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Melissa KempView profile

Assistant Professor

• Quaternary Paleontology
• Conservation Paleobiology
• Caribbean Biodiversity
• +4 more

Melissa Kemp is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Texas at Austin, affiliated with the College of Natural Sciences. She is based at the Jackson School of Geosciences campus in Austin, Texas, with an office in PAT 102. Her research focuses on Quaternary paleontology, conservation paleobiology, and the ecological dynamics of Caribbean and North American biodiversity hotspots. She teaches GEO 391: Broader Impacts in STEM, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and community engagement. Dr. Kemp’s work integrates morphological and molecular data to study evolutionary adaptations, extinction processes, and human impacts on ecosystems. Her NSF CAREER Award supports research on Jamaican fossil ecosystems, while her NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015) advanced studies on North American reptile evolution. She actively promotes equity in STEM through programs like GEOPAths GO Jamaica, which combines service learning with conservation efforts. Key research themes include reconstructing ancient communities, analyzing functional trait diversity in reptiles, and understanding the role of historical contingency in shaping modern biodiversity. Her grants and awards reflect a dual focus on scientific discovery and educational outreach, bridging paleontology with modern conservation challenges.

• Conservation Biology
• Tropical Ecology
• Biodiversity Conservation
• +3 more

Dr Matthew Struebig is a Reader in Conservation Science at the University of Kent, leading the Leverhulme Trust Tropical Defaunation Hub. He specializes in tropical biodiversity conservation, focusing on human-modified habitats in Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia. His interdisciplinary research addresses socio-ecological drivers of wildlife decline, conservation policy, and sustainable land-use practices. He has held roles including Leverhulme Trust Research Fellow and now leads a major interdisciplinary initiative studying defaunation impacts. His research integrates ecology with social sciences, examining trade-offs between conservation and human needs. Current projects include assessing deforestation impacts, designing riparian reserves in oil palm landscapes, and evaluating community forest management. He collaborates with institutions like the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) and contributes to global conservation efforts through roles like Associate Editor of Journal of Applied Ecology . Recent work highlights include studies on orangutan population dynamics, peatland restoration, and biodiversity monitoring via robotics and DNA technologies. His team addresses pressing issues like nickel mining impacts and coral reef conservation, emphasizing practical solutions for biodiversity and human well-being. Dr Struebig has supervised numerous PhD students and researchers, fostering the next generation of conservation scientists. His grants include major funding from the Leverhulme Trust and UKRI, supporting projects like spatial prioritization in Indonesia and ecosystem restoration licenses. He actively engages with conservation organizations and policy initiatives to bridge science and real-world applications.

Antonis ChatzinotasView profile

Professor

• Microbial Ecology
• Environmental Biotechnology
• Soil Biodiversity
• +3 more

Prof. Dr. Antonis Chatzinotas is a leading figure in Microbial Interaction Ecology at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and holds a Professorship at the University of Leipzig since 2020. His research focuses on understanding microbial and viral interactions in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, particularly how environmental changes affect community composition, genetic landscapes, and biogeochemical cycles. Head of Microbial Interaction Ecology group at UFZ Professor at University of Leipzig Key research areas include: Microbial and viral diversity in pristine/aquifer systems Predatory interactions between protists/bacteria/viruses Applications in agroecosystems and environmental biotechnology Functional redundancy in microbial communities Impact of environmental variability on coexistence Recent publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches combining DNA stable isotope probing , metagenomics , and ecological modeling to study bioaugmentation, pesticide-microbe interactions, and viral transport mechanisms. His work bridges theoretical ecology with practical environmental solutions. Collaborations span institutions like EPFL, ETH Zurich, and University of Otago. Current projects explore low-risk biopesticides, virome-land use relationships, and microbial stability-vegetation links. The group actively supports open science principles and participates in transformative publishing agreements.

Harald BeckView profile

Professor

• Mammal-Plant Interactions
• Tropical Ecology
• Multi-trophic Level Interactions
• +3 more

Harald Beck is a Professor of Biology at Towson University, part of the College of Science and Mathematics. He holds a M.S. in Zoology from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and a Ph.D. from the University of Miami. His research focuses on mammal-plant interactions, tropical ecology, and ecosystem engineering, particularly in the Peruvian Amazon and Maryland forests. He studies the ecological impacts of ungulates, defaunation effects, and seedling dynamics. Notable contributions include work on peccary behavior, treefall gap ecology, and microbiome analysis in canids. Recent publications address topics like seedling mortality caused by fungal pathogens, the role of treefall gaps in biodiversity, and the microbiomes of coyotes and foxes. Beck serves as Chair of the IUCN Peccary Specialist Group and has authored textbooks on tropical ecology. His courses include Tropical Ecology and Conservation, Mammalogy, and Human Anatomy and Physiology.

