Project participants - Collaborations
Since 2000, biological samples from sea turtles and by-catch organisms have been collected for more than 30 collaborators located primarily in the Southeast U.S. Collaboration with in-water research surveys is critical because it maximizes the amount of information obtained on the sea turtles captured, as well as provides samples from components of the population (i.e., juveniles and adult males) that are difficult and expensive to sample. As such, collaboration is mutually-beneficial to researchers as well as the management agencies that fund and permit this research. In some instances samples from a single season were sufficient; however, many of the collaborations listed below represent continued multi-year associations that will enable temporal monitoring of key demographic and health parameters over time.
| Purpose | Analysis | Affiliation | Collaborator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demographics | DNA (mitochrondrial) | University of South Carolina | Dr. Joe Quattro, Ph.D. |
| Demographics | DNA (nuclear) | University of Georgia | Dr. Brian Shamblin, Ph.D. |
| Demographics | Testosterone | College of Charleston | Dr. David Owens, Ph.D. |
| Demographics | Estradiol | GA Southern University | Dr. David Rostal, Ph.D. |
| Demographics | Vitellogenin | SE Lousiana University | Dr. Roldan Valverde |
| Health and nutrition | Blood chemistry, cell counts | Antech Diagnostics Lab | Ms. Sandy Jones (regional rep) |
| Health and nutrition | Blood chemistry, cell counts | Wildlife Conservation Society | Dr. Sharon Deem, D.V.M. |
| Health and nutrition | Blood chemistry, cell counts | Georgia Sea Turtle Center | Dr. Terry Norton, D.V.M. |
| Health and nutrition | Vitamin A, E | Mystic Aquarium | Dr. Lisa Mazzaro, Ph.D. |
| Health and nutrition | Vitamin D | Boston University | Dr. Tai Chen, Ph.D. |
| Health and nutrition | Proteins, lipids | University of Miami | Dr. Carolyn Cray, Ph.D. |
| Health and nutrition | Minerals | University of Pennsylvania | New Bolton Diagnostic Center |
| Health and nutrition | Iron | South Carolina Aquarium | Dr. Shane Boylan, D.V.M. |
| Health and nutrition | Hematology | NC State University | Dr. Craig Harms, D.V.M. |
| Health and nutrition | Thyroid (T3, T4) | TVDML | Dr. Duncan McKenzie, D.V.M. |
| Health and nutrition | Endocrinology | College of Charleston | Dr. Karen Burnett |
| Health and nutrition | Biliverdin | University of Georgia | Dr. Heather Wilson, D.V.M. |
| Health and nutrition | Stable isotopes (turtle) | University of Florida | Ms. Mariela Pajuelo |
| isotope validation | Stable isotopes (barnacles) | University of Florida | Ms. Mariela Pajuelo |
| isotope validation | Stable isotopes (water) | University of Florida | Ms. Mariela Pajuelo |
| isotope validation | Stable isotopes (prey items) | University of Central Florida | Ms. Simona Ceriani |
| Contamination, infection | Toxicology, immunology | NIST | Dr. Jennifer Keller, Ph.D. |
| Contamination, infection | Mercury | NOAA | Mr. Rusty Day |
| Contamination, infection | Heavy metals | Loma Linda University | Ms. Ashley Register |
| Contamination, infection | Immunology | MUSC | Dr. Margie Peden-Adams |
| Contamination, infection | Pathology (fecal samples) | University of Florida | Dr. Ellis Greiner, D.V.M. |
| Contamination, infection | Pathology (cloacal swabs) | NOAA | Dr. Jan Gooch, Ph.D. |
| Contamination, infection | Pathology (cloacal swabs) | SCDNR | Dr. Al Segars, D.V.M. |
| Contamination, infection | Histology, genetics (lesions) | University of Florida | Dr. Brian Stacy, D.V.M. |
| Barnacles | Taxonomy, genetics | The Citadel (was U of Hawaii) |
Dr. John Zardus, Ph.D. |
| Epibionts, by-catch | Taxonomy | SCDNR | Ms. Dany Burgess |