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I am interested in the conservation of rare and endangered species. My research is motivated by understanding how human activities affect the persistence of plants and animals, and what conservation actions can minimize or reverse the impact we have on natural areas. I am currently a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Maryland, working with Dr. Maile Neel in the Plant Science and Landscape Architecture department. As part of a Department of Defense SERDP project, we are developing a database of the biology, threats, and recovery goals for plants and animals listed under the Endangered Species Act. Using bioinformatic approaches, we are investigating ways to use information from well-studied species to help develop scientifically defensible recovery goals for species where we have little biological data. For my dissertation research, I examined how urban and agricultural fragmentation affected butterfly communities, with a particular focus on conservation strategies to ameliorate the effects of habitat fragmentation. For one project, I used a ten-year dataset of butterflies from the Brazilian Amazon to examine long-term patterns of species richness and community composition. I also studied the effects of urban fragmentation on the movement rates of the crystal skipper, a rare butterfly endemic to barrier islands in North Carolina, using a combination of population genetic, mark-recapture, and edge behavior studies. I did my Ph.D. at North Carolina State University with Dr. Nick Haddad in the Department of Biology. In addition to the biological aspects of conservation, I am interested in the intersection of science and policy, and promoting communication between scientists, policy-makers, and the public. |
Allison K. Leidner |
