Education

B.B.A. in Management Information Systems, Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT

B.S. in Marine Science, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC

M.S. in Marine Science, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA

Research Interests

Currently, I am studying the foraging and community ecology of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin). From my research, we now know that terrapins are feeding in seagrass beds around Chesapeake Bay, ingesting eelgrass seeds, and potentially spreading germinating seeds between different beds within their home ranges.  I also address conservation issues facing terrapins to improve protection of the species in Virginia.  To address a gap in current knowledge about terrapins in Virginia, I coordinated the first “VA TerpSearch” citizen-involved survey for diamondback terrapins along Virginia’s coastlines in 2011.

Recent Experience

2002-2003       Instructor, Marine Science & Environmental Studies Department, University of San Diego

2001, 2002      Teach Assistant, Marine Science & Environmental Studies Department, University of San Diego

2000                Laboratory Technician, Environmental Quality Laboratory, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC

1999                Summer Inter, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Horn Point Laboratory, Cambridge, MD

Honors/Awards/Fellowships

2012-2013       NSF GK-12 Partnership between Educators and Researchers for Enhancing Classroom Teaching (PERFECT)

2010-2012       NOAA/NERRS Graduate Research Fellow with the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia

2007-2010       VIMS Graduate Fellowship

1998                Research Experience for Undergraduates Fellowship with University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Horn Point Laboratory, Cambridge, MD (summer)

Publications

Tulipani, D.C. and R.N. Lipcius (in preparation) Chelonocory: dispersal of eelgrass (Zostera marina) seed by northern diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) of the York River subestuary, Chesapeake Bay.

Tulipani, D.C. and R.N. Lipcius (in preparation) Tracking of northern diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) of the York River subestuary, Chesapeake Bay, using ultrasonic telemetry.

 Tulipani, D.C. 2010. Diamondback terrapins. Virginia Herpetological Society Newsletter 20(2):8-9.

 Tulipani, D.C and MA Boudrias. 2006. Behaviors of the pelagic red crab Pleuroncodes planipes observed in captivity. In Crustacean Research Special Number 6, Biology of Anomura II (A. Asakura, ed.) 6 67-79.

 Tulipani, D.C. 2005. Functional morphology and fluid dynamics of swimming in the pelagic red crab, Pleuroncodes planipes. M.S. thesis, University of San Diego, xv + 295 pp.

 

Presentations

Tulipani, D.C. and R.N. Lipcius. 2010. Foraging of northern diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin terrapin) in eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds of the York River subestuary, southern Chesapeake Bay. Abstract of paper presented at the 5^th National Symposium on the Ecology, Status, and Conservation of the Diamondback Terrapin, LUMCON W.J. DeFelice Marine Center, Chauvin, Louisiana.

 Tulipani, D.C. 2009. Prey selection of diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) in lower Chesapeake Bay. Poster presented at Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation 20^th Biennial Conference, Portland, Oregon.

 Tulipani, D.C. 2005. Behaviors of the pelagic red crab Pleuroncodes planipes observed in captivity. 6^th International Crustacean Congress – Anomuran symposium oral presentation