HSC

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Current Students



Printable Version


Student Name Acevedo, Miguel
Degree PhD (SNRE)
Email Address maacevedo@ufl.edu
Advisor Fletcher
Research Applications of graph theory to landscape connectivity and conservation
Interests Ecological informatics, ecological modeling and conservation


Student Name Aguiar-neto, Antonio
Degree PhD
Email Address patriota@ufl.edu
Advisor Bruna
Research Mechanisms underlying inter-population demographic variation of trees in fragmented tropical landscapes Interests:
Interests Tropical plants


Student Name Atkinson, Ben
Degree PhD
Email Address bka@ufl.edu
Advisor Ross
Research Bycatch reduction in Florida's blue crab fishery
Interests Sustainability, environmental education


Student Name Bailey, Karen
Degree PhD
Email Address karen.bailey@ufl.edu
Advisor McCleery
Research Animal behavior, biodiversity, and land use practices in Swaziland. Conservation of small mammals and meso carnivores
Interests Socioeconomic aspects of conservation, environmental justice, sustainability


Student Name Beauchamp, Jeffrey
Degree MS
Email Address jbeach@ufl.edu
Advisor Mazzotti
Research
Interests


Student Name Bernatis, Jennifer
Degree PhD (SNRE)
Email Address bernatis@ufl.edu
Advisor Johnson
Research
Interests


Student Name Brown, Megan
Degree PhD (SNRE)
Email Address meganbrown@ufl.edu
Advisor Miller
Research Exploring how feral hog disturbance affects plant communities in seepage slopes of the Florida Panhandle
Interests Hiking, kayaking, playing disc golf and making jewelry


Student Name Burgess, Matt
Degree PhD
Email Address mburgess@ufl.edu
Advisor Percival
Research
Interests


Student Name Carlton, Stuart
Degree PhD (SNRE)
Email Address stuart.carlton@ufl.edu
Advisor Jacobson
Research The role of communication and social networks in public understanding of controversial scientific issues
Interests The human dimensions of conservation and natural resource management


Student Name Cattau, Christopher
Degree PhD
Email Address cattau@ufl.edu
Advisor Kitchens
Research Foraging ecology and energetics of snail kites
Interests Landscape ecology and modeling


Student Name Chaves, Willandia
Degree PhD (SNRE)
Email Address willandia@ufl.edu
Advisor Sieving
Research Reduced-impact logging and wildlife conservation in the southwestern Amazon - Brazil
Interests Conservation biology, ecology and conservation of neotropical mammals and birds, and wildlife management


Student Name Claytor, Sieara
Degree PhD
Email Address sclayto@ufl.edu
Advisor Cameron-Devitt
Research
Interests Biogeography, Conservation Biology


Student Name Condon, Erin
Degree MS
Email Address epcondon@ufl.edu
Advisor Tanner
Research
Interests


Student Name Delaney, Patrick
Degree MS (SNRE)
Email Address jpdelaney@ufl.edu
Advisor Percival
Research Assessing habitat selection by American alligators using GIS
Interests Crocodilians, GIS, population ecology, and airboats


Student Name Dickson, Ritan
Degree MS
Email Address dritan@ufl.edu
Advisor Jacobson
Research Rehabilitation and restoration of degraded wildlife protected areas
Interests


Student Name Dupree, Jennifer
Degree MS (SNRE)
Email Address jdupree@ufl.edu
Advisor Miller
Research Coastal restoration techniques using native plants on barrier islands along the northern Gulf Coast of Florida
Interests Applied restoration and land management


Student Name Espinosa, Santiago
Degree PhD
Email Address santiea@ufl.edu
Advisor Branch
Research Impacts of roads and hunting on jaguars in Yasuni NP, Ecuador
Interests Large carnivore ecology, landscape ecology


Student Name Fidorra, Jason
Degree MS
Email Address jfidorra@ufl.edu
Advisor Frederick
Research Wading bird ecology and the impact of landa and water management on birds in the Evergrlads ecosystem
Interests Backpacking, conservation, birding, travel, outdoor adventures


Student Name Figueroa, Omar
Degree PhD
Email Address omarf@ufl.edu
Advisor Jacobson
Research Developing habitat suitability models for Keystone species in Belize
Interests Landscape ecology and conservation biology


Student Name Finch, Colton
Degree MS
Email Address coltonfinch@ufl.edu
Advisor Pine
Research Research is the Near-Shore Ecology of native fish in Grand Canyon, AZ, especially humpback chub, Gila cypha
Interests fishing, snowboarding, canoeing/kayaking, hiking, camping, sushi, swimming, gardening, and photography


