LANDSCAPE APPROACHES TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
135	0899	1070	50%
135	0850	1070	50%

Progress 06/18/97 to 01/31/05

Outputs
Termination Report. 1998/01/01 TO 2005/12/31. I have been on leave without pay with Center for Applied Biodiversity Science at Conservation International in Washington, DC for the past two academic years, and resigned my position at Texas A&M August 31, 2004. I was previously supported on grants from Conservation International as a research fellow while at TAMU. I am currently developing a network of tropical field stations to monitor biodiversity on a global scale and assess the impacts of human disturbance on biodiversity. This multi-million dollar project has provided full time jobs for three TAMU graduates and paid internship opportunities for three other TAMU students. Other significant and funded projects included a series of grants by the USGS to look at the impact of agricultural chemicals on wildlife over large landscape scales One project looked at contaminants in wildlife in south Texas in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and a second focused on atmospheric deposition of pesticides in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. I received three years of NSF-REU funding to provide research opportunities for undergraduates on research projects related to landscape issues in wildlife management and conservation. This supported student research in Mexico (biodiversity of mammals along an altitudinal gradient), California (the impact of forest management practices on amphibian populations), and Texas (mathematical approaches to wildlife conservation and management). Dr. Paulo Lima Filho of the Department of Mathematics, myself, and other faculty from Mathematics and Computer Science received an NSF Biocomplexity Grant to expand our research on the application of geometry and topology to modeling biodiversity on fragmented landscapes. This project ran for three years. I received an Interdisciplinary Research Initiative grant with Dr. Paulo Lima Filho of the Department of Mathematics prior, which assisted in our obtaining the NSF funding. I received funding from the Nature Conservancy to investigate cave landscapes on Ft. Hood and their relation to bat diversity and abundance. I have also received (with D. Slack) a FRDP grant to study landscape processes in East Texas forests that is currently supporting one Ph.D. Several manuscripts from our FRDP project on how birds, reptiles, and amphibians are affected by forest management in east Texas have been published, including a substantial NCASI Report. N. Wilkins, C. Watt, M. Messina and I received additional RREA funding to match a previous FRDP grant to T. Lacher to staff the GIS lab and link the TEAS and TAEX initiatives to better integrate research and extension activities. This CLEAR Project will enhance the ability of private landowners to manage their lands by giving them access to the best available spatial data. Finally, I have received grants form the Margot Marsh Foundation, the Chicago Zoological Society, and Conservation International to pursue landscape issues in Brazil and Mexico. Finally, a book on a major GIS/Landscape Ecology project in Costa Rica was published by Columbia University Press.

Impacts
The landscape approaches developed in my research program will assist corporations and landowners in the sustainable management of their lands. It will also provide quantitative solutions to modeling the effects and impacts of disturbance on wildlife. The international research effort will help to develop monitoring programs for the assessment of biodiversity in threatened subtropical and tropical forests. These data will be of use for ecologists, climate change specialists, and conservation biologists.

Publications

Aguiar, J.M., T.E. Lacher, Jr., and J.M. Cardoso da Silva. 2002. The Caatinga. Pp. 174-181, In Wilderness, Earth's Last Wild Places, R.A. Mittermeier, C.G. Mittermeier, P. Robles Gil, J. Pilgrim, G.A.B. da Fonseca, T. Brooks, and W.R. Konstant (eds.). CEMEX (Monterrey), Conservation International (Washington, DC), and Agrupacion Sierra Madre (Mexico City), 576 pp.
Goldstein, M.I., N. Wilkins, and T.E. Lacher, Jr. 2005. Spatiotemporal responses of reptiles and amphibians to timber harvest treatments in bottomland hardwood forests in East Texas. Journal of Wildlife Management.
K.W. McFadden, G.A.J. Worthy, and T.E. Lacher, Jr. 2005. The development of a photogrammetric tool for estimating size and mass in the endangered Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi). Marine Mammal Science.

Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03

Outputs
Progress Report: I have been on leave without pay for the past academic year, and as such progress was less than last year. I am currently on leave with Center for Applied Biodiversity Science at Conservation International in Washington, DC developing a network of tropical field stations to monitor biodiversity on a global scale and assess the impacts of human disturbance on biodiversity. This multi-million dollar project has provided job and paid internship opportunities for four TAMU students and will continue to provide for research support after my TAMU leave. Nevertheless, there were several significant accomplishments. Our NSF Biocomplexity incubation grant ended, but as a result of this grant I am an investigator on an NSF Research Training Groups proposal (An Integrated Research and Training Program in Mathematical Biology) through the Department of Mathematics at Texas A&M. If funded, this 2.3 million dollar project will make Texas A&M a leader in the application of quantitative approaches in biology. A major component concerns the modeling of landscape dynamics and the effects on biodiversity. One manuscript based on the support from The Nature Conservancy to investigate cave landscapes on Ft. Hood and their relation to bat diversity and abundance was published and another is in press. One manuscript from our FRDP project on how birds, reptiles, and amphibians are affected by forest management in east Texas was published in the journal Ecological Modeling. Two others are in review, with one tentatively accepted pending revision. Projects funded by the USGS to look at the impact of agricultural chemicals on wildlife over large landscape scales continued with renewed funding, in particular a project examining the impact of wind-borne agricultural pesticides on amphibian populations in the Sierra Nevada. One non-thesis MS student defended this year; three Ph.D. students are enrolled.

Impacts
The landscape approaches being developed in my research program will assist corporations and landowners in the sustainable management of their lands. The international research effort will help to develop monitoring programs for the assessment of biodiversity in threatened subtropical and tropical forests.

Publications

Goldstein, M.I., M.S. Corson, T.E. Lacher, Jr. and W.E. Grant. 2003. Managed forests and migratory bird populations: evaluating spatial configurations through simulation Ecological Modeling 162:155-175.
Aguiar, J.M. and T.E. Lacher, Jr. 2003. On the morphological distinctiveness of Callithrix humilis Van Roosmalen et al., 1998. Neotropical Primates 11:11-18.
Land, T.S., T.E. Lacher, Jr., and D.R. Clark, Jr. 2003. Emergence Patterns of Cave Myotis (Myotis velifer) on Fort Hood, in Central Texas. Bat Research News 44:92-94.
Land, T.S., D.R. Clark, Jr., and T.E. Lacher, Jr. 2003. Contaminant exposure of bats using caves on Fort Hood Military Base, Texas. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. In press
Goldstein, M.I., N. Wilkins, and T.E. Lacher, Jr. 2003. Spatiotemporal responses of reptiles and amphibians to timber harvest treatments in bottomland hardwood forests in East Texas. In press.

Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02

Outputs
We have received a third-year extension on the NSF Biocomplexity Grant. A seminar in mathematical ecology was offered last year in collaboration with the Department of Mathematics and the NSF-VIGRE grant. I lectured in the class and a manuscript that might be developed into a text is in preparation related to the lecture notes from this class. We are working on several other manuscripts as a result of this collaboration. We have submitted two manuscripts based on the support from The Nature Conservancy to investigate cave landscapes on Ft. Hood and their relation to bat diversity and abundance. One manuscript from our FRDP project on how birds, reptiles, and amphibians are affected by forest management in east Texas is in press in the journal Ecological Modeling. Two others are in review. I am in the third year of NSF-REU funding to provide research opportunities for undergraduates on research projects related to landscape issues in wildlife management and conservation. This past summer one student went to Mexico to continue work on a project assessing biodiversity of mammals along an altitudinal gradient, as a follow-up to similar work from last summer. Projects funded by the USGS to look at the impact of agricultural chemicals on wildlife over large landscape scales continued. One student defended her dissertation on the impact of agricultural chemicals on Rio Grande leopard frogs in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and a second finished field work on atmospheric deposition of pesticides in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. I am currently on leave with Center for Applied Biodiversity Science at Conservation International in Washington, DC developing a network of tropical field stations to monitor biodiversity on a global scale and assess the impacts of human disturbance on biodiversity.

Impacts
The landscape approaches being developed in my research program will assist corporations and landowners in the sustainable management of their lands. The international research effort will help to develop monitoring programs for the assessment of biodiversity in threatened subtropical and tropical forests.

Publications

Brusati, E.D., P.J. DuBowy, and T. E. Lacher, Jr. 2001. Comparing functions of natural and created wetlands for shorebirds and wading birds. Waterbirds 24:371-380.
Fonseca, G.A.B., C. Gascon, J.K. Steininger, T. Brooks, R.A. Mittermeier, and T. E. Lacher, Jr., 2002. A global fragmentation experiment underway. Science 295 (5561):1835.
Goldstein, M.I., M.S. Corson, T.E. Lacher, Jr. and W.E. Grant. 2002. Manage3d forests and migratory bird populations: evaluating spatial configurations through simulation. In press.

Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01

Outputs
Progress Report: I am currently in the second year of funding on the NSF Biocomplexity Grant. Last year we brought in four visiting scientists to assist us in the development of our plans for the creation of a graduate program in mathematical ecology. We also are working on several manuscripts as a result of these visits and subsequent interactions with these scientists. We will be sponsoring a seminar on mathematical models in ecology Spring 2002 semester. We have submitted our final report to The Nature Conservancy on that project to investigate cave landscapes on Ft. Hood and their relation to bat diversity and abundance. We are working on two manuscripts for publication, derived from this project. One manuscript from our FRDP project on how birds, reptiles, and amphibians are affected by forest management in east Texas has been accepted for publication and two others are in review. We also published a substantial NCASI Report on this project. N. Wilkins, C. Watt, M. Messina and I continue to proceed with the CLEAR Project that will enhance the ability of private landowners to manage their lands by giving them access to the best available spatial data. I have also received NSF-REU funding to provide research opportunities for undergraduates on research projects related to landscape issues in wildlife management and conservation. This past summer one student went to Mexico to work on a project assessing biodiversity of mammals along an altitudinal gradient. Another student worked in northern California on a project to evaluate the impact of forest management practices on amphibian populations. Several students are working on projects funded by the USGS to look at the impact of agricultural chemicals on wildlife over large landscape scales. One student is working in south Texas in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and a second is working on atmospheric deposition of pesticides in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. Finally, I have been working as a research fellow with the Center for Applied Biodiversity Science at Conservation International in Washington, DC to develop a network of tropical field stations to monitor biodiversity on a global scale and assess the impacts of human disturbance on biodiversity.

Impacts
The landscape approaches being developed in my research program will assist corporations and landowners in the sustainable management of their lands. The international research effort will help to develop monitoring programs for the assessment of biodiversity in threatened subtropical and tropical forests.

Publications

Goldstein, M.G., R.N. Wilkins, T.E. Lacher, Jr., and T.T. Dillard. 2000. Spatio-Temporal Responses of Reptiles and Amphibians to Timber Harvest Treatments in Bottomland Hardwood Forests in East Texas. Report to the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, August, 2000.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 2001. AMISCONDE: Natural resource protection and new income sources for U.S. Partners and local rural communities through new institutional alliances. Pp. 145-147, In: Food: The Whole World's Business. Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development, Washington.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. and M. Cassini. 2001. The Cavies. Pp. 672-675, In: The New Encyclopedia of Mammals, D. MacDonald and S. Norris (eds.), Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, 930 pp.
Scollon, E.J., M.I. Goldstein, M.E. Parker, M.J. Hooper, T.E. Lacher, and G.P. Cobb. 2001. Chemical and biochemical evaluation of Swainson's hawk mortalities in Argentina. Pp. 294-308. In: Pesticides and Wildlife. J.J. Johnston (ed.), ACS Symposium Series 771. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC.

Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00

Outputs
Progress Report: Dr. Paulo Lima Filho of the Department of Mathematics, myself, and other faculty from Mathematics and Computer Science recently received an NSF Biocomplexity Grant to expand our research on the application of geometry and topology to modeling biodiversity on fragmented landscapes. We will be holding several workshops this coming year. The Nature Conservancy project to investigate cave landscapes on Ft. Hood and their relation to bat diversity and abundance is now over and we are preparing the final report. The FRDP grant with D. Slack to study landscape processes in East Texas forests is now completed and one student has defended his Ph.D. We are now preparing manuscripts that address how birds, reptiles, and amphibians are affected by forest management. We have submitted a follow-up proposal to Temple Inland to assist them with the sustainable management of their forest lands. N. Wilkins, C. Watt, M. Messina and I continue to proceed with the CLEAR Project (Washington and Gillespie counties); Wilkins has recently received additional finding to expand this program. This project will enhance the ability of private landowners to manage their lands by giving them access to the best available spatial data. I have also received NSF-REU funding to provide research opportunities for undergraduates on research projects related to landscape issues in wildlife management and conservation; the first two students participated in this program this past summer. Finally, I have receive several grants form the Margot Marsh Foundation, the Chicago Zoological Society, and Conservation International to pursue these landscape issues in Brazil and Mexico.

Impacts
This project will enhance the ability of private landowners to manage their lands by giving them access to the best available spatial data. I have also received NSF-REU funding to provide research opportunities for undergraduates on research projects related to landscape issues in wildlife management and conservation; the first two students participated in this program this past summer. Finally, I have receive several grants form the Margot Marsh Foundation, the Chicago Zoological Society, and Conservation International to pursue these landscape issues in Brazil and Mexico.

