UF IFAS Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

UF IFAS Wildlife Ecology and Conservation We are 's Wildlife Ecology & Conservation Dept! Expanding what we know about ecology, conservation This site is not a public forum.

The department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, part of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida. The University of Florida department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation intends to educate, inform and provide updated information on Wildlife Ecology and Conservation activities and to support and promote Wildlife Ecology and Conservation objectives for thes

e activities through its social media site. All Wildlife Ecology and Conservation comments are made by Wildlife Ecology and Conservation designees. Social media users may share ideas through commentary that is consistent with and furthers the objectives of a Wildlife Ecology and Conservation post and the University of Florida Wildlife Ecology and Conservation reserves the right to remove any comments that do not fall within this purpose. By posting a comment on this social media site, users agree to follow the terms of use of the site, Florida and federal laws and University of Florida regulations and policies, including but not limited to the University’s Acceptable Use of Computing Resources Policy. The department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation reserves the right to remove from the site any comments that violate these requirements.

📚 New Publication Alert!Dr Lameace Hussain, Daniel Haro, and Dr Nia Morales investigated rates of harassment, discrimina...
08/28/2026

📚 New Publication Alert!

Dr Lameace Hussain, Daniel Haro, and Dr Nia Morales investigated rates of harassment, discrimination, and feelings of belonging and accessibility among women and minorities within the herpetology field. Alarmingly, though not surprising, those who reported instances of harassment and discrimination to supervisors or coworkers were dissatisfied with actions taken after reporting. The study also highlighted that women and minorities often viewed their gender or race as a barrier to their success in the field and that many respondents didn't feel that the field was accessible to all communities. To foster a more inclusive and safe environment, the authors proposed recommendations on accountability and protective measures for individuals in herpetology, aiming to improve it for future generations of young herpetologists.

📖 You can read the study from this link: https://sl1nk.com/218hfkf

🌿 Student Spotlight: Kimi Birrer 🦃WEC student Kimi Birrer presented her poster, “Wild Turkeys as Underrecognized Seed Di...
08/26/2026

🌿 Student Spotlight: Kimi Birrer 🦃

WEC student Kimi Birrer presented her poster, “Wild Turkeys as Underrecognized Seed Dispersers,” at the VI Conferência Brasileira de Restauração Ecológica – SOBRE2026 in Brasília, Brazil, this July.

Kimi’s research examined seed recovery after captive wild turkeys consumed eight native plant species. Turkeys destroyed most seeds, leaving about 12% intact after digestion, with recovery varying among species. Preliminary germination data suggest that some seeds remain viable, highlighting the potential for wild turkeys to selectively disperse seeds that survive digestion.

🎓 Congratulations to our WEC Ph.D. graduates! 🎉We’re excited to celebrate Dr. Morgan Manning and Dr. Jackson Heitmann Ba...
08/19/2026

🎓 Congratulations to our WEC Ph.D. graduates! 🎉

We’re excited to celebrate Dr. Morgan Manning and Dr. Jackson Heitmann Barratt, who completed their Ph.D. degrees this summer!

🌿 Dr. Morgan Manning, advised by Dr. Miguel Acevedo
🌿 Dr. Jackson Heitmann Barratt, advised by Drs. Corey Callaghan and Katie Sieving

Wishing Morgan and Jackson continued success and exciting opportunities in the chapters ahead! 💚🐊

📸 Photo credit: UF/IFAS, Tyler Jones

🎉 Welcome, new WEC graduate students! 🐊🌿Kick off the fall semester with fellow graduate students! 🍻📅 Friday, August 21⏰ ...
08/17/2026

🎉 Welcome, new WEC graduate students! 🐊🌿

Kick off the fall semester with fellow graduate students! 🍻

📅 Friday, August 21
⏰ 5–7 p.m.
📍 First Magnitude Brewing Company

Come meet new friends, connect with the WEC community, and celebrate the start of a new semester. We hope to see you there! 💙🧡

🐢 Poster Presentation | Freshwater Conservation in BelizeCongratulations to Jaren-Claude Serano, Ph.D. student in the Hu...
08/11/2026

🐢 Poster Presentation | Freshwater Conservation in Belize

Congratulations to Jaren-Claude Serano, Ph.D. student in the Human Dimensions Lab at UF Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, for presenting his research at the 24th Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles, held August 3–6 in Guadalajara, Mexico!

