Joe Wasilewski

Position and Affiliation

Wildlife Expert, UF - Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center

Areas of Interest

Herpetology and conservation of imperiled species.

Education

B.S. Biology. 1981. Florida International University.

Project Involvement

Joe's diverse work has let to his appointment to the IUCN, as a member of both the Crocodile Specialist Group and Iguana Specialist Group, member of the IUCN CSG Tomistoma Task Force, Bahamas National Trust as well as the Explorer's Club located in New York City. He is also president of Natural Selections of South Florida, an environmental consulting firm.

He has made appearances on NBC's Today Show, the Tonight Show (with both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno), ABC Evening News and CBS Nightly News. He also regularly consults with natural history productions and national/international news outlets such as National Geographic, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, BBC, CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, HGTV, History Channel and Al Jazeera News. Joe is currently working for Jadora International LLC as Vice-President of biodiversity in addition to lending a hand to The Croc Docs on various research projects.

Publications

J.A. Wasilewski, K.L. Krysko, N. Wasilewski, and E.F. Metzger III. 2022. Efficient Nocturnal Capture Methods for Controlling a Diurnal and Arboreal Invasive Lizard Species. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 17(1): 37-42.

Knapp C.R., T.D. Grant, S.A. Pasachnik, B. Angin, E. Boman, J. Brisbane, S.D. Buckner, J.E. Haakonsson, P.S. Harlow, F. Mukhida, N. Thomas‐Moko, M.P. van denBurg, and J.A. Wasilewski. 2021. The global need to address threats from invasive alien iguanas. Animal Conservation 24(5): 717-719.

Cherkiss M.S., J.I. Watling, L.A. Brandt, F.J. Mazzotti, J. Lindsay, J.S. Beauchamp, J. Lorenz, J.A. Wasilewski, I. Fujisaki, and K.M. Hart. 2020. Shifts in hatching date of American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) in southern Florida. Journal of Thermal Biology 88: 102521.

Rossi N.A., A. Menchaca-Rodriguez, R. Antelo, B. Wilson, K. McLaren, F. Mazzotti, R. Crespo, J. Wasilewski, F. Alda, I. Doadrio, and T.R. Barros. 2020. High levels of population genetic differentiation in the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus). Plos one 15(7): p.e0235288.

Rochford M.R., K.L. Krysko, F.J. Mazzotti, M.H. Shirley, M.W. Parry, J.A. Wasilewski, J.S. Beauchamp, C.R. Gillette, E.F. Metzger III, M.A. Squires, and L.A. Somma. 2016. Molecular analyses confirming the introduction of Nile crocodiles, Crocodylus niloticus Laurenti 1768 (Crocodylidae), in southern Florida, with an assessment of potential for establishment, spread, and impacts. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 11(1): 80-89.

Hayes W.K., S. Cyril, T. Crutchfield, J.A. Wasilewski, T.A. Rothfus, and R.L. Carter. 2016. Conservation of the endangered San Salvador rock iguanas (Cyclura rileyi rileyi): population estimation, invasive species control, translocation, and headstarting. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 11: 90-105.

Mazzotti F.J., M. McEachern, M. Rochford, R.N. Reed, J.K. Eckles, J. Vinci, J. Edwards, and J. Wasilewski. 2015. Tupinambis merianae as nest predators of crocodilians and turtles in Florida, USA. Biological Invasions 17(1): 47-50.

Krysko K.L., J.P. Burgess, M.R. Rochford, C.R. Gillette, D. Cueva, K.M. Enge, L.A. Somma, J.L. Stabile, D.C. Smith, J.A. Wasilewski, and G.N. Kieckhefer III. 2011. Verified non-indigenous amphibians and reptiles in Florida from 1863 through 2010: Outlining the invasion process and identifying invasion pathways and stages. Zootaxa 3028(1): 1-64.

Rodriguez D., M.R. Forstner, P.E. Moler, J.A. Wasilewski, M.S. Cherkiss, and L.D. Densmore III. 2011. Effect of human-mediated migration and hybridization on the recovery of the American crocodile in Florida (USA). Conservation Genetics 12(2): 449-459.

Merchant M., J. McFatter, S. Mead, C. McAdon, and J. Wasilewski. 2010. Identification and characterization of serum complement activity in the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus). Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 133(2-4): 165-169.

Merchant M., S. Mead, C. McAdon, J. McFatter, and J. Wasilewski. 2010. Identification and characterization of dipeptidyl peptidase IV enzyme activity in the American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus). Veterinary immunology and immunopathology 136(1-2): 28-33.

Richards P.M. and J. Wasilewski. 2003. Crocodylus acutus (American crocodile). Natural History. Cannibalism. Herpetological Review 34(4): 371.