Jason Allen, BS, Lab and Field Coordinator

        I joined the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP) in 2001 after receiving my BS in Marine Science, Biology track from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL. I am presently the Field Logistics Coordinator and Lab Manager for the Chicago Zoological Society’s SDRP, based at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida. I worked for the National Park Service at Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands from 1995-1997 with endangered hawksbill sea turtles. Research focused on long-term monitoring of a critical nesting beach as well as determining the number, health and foraging ecology of juvenile turtles in the area. In 1998, I began working with bottlenose dolphins at Eckerd College. Primary duties included: leading field teams on boat based photo-id surveys in Tampa Bay and surrounding waters, photo-id and database maintenance. My primary interest was using the long-term data set to identify and describe variations in the number, distribution and habitat use of the bottlenose dolphins in the survey area. Since 2001, I have worked closely with Wells on his multi-disciplinary study of free ranging bottlenose dolphins along the west coast of Florida. Field and laboratory responsibilities have included health assessment, population surveys and photographic identification as well as rescue and post-release monitoring of injured animals.