History: I am currently working on a Masters degree in Wildlife Biology under Dave Otis. My position in the Coop Unit is that of statistical support for the Iowa DNR. The goals of this position are to offer statistical and analytical support for various DNR projects, and to receive training in the field of wildlife biometrics.
One of those projects was recently completed and pertained to the issue of declining Northern Bobwhite populations in Iowa over the past century. The objective of this project was to use Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to identify changes which have occurred to the landscape across this time period. Such changes to the landscape will hopefully allow state biologists to identify possible reasons for the decline in quail populations.
A second project is ongoing, and addresses the issues of harvest regulations in Iowa and their effects on the survival and harvest rates of Canada geese. A major portion of this project is aimed toward investigating the use of special early season harvests and the repercussions these seasons have on Canada geese vital rates.
My thesis work is a tangent to some of the work I have done with the Iowa DNR and is centered around the estimation of population parameters (survival rates, harvest rates, etc.) for Canada geese at the state and flyway level within the Mississippi Flyway. This work focuses on the use of such estimates in setting harvest regulations. Analyses will aid in the development of statistical objectives with which the Flyway can use to set annual banding quotas. The target goal of this study is to suggest to the Mississippi Flyway a more informed use of band/recovery data and provide general summaries of vital rate estimates for Canada geese.
My interests lie in the general field of wildlife conservation, although I am particularly fond of topics concerning birds and mammals. My career objective is to eventually work with a state agency and address relevant conservation issues on a variety of wildlife species. |