Student Name Frechette, Jackson
Degree PhD (SNRE)
Email Address jluc@ufl.edu
Advisor Sieving
Research Community ecology, primate ecology, seed dispersal, predation risk
Interests


Student Name Gerig, Brandon
Degree MS
Email Address bsgerig@ufl.edu
Advisor Pine
Research Studying the influence of modified flow regimes on the distribution and habitat use of humpback chub (Gila cypha) in the Colorado River in Grand Canyon
Interests fisheries ecology and management, hiking, mountain biking, fishing playing guitar and reading


Student Name Goswami, Varun
Degree PhD (SNRE)
Email Address vgoswami@ufl.edu
Advisor Oli
Research Influences of anthropogenic disturbances on the ecology and behavior of large mammals and their interactions with people
Interests Population and behavioral and spatial ecology


Student Name Greene, Daniel
Degree PhD
Email Address greenda@ufl.edu
Advisor McCleery
Research Assessing the distribution of Florida’s fox squirrels
Interests Small mammals, rock iguanas, population modeling, wildlife conservation, SCUBA, kayaking, and archery


Student Name Gryzbek, Mary
Degree MS
Email Address mgryzbek@ufl.edu
Advisor Pine, Wells
Research Visual health assessment of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) using external features that are visible in photographs
Interests Ecology, population dynamics, animal behavior, physiology, conservation, public outreach and education


Student Name Hall, Jason
Degree MS
Email Address jchall@ufl.edu
Advisor Tanner
Research Control of an invasive exotic species, paragrass, using combinations of cattle grazing, herbicide and flooding
Interests Environmental law


Student Name Haynes, Nia
Degree PhD
Email Address n.haynes@ufl.edu
Advisor Jacobson
Research Culture and society affect ecological literacy and positive environmental actions or behaviors
Interests Human dimensions of wildlife ecology


Student Name Hooker, Courtney
Degree MS
Email Address jpcah@ufl.edu
Advisor Giuliano
Research Wildlife management
Interests Upland habitat management, avian ecology, education, astronomy, volleyball


Student Name Hua, Fangyuan
Degree PhD (SNRE)
Email Address huamay@ufl.edu
Advisor Sieving
Research Impact of forest fragmentation on birds
Interests Avian ecology and conservation, habitat conservation


Student Name Jackson, Donald
Degree PhD
Email Address dlj1@ufl.edu
Advisor Libisky
Research Conserved land management
Interests Management of natural resources – wildlife


Student Name Jacobs, Caitlin
Degree MS
Email Address caitlin.jacbos.ufl.edu
Advisor Main
Research Effects of the Florida Panther on Cattle Ranching in South Florida
Interests Large Carnivore Ecology and Conservation, Playing my Tranjo, Contra Dancing


Student Name Johnson, Rosalyn
Degree PhD
Email Address rosjohnson@ufl.edu
Advisor Sieving
Research Impacts of human development and habitat conversion on wildlife species
Interests Kayaking and hiking


Student Name Kerman, Kaan
Degree PhD
Email Address werhiston86@ufl.edu
Advisor Oli
Research behavioral/populational ecological
Interests Behavioral ecology and population biology, ethology, ornithology, mammalogy, conservation biology


Student Name Ketterlin, Jennifer
Degree MS (SNRE)
Email Address jkett@ufl.edu
Advisor Mazzotti
Research Occurrence of wildlife on tree islands in WCA 3A
Interests Wetland ecology, environmental policy


Student Name Knowles, Hal
Degree PhD (SNRE)
Email Address hknowles@ufl.edu
Advisor Hostetler
Research
Interests


Student Name Long, Andrea
Degree PhD
Email Address aklong@ufl.edu
Advisor McCleery
Research Exploring the impacts of invasive fire ants on wildlife communities
Interests Anthropogenic threats and wildlife, invasives, hiking, running, kayaking


Student Name Luque Montes, Ileana
Degree MS
Email Address ileanaluque@ufl.edu
Advisor Austin
Research Conservation genetics of ephemeral pond-breeding amphibians
Interests Amphibian and Reptile Conservation


Student Name Lynch, Ryan
Degree MS (SNRE)
Email Address lynchrl@ufl.edu
Advisor Mazzotti
Research Habitat use and amphibian response to management practices
Interests Forest dynamics, herpetology, natural history & tropical conservation


Student Name Mahoney, Peter
Degree MS
Email Address pjmahoney@ufl.edu
Advisor Meyer
Research Foraging activity and habitat use during the nesting season in Great White Herons of southern Florida
Interests


Student Name Martin, Elizabeth
Degree PhD
Email Address emartin1@ufl.edu
Advisor Percival
Research Effects of raptors on foraging behavior and habitat use of wintering Dunlin
Interests Habitat use and mechanisms underlying use of resources


Student Name McCray, Jame
Degree PhD
Email Address jmmcray@ufl.edu
Advisor Carthy
Research
Interests


Student Name Morgan, Tabitha
Degree MS
Email Address sismiss07@ufl.edu
Advisor Ross
Research Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management
Interests Herps and Environmental Policy


Student Name Morgan-Brown, Theron
Degree PhD (SNRE)
Email Address kimbiaje@ufl.edu
Advisor Jacobson
Research Conservation effects of the Amani butterfly project in Tanzania
Interests Non-timber forest products, human dimensions of conservation


Student Name Mundim, Fabiane
Degree PhD
Email Address fabianemundim@ufl.edu
Advisor Bruna
Research Herbivory in Neotropical savannas
Interests Plant-herbivory interactions, savanna ecology, and tropical ecology and conservation


Student Name Murillo, Oscar
Degree PhD (SNRE)
Email Address omurillo@ufl.edu
Advisor Oli
Research Population dynamics of Peregrine Falcons
Interests Community and Population Ecology, modeling and conservation


Student Name Olbert, Jean
Degree MS
Email Address olbertjean@ufl.edu
Advisor Kitchens
Research
Interests


Student Name Olson, John
Degree PhD
Email Address jolson@ufl.edu
Advisor Giuliano
Research White-tailed deer-coyote interactions in North Florida and South Georgia
Interests Game bird management


Student Name Penniman, Daniel
Degree MS
Email Address dpennman@ufl.edu
Advisor Hostetler
Research Economic cost analysis of Low Impact Development and its comparison to conventional stormwater management practices
Interests Environmental/resource protection utilizing economics


Student Name Pias, Kyle
Degree MS
Email Address kpias@ufl.edu
Advisor Kitchens
Research Habitat Use of breeding Snail Kites on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes
Interests Avian conservation and ecology, habitat use and selection, landscape ecology


Student Name Pillay, Rajeev
Degree PhD
Email Address rajeev.pillay@ufl.edu
Advisor Fletcher, Mazzotti
Research Interpreting effects of climate change for species of concern (including mammals, birds and herps) in south/central Florida (including the Everglades).
Interests Large mammals, tropical ecology, population dynamics, landscape ecology, metapopulation ecology, biogeography, conservation biology


Student Name Ramalho, Emiliano
Degree PhD
Email Address eeramalho@ufl.edu
Advisor Main
Research
Interests


Student Name Ramirez, Elizabeth
Degree MS
Email Address ramireze@ufl.edu
Advisor Ober
Research Developing a model to help design restoration efforts in the Ocala National Forest
Interests Threaten and endangered species, habitat restoration and public education


Student Name Reichert, Brian
Degree PhD
Email Address breich@ufl.edu
Advisor Kitchens
Research
Interests


Student Name Reintjes-Tolen, Sarah
Degree MS
Email Address reintjes@ufl.edu
Advisor Carthy
Research Prevalence of chytrid fungus in amphibian populations in the state of Florida/Threshold temperatures of chytrid fungus
Interests Invasive species, disease ecology


Student Name Rivas, Gonzalo
Degree PhD
Email Address grivas13@ufl.edu
Advisor Loiselle
Research Understanding what is the importance of biotic and abiotic interactions for plant invasion success
Interests Invasive ecology, Population and Community Ecology and Conservation Biology


Student Name Sakurai, Ryo
Degree PhD (SNRE)
Email Address rsakurai@ufl.edu
Advisor Jacobson
Research Human dimensions of Asiatic black bear management in Japan
Interests Human-wildlife conflicts, carnivore management, evaluation of environmental education/outreach campaign


Student Name Schuster Barber, Katya
Degree PhD
Email Address katschu@ufl.edu
Advisor McCleery
Research Ecology of Fox Squirrels in Florida
Interests Conservation of mammals and herps, behavioral ecology, animal husbandry, education


Student Name Shirley, Matt
Degree PhD
Email Address mshirley@ufl.edu
Advisor Austin
Research Conservation and systematics of West African Crocodiles
Interests Herps, birds, rare animal ecology, systematics


Student Name Silva, Eduardo
Degree PhD (SNRE)
Email Address eduardosilva@ufl.edu
Advisor
Research Lethal and non-lethal effects of domestic carnivores on wildlife
Interests Conservation Biology, Landscape Ecology, Community Ecology, ecology of human-dominated landscapes


Student Name Simpson, Suzanne
Degree MS (SNRE)
Email Address suzsimpson@ufl.edu
Advisor Johnson
Research Ecology of non-native species and their effect on native Floridian herpetofauna
Interests Herpetology, hiking, and performing music


