Hillsborough County Florida Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department
We manage more than 61,000 acres of environmentally sensitive wildlife habitat and corridors acquired through the Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP).
Management responsibilities include:
Prescribed burning
Invasive species control
Wildlife inventory
Trail maintenance
Feral animal control
Habitat improvements for endangered and threatened species of plants and animals
ELAPP is a voluntary program established for the purpose of providing the process and funding for identifying, acquiring, preserving and protecting endangered, environmentally-sensitive and significant lands in Hillsborough County. It is a citizen-based program with volunteer committees involved in every key aspect of the program. ELAPP is not a regulatory program, but lands are identified for the program because of their environmental significance.
About HCConservation
Hillsborough County FL Conservation and Lands Management
We protect Hillsborough County's natural lands and wildlife through a system of conservation parks and nature preserves, including more than 63,000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands through ELAPP. We also provide unique outdoor recreational activities ranging from picnicking and camping to hiking and kayaking.
Exploring Florida's Rich Turtle Diversity (19 October 2019; 9:00 am-5:00 pm)
A symposium co-sponsored by the Florida Turtle Conservation Trust and the Florida Birding and
Nature Festival
Learn about the diversity, ecology, and conservation of this most endangered group of wildlife.
9:00 am:
Why are Turtles the Most Threatened Species of Animals on Earth?
Dr. J. Sean Doody (University South Florida St. Petersburg)
This presentation will introduce turtles as a group, their history, how they have dealt with past
extinctions, and the challenges they are facing in the current mass extinction.
Dr. J. Sean Doody is an Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at University South Florida
St. Petersburg, where he has been for almost two years. He grew up in Louisiana where he
completed two degrees, then moved to Australia to do a PhD on the ecology of pig-nosed turtles
(Carretochelys insculpta). After 14 years, Sean moved back to the U.S. to be closer to family.
10:00 am:
Identification of Florida Turtles
George L. Heinrich (Heinrich Ecological Services)
Florida’s wide variety of habitats support 28 of the 62 (45.2%) species known to occur in the
United States, the most turtle-rich country. Significant habitat diversity and species richness
make Florida a chelonian hotspot and critical to the conservation of many species. This
presentation will introduce basic identification techniques.
George L. Heinrich is a field biologist and environmental educator specializing in Florida
reptiles. His company, Heinrich Ecological Services (www.heinrichecologicalservices.com), is
based in St. Petersburg, Florida and conducts wildlife surveys and research, natural history
programming, and nature-based tours. George is currently the Executive Director of the Florida
Turtle Conservation Trust.
11:00 am:
Conservation Ecology of Gopher Tortoises from the Core to the Periphery
Dr. Jeff Goessling (Eckerd College)
Gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) are a keystone species of the southeastern U.S. coastal
plains ecoregion and have experienced significant declines over the past century. While
protected throughout its range, many aspect of gopher tortoise biology and conservation status
remain unknown. This presentation will synthesize current understanding of gopher tortoise
conservation status rangewide, and will also discuss current research being conducted across
multiple populations in Florida and Alabama.
Dr. Jeff Goessling is from northern Kentucky, earned an MS in biology from Sam Houston State
University studying Aruban reptile ecology and completed a PhD program and post doc at
Auburn University studying gopher tortoise physiological ecology. He is currently an Assistant
Professor of Biology at Eckerd College (St Petersburg, Florida).
1:00 pm:
Habitat Use and Island Movements in the Jewel of Sanibel (The Florida box turtle)
Chris Lechowicz (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation)
The Florida box turtle (Terrapene carolina bauri) is a small, long-lived semi-terrestrial turtle that
is found throughout the Florida peninsula and many of its islands, including the Florida Keys. It
inhabits mesic hammocks, wetlands, and the beach ridge zone. Seasonal activity of this turtle is
extended on Sanibel Island due to the southern latitude, but is still limited by water levels.
Chris Lechowicz is the Director of the Wildlife & Habitat Management Program at the Sanibel-
Captiva Conservation Foundation. He is currently conducting research on Florida box turtles,
diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin), and eastern indigo snakes (Drymarchon couperi)
in Pine Island Sound in Lee County, Florida.
2:00 pm:
The Suwannee Cooter: Lessons Learned from a Long-term Study in the Santa Fe River
Dr. Jerry Johnston (Santa Fe College)
This presentation will introduce fascinating discoveries about the behavior, ecology, and
population dynamics of Florida’s largest basking turtle – the Suwannee cooter (Pseudemys
concinna suwanniensis). Learn how this herbivorous species is responding to dramatic changes
in the Santa Fe River ecosystem. Find out what you can do to help Suwannee cooters.
Dr. Jerry Johnston is a Professor of Biology at Santa Fe College (Gainesville, Florida) and leader
of the Santa Fe River Turtle Project. His team of students and local citizens has been conducting
capture-mark-recapture studies of 12 freshwater turtle species throughout the Santa Fe River
basin since 2004.
3:00 pm:
Ornate Diamondback Terrapins: Muddy Gems in Levy County
Dr. Ben Atkinson (Flagler College)
Learn about the ecology and conservation of ornate diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin
macrospilota) in Florida's Big Bend region. Explore research findings of Flagler College's
"Tortuga Crew" and collaborators from several local colleges and universities.
Dr. Ben Atkinson is an Assistant Professor of Natural Sciences at Flagler College (St. Augustine,
Florida). He has worked with terrapins in Bermuda, Florida, and New Jersey over the last 15
years.
4:00 pm:
Florida’s Living Dinosaurs: Monitoring Florida’s Endangered Leatherback Sea Turtles
Kelly Martin (Florida Leatherbacks Inc.)
