Kristen Hart, Ph.D.
Kristen Hart is a research ecologist, focusing on population-level studies on the ecology of a broad array of herpetofauna and other wildlife in south Florida.
She leads several research programs and collaborates closely with other USGS, university, and National Park Service scientists. She has built a program of USGS cyclic- and reimbursable funded research; major funding has been provided from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the USGS Priority Ecosystem Studies Program, the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program, and the National Park Service. She works with rare, threatened, endangered, and invasive species of reptiles including Diamondback terrapins, loggerhead sea turtles, green sea turtles, hawksbill sea turtles, crocodilians, and Burmese pythons. She is based in Davie, FL and has field sites in both Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks in South Florida, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge (Gulf Shores, AL), and Buck Island Reef National Monument (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands).
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Ecology, Duke University, 2005
M.E.M. (Master's of Environmental Management), Coastal Environmental Management, Duke University, 1999
B.S., Boston College, Bachelor of Science, 1997
Science and Products
Habitat selection by green turtles in a spatially heterogeneous benthic landscape in Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
DNA and dispersal models highlight constrained connectivity in a migratory marine megavertebrate
Migratory corridors of adult female Kemp’s ridley turtles in the Gulf of Mexico
Diet of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in subtropical mangrove habitats in South Florida
Invasive pythons, not anthropogenic stressors, explain the distribution of a keystone species
Malaclemys terrapin rhizophorarum (mangrove diamond-backed terrapin)
Spatial requirements of different life-stages of the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) from a distinct population segment in the northern Gulf of Mexico
Home range, habitat use, and movement patterns of non-native Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling improves occurrence and detection estimates of invasive Burmese pythons
Marsh rabbit mortalities tie pythons to the precipitous decline of mammals in the Everglades
Bahamas connection: residence areas selected by breeding female loggerheads tagged in Dry Tortugas National Park, USA
Largest breeding aggregation of Burmese Pythons and implication for potential development of a control tool
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Habitat selection by green turtles in a spatially heterogeneous benthic landscape in Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
We examined habitat selection by green turtles Chelonia mydas at Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, USA. We tracked 15 turtles (6 females and 9 males) using platform transmitter terminals (PTTs); 13 of these turtles were equipped with additional acoustic transmitters. Location data by PTTs comprised periods of 40 to 226 d in varying months from 2009 to 2012. Core areas were concentrated in shallAuthorsIkuko Fujisaki, Kristen M. Hart, Autumn R. Sartain-IversonDNA and dispersal models highlight constrained connectivity in a migratory marine megavertebrate
Population structure and spatial distribution are fundamentally important fields within ecology, evolution, and conservation biology. To investigate pan-Atlantic connectivity of globally endangered green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from two National Parks in Florida, USA, we applied a multidisciplinary approach comparing genetic analysis and ocean circulation modeling. The Everglades (EP) is a juveniAuthorsEugenia Naro-Maciel, Kristen M. Hart, Rossana Cruciata, Nathan Freeman PutmanMigratory corridors of adult female Kemp’s ridley turtles in the Gulf of Mexico
For many marine species, locations of migratory pathways are not well defined. We used satellite telemetry and switching state-space modeling (SSM) to define the migratory corridor used by Kemp's ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) in the Gulf of Mexico. The turtles were tagged after nesting at Padre Island National Seashore, Texas, USA from 1997 to 2014 (PAIS; n = 80); Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas,AuthorsDonna J. Shaver, Kristen M. Hart, Ikuko Fujisaki, Cynthia Rubio, Autumn R. Sartain-Iverson, Jaime Pena, Daniel Gomez Gamez, Raul de Jesus Gonzales Diaz Miron, Patrick M. Burchfield, Hector J. Martinez, Jaime OrtizDiet of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in subtropical mangrove habitats in South Florida