His poster, “Scaling Up Watershed Stewardship: A Mixed-Methods Study of Freshwater Governance with Implications for Central American River Turtle (Dermatemys mawii) Conservation in Belize,” explores how riverine communities perceive challenges affecting river health, wildlife, livelihoods, and freshwater governance.

His research emphasizes the importance of local knowledge and community perspectives in strengthening freshwater conservation and governance in Belize and beyond. 🐢🌿

🎓 Join us for a Ph.D. Exit Seminar!The School of Natural Resources and Environment invites you to attend Saneer Lamichha...
08/06/2026

🎓 Join us for a Ph.D. Exit Seminar!

The School of Natural Resources and Environment invites you to attend Saneer Lamichhane's Ph.D. Exit Seminar:

Beyond Recovery: Demographic, Spatial, Ecological, and Socioecological Dimensions of Tiger Conservation in Nepal

📅 Monday, August 10, 2026
🕘 9:00 AM (Public Seminar)
📍 Frazier Rogers Hall, Room 122

We hope you'll join us in celebrating Saneer and learning more about this important research. Congratulations, Saneer, and best wishes on your Ph.D. journey!

🎉 Congratulations to Morgan Wingo, M.S. student in the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) and the Depart...
07/28/2026

🎉 Congratulations to Morgan Wingo, M.S. student in the School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) and the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (WEC), on earning First Place in the Master's Poster Competition at the University of Florida IFAS Graduate Student Association Spring Showcase, held at the North Florida Research and Education Center!

Morgan's award-winning poster, "Evaluating Habitat Responses to Fire Frequency in a Long-Term Fire Management Study," explored how decades of prescribed fire influence plant communities and the quality of habitat for white-tailed deer. Working with collaborators at Tall Timbers Research Station, Morgan evaluated research plots that have been managed under different prescribed fire intervals for more than 66 years.

The study found that more frequent prescribed fire increased herbaceous vegetation while reducing canopy cover and vegetation height, creating habitat conditions that are more favorable for white-tailed deer. These findings highlight the important role of long-term fire management in maintaining healthy ecosystems and informing wildlife habitat management.

Morgan is advised by Dr. Carolina Baruzzi in the WELaM Lab.

Congratulations, Morgan, on this well-deserved recognition! 👏🔥🦌

Just another completely normal day in the woods... 🌲😂Which character was your favorite? 👇📸 These moments were captured b...
07/17/2026

Just another completely normal day in the woods... 🌲😂

Which character was your favorite? 👇

📸 These moments were captured by camera traps deployed by WEC Ph.D. candidate Laura Franklin as part of her wildlife research.

Have a cool wildlife moment from your research? 📸
Send us a DM—we'd love to feature it!

07/17/2026

Just another completely normal day in the woods... 🌲😂
Which character was your favorite? 👇

📸 These moments were captured by camera traps deployed by WEC Ph.D. candidate Franklin as part of her wildlife research.

Have a cool wildlife moment from your research? Send us a DM—we'd love to feature it!

🎉 Student SpotlightCongratulations to Jaren Serano, a Ph.D. student in the University of Florida Department of Wildlife ...
07/16/2026

🎉 Student Spotlight

Congratulations to Jaren Serano, a Ph.D. student in the University of Florida Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (WEC), advised by Dr. Nia Morales!

Jaren recently attended the 8th Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with support from WWF’s Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program and the Gustavo Fonseca Leadership Program. As the first Belizean recipient of the Gustavo Fonseca Scholarship, Jaren proudly represented the University of Florida, the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Belize, and the Latin America and Caribbean region at this global gathering.

Jaren’s research focuses on community-based freshwater conservation in Belize, connecting local conservation efforts with international conversations on biodiversity, environmental finance, conservation leadership, and inclusive governance.

We look forward to seeing the continued impact of your work in freshwater conservation. 💙🧡

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32611

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