Mathew Denton
Mathew is a Biologist at the USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center whose interests include population ecology, animal behavior, and conservation biology.
His research working with crocodilians, sea turtles, and other species utilizes a multidisciplinary approach including radio/gps telemetry, mark recapture studies, and stable isotope analysis. Research has taken him from Costa Rica to the U.S. Virgin Islands, with over 10 years' experience conducting research in the coastal areas of South Florida.
Before his employment with the USGS, Mathew spent 4.5 years as a wildlife technician for the University of Florida, working with several reptile and amphibian species within the Greater Everglades.
Education and Certifications
M.S., Environmental Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 2014
B.S., Biology/Ecology, Florida Atlantic University, 2005
Science and Products
Carbon and nitrogen isotopic values from three omnivorous turtles, vegetation, and potential prey resources in the Santa Fe River, Florida sampled 2019-2020
All samples were collected within a 9km stretch of the Santa Fe River in northern Florida, USA. In 2019 and 2020 we sampled claw tissue from Macrochelys suwanniensis, Chelydra serpentina, and Trachemys scripta scripta, from three different sampling locations. We collected Vegetation and potential prey tissue samples within close proximity of turtle captures from two of the three capture locations.
Carbon and nitrogen isotopic analysis of Diamondback terrapin tissues, vegetative, and benthic invertebrate resources within Barnegat Bay, New Jersey during 3 sampling sessions between 2011-2019
This dataset represents stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic information from tissue samples collected from diamondback terrapins, potential prey items, and vegetation from 6 salt marsh sites (4 mainland, 2 island) within a 30 km section of southern Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, USA. Red blood cells were collected from terrapins in 2011 (mature females), and whole blood samples were collected in 2015 a
Stable 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
Dietary niche of three omnivorous turtle species in a northern Florida river: Insights from stable isotope analysis
Macrochelys suwanniensis (Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle) coexists with 2 other native large omnivorous turtle species (Chelydra serpentina [Snapping Turtle] and Trachemys scripta scripta [Yellow-bellied Slider]) in a 9-km section of the Santa Fe River in northern Florida. A major shift in dominant submersed aquatic vegetation prompted us to quantify trophic position and niche overlap among th
Authors
Mathew Denton, Gerald R. Johnston, Travis M. Thomas, Hardin Waddle, Susan Walls, Kristen Hart
Isotopic niche of New Jersey terrapins suggests intraspecific resource partitioning, and little variability following a major hurricane
Diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) are sexually dimorphic generalist turtles that inhabit salt marshes and estuaries along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. On October 29th, 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey, USA, directly impacting terrapin populations inhabiting central and southern Barnegat Bay. To examine potential food web mediated impacts to the terr
Authors
Mathew Denton, Kristen Hart, John Wnek, Sarah A. Moss, Harold W. Avery
Stable isotope analysis enhances our understanding of diamondback terrapin Malaclemys terrapin foraging ecology
Dietary studies on generalist predators may provide valuable information on spatial or temporal changes in the structure of ecological communities. We initiated this study to provide baseline data and determine the utility of stable isotope analysis (SIA) to evaluate the foraging strategies of an opportunistic reptilian predator, the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), which specializes in
Authors
Mathew J. Denton, Amanda W.J. Demopoulos, John D. Baldwin, Brian Smith, Kristen M. Hart
Diet 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 temper
Authors
Mathew J. Denton, Kristen M. Hart, Amanda W.J. Demopoulos, Anton Oleinik, John N. Baldwin
Malaclemys 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.
