Research

Since I was young boy (probably about 4 or 5), I have been interested in crocodilians and their watery habitats. My interest in them has dictated my life: I have continuously been working with alligators and crocodiles since I was a teenager (i.e., old enough to legally work with them; 13+ years). My interest in crocodilian biology has led to a number of diverse research projects, ranging in scope from ecotoxicology and environmental health to infectious diseases and agricultural production, and to my belief that crocodilians can serve as important environmental indicators and provide insight into human health. What unites each of these projects is my interest in how stressors, such as toxicant exposure, disturbance, or captivity, affect physiology and behavior. My current research projects are listed below:

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Examining relationships between anthropogenic stressors, health, and oxidative stress

 

Examining relationships between growth hormones, glucocorticoids and their receptors, oxidative stress, and growth and condition

 

Determining how early life stressor exposure impacts physiology and reproduction in later life

 

Investigating health and population status of Alabama alligators

 

 

Please contact me if interested in further information or interested in collaborating