Robert Cooper

Dr. Robert Cooper is a Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Biometrics at the University of Georgia's School of Forestry and Natural Resources, holding the Dennis and Sara Carey Distinguished Professorship. His research focuses on wildlife ecology, climate change impacts, quantitative ecology, and tropical ecosystems. He leads the Cooper Lab, advising students like Ryan Chitwood (PhD candidate studying songbird population dynamics) and Abby Sterling (PhD alumna on shorebird conservation).

Education:

• PhD, West Virginia University: Wildlife Biology
• MS, University of Georgia: Forest Resources
• BS, University of Georgia: Wildlife

Research Interests:

• Ecosystem management emphasizing biodiversity preservation
• Climate change effects on avian populations and habitat
• Quantitative approaches to wildlife conservation
• Tropical ecology, including agroecosystems and cloud forest studies

His work integrates adaptive management and rigorous statistical methods, with notable projects on Black-throated Blue Warblers and shorebird monitoring in Georgia.

Awards:

• Dennis and Sara Carey Distinguished Professorship in Forestry and Natural Resources Education

Grants & Advising:

• Funded by NASA and the Georgia Ornithological Society
• Advises students on topics like climate-driven demographic shifts and shorebird habitat conservation

Labs/Teams: Cooper Lab focuses on quantitative ecology and conservation, collaborating with institutions like UGA Costa Rica and the Maquipucuna Foundation in Ecuador.