Authors
Mathew J. Denton, Kristen M. Hart, Anton Oelinik, Roger Wood, John N. Baldwin
Home range and movements of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in an estuary habitat
Background
Understanding movement patterns of free-ranging top predators throughout heterogeneous habitat is important for gaining insight into trophic interactions. We tracked the movements of five adult American alligators to delineate their estuarine habitat use and determine drivers of their activity patterns in a seasonally-fluctuating environment. We also compared VHF- and satellite-tracks o
Authors
Ikuko Fujisaki, Kristen M. Hart, Frank J. Mazzotti, Michael S. Cherkiss, Autumn R. Sartain-Iverson, Brian M. Jeffery, Jeffrey S. Beauchamp, Mathew J. Denton
Non-USGS Publications**
Johnston, G.R., J.C. Johnston, M. Denton. 2008. Ecology of a freshwater turtle guild in a southern Florida canal system. Florida Scientist. 71(4): 360-369.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
- Data
Carbon and nitrogen isotopic values from three omnivorous turtles, vegetation, and potential prey resources in the Santa Fe River, Florida sampled 2019-2020
All samples were collected within a 9km stretch of the Santa Fe River in northern Florida, USA. In 2019 and 2020 we sampled claw tissue from Macrochelys suwanniensis, Chelydra serpentina, and Trachemys scripta scripta, from three different sampling locations. We collected Vegetation and potential prey tissue samples within close proximity of turtle captures from two of the three capture locations.Carbon and nitrogen isotopic analysis of Diamondback terrapin tissues, vegetative, and benthic invertebrate resources within Barnegat Bay, New Jersey during 3 sampling sessions between 2011-2019
This dataset represents stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic information from tissue samples collected from diamondback terrapins, potential prey items, and vegetation from 6 salt marsh sites (4 mainland, 2 island) within a 30 km section of southern Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, USA. Red blood cells were collected from terrapins in 2011 (mature females), and whole blood samples were collected in 2015 aStable 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 - Publications
Dietary niche of three omnivorous turtle species in a northern Florida river: Insights from stable isotope analysis
Macrochelys suwanniensis (Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle) coexists with 2 other native large omnivorous turtle species (Chelydra serpentina [Snapping Turtle] and Trachemys scripta scripta [Yellow-bellied Slider]) in a 9-km section of the Santa Fe River in northern Florida. A major shift in dominant submersed aquatic vegetation prompted us to quantify trophic position and niche overlap among thAuthorsMathew Denton, Gerald R. Johnston, Travis M. Thomas, Hardin Waddle, Susan Walls, Kristen HartIsotopic niche of New Jersey terrapins suggests intraspecific resource partitioning, and little variability following a major hurricane
Diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) are sexually dimorphic generalist turtles that inhabit salt marshes and estuaries along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. On October 29th, 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey, USA, directly impacting terrapin populations inhabiting central and southern Barnegat Bay. To examine potential food web mediated impacts to the terrAuthorsMathew Denton, Kristen Hart, John Wnek, Sarah A. Moss, Harold W. AveryStable isotope analysis enhances our understanding of diamondback terrapin Malaclemys terrapin foraging ecology
Dietary studies on generalist predators may provide valuable information on spatial or temporal changes in the structure of ecological communities. We initiated this study to provide baseline data and determine the utility of stable isotope analysis (SIA) to evaluate the foraging strategies of an opportunistic reptilian predator, the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin), which specializes inAuthorsMathew J. Denton, Amanda W.J. Demopoulos, John D. Baldwin, Brian Smith, Kristen M. HartDiet 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. BaldwinMalaclemys 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. BaldwinHome range and movements of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in an estuary habitat
Background Understanding movement patterns of free-ranging top predators throughout heterogeneous habitat is important for gaining insight into trophic interactions. We tracked the movements of five adult American alligators to delineate their estuarine habitat use and determine drivers of their activity patterns in a seasonally-fluctuating environment. We also compared VHF- and satellite-tracks oAuthorsIkuko Fujisaki, Kristen M. Hart, Frank J. Mazzotti, Michael S. Cherkiss, Autumn R. Sartain-Iverson, Brian M. Jeffery, Jeffrey S. Beauchamp, Mathew J. DentonNon-USGS Publications**
Johnston, G.R., J.C. Johnston, M. Denton. 2008. Ecology of a freshwater turtle guild in a southern Florida canal system. Florida Scientist. 71(4): 360-369.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.