Peyton Jackson

Background

About Peyton Jackson

Having grown up in Wilmington, NC; working on the water came naturally to me. In high school, I spent my weekends and summers volunteering at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher's education department. As soon as I turned 18, I began assisting with animal husbandry. I spent the summer following my freshman year interning with the Georgia Aquarium and spent the following spring studying zoology at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Once I returned stateside, I began working on my Honors thesis with Dr. Rebecca Asch - a meta-analysis examining interactions between changes in pH and seasonal behavior in marine organisms due to climate change. I had unique experiences working remotely with the Center for Coastal Studies on a project examining how photograph quality impacts assessing entanglement status and identifying humpback whales that frequent the Gulf of Maine. As a SECU intern, I investigated and assessed oyster restoration efforts along the Atlantic coast under the guidance of the North Carolina Coastal Federation. While my academic career focused primarily on marine sciences, I spent my free-time focused on my reptile collection. As of January 2022, I have 12 snakes representing 10 species, and in recent months I have begun keeping invertebrates like isopods and beetles. During the pandemic, caring for my animals gave me the opportunity to connect with nature without leaving the comfort of my home. As my interest in herpetoculture and conservation blossomed, I decided to pursue my MS in Zoo Science and Applied Conservation at West Liberty University. At WLU, I am able to share and develop my passion for animal husbandry with likeminded colleagues while training aspiring animal keepers and conservationists in the undergraduate program. Meanwhile, my research on ophidian nutrition and reproductive behavior has the potential to make meaningful contributions to husbandry practices and conservation efforts. The best part is that I am still able to work with aquatic animals as Zoo Science Fellows are also responsible for the upkeep of the university's crayfish lab, several species of aquatic turtles, and other animals that rely on aquatic life support systems.