Dr. Kate Mansfield is a marine scientist and sea turtle biologist. Her research focuses on sea turtle biology, ecology, behavior, management, and conservation. Using various census and telemetry methods, Dr. Mansfield’s research interests include sea turtle and other marine vertebrate movements, migration, and habitat utilization. Dr. Mansfield’s recent projects include testing and deploying small-scale, solar-powered satellite tags on young, oceanic stage sea turtles with the goal of describing early sea turtle dispersal and habitat use.

Dr. Mansfield’s lab and field sites include the UCF Marine Turtle Research Group’s (MTRG) long-term nesting beach and coastal juvenile research programs. The UCF MTRG has monitored beaches within and adjacent to the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge for many decades, focusing on the reproductive biology and population trends of Atlantic sea turtles. In addition to this beach program, MTRG’s in-water netting program has monitored coastal (neritic) juvenile sea turtles in the Indian River Lagoon for over three decades. Combining these programs with Dr. Mansfield’s oceanic juvenile tracking work, the MTRG provides a whole life history approach to understanding the biology, ecology, and conservation needs of Atlantic sea turtles.