Department of Biology and Marine Biology, The University of North Carolina Wilmington
601 S. College Rd., Wilmington, NC USA 28403

My research interests revolve around the central question of how animals function in their environment.  My students and I are involved in a wide variety of studies, ranging from diving physiology to chemical ecology, but I am particularly interested in the thermal biology of marine reptiles.  Work in this area of specialization includes laboratory and field studies of the effects of seasonal changes in temperature on metabolism, respiration, heart rate, and behavior of juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), an investigation of the effects of diving and swimming patterns on body temperatures of leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), and research on thermal habitat preferences and effects of temperature on the physiology and behavior of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin).  I have a strong interest in applying results from objective scientific research to promote sound management and conservation of endangered species, and have worked with collaborators in government, academia, and non-profit organizations towards this goal.