Global Patterns of Biodiversity & Protection

Explaining the distribution of biodiversity around the world is both an academic and applied interest. The simple question of why species occur where they do has long fascinated scientists. Is it climate, history, some unknown factor?

Understanding the patterns and their causes though has become more pressing with the current extinction crisis. From birds to mammals, invasive plants to ants, I've had a long-term research program in biodiversity and its conservation. The tools are varied, from global climate models to advanced remote sensing technologies of Lidar and scatterometers. This crucial applied aspect has most recently involved a global assessment of the world's protected areas and our progress to the 2010 Biodiversity Goal (the 10% goal). See the latest results in Biological Conservation and a related news story at Mongabay!

Oil in the Western Amazon

The Western Amazon is one of the most diverse areas in the world, both biologically and ethnically. It is truly an astounding, and mostly unknown, part of the planet. Oil and gas development though, combined with massive plans for infrastructure, are major threats to the biodiversity and peoples living there. Through an interdisciplinary study of biodiversity, environmental and development policy, and remote sensing, my research program aims to understand and help eliminate threats to the Western Amazon.

More information about this research, including downloadable datasets, can be found at: http://westernamazon.org

Brazilian Atlantic Forest

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest, or Mata Atlântica as it's known locally, is one of the world's great biodiversity hotspots. A place of exceptional levels of endemism but also habitat loss, creating a center of species extinctions.

For nearly a decade, I have been active in research, conservation, and teaching in the Atlantic Forest. Using a mix of species distribution modeling, primarily of birds, and knowledge from conservation groups in the region, my colleagues and I have identified several priority areas for expansion of protected areas. Most of this activity is centered in Rio de Janeiro, home to more endangered birds than any other place in the continental Americas. OK, it also has fabulous beaches, great parties, and is generally an amazing place, but that's just coincidence. Really.

Florida Everglades & the Cape Sable Sparrow

The Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow was one of the original species listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Since listing, the sparrow's home in the Florida Everglades has continued to face peril. Efforts to restore the greater Everglades ecosystem have largely stalled despite overwhelming public support. Meanwhile the ecosystem continues to degrade.

Using a combination of natural history studies, computer simulation, and remote sensing, my colleagues and I are modeling the habitat of the sparrow and restoration plans for the Everglades. The prairie ecosystems in Everglades National Park, home to the sparrow, are the result of a complex interaction between water, fire, and soil, making for challenging but fascinating research.