Margaret Lamont, Ph.D.
Meg Lamont is a Research Biologist at the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center.
Meg Lamont is a research biologist focusing on population-level studies of coastal and marine vertebrates in the Gulf of Mexico. She leads multiple research projects on topics such as demography, habitat use, and movement patterns, particularly related to varying environmental parameters. Her research has focused on species that include nesting and inwater marine turtles (Kemp's ridley, loggerhead and green turtles), diamondback terrapins, gopher tortoise, box turtles, Gulf sturgeon and Yellowfin tuna. She partners with various agencies including the Department of Defense, US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, in addition to academic institutions, state agencies and non-profit organizations.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 2002
M.S., Marine Science, California State University, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, 1995
B.S., The College of New Jersey, 1991
Science and Products
Variation in species composition, size and fitness of two multi-species sea turtle assemblages using different neritic habitats
Predicting multi-species foraging hotspots for marine turtles in the Gulf of Mexico
Growth rates for immature Kemp’s ridley sea turtles from a foraging area in the northern Gulf of Mexico
The importance of the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico to foraging loggerhead sea turtles
The incubation environment of nests deposited by a genetically distinct group of loggerhead sea turtles in Northwest Florida
Migration corridors and threats in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Straits for loggerhead sea turtles
Sea turtle conservation: 10 ways you can help
Sea turtle conservation: Priorities for environmental education efforts
Malaclemys terrapin (Diamondback terrapin) Lepadomorph epibionts
Informing sea turtle outreach efforts to maximize effectiveness
Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) diving changes with productivity, behavioral mode, and sea surface temperature
West Florida shelf pipeline serves as sea turtle benthic habitat based on in-situ towed camera observations
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Variation in species composition, size and fitness of two multi-species sea turtle assemblages using different neritic habitats
The neritic environment is rich in resources and as such plays a crucial role as foraging habitat for multi-species marine assemblages, including sea turtles. However, this habitat also experiences a wide array of anthropogenic threats. To prioritize conservation funds, targeting areas that support multi-species assemblages is ideal. This is particularly important in the Gulf of Mexico where restoAuthorsMargaret M. Lamont, Darren JohnsonPredicting multi-species foraging hotspots for marine turtles in the Gulf of Mexico
Quantifying the distribution of animals and identifying underlying characteristics that define suitable habitat are essential for effective conservation of free-ranging species. Prioritizing areas for conservation is important in managing a geographic extent that has a high level of disturbance and limited conservation resources. We examined the potential use of a species distribution model ensembAuthorsIkuko Fujisaki, Kristen Hart, David N. Bucklin, Autumn R. Iverson, Cynthia Rubio, Margaret M. Lamont, Raul de Jesus G.D. Miron, Patrick M. Burchfield, Jaime Pena, Donna J. ShaverGrowth rates for immature Kemp’s ridley sea turtles from a foraging area in the northern Gulf of Mexico
Examining vital rates helps clarify how environmental characteristics, biological resources and human activities affect population growth. Carapace lengths were gathered for 241 Kemp’s ridley Lepidochelys kempii sea turtles that were marked and recaptured (n = 23) between 2011 and 2019 at a foraging location in northwest Florida, USA. There was a strong correlation between length, width and weightAuthorsMargaret Lamont, Darren JohnsonThe importance of the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico to foraging loggerhead sea turtles
Identification of high-use foraging sites where imperiled sea turtles are resident remains a globally-recognized conservation priority. In the biodiverse Gulf of Mexico (GoM), recent telemetry studies highlighted post-nesting foraging sites for federally threatened loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). Our aim here was to discern loggerhead use of additional northern GoM regions that may serve asAuthorsKristen M. Hart, Margaret M. Lamont, Autumn Iverson, Brian SmithThe incubation environment of nests deposited by a genetically distinct group of loggerhead sea turtles in Northwest Florida