Jordan KarubianView profile

Professor

• Animal Behavior
• Tropical Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• +3 more

Jordan Karubian is a Professor at Tulane University's Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, part of the School of Science & Engineering. His research focuses on Animal Behavior, Tropical Ecology, and Conservation, with a particular emphasis on avian behavior, ecological interactions, and biodiversity conservation in tropical ecosystems. He leads the Karubian Lab, collaborating with FCAT (a grassroots Ecuadorian NGO) and TIERA (Tulane's environmental research program) to bridge scientific research with community-driven conservation efforts. His work spans field studies in northwest Ecuador's Chocó biodiversity hotspot, examining topics such as lek mating systems, seed dispersal dynamics, and the impacts of environmental pollutants like lead on wildlife. He also investigates how habitat fragmentation and climate change affect avian populations and genetic diversity in tropical plants. Key collaborations include partnerships with FCAT for community-based conservation and TIERA for interdisciplinary environmental programs. His lab engages students and researchers in field courses and projects aimed at linking academic research with real-world environmental solutions. While no specific awards or advisees are listed, his extensive publication record reflects contributions to understanding ecological processes and conservation strategies in tropical regions. His research emphasizes both ecological and social dimensions of biodiversity preservation.

Zoe Diaz-MartinView profile

Assistant Professor

• Ecology
• Evolution
• Conservation Biology
• +3 more

Zoe Diaz-Martin, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Spelman College since 2023. Her research bridges molecular ecology, conservation biology, and evolutionary genetics to address challenges in plant population conservation. Education: Ph.D. from Tulane University, Postdoctoral Research at Chicago Botanic Garden, B.A. from Connecticut College Dr. Diaz-Martin employs genetic and genomic tools to study how habitat fragmentation, climate change, and human activities influence gene flow and genetic diversity in tropical plant species. Her work emphasizes practical conservation strategies and eco-evolutionary dynamics. Recent publications highlight her focus on ex situ conservation, plant reintroduction programs, and the impacts of defaunation and climate variability on plant populations. Collaborative projects involve endangered species management, pollination ecology, and genomic monitoring frameworks.

Onja RazafindratsimaView profile

Assistant Professor

• Tropical Ecology
• Plant-Frugivore Interactions
• Community Ecology
• +3 more

Onja Razafindratsima is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research focuses on tropical ecology, conservation biology, and ecological networks, with an emphasis on plant-frugivore interactions and seed dispersal in Madagascar's tropical forests. Research Interests Tropical forest conservation Ecological community structure Seed dispersal dynamics Species interactions under defaunation Functional and phylogenetic diversity Publication Trends Her recent work examines ecological network fragility in forest edges, the conservation implications of nonrandom seed dispersal, and the cascading effects of anthropogenic threats on tropical biodiversity. She integrates field surveys, simulation modeling, and phylogenetic tools across spatial-temporal scales. Honors Featured cover article in Ecology (2016) Contact Email: onja@berkeley.edu | Office: Valley Life Sciences Building, 5075

Patrick JansenView profile

Professor

• Wildlife Ecology
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Tropical Forests
• +7 more

Dr. Patrick Jansen is a Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Nature Restoration at Utrecht University and Research Associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. He leads the Agouti platform ( agouti.eu ), a global camera-trapping data management system. His research focuses on wildlife-plant interactions, consequences of species extirpation due to poaching, rewilding dynamics, and urban wildlife adaptation, with fieldwork in Panamanian tropical forests and Dutch regions like the Hoge Veluwe National Park. He has pioneered methodologies using camera traps to assess wildlife abundance and ecological interactions. Jansen coordinates courses in ecological methods and experimental design, emphasizing citizen science and data-driven conservation. His work bridges academic research with practical conservation, including projects on nutrient cycling from carcasses and ungulate impacts on forest regeneration. Affiliations: Utrecht University (Wildlife Ecology), Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (Research Associate) Key Projects: Agouti platform, Hoge Veluwe camera-trap surveys, Tropical Forest Mammal Dynamics Expertise: Tropical forest ecology, camera trapping, rewilding strategies, seed dispersal networks Research interests include quantifying wildlife interactions through innovative monitoring techniques, assessing ecological consequences of human activities, and developing tools for global biodiversity tracking. He actively engages in public outreach through columns and media commentary on conservation issues.

