Underpass: FSU researcher studies ponds.” WCTV Channel 6 news clip, Tallahassee, FL. Aired December 14, 1997.
“Florida Division of Forestry assists in control burn.” WKRG Channel 5, Mobile/Pensacola news feature about prescribed burn on Crown Pointe Preserve, owned and managed by Coastal Plains Institute. Aired mid-day and evening on 18 April 1997.
“Prescribed fire rejuvenates pitcher plant preserve.” WEAR Channel 3, ABC affiliate, news feature about prescribed burn on Crown Pointe Preserve, owned and managed by Coastal Plains Institute. Aired mid-day and evening on 18 April 1997.
Internet, Magazine, and Newspaper Articles
“Striped Newts and Ornate Chorus Frogs in the Munson Sandhills” 2017. An article on WFSU Ecology Blog featuring Ryan and Rebecca Means’ striped newt repatriation project and associated educational programs.
“Bringing the Striped Newt back to the Munson Sandhills” 2016. An article on WFSU Ecology Blog featuring Ryan and Rebecca Means’ striped newt repatriation project and associated educational programs.
“Adopt an Ephemeral Wetland” 15 January 2015. Front page article of the Tallahassee Democrat’s Lifestyle Section featuring Rebecca Means’ Adopt an Ephemeral Wetland program.
“New Hope for Florida’s Native Newt” 3 August 2014. Front page article of the Tallahassee Democrat’s Sunday edition featuring Ryan and Rebecca Means’ striped newt repatriation project and associated educational programs. Story was picked up by Associated Press and reprinted in Washington Times, USA Today, Pensacola News Journal, and other outlets.
“Pebble Toad.” National Geographic Explorer Moment of the Week. 2013, March 1-7. Photographer Joe Riis joined D. B. Means on an expedition to look for new frog species and to study pebble toads.
“Pristine ‘Islands in the Sky’ are Window on Evolution.” 28 September 2013. National Geographic News article about Bruce Means’s research among tepuis of South America, with a 3 min, 33 second video embedded in it featuring Means and his discoveries with pebble toads.
Radio
“Happy Homecoming for National Forest Newts” 3 July 2018. Rebecca Means spoke with WFSU’s Tom Flanigan about our recent striped newt release event.
“Perspectives: Prescribed Burns” 19 January 2017. Rebecca Means was one on a four-person panel discussing the benefits of prescribed burns on our native ecosystems.
“NPR Science Friday with Ira Flatow,” 20 March 2009. D. B. Means interviewed for his expertise on the biodiversity of the Florida panhandle area and discoveries of new species in the wilds of northern South America.
“The Whigham, Georgia, Rattlesnake Roundup.” February 1999. Interview aired on National Public Radio at Whigham, Georgia, Rattlesnake Roundup about the effects of roundups on the population biology of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake.
“Special crosswalk to be built for amphibians.” 12 January 1998. Interview with Tina Shrodder for daily NPR program, FSU Headlines.
“Frog Crossing.” 9 January 1998. Interview of D. B. Means by Dr. Susan Allen on Channel 47 daily radio program Eureka.
“Leon County lakes: Problems and solutions.” WFSU public radio hosted by Jim Christie, Tallahassee, FL. Aired 31 July 1997