After 12 weeks living in St. Croix, I have learned a lot about the various reptiles that call the US Virgin Islands home! Specifically, I have spent a lot of time with the St. Croix ground lizard, an endemic species that was extirpated from St. Croix because of land use changes and the introduction of …
Author Archives: Nicole Stevens
The Scientific Method in Action
My main roles as the SIP Fellow stationed at Buck Island Reef National Monument are to build a computer model of St. Croix Ground Lizard (Ameiva polops) distribution and abundance, lead outreach programs regarding the lizard, and assist with other NPS projects such as working at their native plant nursery, taking soil measurements, and patrolling …
Lizards in Paradise
It’s been over a month since I moved to beautiful St. Croix, USVI and I’ve had a great time diving into data and fieldwork! I am currently a PhD student at Texas A&M University where I study Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, though I primarily identify as a herpetologist (someone who researches reptiles and amphibians). For …