Unique among turtles as the only exclusively estuarine species, the diamondback terrapin’s (Malaclemys terrapin) life history predisposes it to impacts from humans both on land and in the near-shore environment. Terrapins are found in salt marshes and mangroves along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Massachusetts to Texas. Whereas previous dietary studies have elucidated terrapins’ role in temperAuthorsMathew J. Denton, Kristen M. Hart, Amanda W.J. Demopoulos, Anton Oleinik, John N. BaldwinInvasive pythons, not anthropogenic stressors, explain the distribution of a keystone species
Untangling the causes of native species loss in human-modified systems is difficult and often controversial. Evaluating the impact of non-native species in these systems is particularly challenging, as additional human perturbations often precede or accompany introductions. One example is the ongoing debate over whether mammal declines within Everglades National Park (ENP) were caused by either thAuthorsAdia R. Sovie, Robert A. McCleery, Robert J. Fletcher, Kristen M. HartMalaclemys terrapin rhizophorarum (mangrove diamond-backed terrapin)
MALACLEMYS TERRAPIN RHIZOPHORARUM (Mangrove Diamond-backed Terrapin). DIET. Malaclemys terrapin rhizophorarum, one of seven subspecies of M. terrapin, inhabits subtropical mangrove habitats in South Florida, USA. In temperate climates M. terrapin is largely carnivorous, feeding primarily on gastropods, bivalves, and decapod crustaceans (Tucker et. al. 1995. Herpetologica 51:167–181; Butler et. al.AuthorsMathew J. Denton, Kristen M. Hart, Anton Oelinik, Roger Wood, John N. BaldwinSpatial requirements of different life-stages of the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) from a distinct population segment in the northern Gulf of Mexico
Many marine species have complex life histories that involve disparate developmental, foraging and reproductive habitats and a holistic assessment of the spatial requirements for different life stages is a challenge that greatly complicates their management. Here, we combined data from oceanographic modeling, nesting surveys, and satellite tracking to examine the spatial requirements of differentAuthorsMargaret M. Lamont, Nathan Freeman Putman, Ikuko Fujisaki, Kristen M. HartHome range, habitat use, and movement patterns of non-native Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
Background Studies on the spatial ecology of invasive species provide critical information for conservation managers such as habitat preferences and identification of native species at risk of predation. To understand the spatial ecology of non-native Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus), now well-established in Everglades National Park and much of South Florida USA, we radio-tracked 19 wilAuthorsKristen M. Hart, Michael S. Cherkiss, Brian J. Smith, Frank J. Mazzotti, Ikuko Fujisaki, Ray W. Snow, Michael E. DorcasEnvironmental DNA (eDNA) sampling improves occurrence and detection estimates of invasive Burmese pythons
Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods are used to detect DNA that is shed into the aquatic environment by cryptic or low density species. Applied in eDNA studies, occupancy models can be used to estimate occurrence and detection probabilities and thereby account for imperfect detection. However, occupancy terminology has been applied inconsistently in eDNA studies, and many have calculated occurrence pAuthorsMargaret E. Hunter, Sara J. Oyler-McCance, Robert M. Dorazio, Jennifer A. Fike, Brian J. Smith, Charles T. Hunter, Robert N. Reed, Kristen M. HartMarsh rabbit mortalities tie pythons to the precipitous decline of mammals in the Everglades
To address the ongoing debate over the impact of invasive species on native terrestrial wildlife, we conducted a large-scale experiment to test the hypothesis that invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) were a cause of the precipitous decline of mammals in Everglades National Park (ENP). Evidence linking pythons to mammal declines has been indirect and there are reasons to question wAuthorsRobert A. McCleery, Adia Sovie, Robert N. Reed, Mark W. Cunningham, Margaret E. Hunter, Kristen M. HartBahamas connection: residence areas selected by breeding female loggerheads tagged in Dry Tortugas National Park, USA
Background Delineation of home ranges, residence and foraging areas, and migration corridors is important for understanding the habitat needs for a given species. Recently, many population segments of Northwest Atlantic loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) were designated as endangered or threatened; the smallest subpopulation is in the Dry Tortugas. Foraging and residence areas for this subpoAuthorsKristen M. Hart, Autumn R. Sartain-Iverson, Ikuko FujisakiLargest breeding aggregation of Burmese Pythons and implication for potential development of a control tool
No abstract available.AuthorsBrian J. Smith, Michael R. Rochford, Matt Brien, Michael S. Cherkiss, Frank Mazzotti, Skip Snow, Kristen M. Hart - News