SOPHIE DANFORTH CONSERVATION BIOLOGY FUND

Since 1989, Roger Williams Park Zoo and the Rhode Island Zoological Society have awarded a total of over 40 annual grants of $1000 each to conservation projects worldwide through the Sophie Danforth Conservation Biology Fund. Many of the supported projects continue to grow and succeed. This is a vital but often unseen part of the zoo’s conservation efforts. Find out about the SDCBF Application Process.

Congratulations to the 2009 Recipients of the
Sophie Danforth Conservation Biology Fund:

Project Title:
Quantifying population structure and dynamics within a metapopulation of Ambystoma opacum

Project Goal:
Detecting and understanding population subdivision can expand our knowledge of population dynamics of rare species and thus provide the necessary data to implement the appropriate management and conservation plans.  However, field studies of animal populations are difficult and time consuming and genetic studies may not be accurate.  My proposed study is aimed at determining the best method to understand population structure and dynamics of rare species.  My study system is the marbled salamander, Ambystoma opacum.  By reconciling genetic data with mark-recapture field data, I will be able to determine the best method to quantity and monitor dispersal within natural populations.

Project Location:  Virginia Appalachians – United States

Principal Investigator:  Karine Posbic

Project Title:
Spatial Ecology and Habitat Utilization of the Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platyrhinos) at Cape Cod National Seashore     

Project Goal:
The eastern hognose snake is a species of increasing concern in the northeastern United States.  Currently there is a paucity of natural history data for this species, especially in the northeastern US.  Information on spatial ecology, habitat utilization, and life history dynamics are critical to the effective management of this species.  The study proposed would consist of monitoring snakes via radio telemetry equipment for a minimum of two field seasons at the Cape Cod National Seashore.  The study will emphasize habitat preferences, home range, and associated behavior.  All data and analyses will be shared with governmental agencies and academic institutions to better assess the status of this species.

Project Location:  Cape Cod, MA – United States
Project Investigator:  Scott Buchanan

Project Title:
The presence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Rhode Island Anuran Populations

Project Goal:
Chytridiomycosis is an emerging fungal disease of amphibians that has caused mass die-offs and species extinction on six continents including North America.  Chytridiomycosis is caused by an infection of the keratinized epidermis of amphibians by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd).  Bd cannot survive desiccation and its motile spores rely on water for transmission.  Several anuran species commonly found in Rhode Island have tested positive for Bd in other northeast states.  These northeastern United States species present little of no clinical signs and do not suffer mortality due to a current infection.  Environmental factors have been shown to increase pathogenicity of Bd, making the geographical distribution of Bd in Rhode Island anuran populations by quantitative real-time TaqMan PCR analysis.  Skin swab samples will be taken from bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana), green frogs (Rana clamitans), and pickerel frogs (Rana Palustris) due to their predominantly aquatic life cycle.  Samples will also be taken from American toads (Bufo americanus) and tadpoles in order to cover additional ecological groups and life stages of anurans.  Correlation between environmental factors and presence/absence of Bd will also be examined.

Project Location: Rhode Island – United States

Project Investigator: Mandy Gaudreau

Project Title:
Kibale Fuel Wood Project

Project Goal:
Kibale National Park is home to an outstanding array of plants and animals.  Tragically the park is being cut down for firewood.  The Kibale Fuel Wood Project seeks to protect all of the park’s wildlife and improve people-park relations by facilitating energy stability in villages.  The project creates demonstration areas, facilitates home-grown wood, assists villagers building fuel efficient stoves, and promotes environmental sensitivity and sustainability through extensive educational programs.

Project Location: Communities surrounding Kibale National Park, Uganda

Project Investigator: Rebecca Goldstone & Michael Stern

Project Title:
The ecological impact of an electrified wildlife fence

Project Goal:
The Makgadikgadi game fence, erected in 2004, created an artificial barrier to the free movement of both wildlife and livestock within the western Makgadikgadi.  The installation of this fence reduced direct conflict between wildlife and livestock but may have caused unseen effects on the ecosystem.  I will compare pre-fence and post-fence data to quantify the ecological impact of the fence and to determine how the spatial distribution and resource selections strategies of zebra and livestock have changed.  This study provides a unique opportunity to assess the use of fences as a method to resolve the ongoing human-wildlife conflict within Africa.

