Colin Carlson

I am a first semester Honors junior in EEB, and at the moment, I work with Tobias Landberg on a research project studying the behavior and morphology of the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina), based on footage from a Crittercam project. This project is, however, approaching an end, and I will soon begin another project, the topic of which I will keep secret to build up suspense.

Snapping Turtle Research

This project analyzed the behavior of three Snapping Turtles ([Chelydra serpentina]) along the Connecticut river. The footage, collected over the summer, was from three turtles: Jawless and Lafayette from Wethersfield Cove, and Snippy from Shenipsit Lake. (see the snapping turtle research team page for the full story on the turtles). Also, for more information on Crittercam itself, visit National Geographic's Crittercam Homepage. This analysis encompasses the breath, dive, pausing, walking, and other aspects of locomotion of the three turtles. If you would like to read more about the actual data analysis going into the project, check out Snapping Turtle Research: Analyses and Conclusions.

Research Interests

Phenotypic plasticity; behavioral ecology; herpetology; morphological constraints on behavior; conservation and environmental law. (In other words, it's all good with me.)