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
USGS Coordinated Burmese Python Research Strategy for South Florida (FY21 – FY27)
Post-Hurricane Florence Sea Turtle Nesting Habitat Nest Site Selection at Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores
Using Scout Burmese Pythons and Detector Dogs to Protect Endangered Species in the Florida Keys
Understanding Greater Everglades Mammal Communities within and adjacent to the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
Fine-Scale Dive Profiles and Activity Patterns of Sea Turtles in the Gulf of Mexico
Applications of Advanced Tracking and Modeling Tools with Burmese Pythons across South Florida's Landscape
Habitat Selection of the Burmese Python in the Florida Everglades
Hotspot and Risk Analysis for Sea Turtles in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Fine-scale Benthic Habitat Mapping
Sea Turtle Movement and Habitat Use in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Distribution and Density of Sea Turtles in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM): Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (GoMMAPPS)
Developing Future Habitat Condition Scenarios for Wildlife in the Imperiled Pine Rockland Ecosystem of South Florida
Size distribution and reproductive data of the invasive Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA, 1995-2021
Surface time for sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico, 2010-2019
Male sea turtle telemetry (2009-2020) reveals high overlap with anthropogenic threats in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean
Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) stable isotope signatures from Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, sampled 2008-2015
Tagging date, site, turtle size, and migration and foraging behavioral data for loggerheads (Caretta caretta) nesting at three sites in the Gulf of Mexico from 2011–2019
Tracking durations for marine turtles satellite tagged in Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean sites, 2008-2019
Burmese python acceleration and location data, Everglades National Park, 2010 - 2012
Integrated step selection analysis of turtle tracking data in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 2008-2019
Capture histories and tag retention of acoustic-tagged green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles, Buck Island Reef National Monument, U.S. Virgin Islands, 2012-2017
Burmese python environmental DNA data, and associated attributes, collected from ARM Loxahatchee NWR and surrounding areas, from 2014-2016
Stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen from diamondback terrapins and resources within Southern Everglades and Key West National Wildlife Refuge, sampled 2012-2013
Green turtle movements in the Gulf of Mexico: Tracking reveals new migration corridor and habitat use suggestive of MPA expansion
Burmese pythons in Florida: A synthesis of biology, impacts, and management tools
Discerning behavioral patterns of sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico to inform management decisions
Size distribution and reproductive phenology of the invasive Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA
Modeling protected species distributions and habitats to inform siting and management of pioneering ocean industries: A case study for Gulf of Mexico aquaculture
The influence of satellite-derived environmental and oceanographic parameters on marine turtle time at surface in the Gulf of Mexico
Mismatches in scale between highly mobile marine megafauna and marine protected areas
One shell of a problem: Cumulative threat analysis of male sea turtles indicates high anthropogenic threat for migratory individuals and Gulf of Mexico residents
Conservation action plan for diamond-backed terrapins in the Gulf of Mexico
Influence of offshore oil and gas structures on seascape ecological connectivity
Inter-nesting movements, migratory pathways, and resident foraging areas of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) satellite-tagged in Southwest Florida
Loggerhead marine turtles (Caretta caretta) nesting at smaller sizes than expected in the Gulf of Mexico: Implications for turtle behavior, population dynamics, and conservation
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USGS Coordinated Burmese Python Research Strategy for South Florida (FY21 – FY27)
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center and Fort Collins Science Center are coordinating a long-term, landscape-scale Burmese python research strategy for South Florida.Post-Hurricane Florence Sea Turtle Nesting Habitat Nest Site Selection at Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores
WARC researchers will be surveying nesting beaches in Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores. They will record GPS locations for all crawls, nests, and turtles encountered/captured, and will be placing satellite tags on a subset of individuals to determine habitat use and delineate inter-nesting areas used by reproductive females.Using Scout Burmese Pythons and Detector Dogs to Protect Endangered Species in the Florida Keys
WARC researchers are addressing an urgent need to identify specific habitat use of pythons on Key Largo, FL.Understanding Greater Everglades Mammal Communities within and adjacent to the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
WARC Researchers are using a variety of methods to assess mammal communities across the Greater Everglades.Fine-Scale Dive Profiles and Activity Patterns of Sea Turtles in the Gulf of Mexico
Researchers are developing acceleration data logger pop-off packages that can be affixed to sea turtles to collect behavioral patterns of diving, surfacing, and general activity levels.Applications of Advanced Tracking and Modeling Tools with Burmese Pythons across South Florida's Landscape
Researchers will determine movement rates and habitat-use patterns of pythons across the South Florida landscape by conducting a telemetry study tracking pythons simultaneously in several locationsHabitat Selection of the Burmese Python in the Florida Everglades
Researchers plotted locations of radio-tagged pythons to create a habitat suitability model.Hotspot and Risk Analysis for Sea Turtles in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Researchers will collect location data that will be used to identify areas of high-use for resident sea turtles in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.Fine-scale Benthic Habitat Mapping
