Kyle J. Shaney
2021 Assistant Professor of Vertebrate Zoology. Department of Biological and Health Sciences. Texas A&M University - Kingsville Other Professional Experience 2021-2022 Assistant Professor. Department of Forestry. New Mexico Highlands University. Las Vegas, NM 2018-2020 Postdoctoral Fellow. Institute of Ecology. National Autonomous University of México. Mexico City, Mexico. 2018-2020 SNI Level I Researcher with CONACYT Mexico (Mexico's STEM government branch). 2018. Wildland Firefighter. Silver State Hotshots. Bureau of Land Management 2016. Contract Researcher. Wood Bison Spatial Ecology. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. 2013-2017. Graduate Teaching Assistant. Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center. University of Texas at Arlington. 2012. Wildland Firefighter. Engine Crew. Bureau of Land Management. 2010-2011. Mountain Lion and Black Bear Technician. Louisiana and Utah. Work I am interested in wildlife ecology and conservation. I am especially interested in wildlife behavior, distributional patterns, and responses to environmental change. I completed my doctorate at UT-Arlington where I worked with Dr. Todd Castoe and Dr. Eric N. Smith. I am a member of the IUCN Crocodile Specialist Group and have been recognized as a National Geographic Young Explorer for my work with crocodiles in Indonesia. I did a two year postdoctoral project at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City with Dra. Ella Vazquez Dominquez and am still actively developing projects in the country. I've also worked extensively across other regions and much of my work has focused on threatened, endangered or data deficient species. I am not taxa-specific, and some of my projects focus on single species, while others are assemblage or landscape based in scope. Projects have included: Wood bison restoration ecology in Alaska, crocodilian conservation and ecology in Sumatra, Mountain lion ecology and management in Utah, black bear ecology in Louisiana, and dragon lizard biogeography in Sumatra. I have also held other natural resource related positions including working as a wildland firefighter for the Bureau of Land Management, which has given me invaluable experience in on the ground fire management. There is an inherent social aspect to my work and I collaborate with state, government, local and indigenous groups, as well as many other stakeholders. I welcome collaborations from researchers all over the world. Undergraduate Students
Desirre Herrera (Bio in her words) Working mostly with the public as a Pharmacy Technician and some experience with the Gallinas Volunteer fire department is where I was before making the choice to return to school. In 2018, I completed my Associates of Science Degree from Luna Community College in Las Vegas, NM. After much deliberation I chose to major in Forestry at NMHU (New Mexico Highlands University) with a concentration in Forest Management. I have a 2-year-old son that demands most if not all my attention at times. Not being a traditional student, it has not been the easiest, but I am preparing to complete my BS in fall of 2022. In May of 2021, I joined the NMFWRI (New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute) team working as a student technician monitoring plot measurements of upland woody areas that were previously burned. I have had the opportunity to participate in the cougar prey investigations using my knowledge of plot measurements learned over the summer. On my off time I enjoy spending time with my son, time with family, being in the mountains, horseback riding, hunting, and camping Dillon Alexander
Dillon has a broad background that includes work on Forest Service trail crews and a range of botanical and wildlife related projects. He is currently an important member of the cougar ecology research group that was initiated in 2021 in the lab. Dillon is one of the leaders on cougar-kill site investigations in our study area and is developing new wildlife ecology experience all the time. Anabella Miller
Anabella has a broad range of wildlife ecology and conservation experience. Her experience includes entomological surveys, boreal toad surveys, summer internship work at the Denver Zoological Foundation, and participation in national conferences, including the American Bison Society Conference in 2019. She is now a an active member of the cougar ecology research group as well and is assisting with cougar prey site investigations in northeastern NM. |
Español
Me enfoco en ecología y biogeografia con la intención de aplicar mi trabajo al manejo y conservación de fauna silvestre. Tengo experiencia con animales y paisajes en diferentes partes del mundo. Estudié a los Bisontes en lo salvaje de Alaska, cocodrilos amanezados en Indonesia, pumas de las montañas en Utah, mamíferos en México, temas de conservacíon en Cuba, y muchos más. Soy miembre del UICN Grupo de Especialistas en Cocodrilos y estoy en constante desarollo de relaciones con otros grupos. He dado cursos de Biología de Conservacíon en la Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México y estoy interesado en desarollar cursos y lesiones online para estudiantes a la distancia. Hago una invitación a colaboradores y estudiantes de cualquier parte del mundo a trabajar conmigo. Graduate Students
Herdhanu (Dhanu) Jayanto-Masters student Dhanu will be starting his master's thesis in January of 2022, which is focused on Sunda Gharial movement ecology in Berbak National Park, Indonesia. After growing up in Indonesia, Dhanu became interested in crocodiles, conservation, and management during college. Dhanu's work will be fundamental to developing long-term conservation strategies for a species that remains virtually unstudied. Jordan Martinez-Masters student
In collaboration with Dr. James Biggs, Professor Emeritus NMHU and retired US Fish and Wildlife Service professional, we are co-advising Jordan on her master's thesis. Jordan is studying Mongolian Gazelle spatial ecology in eastern Mongolia in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy and the Denver Zoo. Joe Zebrowski and Gana Wingard have been major supporters of this project, as well as many Mongolian colleagues. Jordan has worked for the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska and in New Mexico and has experience with a range of GIS and habitat management skills. Quentin Pino-Masters Student
Quentin is studying the movement and dietary ecology of cougars in northern New Mexico. His work is currently funded by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, New Mexico Game and Fish and NSF. Quentin previously worked as a technician on various wildlife projects throughout the state and loves to be outdoors, especially hunting. |