Bill with Jeff Corwin. Jeff Corwin and crew filmed an episode of “Wildlife Nation with Jeff Corwin” about Bill’s turtle research within Silver Springs Florida that premiered to millions of viewers on ABC

Outreach

Research Articles

Research captivates me because of its transformative potential in conservation. I cherish the scientific process for its ability to generate applicable, effective, and noteworthy solutions to environmental challenges. It's a passion rooted in a desire to contribute meaningfully to conservation efforts, driven by the belief that rigorous research can pave the way for a sustainable future.

Peer Reviewed Primary Research

Hawthorne WH, Sulak KJ, and Walsh SJ. 2024. Spawning within Floating Vegetation: Novel Underwater Observations of Egg Deposition in Longnose Gar (Lepisosteus osseus). Southeastern Naturalist, 23(4), pp.414-424.

Hawthorne WH, Johnson GR. 2024. Pseudemys peninsularis or Pseudemys floridana peninsularis (Peninsula Cooter). Maximum Size of Male. Herpetological Review, 55(1), pp. 88.

Hawthorne WH, Ball R, Bogan J, and Goessling JM. 2024. Physiological Responses of Eastern Indigo Snakes (Drymarchon couperi) Infected with Cryptosporidium serpentis. Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery. 34(2): 137-144.

Hawthorne WH, Grubb MCA, Stari K, Conrad L. and Fly J. 2021. Mushrooms, Strong Scents, and Other Pest Deterrents: Maya Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) resists modern agricultural trends in Belize. TEA: The Ethnobotanical Assembly, 7.

Hawthorne WH and Goessling, J.M. 2020. A test of tradeoffs between performance and immunity in water snakes (Nerodia clarkii X Nerodia fasciata). Copeia, 108(3): 453-458.

Peer Reviewed Technical Reports

Hawthorne WH. 2024. An Ecological Health Assessment of Silver Springs Florida. The Florida Springs Institute. pp 1-94.

Hawthorne WH. 2023. Gilchrist Blue Spring Collapse Report. The Florida Springs Institute. pp 1-11.

Hawthorne WH, Hall H, Knight RL. 2023. An Ecological Health Assessment of Rainbow Springs Florida. The Florida Springs Institute. pp 1-205.

Hall H, Hawthorne WH, Knight RL. 2022 An ecological Health Assessment of Four Outstanding Florida Springs on the Suwannee River. The Florida Springs Institute. pp 1-106.

Bill presenting on herpetofauna underneath the Titanosaur at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City

Grant Writing

I enjoy the competition of grant writing and understand the necessity of fundraising through my experiences working for non-for-profit organizations.

Moody H, Taylor E, Hawthorne WH, Knight RL. Championing Springs Conservation: An Integrated Approach to Research, Education, and Outreach. 1923 Fund: $250,000. October 2024.

Hawthorne WH, Knight RL. Ecological Health Assessment of the Silver Springs System. Felburn Foundation: $75,000. February 2023.

Hawthorne WH, Knight RL. Ecological Health Assessment of the Silver Springs System. Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida: $31,000. October 2022.

Hawthorne WH, Ball RL. Immunocompetence effects of Cryptosporidium serpentis

on Eastern Indigo Snakes (Drymarchon couperi). J. Larry Landers Student Research Grant: $1180

Hawthorne WH. Brunner Endowed Internship Grant: $3000. November 2019.

Founders Academic Scholarship: $21,000 annually. 2017-2021.

Ford Scholarship: one of twenty rising juniors selected to participate in the Ford program. Two-year course study designed to prepare students for graduate school. Includes summer research with a stipend and funding for research expenses.

I believe outreach is of upmost importance in the field of science and conservation. Outreach fosters passions which lead to new generations of conservationists and the support needed to make real change. I present frequently and participate in outreach events whenever possible. Below, please find a few of my major presentations:

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

Hawthorne WH, JE Bogan, R Ball, JM Goessling. Physiological responses of Eastern Indigo Snakes (Drymarchon couperi) Infected with Cryptosporidium serpentis. The Gopher Tortoise Council. St. Petersburg, Florida. November 2024. (Poster)

Hawthorne WH. Spawning within Floating Vegetation: Underwater Observations of Egg Deposition in Longnose Gar. Florida Native Plant Society. Gainesville, Florida. December 2023. (Oral)

Hawthorne WH. Establishment of a Demography Study of Turtles in Silver Springs, Florida. Friends of Silver Springs and Silver Springs Park Staff. Ocala, FL. March 2024. (Oral)

Hawthorne WH. Spawning within Floating Vegetation: Underwater Observations of Egg Deposition in Longnose Gar. Santa Fe Springs Protection Forum. Highsprings, Florida. December 2023. (Oral)

Hawthorne WH. Establishment of a Demography Study of Turtles in Silver Springs, Florida. Southwest Florida Herpetology Conference. Fort Meyers, Fl. September 2023. (Oral)

Hawthorne WH, Knight RL. An Ecological Health Assessment of Rainbow River, Florida. Florida Department of Environmental Protection. High Springs, FL. April 2023. (Oral)

Hall H, Hawthorne WH, and Knight RL. An Ecological Health Assessment of Four Outstanding  Florida Springs on the Suwannee River. Florida Department of Environmental Protection. High Springs, FL, September, 2022. (Oral)

Hawthorne WH. Effects of a gastrointestinal parasite on the innate immunity of eastern indigo snakes (Drymarchon couperi). Undergraduate Thesis Defense. St. Petersburg, FL. (Oral)

Hawthorne WH, and JM Goessling. Immunity versus Aerobic Ability: Bridging the Metabolic Gap. St. Petersburg FL, May 2019. (Poster)

Hawthorne WH, JE Lopez-Perez, N Caruso, and JM Goessling. Physiological Ecology of Gopherus Polyphemus in South Central Alabama. St. Petersburg FL, May 2019. (Poster)

Bill volunteers with a wide variety of research including archeology, frog surveys, turtle surveys, bird surveys, and more.