Project Location: Makgadikgadi, Africa

Project Investigator: James Thomas Bradley

Project Title:
Identifying key conservation management areas for Hartmann’s mountain zebras (Equus zebra hartmannae) – A pilot project

Project Goal:
Hartmann’s mountain zebras (Equus zebra hartmannae), listed as “vulnerable” by IUCN, are found primarily in Namibia, and may be declining in number.  Little published information exists about them, making it difficult to formulate conservation management plans.  Our long-term goal is to identify areas that are critical for mountain zebra conservation.  Because so little is known about these zebras, we will conduct a pilot project to 1.) Identify and engage Namibian collaborators, 2.) Assess available knowledge/data, 3.) Establish genetic methods, 4.) Collect data on zebra groups and locations, and 5.) Survey local people about zebra space use and breeding locations.

Sophie Danforth Conservation Biology Fund
2008 Award Recipients

Project Title:
Preservation of the Darwin’s Frogs, Rhinoderma, through an Ex-Situ Captive Breeding Program and Field Work in Chile

Project Goal:
Evolutionary distinctiveness and unique biology characterize Darwin’s frogs (Rhinoderma); however today they are in serious decline. Habitat loss and emergent infectious disease are key threats. Proactive conservation efforts will update the status of both Rhinoderma species, assess threats, and develop captive breeding programs in Chile. The project approach facilitates an in country program, building facilities, training staff, and empowering local stakeholders. The investigators believe empowering local stakeholders will sustain this program in perpetuity.  Web-based educational components will communicate project results in Spanish and English.

Project Location: Chile

Principal Investigator: Dante Fenolio, MS, Ph.D. / Ron Gagliardo, MS

Project Title:
Conservation Genetics of the American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica

Project Goal:
Populations assessments and genetic surveys are key to the protection and management of American Crocodiles (Crocodiles acutus0. With little known about American crocodiles in Costa Rica, this project will determine population sizes, genetic structure, gene flow and relatedness of American crocodiles along the pacific coast of Costa Rica. Population estimates and genetic information will enhance the conservation and management of American Crocodiles in Costa Rica.

Location: Costa Rica

Principal Investigator: Laurie Controneo

Project Title:
The Status and Conservation of the Endangered Wetar Ground-dove (Gallicolumba hoedtii) on Wetar, Indonesia

Project Goal:
The priority of this project is to determine whether the endangered Wetar Ground-dove (Gallucolumba hoedtii), one of the world's poorest known bird species is extant on Wetar. Through a series of biological surveys the project aim is to determine the status of all the islands' threatened, near threatened and endemic bird species and key forest habitats. There have been no biological surveys done on the islands in 100 years. This data will be used to identify the most suitable locations for the islands first protected area, and work towards the establishment of this protected area and future research programs on the islands.

Location: Indonesia

Principal Investigator: Jonathan Walker, Ph.D.

Project Title:
The Effects of Deforestation on Reproductive Fitness in Female Red Colobus (Piliocolobus tephrosceles) in Kibale National Park Uganda

Project Goal:
Using the endangered red colobus monkey (Piliocolobus tephrosceles) of Kibale National Park, Uganda as a model, this project will investigate the relationship between habitat quality and female reproductive fitness. Understanding the impact of habitat degradation on reproductive fitness is essential for successful conservation efforts.
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Location: Uganda

Principal Investigator:Krista M. Milich

Project Title:
A Least-Cost Path and Corridor Analysis of the Lower Kinabatangan Landscape, Sabah, Malaysia: Identifying Landscape Permeability and Probable Elephant Movement Pathways for Borneo Pygmy Elephants (Elepas maximus borneensis)

Project Goal:
This project will identify current landscape permeability for pygmy elephants (Elepas maximus borneensis) in the lower Kinabatangan region of Sabah, Malaysia. Project leaders will create, using existing GIS map layers to conduct least-cost path and corridor analysis using the software, CorridorDesign. This software will allow for the creation of habitat suitability models, the mapping in two dimensional forms of current corridors, the identification of bottlenecks, and the comparison of corridors with varying landscape characters. This project comes at a critical time for elephant conservation in the region. It will provide insight to the state wildlife department who will be drafting a Lower Kinabatangan Elephant Management Plan starting in December 2008

