Research Summary
Barnegat Bay, New Jersey — Arguably the world’s most attractive and colorful turtles, diamondback terrapins are the only U.S. turtles that inhabit the brackish waters of estuaries, tidal creeks, and salt marshes. With a historic range stretching from Massachusetts to Texas, terrapin populations have been severely depleted by land development and other human impacts along the Atlantic coast. Veteran Earthwatch turtle scientists Drs. Hal Avery, Jim Spotila, Walter Bien and Ed Standora are determining the viability of terrapin populations in the face of growing environmental change. You can help these researchers in the rich, brackish waters of Barnegat Bay Estuary, an ecologically important salt marsh ecosystem along the mid-Atlantic coast and a special oasis of coastal biodiversity.
Meet the Scientists
Dr. Hal Avery
Drexel University
“You might not think of New Jersey as a wilderness destination, but Barnegat Bay will astound you with its scenic beauty. Diamondback terrapins, designated as a “species of special concern” in New Jersey, are the animal ambassadors of this endangered estuarine ecosystem. But terrapin populations are hampered by the growing risk of road traffic, boat injuries, and drowning in crab traps. You can help us provide critical information on the nesting ecology and habitat requirement of this unusual reptile to better manage its estuary home.”
Dr. Avery, Professor at Drexel University, is an experienced Earthwatch Principal Investigator and currently co-leads the Costa Rican Sea Turtles expedition. His research specialties include population ecology, nutritional ecology, physiological ecology and conservation biology. Dr. Avery has worked at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory in South Carolina and the University of Michigan, and spent 12 years as a research biologist with the U.S. Department of the Interior. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biology from State University College at Buffalo, New York and his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of California Los Angeles. Dr. Avery has published many scientific and technical papers on the biology of the desert tortoise and freshwater turtles and is recognized as the world’s expert on the effects of grazing livestock on tortoises.
Dr. James R. Spotila
Drexel University
Dr. Spotila is the Betz Chair Professor of Environmental Science at Drexel University, Philadelphia. He has over 110 reviewed scientific publications in professional journals and co-leads the Costa Rican Sea Turtles Earthwatch expedition. He has a B.S. in Biology from the University of Dayton and a Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas in Vertebrate Zoology. He has been a professor for 34 years at both the State University College at Buffalo and Drexel University. From 1998 to 2000 he was Chief Environmental Scientist for the U.S. Department of the Army in the Clinton Administration. Dr. Spotila’s recent book, Sea Turtles: A Complete Guide to Their Biology, Behavior and Conservation, has won three national awards including Best Biology Book of 2005.
Dr. Walter F. Bien
Drexel University
Dr. Bien, Director of the Office of Pinelands Research at Drexel University, is considered an authority on the ecology of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. He currently teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in marine biology, terrestrial ecology, tropical ecology and field botany, and has co-led turtle projects in Costa Rica and Philadelphia. Before coming to Drexel University, Dr. Bien was a public educator for 31 years and also taught environmental education courses to teachers at the kindergarten through 12th grade levels. He serves on several boards associated with science education initiatives and has published several scientific papers.
Dr. Edward A. Standora
State University College at Buffalo
Dr. Standora, Professor of Biology at the State University College at Buffalo, New York, received his B.S. in Biology from Fairleigh Dickinson University, his M.A. in Biology from California State University at Long Beach, and his Ph.D. in Zoology/Ecology at the University of Georgia. He is a recipient of the State University of New York Research Foundation Award, and the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Research and Scholarship. His area of expertise is in developing and using telemetry systems and microclimatological instrumentation to examine the biophysical and physiological ecology of aquatic vertebrates. Dr. Standora has conducted research on turtles in Costa Rica, New York and Florida. He is currently leading students in a study of the thermal ecology and home ranges of spotted turtles for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.