The Project
Introducing the Biologists, Local Officials and
Volunteers Working at Las Baulas National Park
Principal Investigators;
Dr. Richard Reina, assistant professor at Drexel University,
Philadelphia and has worked at Las Baulas since 1996. His interests
include conservation biology, physiological ecology and diving
in animals and has published and presented widely on these themes.
His Ph.D. (1996) was obtained at the Australian National University
and was a physiological study of salt regulation in green turtles
on the Great Barrier Reef.
Dr. Frank V. Paladino, Professor of Biology at Indiana-Purdue
University in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He has been at IPFW for 16
years and conducted research in the field of comparative vertebrate
physiological ecology. He has over 40 scientific papers in reviewed
professional journals on animals ranging from songbirds to elephants
to fish to sea turtles. He has been conducting research on sea
turtles in Costa Rica since 1988. He has a Ph.D. in Zoophysiology
from Washington State University (1979) and a Masterıs degree
in Ecology from Buffalo State University College (1976).
Dr. James R. Spotila, Betz Chair Professor of Environmental
Science at Drexel University, Philadelphia. He has over 95 reviewed
scientific publications in professional journals in the areas
of physiological ecology of vertebrate animals. He has been conducting
research in Costa Rica since 1978 on sea turtles. He has a Ph.D.
(1970) from the University of Arkansas in Vertebrate Biology and
has been a professor for 25 years at both Buffalo State University
and Drexel University.
Dr. Robert George, head veterinarian at the National Marine
Fisheries marine mammal and sea turtle stranding network. He also
holds an adjunct faculty position at the Virginia Institute of
Marine Science, College of William and Mary. He has been working
with sea turtles in Costa Rica since 1988.
Dr. Paul Sotherland, associate professor in biology at
Kalamazoo College, Michigan. He holds his doctorate from Colorado
State University in the field of vertebrate physiology. He is
an expert in the field of developmental biology, particularly
the physiology of eggs of birds and reptiles.
Research Team
Judy Zabriskie (American) Education Coordinator. Judy
is a registered teacher and wildlife artist, with many yearıs
experience coordinating the education project at Playa Grande.
Contact Judy for further details on the activities and timing
of the education component Gypsy@inxpress.net
Pilar Santidrian Tomillo, Field manager. Degree in Biology
from University of Madrid and presently enrolled in a M.Phil.
program at the Swansea University of Wales studying migration
of green turtles.
Local Officials
Biol. Rotney Piedra
M.Sc. graduate of the University of Costa Rica, director of Las
Baulas National Park. Has conducted research work at Las Baulas
previously and now oversees all aspects of Park Management and
personnel.
Park Guards
Responsible for enforcement of Park laws and regulations, as well
as working with local guides.
