Source: TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY submitted to
ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING OF BIODIVERSITY APPLIED TO CONSERVATION PLANNING AND PRIORITIZATION AND PLANNING
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0227818
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
TEX09491
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Dec 6, 2011
Project End Date
Dec 5, 2016
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Lacher, T.
Recipient Organization
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
750 AGRONOMY RD STE 2701
COLLEGE STATION,TX 77843-0001
Performing Department
Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences
Non Technical Summary
Growing human populations and increasing per capita consumption have placed increasing demands on our natural resources. This has resulted in increasing pressures on biodiversity and the ecosystem services that they provide (Turner et al., 2007, Schipper et al., 2008; Hoffmann et al., 2010). The number of areas set aside for the protection of native flora and fauna is likely peaking as demands for land for agriculture and development increase. Therefore, future conservation will require a careful assessment of the status of biodiversity on mixed-use landscapes. These populations need to also be monitored over time to track the effectiveness of conservation interventions. Finally, these data need to be integrated with landscape patterns, economic drivers, and conservation threats to effectively prioritize and plan conservation actions and integrate the needs of private lands stakeholders and conservation.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1350899107050%
1350850107050%
Knowledge Area
135 - Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife;

Subject Of Investigation
0850 - Wildlife habitats; 0899 - Wildlife and natural fisheries, general/other;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology;
Goals / Objectives
Objective 1: Development of methods and approaches in biodiversity assessment and monitoring. Assessing biodiversity is still a challenge. Methods vary from taxon to taxon and the variance in the quality of the data generated makes geographical comparisons difficult. Monitoring trends in these data over time is essential for the effective evaluation of conservation actions. There has been a strong recent emphasis on creating monitoring and assessment networks using standardized protocols (Malhi et al., 2002; Andelman, 2011) to facilitate the examination of patterns of change over appropriate spatial and temporal scales, for example the impacts of climate change. I have a long experience in the design of monitoring networks and will continue to both develop tools and approaches as well as use statistical and spatial tools to analyze the results generated by monitoring networks (Batra et al., 2005). Objective 2: Analysis of patterns of biodiversity, threats and conservation action. The IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) and the six commissions is the largest conservation union in the world. Among the six commissions are the World Commission on Protected Areas and the Species Survival Commission. The former evaluates all protected areas on the degree of development and access allowed and generates the World Database on Protected Areas on an annual basis. The latter produces the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and conducts the global assessments of major taxa. I will be working with the IUCN on a series of projects that include the refinement of the Red List process, the assessment of global patterns of threat, and analyses of Red List databases in evaluations of biogeographic patterns, relative impacts of threats on species, and projections of long-term impacts of habitat degradation and climate change. Objective 3: Advisement of doctoral dissertation research projects integrating assessment, monitoring, and conservation planning. In addition to these regional and global efforts, I will use the same principles to direct focused research at the graduate level. The objective will be to work closely with graduate students as they develop their thesis and dissertation research to emphasize the integration of assessment and monitoring approaches into projects that deliver scientific data and tools that will assist in local efforts to prioritize conservation actions and develop sustainable conservation plans. Too often the results of our research activities fail to integrate with local policy and decision makers; we will strive to achieve this end in all theses and dissertations.