Both ATRIS configurations were deployed in Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO) to fill information gaps in the spatial coverage of existing habitat maps.Sea Turtle Movement and Habitat Use in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) uses trawling to capture and relocate live sea turtles away from dredging locations to minimize the risk of turtle entrainment. These incidental turtle captures provide a unique opportunity to fill critical data gaps for difficult to capture life-stages of marine turtles.Distribution and Density of Sea Turtles in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM): Gulf of Mexico Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (GoMMAPPS)
The over-arching goal of GoMMAPPS is to collect broad-scale survey data for seabirds, marine mammals and sea turtles to determine distribution and abundance in the Gulf of Mexico.Developing Future Habitat Condition Scenarios for Wildlife in the Imperiled Pine Rockland Ecosystem of South Florida
The pine rockland ecosystem is found only in south Florida and the Bahamas and provides important habitat for numerous rare and endemic plants and animals. These include 18 species that are already federally listed as threatened or endangered and four other species petitioned for listing that are scheduled for development of Species Status Assessments (SSAs). Today, south Florida’s pine rockland e... - Data
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Size distribution and reproductive data of the invasive Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA, 1995-2021
This dataset contains morphometric information from Burmese pythons collected from an invasive population in southern Florida between 1995-2021. Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service curated this dataset as a repository for records of Burmese pythons found on or nearby federal lands in southern Florida, including Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National PreSurface time for sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico, 2010-2019
This dataset contains surface dive times, defined as 0-2 m in the water column, for three species of sea turtles (Kemp's ridleys, loggerheads, and green turtles) tracked via satellite telemetry in the Gulf of Mexico during periods within 2010-2019. It contains information on turtle species, location, proportion of time in "surface" bins, region of the Gulf of Mexico, corresponding remoteMale sea turtle telemetry (2009-2020) reveals high overlap with anthropogenic threats in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean
This dataset contains cumulative threat data for several species of male sea turtles tagged with satellite tags between 2009 and 2020. It contains information on species, capture date, days during tracking spent in marine protected areas, shipping lanes, near the coast, near oil rigs, and within known fishing operations. This dataset thus allows estimation of threat levels from these anthropogenicGreen turtle (Chelonia mydas) stable isotope signatures from Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, sampled 2008-2015
Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope data from green turtles sampled at Dry Tortugas National Park, FL. Dataset includes: date collected, length, tissue type, percent of isotopes, calculated values of isotopes.Tagging date, site, turtle size, and migration and foraging behavioral data for loggerheads (Caretta caretta) nesting at three sites in the Gulf of Mexico from 2011–2019
Tagging information, including migration and foraging behavioral data, for female reproductive loggerhead marine turtles (Caretta caretta) that were satellite tagged at nesting beaches at Gulf Shores (Alabama [AL]), Dry Tortugas National Park (DRTO, Florida [FL]), and Everglades National Park (ENP, FL) from 2011–2019. Variables include the tagging date, tagging site, the curved carapace lengTracking durations for marine turtles satellite tagged in Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean sites, 2008-2019
This dataset contains tracking durations for several species of sea turtles tagged with satellite tags between 2008 and 2019. It contains information on species, turtle size, capture methods, tag type, how many days each tag transmitted, whether or not the tag was still attached upon recapture, fouling 'status' of the tag, and foraging region. This dataset thus allows estimation of tracking duratiBurmese python acceleration and location data, Everglades National Park, 2010 - 2012
The dataset contains 3 components: (1) acceleration data logger (ADL) data, (2) GPS location data, and (3) body temperature data. We have ADL data from pythons in captivity (N = 2) and in free-ranging snakes (N=4). We have GPS data for 3 out of 4 free-ranging snakes. We have body temperature data for all 4 free-ranging snakes.Integrated step selection analysis of turtle tracking data in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 2008-2019
This dataset contains all input parameters required to perform integrated step selection analysis (iSSA) to quantify marine turtle habitat selection relative to marine protected areas throughout coastal Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The iSSA is a flexible approach to compare the environmental attributes of observed steps (the linear segment connecting two consecutive observed positions of an aniCapture histories and tag retention of acoustic-tagged green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles, Buck Island Reef National Monument, U.S. Virgin Islands, 2012-2017
This dataset contains the capture histories for juvenile green (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) sea turtles tagged with an acoustic telemetry tag between 2012 and 2017. It contains information on how many days had passed since the tag was attached and whether or not the tag was still attached upon recapture. This dataset thus allows estimation of acoustic tag retention ratesBurmese python environmental DNA data, and associated attributes, collected from ARM Loxahatchee NWR and surrounding areas, from 2014-2016
Environmental DNA (eDNA) detection of invasive species can be used to delimit occupied ranges and estimate probabilities to inform management decisions. Environmental DNA is shed into the environment through skin cells and bodily fluids and can be detected in water samples collected from lakes, rivers, and swamps. In south Florida, invasive Burmese pythons occupy much of the Greater Everglades inStable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen from diamondback terrapins and resources within Southern Everglades and Key West National Wildlife Refuge, sampled 2012-2013
