Andrea Presotto

Andrea Presotto is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography, Planning and Sustainability at East Carolina University. Holding dual PhDs in GISciences (University of Georgia) and Geography (University of Sao Paulo), she bridges interdisciplinary domains including Environmental Studies, Spatial Cognition, and Conservation Biology.

Education

• PhD in GISciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
• PhD in Geography, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
• MS in Geography, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
• BS in Geography, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Research Focus

Dr. Presotto investigates human impacts on environmental systems through geospatial techniques. Her work examines:

• Landscape of Fear dynamics in human-modified habitats
• Primate behavior in fragmented mangrove ecosystems
• Elephant navigation strategies in the Zambezi River Basin
• Conservation through the One Health framework
• Spatial cognition across species in altered landscapes

Her research integrates empirical field data with GIS, remote sensing, and UAV technology to analyze environmental changes at multiple scales. Recent projects focus on capuchin monkey tool use in Brazil's mangroves and cognitive mapping in African elephants.

Dr. Presotto's publications appear in journals like Animal Behavior, Current Biology, and PLOS One, with funding from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health. She actively seeks Ph.D. students interested in human-wildlife interactions in coastal habitats.