Education
Ph.D., Michigan State University
Areas of Expertise
- Herpetology
- Life history/ecology of vertebrates
- Conservation and management
Research Interests
Studies of herpetofaunal biodiversity in southern ecosystems; environmental impacts of forest management on herpetofauna; using amphibians and reptiles as ecological bioindicators; turtle population ecology and demography; behavioral responses of venomous snakes to human encounters. Funded by Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Golf Association, U.S. Geological Survey.
Selected Publications
Gibbons, Whit. 2022. Salleyland: Wildlife Adventures in Swamps, Sandhills, and Forests. University of Alabama Press.
Lovich, Jeff and Whit Gibbons. 2021.Turtles of the World. A Guide to Every Family. Princeton University Press.
Gibbons, Whit. 2017. Snakes of the Eastern United States. University of Georgia Press.
Gibbons, Whit, and Anne R. Gibbons. 2017. Ecoviews Too. University of Alabama Press.
Gibbons, Whit. 2013. Their Blood Runs Cold: Adventures with Reptiles and Amphibians. 30th Anniversary Edition. University of Alabama Press.
McDiarmid, R. W., M. S. Foster, C. Guyer, J. Whitfield Gibbons, and N. Chernoff, eds. 2012. Reptile Biodiversity: Standard Methods for Inventory and Monitoring. University of California Press.
Gibbons, Whit. 2010. Keeping All the Pieces: Perspectives on Natural History and the Environment. University of Georgia Press. New Edition from 1993 book.
Mitchell, Joe, and Whit Gibbons. 2010. Salamanders of the Southeast. University of Georgia Press. Athens, GA.
Gibbons, Whit, and Judy Greene. 2009. Turtles: The Animal Answer Guide. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
Gibbons, Whit, Judy Greene and Tony Mills. 2009. Lizards and Crocodilians of the Southeast. University of Georgia Press. Athens, GA.
Buhlmann, Kurt, Tracey Tuberville, and Whit Gibbons. 2008. Turtles of the Southeast. University of Georgia Press. Athens, GA.
Jensen, J., C. Camp, M. Elliott, and Whit Gibbons. 2008. Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia.. University of Georgia Press. Athens, GA.
Gibbons, Whit, and Mike Dorcas. 2005. Snakes of the Southeast. University of Georgia Press. Athens, GA. Winner of the National Outdoor Book Award.
Gibbons, J. Whitfield, and Michael E. Dorcas. 2004. North American Watersnakes: A Natural History. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK.
Zedler, J., L. Shabman, V. Alvarez, R. O. Evans, R. C. Gardner, J. Whitfield Gibbons, J. W. Gilliam, C. A. Johnston, W. J. Mitsch, K. Prestegaard, A. M. Redmond, C. Simenstad, and R. E. Turner. 2001. Compensating for Wetland Losses under the Clean Water Act. National Academy Press. Washington, DC.
Gibbons, Whit, and Patricia J. West, eds. Snakes of Georgia and South Carolina. 1998. Savannah River Ecology Laboratory Herp Outreach Publication 1, Aiken, South Carolina 29802. ISBN 0-9667402-0-3. 28 p. 176 color photographs.
Gibbons, Whit, and Anne R. Gibbons. 1998. Ecoviews: Snakes, Snails, and Environmental Tales. University of Alabama Press. Choice Outstanding Academic Book Award 1999.
Gibbons, Whit. 1993. Reptile and Amphibian Study. Official booklet for Merit Badge Series of Boy Scouts of America.
Gibbons, Whit. 1993. Keeping All the Pieces: Perspectives on Natural History and the Environment. Smithsonian Institution Press.
Gibbons, J. Whitfield, and R. D. Semlitsch. 1991. Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of the Savannah River Site. University of Georgia Press.
Gibbons, Whit, R.R. Haynes and J. L. Thomas. 1990. Poisonous Plants and Venomous Animals of Alabama. University of Alabama Press.
Gibbons, J. Whitfield. 1990. Life History and Ecology of the Slider Turtle. Smithsonian Institution Press.
Sharitz. R.R, and J. Whitfield Gibbons (eds.). 1989. Freshwater Wetlands and Wildlife: Perspectives on Natural, Managed and Degraded Ecosystems. USDOE CONF‑8603101. Office of Scientific and Technical Information, U.S. Dept. of Energy, Oak Ridge, TN.
Gibbons, Whit. 1983. Their Blood Runs Cold: Adventures with Reptiles and Amphibians. University of Alabama Press.
Thorp, James H. and J. Whitfield Gibbons (eds.). 1978. Energy and Environmental Stress in Aquatic Systems. DOE Symposium Series, CONF-771114). Technical Information Center, Oak Ridge, TN.
Gibbons, J. Whitfield and Rebecca R. Sharitz (eds.). 1974. Thermal Ecology. AEC Symposium Series, (CONF‑730505). Technical Information Center, Oak Ridge, TN.