Florida Leatherbacks Inc. biologists study southeast Florida's population of nesting leatherback
sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) and through nightly tagging efforts, have been able to define
important population and biological parameters. This study incorporates basic morphometrics,
satellite tracking, and genetic analysis to help better describe this local population and work
toward conservation efforts.
Kelly Martin received a bachelor's degree in Zoology from Michigan State University and a
master's degree from the University of South Florida, and co-founded Florida Leatherbacks Inc.
(wwwfloridaleatherbacks.com) in 2013. She has been working with sea turtles in various
capacities for 17 years and has been studying leatherbacks on and off since 2003.
A symposium co-sponsored by the Florida Turtle Conservation Trust and the Florida Birding and
Nature Festival
Learn about the diversity, ecology, and conservation of this most endangered group of wildlife.
9:00 am:
Why are Turtles the Most Threatened Species of Animals on Earth?
Dr. J. Sean Doody (University South Florida St. Petersburg)
This presentation will introduce turtles as a group, their history, how they have dealt with past
extinctions, and the challenges they are facing in the current mass extinction.
Dr. J. Sean Doody is an Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at University South Florida
St. Petersburg, where he has been for almost two years. He grew up in Louisiana where he
completed two degrees, then moved to Australia to do a PhD on the ecology of pig-nosed turtles
(Carretochelys insculpta). After 14 years, Sean moved back to the U.S. to be closer to family.
10:00 am:
Identification of Florida Turtles
George L. Heinrich (Heinrich Ecological Services)
Florida’s wide variety of habitats support 28 of the 62 (45.2%) species known to occur in the
United States, the most turtle-rich country. Significant habitat diversity and species richness
make Florida a chelonian hotspot and critical to the conservation of many species. This
presentation will introduce basic identification techniques.
George L. Heinrich is a field biologist and environmental educator specializing in Florida
reptiles. His company, Heinrich Ecological Services (www.heinrichecologicalservices.com), is
based in St. Petersburg, Florida and conducts wildlife surveys and research, natural history
programming, and nature-based tours. George is currently the Executive Director of the Florida
Turtle Conservation Trust.
11:00 am:
Conservation Ecology of Gopher Tortoises from the Core to the Periphery
Dr. Jeff Goessling (Eckerd College)
Gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) are a keystone species of the southeastern U.S. coastal
plains ecoregion and have experienced significant declines over the past century. While
protected throughout its range, many aspect of gopher tortoise biology and conservation status
remain unknown. This presentation will synthesize current understanding of gopher tortoise
conservation status rangewide, and will also discuss current research being conducted across
multiple populations in Florida and Alabama.
Dr. Jeff Goessling is from northern Kentucky, earned an MS in biology from Sam Houston State
University studying Aruban reptile ecology and completed a PhD program and post doc at
Auburn University studying gopher tortoise physiological ecology. He is currently an Assistant
Professor of Biology at Eckerd College (St Petersburg, Florida).
1:00 pm:
Habitat Use and Island Movements in the Jewel of Sanibel (The Florida box turtle)
Chris Lechowicz (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation)
The Florida box turtle (Terrapene carolina bauri) is a small, long-lived semi-terrestrial turtle that
is found throughout the Florida peninsula and many of its islands, including the Florida Keys. It
inhabits mesic hammocks, wetlands, and the beach ridge zone. Seasonal activity of this turtle is
extended on Sanibel Island due to the southern latitude, but is still limited by water levels.
Chris Lechowicz is the Director of the Wildlife & Habitat Management Program at the Sanibel-
Captiva Conservation Foundation. He is currently conducting research on Florida box turtles,
diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin), and eastern indigo snakes (Drymarchon couperi)
in Pine Island Sound in Lee County, Florida.
2:00 pm:
The Suwannee Cooter: Lessons Learned from a Long-term Study in the Santa Fe River
Dr. Jerry Johnston (Santa Fe College)
This presentation will introduce fascinating discoveries about the behavior, ecology, and
population dynamics of Florida’s largest basking turtle – the Suwannee cooter (Pseudemys
concinna suwanniensis). Learn how this herbivorous species is responding to dramatic changes
in the Santa Fe River ecosystem. Find out what you can do to help Suwannee cooters.
Dr. Jerry Johnston is a Professor of Biology at Santa Fe College (Gainesville, Florida) and leader
of the Santa Fe River Turtle Project. His team of students and local citizens has been conducting
capture-mark-recapture studies of 12 freshwater turtle species throughout the Santa Fe River
basin since 2004.
3:00 pm:
Ornate Diamondback Terrapins: Muddy Gems in Levy County
Dr. Ben Atkinson (Flagler College)
Learn about the ecology and conservation of ornate diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin
macrospilota) in Florida's Big Bend region. Explore research findings of Flagler College's
"Tortuga Crew" and collaborators from several local colleges and universities.
Dr. Ben Atkinson is an Assistant Professor of Natural Sciences at Flagler College (St. Augustine,
Florida). He has worked with terrapins in Bermuda, Florida, and New Jersey over the last 15
years.
4:00 pm:
Florida’s Living Dinosaurs: Monitoring Florida’s Endangered Leatherback Sea Turtles
Kelly Martin (Florida Leatherbacks Inc.)
Florida Leatherbacks Inc. biologists study southeast Florida's population of nesting leatherback
sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) and through nightly tagging efforts, have been able to define
important population and biological parameters. This study incorporates basic morphometrics,
satellite tracking, and genetic analysis to help better describe this local population and work
toward conservation efforts.
Kelly Martin received a bachelor's degree in Zoology from Michigan State University and a
master's degree from the University of South Florida, and co-founded Florida Leatherbacks Inc.
(wwwfloridaleatherbacks.com) in 2013. She has been working with sea turtles in various
capacities for 17 years and has been studying leatherbacks on and off since 2003.