Project Methods
Objective 1: Development of methods and approaches in biodiversity assessment and monitoring. I am interested in examining the complex patterns of relationships that exist among biodiversity in trends in disparate taxa as a function of climatic variation. I wish to compare the spatial and temporal patterns of variation in richness that occurs at a site in the eastern Amazon, as a function of local climatic variation. There is a 5-year dataset on multiple taxa (butterflies, ants, birds, primates) at six 1-km plots. The objective will be to compare spatial trends in richness and abundance over a broad portion of the Amazonian landscape in relation to precipitation over time. Objective 2: Analysis of patterns of biodiversity, threats and conservation action. The first propoal is to test the core hypothesis that land use and climate change models can robustly project changes in species extinction risk. This will involve a) developing mechanistic retrospective projections of extinction risk driven by land use and climate change over the last 30 years based on the outputs of the Integrated Model to Assess the Global Environment (IMAGE model, Bouwman et al. 2006) runs setting 1980 as a starting point, b) capitalizing on existing datasets on changing extinction risk over the last 30 years to validate these projections; and c) with this validation in hand, projecting extinction risk over the coming 40 years resulting from land use and climate change scenarios produced by the IMAGE model. The second proposal in development will focus on how to plan for the conservation and preservation of species that little is known about them and the threats to them. We propose that one solution to this problem is to develop a dynamic collaborative interface between the Red List database and the network of experts including scientists and their affiliated institutes, concerned NGOs, natural resource managers and interested stakeholders responsible for the development of the IUCN Red List. Objective 3: Advisement of doctoral dissertation research projects integrating monitoring, assessment, and conservation planning. Modeling the distribution of endangered coevolving species on a transboundary corridor; Mexican long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris nivalis) and paniculate agaves (Agave spp.). Scarlet macaw reproductive ecology: determining ecological factors affecting reproduction. Conservation of mammals in a multiuse matrix in a moist tropical forest landscape.

Progress 12/06/11 to 12/05/16

Outputs
Target Audience:I continue to assume a larger role in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). I am co-chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Small Mammal Specialist Group, and serve on the IUCN Red List Committee, responsible for strategic planning. I am engaged in several other committees as well, including the Climate Change Specialist Group. In our research activities, we engage local communities, Non-Governmental Organizations, and government agencies. Current this involves projects in Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, and western Texas. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?I encourage all students to complete several training modules, including the IUCN Red List Assessor training program. They are all also broadly trained in landscape ecology, remote sensing, and GIS. They have won numerous awards and recognitions for their work, within the university (Merit and Diversity Fellowships, LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate Program) and from external sources like EarthWatch, the National Science Foundation, the Chigago Zoo and others.. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Publication of peer-reviewed articles, presentations at international congress, and networking with global conservation porfessionals. In all projects we also work closely with local communities and organizations, in Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica and Peru. We have also signed a memorandum of agreement with Global Wildlilfe Conservation, a non-governmental conservation organization based in Austin, TX. This will allow for enhanced fundraising and public dissemination opportunities. We have also communicate out resulst via a number of news outlets and web sites. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: We have assembled a very strong research team where we explore the integration of landscape data, remote sensing tools, and geographic information systems to assess impacts on natural resources, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Current porjects are focused on the humid tropics, in Costa Rica, Peru, Brazil, and Colombia, as well as research on the Texas-Mexico border region. Objective 2: I continue to expand my role within IUCN, attending international conferences, assisting in strategic planning, and collaborating with colleagues on the development and submission of research proposals. I am working on the reassessment of the conservation stutus of allthe world's mammals. I am also etiting several volumes of the Handbook of Mammals of the World and assisting with the editing of the upcoming 6 volume set "the Encyclopedia of the Anthropocene" to be published by Elsevier Press. Objective 3: I currently advise 4PhD students and 3MS students. Two PhD students graduated this past year as well.

