Juvenile Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas)

This research was based on the earlier work of Dean Bagley (University of Central Florida) and Tomo Hirama (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) and was in collaboration with Dr. Ehrhart and Dr. Parkinson also from the University of Central Florida. We conducted mixed stock analyses on three aggregations of juvenile green turtles in Florida. We also incorporated data on a debilitating viral disease known as fibropapillomatosis. We were then able to identify source rookeries for juvenile aggregation and predict the effects this disease would have on global populations once juveniles afflicted with the disease became reproductively mature and recruited to their natal rookeries. The results of this study will soon be submitted for publication (Spring 2006).

Marine Turtles of Oman

This research is funded by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, the University of Central Florida, and Mel Stark. In collaboration with Sultan Qaboos University, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the generous support of the Omani government, I traveled to Oman during the summer of 2004 and collected several tissue samples from loggerheads and green turtles. I have identied a surprising link between the loggerheads of Masirah Island, Oman and the Atlantic population. We are investigating similar patterns in nesting green turtles. The preliminary results of this work will be submitted for publication during Spring 2006.

Investigating the Effects of Beach Nourishment on Marine Turtles

This research was funded by the Brevard County Office of Natural Resource Management and is in collaboration with Dr. Ehrhart and Kelly Brock at the University of Central Florida. We are investigating the long-term effects of beach renourishment on several parameters of marine turtle recovery. The results of this research are in review in the journal of Restoration Ecology.

Immunocompetency in Juvenile Green Turtles

This research was funded by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, and the University of Central Florida. In collaboration with Dr. Ehrhart and Dr. John Fauth of the University of Central Florida, and Craig Downs of Haereticus Inc., we are investigating the role of pesticides and environmental degradation in the disease fibropapillomatosis. The results of this research will be submitted for publication late in Spring 2006. Preliminary results can be viewed here.

Historical Population Structure of Marine Turtles in Response to Global Climate Change

This research was funded by the University of Central Florida and is in collaboration with Todd Castoe and Christopher Parkinson of the University of Central Florida. We investigated historical patterns of population structure in three species of marine turtle in response to global climate change over the last 3 million years. The results of this research can be found in the Journal of Conservation Genetics (see here).

Florida Gopher Tortoises

This research investigated the distribution of gopher tortoises on the barrier island along the east coast of Florida. The results of this research helped to identify a major source population for tortoises in Brevard County, Florida.

Florida Grasshopper Sparrows

This research is in collaboration with Reed Noss of the University of Central Florida. My role was to identify species distributions through point counts, estimate abundance and use molecular genetics to sex and identify family groups. This research is ongoing and takes place at Kissimmee Prairie State Park, Florida.

Juvenile Loggerheads (Caretta caretta) in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida

This research was funded by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the American Museum of Natural History, the Caribbean Conservation Corporation, and the University of Central Florida. I investigated the genetic composition of the resident aggregation of juvenile loggerheads in the Indian River Lagoon. I conducted Bayesian Markov-Chain Monte Carlo mixed stock analyses to determine the rookeries which contributed juveniles to this population. In collaboration with Dr. Ehrhart and Dr. Parkinson at the University of Central Florida, we determined that this aggregation of juveniles is composed of juveniles originating primarily in Florida, though in a very unique and predictable pattern that has management implications for the entire northern Atlantic population. The results of this research are in press in the Journal of Conservation Genetics (see here)