• Conservation Biology
• Tropical Ecology
• Biodiversity Management
• +3 more

Dr. Nicolas Deere is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), University of Kent. His research focuses on applying quantitative methods to inform biodiversity management strategies in tropical landscapes, particularly in Southeast Asia. He completed his PhD at DICE in 2019, investigating the impacts of land-use change on tropical mammals using remote sensing and statistical modeling. Currently, he contributes to projects such as LOMBOK (Land-use Options for Maintaining Biodeiversity and Ecosystem Functions) and IFL Wallacea (Impacts of Forest Loss in Wallacea), aiming to address biodiversity conservation challenges in human-modified ecosystems. Dr. Deere’s work emphasizes camera trap methodologies, statistical approaches for rare species detection, and spatial prioritization for conservation. He serves as Scientific Coordinator for the Sumatran Camera Trap Project, advocating for the protection of Issau Issau Nature Reserve. His research spans Southeast Asia, East Africa, and Latin America, addressing deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and defaunation. He is a member of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) and the British Ecological Society (BES). His publications highlight themes like forest restoration thresholds, biodiversity monitoring in human-modified landscapes, and policy-relevant conservation strategies. While no formal grants or awards are listed, his contributions to pan-tropical conservation underscore his impactful research. He collaborates widely, with projects often involving spatial modeling and interdisciplinary approaches to ecological challenges.

Carlos PeresView profile

Professor

• Tropical forest conservation
• Biodiversity conservation
• Wildlife community ecology
• +4 more

Carlos Peres is a Professor of Tropical Conservation Ecology at the School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia (UK), and a Sector Head for Environmental Biology. He specializes in Amazonian biodiversity, studying wildlife ecology, habitat fragmentation, and conservation strategies. His career includes roles as a Reader, Lecturer, and Assistant Professor, with postdoctoral research at Duke University and Museu Goeldi. Key affiliations include the Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation and ClimateUEA. Research interests focus on large-bodied vertebrate diversity, human-driven disturbances (hunting, wildfires, deforestation), and sustainable land-use practices. He co-leads research programs on tropical forest resources, fragmentation dynamics, and biodiversity conservation across neotropical regions. Publications emphasize Amazonian ecosystems' resilience to human impacts, with notable works on defaunation, forest edges' ecological effects, and biomass collapse due to overhunting. His recent work highlights global biodiversity conservation priorities and forest fire prevalence linked to fragmentation. Awarded the inaugural Frontiers Planet Prize (2023), he also received recognition from Time/CNN (2000) and the Bay and Paul Foundation (1995). Active in grants, he leads projects funded by the Royal Society, EU Horizon 2020, and the Research Council of Norway, addressing Caatinga biome management, hydroelectric impacts, and Amazonian ecosystem services. He advises on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to environmental protection and collaborates globally. His fieldwork spans Amazonia, balancing academic roles in Norwich with tropical field research.

Kathryn BarryView profile

Assistant Professor

• Ecology
• Biodiversity
• Plant Ecology
• +5 more

Dr. Kathryn Barry is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Biodiversity at Utrecht University, within the Faculty of Science. Her research focuses on plant community ecology, particularly how plant interactions influence ecosystem function under global change. She leads the UU BioCliVE experiment, which examines biodiversity’s role in buffering ecosystems against climatic variability. Barry’s work combines field experiments in grasslands and forests with theoretical modeling to understand biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships. Her expertise includes quantitative analysis, community assembly, and plant-soil interactions. She teaches the 'Ecology 2' course and collaborates with researchers globally on projects like the Biodiversity and Climate Variability Experiment. Her recent publications explore topics such as hydraulic diversity in forests, the impact of camelid herding on grasslands, and the effects of nitrogen enrichment on grassland productivity. Projects: UU BioCliVE (2017–2030), investigating biodiversity’s role in climate resilience. Skills: R programming, quantitative research design, and plant community analysis. Key Interests: Biodiversity conservation, climate mitigation, and sustainable ecosystems.

John W. TerborghView profile

Professor

• Tropical Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Biodiversity
• +4 more

John W. Terborgh is the James B. Duke Professor of Environmental Science and Co-Director of the Center for Tropical Conservation at Duke University. A National Academy of Sciences member, he has spent 35 years researching tropical ecology and conservation, focusing on avian and mammalian ecology in neotropical forests while operating a field station in Peru's Manu National Park since 1973. Ph.D., Harvard University (1963) M.A., Harvard University (1960) B.A., Harvard University (1958) His research explores tropical forest dynamics, biodiversity conservation, and ecological interactions in Amazonian and Andean systems. Recent publications address wood density variation, phylogenetic community structure, and floodplain forest roles in aquatic ecosystems. His work bridges conservation theory with field-based tropical ecology. Major awards include the MacArthur Fellowship (1992) and National Academy of Science Daniel Giraud Elliot Medal (1996). He has contributed to conservation advisory roles for organizations like The Nature Conservancy and World Wildlife Fund, emphasizing practical application of ecological findings to conservation challenges.