Publications

  • Type: Books Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2017 Citation: Wilson, D.E., T.E. Lacher, Jr and R.A. Mittermeier (eds). (In prep.). Handbook of Mammals of the World. Vol. 7. Rodents II. Lynx Editions, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Rhodin, A.G.J., H. Kaiser, P.P. van Dijk, W. W�ster, M. OShea, M. Archer, M. Auliya, L. Boitani, R. Bour, V. Clausnitzer, T. Contreras-MacBeath, B.I. Crother, J.M. Daza, C.A. Driscoll, O. Flores-Villela, J. Frazier, U. Fritz, A. Gardner, C. Gascon, A. Georges, F. Glaw, F.G. Grazziotin, C.P. Groves, G. Haszprunar, P. Havaa, J.M. Hero, M. Hoffmann, M.S. Hoogmoed, B.D. Horne, J.B. Iverson, M. J�ch, C.L. Jenkins, R.K.B. Jenkins, A.R. Kiester, J.S. Keogh, T.E. Lacher Jr., J.E. Lovich, L. Luiselli, D.L. Mahler, D. Mallon, R. Mast, R.W. Mcdiarmid, J. Measey, R.A. Mittermeier, S. Molur, V. Mossbrugger, R. Murphy, D. Naish, M. Niekisch, H. Ota, J.F. Parham, M.J. Parr, N.J. Pilcher, R.H. Pine, A.B. Rylands, J.G. Sanderson, J. Savage, W. Schleip, G.J. Scrocchi, H.B. Shaffer, E.N. Smith, R. Sprackland, S.N. Stuart, H. Vetter, L.J. Vitt, T. Waller, G. Webb, E.O. Wilson, H. Zaher, and S. Thomson (Corresponding Author). 2015. Comment on Spracklandus Hoser, 2009 (Reptilia, Serpentes, ELAPIDAE): request for confirmation of the availability of the generic name and for the nomenclatural validation of the journal in which it was published. (Case 3601; see BZN 70: 234237; 71: 3038, 133135, 181182, 252253). 2015. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 72(1):65-78.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Martins, T. de O., S.P. Bunhuolo, H. Ort�ncio Filho and T.E. Lacher, Jr. 2016. Large and Meso-mammals of the urban park Cintur�o Verde, northwestern Paran�. Check List 12(2): doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.15560/12.2.1851
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Lacher, T.E., Jr. and P. Byakagaba. 2016. Oil, gas, wildlife and communities: capacity building to mitigate conflicts in Uganda. Applied Biodiversity Sciences Perspectives 6:25-34. (https://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/handle/1969.1/151481)
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gomez-Ruiz, E.P. and T.E. Lacher, Jr. 2016. Modeling the potential geographic distribution of an endangered pollination corridor in Mexico and the United States. Diversity and Distributions.
  • Type: Books Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Wilson, D.E., T.E. Lacher, Jr and R.A. Mittermeier (eds). 2016. Handbook of Mammals of the World. Vol. 6. Lagomorphs and Rodents 1. Lynx Editions, Barcelona, Spain, 987 pp.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Lacher, Jr., T.E., W. Murphy, J. Rogan, A.T. Smith, and N. Upham. 2016. Evolution, phylogeny, ecology and conservation of the Clade Glires: Lagomorpha and Rodentia. Pp. 15-27, In: Handbook of Mammals of the World. Vol. 6. Lagomorphs and Rodents 1. D.E. Wilson, T.E. Lacher, Jr and R.A. Mittermeier (eds). Lynx Editions, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Lacher, Jr., T.E. 2016. Family Caviidae. Pp. 406-439, In: Handbook of Mammals of the World. Vol. 6. Lagomorphs and Rodents 1. D.E. Wilson, T.E. Lacher, Jr and R.A. Mittermeier (eds). Lynx Editions, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Gilbert, J. and T.E. Lacher, Jr. 2016. Family Dasyproctidae. Pp. 440-461, In: Handbook of Mammals of the World. Vol. 6. Lagomorphs and Rodents 1. D.E. Wilson, T.E. Lacher, Jr and R.A. Mittermeier (eds). Lynx Editions, Barcelona, Spain.


Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:I continue to assume a larger role in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). I am co-chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Small Mammal Specialist Group, and serve on the IUCN Red List Committee, responsible for strategic planning. I am also active in promoting citizen science by working with EarthWatch on a combined citizen science graduate and undergraduate research project forcused on estimates of deforestation and biodiversity loss. As part of this project we have extensive collaborations with both Costa Rican government agencies and local conservation organizations. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?I encourage all students to complete several training modules, including the IUCN Red List Assessor training program. They are all also broadly trained in landscape ecology, remote sensing, and GIS. They have won numerous awards and recognitions for their work, within the university (Merit and Diversity Fellowships) and from external sources like EarthWatch and the National Science Foundation. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Publication of peer-reviewed articles, presentations at international congress, and networking with global conservation porfessionals. In all projects we also work closely with local communities and organizations, in Mexico, Costa Rica and Peru. We have also signed a memorandum of agreement with Global Wildlilfe Conservation, a non-governmental conservation organization based in Austin, TX. This will allow for enhanced fundraising and public dissemination opportunities. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will be submitting a NSF proposal, not funded this year but with very strong reviews. We are also exploring research funding through the US EPA, Global Wildlife Conservation, and the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, as well as a possible renewal with EarthWatch.. In addition, we will be renewing our institutional agreement between IUCN and Texas A&M University.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: We have assembled a very strong research team where we explore the integration of landscape data, remote sensing tools, and geographic information systems to assess impacts on natural resources, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Current porjects are focused on the humid tropics, in Costa Rica, Peru, Brazil, and Colombia. Objective 2: I continue to expand my role within IUCN, attending international conferences, assisting in strategic planning, and collaborating with colleagues on the development and submission of research proposals. I am working on the reassessment of the conservation stutus of allthe world's mammals. I am also etiting several volumes of the Handbook of Mammals of the World. Objective 3: I currently advise 6 PhD students and 2 MS students. Two PhD student will graduate this year, and one MS student has also graduated.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Gomez-Ruiz, E.P., P.C. Jimenez, J.J. Flores-Maldonado, T.E. Lacher, Jr., and J.M. Packard. 2015. Conservaci�n de murci�lagos nectar�voros (Phyllostomidae: Glossophagini) en riesgo en Coahuila y Nuevo Le�n. Therya 6:89-102.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Neam, K. and T.E. Lacher, Jr. 2015. Spatial distribution, resource use, and behavior of Brown-throated sloths (Bradypus variegatus) on a mosaic landscape in Costa Rica. Edentata 16:46-56.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Martins, T. de O., S.P. Bunhuolo, H. Ort�ncio Filho and T.E. Lacher, Jr. In press. Large and Meso-mammals of the urban park Cintur�o Verde, northwestern Paran�. Check List.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Christian, C.S. and T.E. Lacher, Jr. In press. Recreation and nature tourism ecological impacts occurring in Dominicas National Park. Tourism Management.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: T.E. Lacher, Jr. In press. Family Caviidae. Pp. xxx-xxx, In: Handbook of Mammals of the World. Vol. 6. Lagomorphs and Rodents: Part 1. D.E. Wilson, T.E. Lacher, Jr and R.A. Mittermeier (eds). Lynx Editions, Barcelona, Spain.
  • Type: Books Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Wilson, D.E., T.E. Lacher, Jr and R.A. Mittermeier (eds). (In press.). Handbook of Mammals of the World. Vol. 6. Lagomorphs and Rodents: Part 1. Lynx Editions, Barcelona, Spain.


Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: I have worked closely with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on endangered species assessment and monitoring. We have completed several IUCN Red List updates in 2013 – 2014 and these were broadly communicated by IUCN and Texas A&M University to the general public, with coverage on national and international sites like CNN and the BBC, including explicit mention of Texas A&M University.I have also worked closely with Bat Conservation International (BDI) on research activities in Texas and Mexico. Additional funds for the bat research in Mexico was provided by the Mohammed biz Zayed Species Conservation Funds, and this project was featured on their international web site. Another project focused on conservation on private lands in Costa Rica, and we interacted closely government agencies, local conservation organizations, and private landowners. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? All of my graduate students have obtained support from a variety of sources including the Texas A&M University Diversity and Merit Fellowships, the National Science Foundation, CONACYT Mexico, Bat Conservation International, Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservaiton Fund, National Park Service, Global Biodievrsity Information Facility, American Society of Mammalogists, the Brazilian government (CAPES), EarthWatch and other miscellaneous funds. This has allow me to offer excellent opportunities for professional development. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Through the publication of peer-reviewed journal articles, presenations at national and international congresses, publications on web sites, and interviews with the press. We have also enganged local communities and private landowners in both Costa Rica and Mexico in our research and outreach activities. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We have 2 NSF proposals in review and one additional in the planning stages. In addition I am working with a potential private donor to obtain additional support for our ICN related projects.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: We continue to develop new approaches to assessing the status of biodiversity in the field. This includes applications of GIS and remote sensing data to conservation activities in Costa Rica and Mexico, use of community-bsed conservation initiatives in Mexico, and application of genetic data to the conservation of macaws in Peru. Objective 2: I have continued to expand my collaborations with the IUCN on international conservation efforts. I am now the co-cahir of the Small Mammal Specialist Group and I am actively involved in the reassessment of the world's mammals regarding their extinction risk. We are also dveloping collaborations to assist in the GlobalAmphibian Assessment.. Objective 3: I currently advise 3 PhD students and 2 MS students working on activities related to this objective. This year I also co-advised a visiting Brazilian PhD student working on bat conservation.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Ort�ncio-Filho, H., T.E. Lacher, Jr., and L.C. Rodrigues. 2014. Seasonal patterns in community composition of bats in forest fragments of the Alto Rio Paran�, southern Brazil. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 49:169-179. DOI: 10.1080/01650521.2014.950834
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Sparling, D.W., D. Cowman, G. Fellers, L. McConnell, T.E. Lacher, Jr., C. Matson, and J.W. Bickham. 2014. In situ evidence for the effects of contaminants on amphibian populations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California, USA. Ecotoxicology DOI 10.1007/s10646-014-1375-7.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Rhodin, A.G.J., H. Kaiser, P.P. van Dijk, W. W�ster, M. OShea, M. Archer, M. Auliya, L. Boitani, R. Bour, V. Clausnitzer, T. Contreras-MacBeath, B.I. Crother, J.M. Daza, O. Flores-Villela, J. Frazier, U. Fritz, A. Gardner, C. Gascon, A. Georges, F. Glaw, F.G. Grazziotin, C.P. Groves, G. Haszprunar, M. Hoffmann, M.S. Hoogmoed, B.D. Horne, J.B. Iverson, M. J�ch, C.L. Jenkins, R.K.B. Jenkins, A.R. Kiester, T.E. Lacher Jr., J.E. Lovich, L. Luiselli, D.L. Mahler, D. Mallon, R. Mast, R.W. Mcdiarmid, J. Measey, R.A. Mittermeier, S. Molur, V. Mossbrugger, R. Murphy, D. Naish, M. Niekisch, H. Ota, J.F. Parham, M.J. Parr, N.J. Pilcher, A.B. Rylands, J.G. Sanderson, J. Savage, W. Schleip, G.J. Scrocchi, H.B. Shaffer, E.N. Smith, R. Sprackland, S.N. Stuart, L.J. Vitt, T. Waller, G. Webb, E.O. Wilson, H. Zaher, and S. Thomson. 2014. Comment on Spracklandus Hoser, 2009 (Reptilia, Serpentes, ELAPIDAE): request for confirmation of the availability of the generic name and for the nomenclatural validation of the journal in which it was published. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 71:30.34.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Christian, C.S. and T.E. Lacher, Jr. In press. Recreation and nature tourism ecological impacts occurring in Dominicas National Park. Tourism Management.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Martins, T. de O., S.P. Bunhuolo, H. Ort�ncio Filho and T.E. Lacher, Jr. In review. Large and Meso-mammals of the urban park Cintur�o Verde, northwestern Paran�.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Submitted Year Published: 2015 Citation: Weber, L.S. and T.E. Lacher, Jr. In review. A toolkit for effective natural resource conservation through meaningful collaboration.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2015 Citation: Gomez-Ruiz, E.P., P.C. Jimenez, J.J. Flores-Maldonado, T.E. Lacher, Jr., and J.M. Packard. 2015. Conservaci�n de murci�lagos nectar�voros (Phyllostomidae: Glossophagini) en riesgo en Coahuila y Nuevo Le�n. Therya in press.


Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: I have worked closely with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on endangered species assessment and monitoring. We have completed several IUCN Red List updates and these were broadly communicated by IUCN and Texas A&M University to the general public, with coverage on national and international sites like CNN and the BBC.I have also worked closely with Bat Conservation International (BDI) on research activities in Texas and Mexico. This research was covered in the BCI popular magazine that has broad distribution. Another project focused on conservation on private lands in Costa Rica, and we interacted closely with local organizations and private landowners. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Emma Gomez (Ph.D. Candidate). Evaluation of the conservation status of the Mexican long-nosed bat and agaves, an important plant-pollinator complex. Margot Wood (Ph.D. Candidate). An assessment of the role of Payment for Ecosystem Service programs in Costa Rica in enhancing corridors for the conservation of biodiversity. Gabriela Vigo Trauco (Ph.D. Candidate). Conservation and ecology of macaw populations in the Peruvian Amazon. Kelsey Neam (M.S. student). Effect of fragmented habistts on mammalian movement and diispersal. Cryss Arkenberg (M.S. graduate). The role of animal behavior in conseravtion of tropical canids. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Yes. Alrhough most of the projects are currently in progress we have interacted at all levels with university communications, local organizations and governments, local communities, and landowners. This is a key part of all of our research activities, since conservation cannot proceed without the cooperation of local stakeholders. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We will be starting additional work in the Gulf of Mexico in 2014 to use IUCN data to assist in the assessment of potential risk of future oil spills to fish, birds, sea turtles and marine mammals in the Gulf. I will also be starting a project in Uganda to develop programs in environmental science and impact assessment at Makarere University in Kampala, to better respond to impacts from future oil development in Uganda.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1. We are developing a new modeling protocol to assess the impact of programs for the Payment of Ecosystem Services on conservation value of private lands in Costa Rica. This will involve biodiversity surveys and evaluation of costs and benefits of the investments. Objective 2. I have been appointed Co-Chair of the Small Mammal Specialist Group of the IUCN, tasked with assisting in the assessment of global extinction risk of approximately 2,800 species of mammals (over half of all mammals) across three mammalian orders (Rodentia, Scandentia, and Eulipotyphla), as part of the reassessment of extinction risk of all the world's mammals. Objective 3. I currently advise 4 graduate students (3 Ph.D. and 1 M.S.) and graduated a M.S. student during the past year. All are working on activities related to my primary objectives of monitoring and assessment of global biodiversity.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: IUCN Red List Committee. 2013. The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM Strategic Plan 2013  2020. Version 1.0. IUCN Red List Committee.
  • Type: Book Chapters Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2014 Citation: Turner, W., G.A.B. da Fonseca, T.M. Brooks, A. Rylands, J. Musinsky, D. Juhn, R. Neugarten, N. de Silva and T.E. Lacher, Jr. In press. The Center for Applied Biodiversity Science (CABS) and Science and Knowledge at Conservation International. In: A History of Conservation International. Conservation International, Arlington, VA.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2014 Citation: Weber, L.S. and T.E. Lacher, Jr. In review. A toolkit for effective natural resource conservation through meaningful collaboration.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Rocha da Silva, J.R., H. Ort�ncio Filho and T.E. Lacher, Jr. 2013. Species richness and edge effects on bat communities from Perobas Biological Reserve, Paran�, southern Brazil. Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment. 48:135-141.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2014 Citation: Christian, C.S. and T.E. Lacher, Jr. In press. Recreation and nature tourism ecological impacts occurring in Dominicas National Park. Tourism Management.


