ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This project would not have been possible without the help and support from
numerous people. First and foremost, I am grateful to the sea turtle research staff at the
St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant (SLNPP) for their dedication to sea turtle research and
conservation. Specifically, my gratitude goes to Mike Bresette, Rick Herren, and Dave
Singewald for all of their hard work. I am also appreciative of the travel support from
Florida Power & Light (FP&L).
I would also like to express my appreciation to my committee chair, Raymond R.
Carthy. I am extremely grateful for his support in allowing me to pursue my own research
interests and for several valuable discussions. I also extend my gratitude to Elliott R.
Jacobson for serving on my committee. His expertise in the field of Veterinary Medicine
was insightful.
Many thanks to Meghan Brennen and Marinela Capanu of the IFAS Statistics Help
Program at the University of Florida. I certainly enjoyed the exchange of turtle-life
history information for statistical assistance.
Finally, I would like to thank my friends and family for their endless support.
Specifically, Elizabeth Martin and Aletris Neils made the Florida Coop Unit a ‘warm’
place to work. More than I can express in words, my parents, Jim W. Norem and Kay J.
Hall, and my brother, Gage T. Norem, have my deepest gratitude. Without their
continued love and support, I would not possess such fortitude in life. I am also