Marjolijn ChristianenView profile

Associate Professor

• Marine Ecology
• Coastal Ecosystem Restoration
• Climate Change Biology
• +3 more

Marjolijn Christianen is an Associate Professor of Marine Ecology at Wageningen University, Netherlands. Her research focuses on coastal ecosystem resilience through trophic rewilding, particularly involving seagrass, shellfish reefs, and mangroves in the context of climate change. She leads projects such as the VENI-funded 'Global Defaunation' study and the 'WildMarsh' initiative exploring trophic rewilding strategies. Her work integrates field experiments with emerging technologies like drones and machine learning for ecosystem monitoring. She has conducted fieldwork in the Caribbean, North Sea, and Wadden Sea, and advises policymakers on nature management. Christianen holds a PhD from Indonesia (2013) and previously worked at Groningen and Nijmegen Universities on food web ecology and coastal restoration. Education & Experience: PhD in Seagrass and Sea Turtle Ecology (Indonesia, 2013) Researcher at Groningen & Nijmegen Universities (2013–2017) Scientific Advisor at Bureau Waardenburg (2017) Research Interests: Coastal rewilding, megafauna-ecosystem interactions, drone-based monitoring, and climate adaptation strategies. Her team examines how organisms like seagrass and shellfish modify environments to enhance resilience against global change. Current projects address invasive species impacts, nutrient dynamics, and habitat restoration using biodegradable materials. Grants & Projects: WildMarsh (2025–2030): NWO-ENW-M2 Grant Coastal Ecosystem Resilience under Tourism (NWO-WOTRO, 2021) North Sea Reef Vitalization (NWO-TTW, 2019–2024) Outreach & Collaboration: Communicates science through blogs, media, and art, emphasizing practical applications for policymakers and nature managers. Supervises MSc theses and internships in aquatic ecology and marine systems.

• Conservation Biology
• Spatial Planning
• Landscape Connectivity
• +4 more

Dr Dave Seaman is an Innovation Fellow at the University of Kent's Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), focusing on spatial planning for conservation. He holds a PhD from DICE (2021) on orangutan population viability in modified habitats. His research emphasizes landscape connectivity, systematic conservation planning, and the role of zoos in conservation. Prior to academia, he worked with great apes in zoos. Teaching includes undergraduate courses on applied ecology, human-wildlife conflict, and biogeography. Current supervision focuses on defaunation patterns in Indonesian islands. His work spans Borneo, Gabon, and Madagascar, addressing climate impacts, logging effects, and conservation policy efficacy. Recent publications explore elephant movement in human-dominated landscapes, orangutan translocation risks, and biodiversity responses to forest degradation. Professional memberships include the British Ecological Society.

• Amazonian Ecology
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Amphibian Biology
• +5 more

DOMINGOS DE JESUS RODRIGUES is a Professor at the Institute of Natural, Human and Social Sciences at the Federal University of Mato Grosso in Sinop, Brazil, where he has been employed since June 7, 2006. His research spans two primary domains: Amazonian ecology and biodiversity conservation, and amphibian toxicology with pharmacological applications. His research interests focus on Amazonian ecology, biodiversity conservation, amphibian biology, environmental science, deforestation impacts, soil science, and ecotoxicology. Rodrigues has published extensively in high-impact journals including Nature, Science, and Global Change Biology, demonstrating his significant contributions to understanding Amazonian ecosystems and amphibian toxins. His work often addresses critical environmental challenges facing the Amazon region, including deforestation, biodiversity loss, and conservation strategies. Analysis of his recent publications reveals two distinct research trajectories: one examining large-scale ecological patterns in the Amazon basin (tree diversity, mammal defaunation, carbon dynamics), and another focused on the chemical properties and biological effects of amphibian toxins, particularly from Rhinella/Rhaebo toads. This dual focus positions him at the intersection of fundamental ecological research and applied pharmacological studies. His collaborative network is extensive, with frequent co-authorship with researchers from Brazilian institutions as well as international collaborators. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the available record, his publication record in top-tier journals suggests successful funding from Brazilian research agencies and possibly international sources. Professor Rodrigues appears to be actively engaged in field research throughout the Amazon region, with particular focus on the Mato Grosso state and the Cerrado-Amazon transition zone. His work contributes significantly to both ecological understanding of one of Earth's most biodiverse regions and potential biomedical applications from natural toxins.