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

Outputs
OUTPUTS: This was the first year for this new CRIS project so efforts were focused on the development of research activities for new cohorts of graduate students and enhancing my collaborations with international conservation programs. The following graduate student research projects are now underway and funded: Emma P. Gomez-Ruiz, B.S., Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, M.S., Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Unidad Durango - Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, project: Coevolved species complexes and conservation corridors: Leptonycteris nivalis and Agave. Margot Wood, B.S., University of California, Davis - Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, project: Mammalian ecology and behavior in landscape matrices. Gabriela Vigo Trauco, B.S. and M.S., Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima, Peru - Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, project: Scarlet macaw reproductive ecology: determining ecological factors affecting reproduction. In addition two new MS students were recruited (Crystal Arkenberg and Kelsey Neam); they are currently developing research topics. One PhD student successfully defended her dissertation: Laura Weber, B.A., American University, M.A., University of Arizona - Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, project: "Cultural values and conservation: do individualism, collectivism and locus of control correlate with conservation effectiveness around Iwokrama Forest, Guyana" I developed and submitted three major research proposals: NSF - COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: Application and Validation of Land-Use and Climate Change Scenario Model Predictions of Extinction Risk at Multiple Scales. - In Review: $760,986.00. THE WALTON FAMILY FOUNDATION: BioGoMx - Building Capacity and Decision Support for Risk Assessment and Marine Biodiversity Conservation in the Gulf of Mexico. In review $100,000. NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION: Building Capacity and Decision Support for Risk Assessment and Marine Biodiversity Conservation in the Gulf of Mexico. In review $225,000. Several smaller proposals were also funded from Bat Conservation International and Texas A&M University. It was a very successful year in initiating a new CRIS project and developing the research capacity through student recruitment and proposal development. Four peer-reviewed publications were also generated. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were doctoral students (Margot Wood, Emma Gomez, Gabriela Vigo Trauco), masters students (Crystal Arkenberg, Kelsey Neam) and undergraduate researchers (Rebecca Langley, Rachel Saker). I also collaborated with scholars and researchers from the IUCN offices, as well as numerous faculty colleagues. TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary target audience of this research is natural resources management personnel, conservation scientists, and state, national and international agencies focused on natural resources and conservation. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
This project made great progress on establishing strong research activities for participating graduate students. We were successful in obtaining funding to support their activities, as well as funding for undergraduate participation in research. In addition I was appointed to several positions within IUCN to lead global conservation efforts. As a result we collaborated on several proposals currently in review.

Publications

  • Corso, A.E., J.B. Woolley, and T.E. Lacher, Jr. 2010. Using digital photography and image analysis software to estimate the emergence of bats at Tou Santi Cave, Dominica, West Indies. Caribbean Journal of Science 46:169-175. (has a 2010 date, but only published in 2012).
  • Swenson, N.G., B.J. Enquist, J.Pither, A.J. Kerkhoff, B. Boyle, M.D. Weiser, J.J. Elser, W.F. Fagan, J. Forero-Montana, N. Fyllas, N.J.B. Kraft, J. Lake, A.T. Moles, S. Patino, O.L. Phillips, C.A. Price, P.B. Reich, C.A. Quesada, J.C. Stegen, R. Valencia, I.J. Wright, S.J. Wright, S. Andelman, P.M. Jorgensen, T.E. Lacher Jr., A. Monteagudo, M.P. Nunez Vargas, R. Vasquez-Martinez, and K.M. Nolting. 2012. The biogeography and filtering of woody plant functional diversity in North and South America. Global Ecology and Biogeography 21:798-808.
  • Lacher, T.E., Jr., L. Boitani, and G.A.B. da Fonseca. 2012. The IUCN Global Assessments: Partnerships, collaboration and data sharing for biodiversity science and policy. Conservation Letters 5:327-333.
  • Hixon, S., A. Brooks, T.E. Lacher, Jr., B. Miculka, C. Richmond, D. Warrendorf, A. Whitmire, B. Wilkins, and J.B. Woolley. 2012. Wing morphology, flight speeds and insights into niche structure in Caribbean bats from Dominica. Chiroptera Neotropical 18:1067-1073.