Southwest Florida Turtles, Costa Rica, and a lot of Biology

CheloniaCast is joined by Jordan Donini, Professor of Biology at Florida Southwestern State College. Jordan is an accomplished researcher with focuses on life history, reproductive biology, spatial ecology, and seasonal movements of turtles. His work has spanned across multiple fascinating chelonian hot spots, notably Costa Rica and the Southeastern United States. The conversation ranges from Jordan’s experiences in the field as well as unique aspects of turtle ecology uncovered by Jordan’s research. Phenomena such as Gopher Tortoises being gravid in the winter, box turtles eating crabs, the cryptic nature of the Florida Mud Turtle, and a Florida Softshell Turtle with an additional cloaca are discussed.   For the past few years Jordan has organized Herpeton, The Florida Herpetology Conference, the premier symposium highlighting the immense amount of herpetological research and conservation in the Sunshine State. You can register and learn more about Herpeton (from October 31st-November 2nd in 2025) here: https://www.fsw.edu/herpetonconference   Be sure to follow along with Jordan and his students on the Southwest Florida Turtle Project Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swfl_turtle_project/?locale=id&hl=en   Check out Jordans fascinating publications here: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jordan-Donini-2   Learn more about the CheloniaCast Podcast here: https://theturtleroom.org/cheloniacast/   Learn more about the CheloniaCast Podcast Fund here: https://theturtleroom.org/project/cheloniacast-podcast/   Follow the CheloniaCast Podcast on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter @cheloniacast   Host and production crew social media - Jason Wills - @chelonian.carter / Michael Skibsted - @michael.skibstedd / Jack Thompson - @jack_reptile_naturalist_302 / Ken Wang - @americanmamushi / Wyatt Keil - @wyatts_wildlife_photography / Paul Cuneo - @paul_turtle_conservation42 / Alex Mione - @alex.mione / Ethan Hancock - @ethankinosternonlover / Torsten Watkins - @t_0_.e