Jeanette Wyneken, Ph.D
Professor
Biological Sciences
Boca Raton Campus
Education
- Ph.D.,University of Illinois, 1988
Research Interests
- Vertebrate Morphology (comparative, functional and developmental)
- Physiological ecology
- Behavioral ecology
- Marine conservation biology
Research Description
My lab’s research program addresses how organisms interact with their environments. To explore questions, test ideas, and develop a methodology, we draw our approaches from several biological disciplines including conservation biology, functional morphology, ecology, ethology, physiology, and developmental biology. Evolutionary processes and adaptation are important considerations in my lab’s work. My broad-based training enables me to address such diverse questions as for how behavioral patterns are associated with migratory swimming in sea turtles, and how do weather and climate affect eggs and rookeries, and what are the implications for common sea turtle management techniques? Additionally, my long-term studies of nest temperatures and primary sex ratios show how species differ in their responses to changing climate and weather conditions. Recent studies are assessing how primary sex ratios in sea turtle are skewed and the implications of skewing? Other, current research stresses the implications of an animal's structure and behavior to how it functions within its environment. Recent work examines suites of morphological characters and how they either constrain behavioral options or are exploited to allow behavioral plasticity. Several contemporary collaborative studies integrate morphological, developmental, and physiological data of four sea turtle species in comparisons of migratory behavior. While many of my lab's studies focus on marine turtles, other species are considered where applicable.
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Research was funded (in whole or in part) by a grant awarded from the Sea Turtle Grants Program. The Sea Turtle Grants Program is funded from proceeds from the sale of the Florida Sea Turtle License Plate. Learn more at
Recent Publications
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Monsinjon, J. R., Guillon, J., Wyneken, J., & Girondot, M. 2022.Thermal reaction norm for sexualization: The missing link between temperature and sex ratio for temperature-dependent sex determination. Ecological Modelling , 473 ,110119.
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Ingle DI, TL Meredith, JR Perrault, J Wyneken. 2021. Two heads are not always better than one: craniofacial and axial bifurcation in cheloniid embryos and hatchlings (Chelonia mydas and Caretta caretta). Journal of Morphology 1-12 https://doi.org/ 10.1002/jmor.21366
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Mansfield KL, J Wyneken, J Luo. 2021 Proceedings of the Royal Society B. First Atlantic Satellite Tracks of “Lost Years” Green Turtles Support the Importance of a Sargasso Sea as a Sea Turtle Nursery. Proc. R. Soc. B.2882021005720210057
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Lolavar As, J Wyneken. 2021. Effects of supplemental watering on loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nests and hatchlings. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 534: Article 151476
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Wyneken J, M Salmon. 2020. Linking Ecology, Morphology and Behavior to Conservation: Lessons Learned from Studies of Sea Turtles. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 60(2):440-455
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Turla E, J Wyneken. 2020. Key to living tags for Northwestern Atlantic loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) Marine Turtle Newsletter, 161:19-21
Scholarly Activities
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The above animation was done in collaboration with Digital Life 3D based out of U. Mass Amherst. The PI is Prof. Duncan Irschick.