Publications

Lacher, T. E., Jr. and Alho, C.J.R. 2000. Terrestrial small mammal richness and habitat associations in an Amazonian-Cerrado contact zone. Biotropica. In press.
Sandel, J.K., Benatar, G.R., Burke, K.M., Walker, C.W., Lacher, T.E., and Honeycutt, R.L. 2000. Winter roost selection by eastern Pipistrelle bats in Texas. Journal of Mammalogy.
Maldonado, J.D., Tainter, F.H., Skipper, H.D., and Lacher, T.E. 2000. Endomycorrhizal inoculum potential in natural and managed tropical montane soils in Costa Rica. Tropical Agriculture. In press.

Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99

Outputs
I have been pursuing follow-up to the Interdisciplinary Research Initiative grant with Dr. Paulo Lima Filho of the Department of Mathematics; we have developed the theoretical model that will be used in subsequent landscape ecology research on the effect of mosaic land-use practices on biodiversity. We presented a poster at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists meeting in Seattle, and we submitted a proposal to the ATP/ARP Program. The Nature Conservancy project to investigate cave landscapes on Ft. Hood and their relation to bat diversity and abundance is now in the second year, and we are preparing to initiate the third phase of this project, analysis of environmental contaminants in bat caves, in January. The FRDP grant with D. Slack to study landscape processes in East Texas forests that is currently supporting one Ph.D. student and one MS student. Both are expected to defend next year. Results of the project include a simulation model of the effects of forest management on avian biodiversity. I am working with Drs. Doug Slack and Neal Wilkins to develop a proposal for Temple Inland that will expand upon the FRDP concept, apply our findings, and improve our models for biodiversity and forest management practices. N. Wilkins, C. Watt, M. Messina and I have used additional RREA funding to match a previous FRDP grant to T. Lacher to staff the GIS lab and link the TEAS and TAEX initiatives to better integrate research and extension activities. We have hired Amy Hays as the GIS technician and we are using the lab and the funds to develop the web server of GIS data for the first two prototype counties selected for the CLEAR Project (Washington and Gillespie counties). This project will enhance the ability of private landowners to manage their lands by giving them access to the best available spatial data.

Impacts
The purpose of this project is to work with stakeholders to assess the status of wildlife populations and develop plans for maintaining economic productivity while protecting and enhancing wildlife populations.

Publications

Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Genet. pp. 233-234. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Grooming. p. 254. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Ground Squirrel. pp. 254-255. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Habitat Degradation. pp. 261-262. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Hamster. p. 264. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Hare. pp. 264-265. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Hyrax. p. 288. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Insecticides. pp. 293-294. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Jackal. p. 307. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Klipspringer. pp. 324-325. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Kopje. p. 325. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Kudu. pp. 325-326. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Lion. p. 337. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Mara. pp. 349-350. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Mexico, Deserts of. pp. 355-358. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Mongoose (p. 372). In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Nyala. pp. 393-394. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Off-road Vehicles. pp. 396-397. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Pesticides. p. 425. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Pollution. pp. 448-449. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Predation. pp. 453-454. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Psammomys. p. 457. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Quokkas. pp. 462-463. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Sand Rat. pp. 502-503. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Serval. p. 513. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Squirrel. pp. 540-541. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Weasel. p. 589. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Wildlife. pp. 593-594. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Goldstein, M.I., Bloom, P.H, Sarasola, J.H., and Lacher, T.E, Jr. 1999. Post-migration weight gain of Swainson's hawks in Argentina. Wilson Bulletin, 111:428-432.
Kennedy, E.T., Lacher, T.E., Jr., Nations, J.D., Burton, D.M., Cesca, R.,. Reis, A.L, and Ramirez, M. 1999. The new Gemeinschaft: individual initiative and business-NGO-university partnerships. Greener Management International, 24:1-16.
Block, E.K., Lacher, T.E., Jr., Brewer, L.W, Cobb, G.P., and Kendall, R.J.. 1999. Populations responses of Peromyscus resident in Iowa cornfields treated with the organophosphorus pesticide COUNTER,. Ecotoxicology, 8:189-200.
Goldstein, M.I., Lacher, T.E., Jr., Woodbridge, B., Bechard, M.J., Canavelli, S.B., Zaccagnini, M.E., Cobb, G.P., III, Scollon, E.J., Tribolet, R., and Hooper, M.J. 1999. Ecotoxicology, 8:201-214.
Goldstein, M.I., Lacher, T.E. Jr., Zaccagnini M.E, Parker M.L., and Hooper, M.J. 1999. Monitoring and assessment of Swainson's hawks in Argentina following restrictions on monocrotophos use, 1996-97. Ecotoxicology 8:215-224.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Aardvark. p. 3. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Addax. p. 7. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. African Lion. p. 13. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares,University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Antelope. p. 28. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares,University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Armadillo. pp. 39-40. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Barbary Lion. p. 64. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Biosphere Reserves. pp. 72-73. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Bobcat. p. 79. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Caatinga. pp. 90-92. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Caracal. pp. 99-100. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Carnivores. pp. 102-103. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Cats. pp. 105-106. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Cavy. p. 106. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Cheetah. p. 111. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Coati. pp. 124-125. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Conservation in Deserts. pp. 131-132. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Contamination. pp. 132-133. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Countershading. p. 137. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Dassie Rat. p. 146. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Dik-dik. pp. 178-179. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Dirt Bikes. p. 180. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Dune Buggies. pp. 186-187. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Fennec. pp. 212-213. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Ferret. p. 213. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1999. Fynbos. pp. 228-229. In: Encyclopedia of Deserts, M.A. Mares (ed.),University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK, 654 pp.

