Associate Professor, Chair, Biology DepartmentShepherd University
PO Box 862, 101 Rowles Street
Harpers Ferry, WV, West Virginia 25425
Email: jsteffen@shepherd.edu
Phone: 304-582-8007
Research Disciplines: Research Interests:
reptile conservation, amphibian conservation, frogs, salamanders
Biographical Sketch
I am an Assistant Professor in Biology at Shepherd University. I am an ecologist interested in reptile and amphibian biology and conservation, and I answer questions about how these organisms interact with their environment. I have performed research which attempts to understand how plants influence distributions of desert lizards, how the color of male tropical lizards (e.g., Anolis) throats influence individual reproductive success, and how aquatic plant diets contribute to spot and stripe color in Painted Turtles. Additionally, I am pursuing turtle conservation research. I have written and been funded by many grants to pursue this research, and I have published their results in many peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Education
- Ph.D.: Auburn University, 2007.
- M.S. Western Washington University, 2000.
- B.S. Ohio University, 1989.
Other Research
The effect of dietary carotenoids on blood health and spot and stripe color in Painted Turtles.