[5] He earned his BS (1970) and MS (1974) in zoology from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where he worked on collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris) under James M. Walker.

He earned his PhD from Auburn University (1980), where he worked on six-lined racerunners (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus) under Robert Mount (who graduated under Archie Carr).

[6][7] Trauth's research concerns conservation, microscopic anatomy, histology, reproductive biology parasitology, natural history, and behavior of amphibians and reptiles.

Trauth's work with his student Benjamin A. Wheeler and University of Florida professor Max Nickerson, on the federally endangered Ozark hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis)[8] was important in its obtaining protection under the U.S.

His work with Joseph Milanovich (Loyola University [Chicago]), David Saugey (US Forest Service) and Robyn Jordan demonstrated that climate change could have severe impacts on terrestrial populations.

[34] His work with Dr. Joy Trauth and Malcolm L. McCallum showed that Illinois chorus frogs (Pseudacris illinoesis) were experiencing a severe range contraction,[35] largely due to changed land use policies connected to US Environmental Protection Agency's Best Management Practices for controlling runoff on farm fields in Arkansas.

He has studied spermatogenesis and spermatogenic cycles in amphibians and reptiles, and his work on sperm morphology and glandular epithelium includes the first descriptions for many species.

Trauth has advised and graduated two PhD students while faculty at Arkansas State University: Malcolm L. McCallum (2003) and Benjamin A. Wheeler (2005).