Progress 01/01/98 to 12/31/98

Outputs
Work on the GIS/Landscape Ecology project in costa Rica is now comleted and the book with several chapters was published by Columbia University Press. In addition I have a book chapter now published that discusses the impact of agroecoystem landscapes on wildlife biodiversity. I received an Interdisciplinary Research Initiative grant withg Dr. Paulo Lima Filho of the Department of Mathematics; we have developed the theoretical model that will be used in subsequent landscape ecology research on the effect of mosaic land use practices on biodiversity. We are preparing a manuscript on the model and have begun simulations for an additional paper. I received funding from the Nature Conservancy to investigate cave landscapes on Ft. Hood and their relation to bat diversity and abundance. I have also received (with D. Slack) a FRDP grant to study landscape processes in East Texas forests that is currently supporting one Ph.D. student. I also received a FRDP grant with K. Risenhoover to develop a GIS lab; N. Wilkins, C. Watt, M. Messina and I have received additional RREA funding to staff this lab and link the TAES and TAEX initiatives to better integrate research and extension activities.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Lacher, T. E., Jr. and Alho, C.J.R.. 1998. In press. Terrestrial small mammal richness in an Amazonian-Cerrado contact zone: implications for conservation. Biotropica.

Progress 01/01/97 to 12/31/97

Outputs
I have continued work on the GIS/Landscape Ecology project in Costa Rica and I currently have a book with several chapters in press at Columbia University Press. In addition I have a book chapter in press the discusses the impact of agroecosystem landscapes on wildlife biodiversity. I received an Interdisciplinary Research Initiative grant with Dr. Paulo Lima Filho of the Department of Mathematics; we are currently developing the theoretical model that will be used in subsequent landscape ecology research on the effect of mosaic land-use practices on biodiversity. Additional related research concerns evaluations of the impact of watershed-based landscape sustainable development initiatives; a Kellogg funded seed grant is being used to extend research conducted in Costa Rica and Panama to the Texas/Mexico border.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Savitsky, B. G., and Lacher, T. E., Jr. 1998. The Habitat conservation decision cube. In: GIS Methodologies for Developing Conservation Strategies: Tropical Forest Recovery and Wildlife Management in Costa Rica, B.G. Savitsky and T.E. Lacher, Jr. (eds.), Columbia University Press, in press.
Lacher, T. E., Jr. 1998. Using the gap analysis model for sustainable development and natural resources management in developing countries. In: GIS Methodologies for Developing Conservation Strategies: Tropical Forest Recovery and Wildlife Management in Costa Rica, B.G. Savitsky and T.E. Lacher, Jr. (eds.), Columbia University Press, in press.
Savitsky, B. G. and Lacher, T. E., Jr. (eds.). 1998. GIS Methodologies for Developing Conservation Strategies: Tropical Forest Recovery and Wildlife Management in Costa Rica. Columbia University Press, in press.
Lacher, T.E., Jr. 1998. The spatial nature of conservation and development. In: GIS Methodologies for Developing Conservation Strategies: Tropical Forest Recovery and Wildlife Management in Costa Rica, B.G. Savitsky and T.E. Lacher, Jr. (eds.), Columbia University Press, in press.
Savitsky, B. G., Fallas, J., Vaughan, C., and Lacher, T. E., Jr. 1998. Wildlife and habitat data collection and analysis. In: GIS Methodologies for Developing Conservation Strategies: Tropical Forest Recovery and Wildlife Management in Costa Rica, B.G. Savitsky and T.E. Lacher, Jr. (eds.), Columbia University Press, in press.
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