Ben Atkinson
Professional Profile
I truly love teaching undergraduates. As a herpetologist, I study reptiles and amphibians. Additionally, I enjoy writing and sharing original poetry.
Teaching
Classes taught
- Learning Community – High Water Rising: Science, Literature, and the Environment
- NAS 107 – Environmental Science
- NAS 111 – Intro to Biological Science
- NAS 203 – Marine Biology
- NAS 214 – Principles of Ecology
- NAS 310 – Field Methods
- NAS 340 – Belize Wildlife Ecology
- NAS 331 – Evolutionary Biology
- NAS 340 – Coastal Zoology
- NAS 440 – Coastal Field Research Capstone
- NAS 479 – Scientific Research Assistantship
- NAS 491 – Independent Study
Research
Ph.D., Wildlife Ecology and Conservation – University of Florida
M.S., Interdisciplinary Ecology, concentration in Zoology – University of Florida
B.S.Ed., Environmental Education – Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
A.A., General Studies – Butler County Community College, Pennsylvania
Area of Research
My research primarily centers on the conservation ecology of turtles and tortoises.
More Information
Scientific Publications
Bishop, Nichole D., Rick Hudson, Jacob Marlin, Thomas Pop, Thomas Rainwater, Shane Boylan, Benjamin K. Atkinson, and Raymond R. Carthy. Utilizing Growth Rates to Estimate Age and Size at Sexual Maturity in the Critically Endangered Central American River Turtle, Dermatemys mawii. Chelonian Conservation and Biology [In revision].
Dana J. Ehret and Benjamin K. Atkinson. Chapter 3: Evolutionary History and Paleontological Record. Invited book chapter – Ecology and Conservation of the Diamond-backed Terrapin. Eds., W. Roosenburg and V. Kennedy. Johns Hopkins University Press [In press].
Sheehy, Coleman M. III, Matthew T. Fedler, Tyler A. Gilbert, Margarita Hernandez, and Benjamin K. Atkinson. 2015. Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei): Geographic Distribution. Herpetological Review 46(2): 215-216.
Heinrich, George L., Timothy J. Walsh, Dale R. Jackson and Benjamin K. Atkinson. 2012. Boat strikes: A Threat to the Suwannee Cooter (Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis). Herpetological Conservation and Biology 7(3): 349-357.
Ehret, Dana J. and Benjamin K. Atkinson. 2012. Fossil Record of the Diamond-Backed Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin (Testudines: Emydidae). Journal of Herpetology 46(3): 351-355.
Atkinson, Benjamin K. and Dale R. Jackson. 2012. Geographic Distribution: Deirochelys reticularia. Herpetological Review 43(2): 302-303.
Atkinson, Benjamin K. and Josiah H. Townsend. 2012. Geographic Distribution: Ramphotyphlops braminus. Herpetological Review 43(2): 308.
Townsend, Josiah H., Larry D. Wilson, Melissa Medina-Flores, Ephraim Aguilar-Urbina, Atkinson, Benjamin K., Cesar A. Cerrato-Mendoza, Alfonso Contreras-Castro, Levi N. Gray, Luis A. Herrera-B., Ileana R. Luque-Montes, Mayron McKewy-Mejia, Alionso Portillo-Avilez, Alexander L. Stubbs, and James D. Austin. 2012. A premontane hotspot for herpetological endemism on the windward side of Refugio de Vida Silvestre Texíguat, Honduras. Salamandra 48: 92-114.
Josiah H. Townsend, Larry D. Wilson, Cesar A. Cerrato-M., Benjamin K. Atkinson, Luis A. Herrera-B., and Mayron M. Meija. 2011. Discovery of an extant population of the critically endangered treefrog Plectrohyla chrysopleura (Anura: Hylidae) in Refugio de Vida Silvestre Texiguat, Honduras. Herpetological Bulletin 115: 22-25.
Larry D. Wilson, Josiah H. Townsend, Luis A. Herrera-B., Benjamin K. Atkinson, Cesar A. Cerrato-M., and Mayron M. Mejía. 2011. Northern and western distributional extension for Teratohyla pulverata (Peters 1873) (Anura: Centrolenidae). Herpetology Notes 4: 37-38.
Atkinson, Benjamin K. and James C. Nifong. 2009. Geographic distribution: Hemidactylus garnotii. Herpetological Review. 40(1): 112.
Atkinson, Benjamin K., and J. Michael Butler. 2008. Geographic distribution: Pseudemys nelsoni. Herpetological Review. 39(4): 481.
Butler, J. Michael and Benjamin K. Atkinson. 2008. Geographic distribution: Eleuthrodactylus planirostris. Herpetological Review. 39(3): 363.
Belzer, William R., Susan Seibert, and Benjamin K. Atkinson. 2002. Putative Chipmunk Predation of Juvenile Eastern Box Turtles. Turtle and Tortoise Newsletter 5:8-9.
Representative Juried Poetry
2018 “Dharma” and “Street Rat” – FM Quarterly: FM23 (Spring 2018), Volume 9
2010 “Unearthly Obsession” – Challenging Composition, 2nd Edition, revised. Textbook by Eric Pedersen. Published by Rainmaker Education.
2006 “Broken Lines on a Box Turtle” – Facets Literary Magazine, Commemorative Edition
2005 “He Didn’t Like Isaiah” and “3 Haiku” – Stockpot Literary Magazine
2003 “A Note for Mr. Soul” and “Glimmer and Gleam” – Facets Literary Magazine
2002 “Dirge” and “A Buckhunter’s Frustration” and “The New Muse Poetess w/ Feet Like Wings” – Facets Literary Magazine
2000 “Metaphysical Sea,” “Feral Flower,” and “Decline of Icarus” – Facets Literary Magazine
Organizational Affiliations
Ancient City Poets
Diamondback Terrapin Working Group
Eastern Box Turtle Conservation Trust
Florida State Poets Association
Florida Turtle Conservation Trust
National Federation of State Poetry Societies
Southeastern Estuarine Research Society
Turtle Survival Alliance
Office Hours (On Campus):
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Friday: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM