Research
Duke University
University Program in Ecology
Box 90329, Biological Sciences
Durham, NC 27708
I am broadly interested in mammal conservation and biology. I tend to focus my research in one of three areas, 1) improving communication between different groups of people working towards the conservation of manatees in Latin America 2) developing new techniques and methodologies to study endangered mammals in complicated habitats, and 3) learning more about the biology and the status of endangered mammals in the neotropics. Although I have worked with several mammals ranging from ground squirrels to primates, most of my research has focused on manatees in Central America.
Current Projects
Manatee Foraging Ecology in Tabasco Mexico
I am currently working on my Ph.D at Duke University under the guidance of Dr. Ken Glander, an expert on primate feeding ecology. I will be focusing on the feeding ecology of manatees in Pantanos de Centla, Mexico.
Side-scan sonar training
Dr. Olivera-Gomez and I have trained many individuals throughout Latin America to use this new methodology, and have conducted training workshops Panama, Costa Rica and Mexico. Counties where this new technique has been used by individuals we trained include: Mexico, Belize, Columbia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Panama, and Guatemala. Our next workshop will be in April in Costa Rica.
Completed Projects
Manatee detection with side-scan sonar
Funding: Loma Linda University; ESSE 21 Grant (NASA)
Development of a new methodology to detect manatees in murky waters using sonar (Gonzalez et al. 2009). This new methodology is allowing protected area managers to survey for manatees in locations where other methods are less useful. I am currently working to continue to advance this methodology so that it can be used to determine population size estimates.
Status and Distribution of Antillean manatees in Honduras
Funding: Loma Linda University; USAID Honduras
In 2006 and 2007 I lead aerial surveys in Honduras.
First successful capture and satellite tagging of a wild manatee in Panama
Funding: USAID Critical Central American Watersheds
In 2008 I once again teamed up with Dr. Olivera-Gomez and other biologists including my Ph.D advisor Dr. Ken Glander, Carlos Espinosa, and Kherson Ruiz to capture and satellite tag a manatee in Panama (see YouTube video). This represented the first time a wild manatee has been captured and satellite tagged in Panama.
Primate surveys in Panama
Funding: Conservation International
First Symposium for the conservation and biology of manatees in Mesoamerica
Funding: Loma Linda University; Sirenian International
In 2006 I organized along with my friend Dr. Olivera Gomez a symposium held in Guatemala to bring together all interested parties working with manatees in Central America. The outcome of the symposium was the development of a Mesoamerican manatee workgroup, so that ideas could be more easily exchanged between those working with manatees. We are in the process of creating a newsletter for this working group.
Hibernation mark in Ground Squirrel incisors
Funding: McGregor Undergraduate Research Grant (x3), Andrews University