This study was initiated to provide baseline data and to determine the utility of stable isotope analysis to evaluate the foraging strategies of an opportunistic reptile predator. Stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen were evaluated from multiple tissues from terrapin populations to determine spatial or temporal variations in resource use within mangrove habitats in Southern Florida. We sam - Multimedia
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Green turtle movements in the Gulf of Mexico: Tracking reveals new migration corridor and habitat use suggestive of MPA expansion
Globally, Marine Protected Areas are an important tool in the conservation of large marine vertebrates. Recent studies have highlighted the use of protected areas by imperiled green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the southern Gulf of Mexico. To identify and characterize inter-nesting, migratory, and foraging areas for green turtles that nest in the northern Gulf of Mexico, we deployed 14 satellite taBurmese pythons in Florida: A synthesis of biology, impacts, and management tools
Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) are native to southeastern Asia, however, there is an established invasive population inhabiting much of southern Florida throughout the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. Pythons have severely impacted native species and ecosystems in Florida and represent one of the most intractable invasive-species management issues across the globe. The difficulty stems fDiscerning behavioral patterns of sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico to inform management decisions
The protection of all sea turtles globally is a high priority, and research projects on these imperiled species are focused on those that are likely to result in improvements in monitoring and management for population recovery. Determining distribution, seasonal movements, vital rates and habitat use for all life-stages of sea turtles has been identified by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWSSize distribution and reproductive phenology of the invasive Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA
The design of successful invasive species control programs is often hindered by the absence of basic demographic data on the targeted population. Establishment of invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida USA has led to local precipitous declines (> 90%) of mesomammal populations and is also a major threat to native populations of reptiles anModeling protected species distributions and habitats to inform siting and management of pioneering ocean industries: A case study for Gulf of Mexico aquaculture
Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) provides a process that uses spatial data and models to evaluate environmental, social, economic, cultural, and management trade-offs when siting (i.e., strategically locating) ocean industries. Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food sector in the world. The United States (U.S.) has substantial opportunity for offshore aquaculture development given the size of its exThe influence of satellite-derived environmental and oceanographic parameters on marine turtle time at surface in the Gulf of Mexico
The aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill highlighted the lack of baseline spatial, behavioral, and abundance data for many species, including imperiled marine turtles, across the Gulf of Mexico. The ecology of marine turtles is closely tied to their vertical movements within the water column and is therefore critical knowledge for resource management in a changing ocean. A more compreMismatches in scale between highly mobile marine megafauna and marine protected areas
Marine protected areas (MPAs), particularly large MPAs, are increasing in number and size around the globe in part to facilitate the conservation of marine megafauna under the assumption that large-scale MPAs better align with vagile life histories; however, this alignment is not well established. Using a global tracking dataset from 36 species across five taxa, chosen to reflect the span of homeOne shell of a problem: Cumulative threat analysis of male sea turtles indicates high anthropogenic threat for migratory individuals and Gulf of Mexico residents
Human use of oceans has dramatically increased in the 21st century. Sea turtles are vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors in the marine environment because of lengthy migrations between foraging and breeding sites, often along coastal migration corridors. Little is known about how movement and threat interact specifically for male sea turtles. To better understand male sea turtle movement and theConservation action plan for diamond-backed terrapins in the Gulf of Mexico
Diamondback terrapins are small estuarine turtles that are vital to the health of salt marsh and mangrove habitats. Their populations have declined for over a century due to many factors including coastal development, nest predation, pet trade and drowning in crab traps. Without action, terrapin populations will continue to decline. This document summarizes the Nature Conservancy's efforts in collInfluence of offshore oil and gas structures on seascape ecological connectivity
Offshore platforms, subsea pipelines, wells and related fixed structures supporting the oil and gas (O&G) industry are prevalent in oceans across the globe, with many approaching the end of their operational life and requiring decommissioning. Although structures can possess high ecological diversity and productivity, information on how they interact with broader ecological processes remains uncleInter-nesting movements, migratory pathways, and resident foraging areas of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) satellite-tagged in Southwest Florida
Globally, sea turtle research and conservation efforts are underway to identify important high-use areas where these imperiled individuals may be resident for weeks to months to years. In the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, recent telemetry studies highlighted post-nesting foraging sites for federally endangered green turtles (Chelonia mydas) around the Florida Keys. In order to delineate additionalLoggerhead marine turtles (Caretta caretta) nesting at smaller sizes than expected in the Gulf of Mexico: Implications for turtle behavior, population dynamics, and conservation
Estimates of parameters that affect population dynamics, including the size at which individuals reproduce, are crucial for efforts aimed at understanding how imperiled species may recover from the numerous threats they face. In this study, we observed loggerhead marine turtles (Caretta caretta) nesting at three sites in the Gulf of Mexico at sizes assumed nonreproductive in this region (≤87 cm cu - News