Dr. David Rostal

Work in my lab focuses on the reprductive biology and physiological ecology of reptiles and amphibians, particulary endangered species. My research integrates endocrinology, physiology and ecology to understand how a species' reproductive biology is adapted to the environment they inhabit. Research projects currently underway in my lab include:

1. Studies of loggerhead sea turtle nesting biology on the Georgia coast including temperature dependent sex determination (TSD) under field conditions, fecundity, maternal yolk hormone concentrations and current management practices.

2. Long term studies of gopher tortoise reproductive biology, home range, population demography and ecology.

3. Biogeography of gopher tortoises and desert tortoises and the role of TSD and incubation factors in delineating the range of tortoises.

4. Reproductiv biology of Galapagos tortoises on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos.

My graduate students and I have worked on a variety of species including Gopher frogs, flatwoods salamanders, leatherback sea turtles, American alligator, and desert tortoise. If you are interested in reprodutive physiology, physiological ecology, and evolution and would like to get involved in research, please contact me.