Student Name Skinner, Irina
Degree MS
Email Address irinas@ufl.edu
Advisor Fletcher
Research Application of life history theory to predator-prey ecology
Interests Species interactions, behavioral landscape ecology, avian conservation


Student Name Smith, Catherine
Degree MS
Email Address hellcat@ufl.edu
Advisor Ross
Research Phylogeography of the Eastern indigo snake
Interests Herpetology, systematics, conservation genetics


Student Name Soto Shoender, Jose
Degree PhD
Email Address joesoto@ufl.edu
Advisor Main
Research Effects of inter and intra-specific competition on neotropical carnivore ecology
Interests Ecology and conservation of neotropical carnivores and their prey, human-wildlife conflict mitigation


Student Name Stoddard, Margo
Degree PhD
Email Address mstodd@ufl.edu
Advisor Branch
Research Multi-scale responses of small mammals to logging in Bolivia
Interests Influences of forest management on wildlife, tropical conservation


Student Name Teaque, Amy
Degree MS (SNRE)
Email Address
Advisor Nichols
Research
Interests


Student Name Thomas, Travis
Degree MS
Email Address tatort@ufl.edu
Advisor Ross
Research Spatial ecology of the alligator snapping turtle in the Suwannee River, Florida
Interests Ecology and Conservation, biomechanics, boating, reading


Student Name Thrasher, Derrick
Degree MS
Email Address dthrasher@ufl.edu
Advisor Loiselle
Research Avian ecology
Interests Avian ecology and conservation, behavioral ecology, tropical ecology, and conservation biology


Student Name Throm, Rio
Degree MS (SNRE)
Email Address riot@ufl.edu
Advisor Percival
Research Factors affecting juvenile alligator movements on Lake Apopka.
Interests Natural resource economics, wetland restoration, water vessels, old Florida


Student Name Van de Kerk, Madelon
Degree PhD
Email Address m.vandekerk@ufl.edu
Advisor Oli
Research Carnivore population ecology and conservation
Interests Community and population ecology, mammals, carnivores, (matrix-) modeling, conservation biology


Student Name Vasudev, Divya
Degree PhD
Email Address divya.vasudev@ufl.edu
Advisor Fletcher
Research Dispersal and mating systems
Interests Conservation of mammals in fragmented areas


Student Name Vaughn, Rick
Degree MS (SNRE)
Email Address rvaughn1969@ufl.edu
Advisor Hostetler
Research Carbon sequestration, green/sustainable development influence on wildlife, habitat, and biodiversity
Interests conservation biology, sustainability, wildlife ecology, scuba diving, underwater photography, sea turtles, hiking, and camping


Student Name Venne, Louise
Degree PhD
Email Address lvenne@ufl.edu
Advisor Frederick
Research Response of wading birds to fire effects in the Everglades
Interests Effect of landscape changes on community composition


Student Name Vieira-Neto, Ernane
Degree PhD
Email Address vieiraneto@ufl.edu
Advisor Bruna
Research Underlying causes of spatio-temporal variation in population demography and dynamics and the expansion of tropical ants along roads in the Brazilian savanna
Interests Population ecology, ant ecology, road ecology, plant-herbivore interactions, tropical ecology and conservation


Student Name Villegas, Mariana
Degree PhD
Email Address marianavillegas@ufl.edu
Advisor Blake
Research Speciation and divergence between two manakin species (Chiroxiphia boliviana and Chiroxiphia pareola, Aves, Pipridae)
Interests Ecology and evolution of birds, community ecology, urban ecology, tropical conservation


Student Name Wald, Dara
Degree PhD
Email Address dwald@ufl.edu
Advisor Jacobson
Research Invasive species and human dimensions of wildlife ecology
Interests Human dimensions of wildlife management, environmental policy


Student Name Walters, Theresa
Degree PhD
Email Address theresa.walters@ufl.edu
Advisor Mazzotti
Research Evaluating impacts on community structure by an invasive species, the Burmese python, in Everglades National Park
Interests Ecological Modeling, Community Ecology, Foraging Ecology, and Herpetology


Student Name Williams, Natalie
Degree MS
Email Address natalie.williams@ufl.edu
Advisor Carthy
Research Marine Turtle Ecology
Interests Conservation biology, population ecology, and human dimensions


Student Name Zapata-Rios, Galo
Degree PhD
Email Address galo@ufl.edu
Advisor Branch
Research Responses of mammalian carnivores to human disturbance in the northern Ecuadorian Andes
Interests Ecology and conservation of neotropical mammals, wildlife management