The warming climate presents a challenge to conservation of all threatened and endangered species but particularly to those that exhibit temperature-dependent sex determination such as sea turtles. Changes in temperature may result in changes in the sex ratio of the population which can directly affect reproductive rate, abundance and population dynamics. The NW Atlantic loggerhead turtle populatiAuthorsMargaret Lamont, Darren Johnson, Raymond CarthyMigration corridors and threats in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Straits for loggerhead sea turtles
Along migration corridors, animals can face natural and anthropogenic threats that differ from those in breeding and non-breeding residence areas. Satellite telemetry can aid in describing the timing and location of these migrations. We use this tool with switching state-space modeling and line kernel density estimates to identify migration corridors of post-nesting adult female loggerhead sea turAuthorsAutumn Iverson, Allison Benscoter, Ikuko Fujisaki, Margaret Lamont, Kristen HartSea turtle conservation: 10 ways you can help
Five species of sea turtle rely on Florida’s coastal and nearshore habitats for nesting during the summer months and foraging throughout the year (Figure 1). - Loggerhead turtles, named for their large, block-shaped heads with strong jaw muscles for crushing benthic invertebrates, are the most common sea turtle species on Florida’s nesting beaches. They nest on beaches throughout much of the staAuthorsJessica E. Swindall, Holly K. Ober, Margaret Lamont, Raymond R. CarthySea turtle conservation: Priorities for environmental education efforts
All five species of sea turtle that occur in Florida are in danger of extinction. Many of the reasons these turtles are declining are a result of people’s actions on beaches and in shallow waters. Environmental education is needed to increase awareness and appreciation for sea turtles, and to teach about the potential harmful impacts human behaviors can have on these animals. This document descriAuthorsJessica E. Swindall, Holly K. Ober, Margaret Lamont, Raymond R. CarthyMalaclemys terrapin (Diamondback terrapin) Lepadomorph epibionts
Diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) are distributed along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico (GoM) coasts of the U.S.A. (Hart et al. 2014. Conserv. Genet. DOI 10.1007/s10592-014-0563-6). Under consideration for listing in Florida and proposed for Appendix II listing by the U.S. at CoP16 (CITES), terrapin populations are declining in many parts of their range due to drowning in crab pots, roadAuthorsMargaret Lamont, Daniel J. Catizone, Richard O'Connor, Robert Blais, Limarie Rodgriguez, Cathy HolmesInforming sea turtle outreach efforts to maximize effectiveness
Most sea turtle (Cheloniidae) species worldwide are endangered or threatened, with threats causing harm to sea turtles predominantly human‐induced. Thus, prevention of further declines to these imperiled species will require alteration of human behaviors. Regulations, incentives, and environmental education are 3 strategies that could be used to alter human behavior. Our goal was to determine howAuthorsJessica E. Swindall, Holly K. Ober, Margaret M. Lamont, Raymond CarthyLoggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) diving changes with productivity, behavioral mode, and sea surface temperature
The relationship between dive behavior and oceanographic conditions is not well understood for marine predators, especially sea turtles. We tagged loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) with satellite-linked depth loggers in the Gulf of Mexico, where there is a minimal amount of dive data for this species. We tested for associations between four measurements of dive behavior (total daily dive frequeAuthorsAutumn Iverson, Ikuko Fujisaki, Margaret M. Lamont, Kristen HartWest Florida shelf pipeline serves as sea turtle benthic habitat based on in-situ towed camera observations
The use of marine offshore benthic habitats by sea turtles is poorly characterized due to the difficulty of obtaining in situ data. Understanding benthic habitat use that is important to the species’ reproduction, foraging, and migrations is critical for guiding management decisions. A towed camera-based assessment survey system (C-BASS) equipped with environmental sensors was used to characterizeAuthorsHeather A. Broadbent, Sarah E. Grasty, Robert F. Hardy, Margaret M. Lamont, Kristen M. Hart, Chad Lembke, Jennifer L. Brizzolara, Steven A. Murawski - Science
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