Location: Malaysia

Principal Investigators:Jason Estes

Project Title:
Integral Study of Endangered Clam Species from Argentina: Mesodesma Mactroides (Deshayes, 1854) (Millusca: Bivalvia), Ecological and Population Genetic Traits

Project Goal:
The yellow clam is one of the most common bivalves on South American beaches. This species has a great economic potential and was intensely exploited in Argentina until it was protected in 1958. Despite banning, illegal extraction has continued. In order to revert this process, it is of urgent need to implement a plan with accurate protection policies, education initiatives, and efforts to repopulate the beaches with farmed individuals. This project aims to provide keystone knowledge on the ecological requirements of the yellow clam, the gene flow among populations and the basic procedures for clam farming to seed the beaches with yellow clam young adults.

Location: Argentina

Principal Investigators: Dr. Maximiliano Cledon

Sophie Danforth Conservation Biology Fund
2007 Award Recipients

Project Title:
Conservation of Island Ecosystems Using Seabird Restoration

Project Goal:
This project seeks to evaluate seabird restoration on a short time scale and provide a whole-ecosystem focus for Island restoration projects. The project will measure nutrient levels on islands with different histories of seabird reduction or elimination due to invasive mammals and combine this data with seabird population models in order to ascertain the target seabird recovery density needed to restore island nutrients to pre-invasion leveles.

Location: New Zealand

Principal Investigator: Holly Jones

Project Title:
A conservation-oriented effort to understand a chytridiomycosis-induced tropic cascade

Project Goal:
Chytridiomycosis- induced amphibian declines are sweeping the world, resulting in a devastating loss of abundance and diversity. Effects on other organisms within the ecosystem are difficult to assess. This study will look at Mollusk eating snakes (Sibon spp.) that seasonally depend on frog eggs overhanging small Neotropical streams for food. Following a sudden and drastic loss in local amphibian diversity, Sibon spp. have been observed in poor condition. Utilizing surveys at a long term study site, the project will quantify effects of amphibian decline for Sibon spp., thus allowing for development of management strategies and providing a model for preservation of upper-tropic organisms.

Location:

Principal Investigator: Julie M. Ray

Project Title:
Isolation effects on the genetic status of beaver (Castor canadensis) in two riparian ecosystems in Arizona, US and Sonora, Mexico: implications for conservation

Project Goal:
Beavers are ecosystem engineers that provide habitat to many other species, however in the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico, beavers had been almost exterminated, therefore their conservation is imperative. Using microsatellites loci the project will determine the effects of geographic isolation, the size and genetic population structure of a relictual beaver population in the Cajon Bonito River in Mexico, and a recently reintroduced population in San Pedro River, U.S. These populations will be compared to northern beaver populations in the U.S. to determine their genetic status and generate conservation plans of beavers in the southern limit of their range.

Location: Arizona and Sonora, Mexico

Principal Investigator: Karla Pelz-Serrano

Project Title:
Kibale Community Fuel Wood Project

Project Goal:
The major goals and objectives of the KCFWP are to establish demonstration tree areas and actively promote home-grown wood and through an educational outreach program enhance appreciation for the National Park and its wildlife while teaching and encouraging the use of environmentally sustainable practices.
These goals have been accomplished.  Fulfillment of these measurable goals is also helping achieve the project’s stated purpose of protecting Kibale National Park from human encroachment and improving park-people relations by facilitating energy stability in surrounding villages.

Location: Fort Portal, Uganda

Principal Investigators: Rebecca Goldstone and Michael Stern, Chimp-n-Sea Wildlife Conservation Fund

Project Title:
Management of Spider Monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) in the Fragmented Tropical Dry Forests of Nicaragua

Project Goal:
Central American primates face immediate conservation threats due to severe forest fragmentation. The non-profit organization, Paso Pacifico, is currently working with private landowners in southwest Nicaragua to establish a network of protected areas and wildlife corridors. As part of the reserve design process, this project will use new genetic techniques to identify critical habitat patches for the countries most vulnerable primate, the Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi). The project will survey new study sites and continued collection of non-invasive genetic samples. The applied goal is to assess forest connectivity for wildlife, which is necessary to build an effective conservation management plan.

Location: Nicaragua

Principal Investigators: Carol Chambers, Suzanne Hagell

Sophie Danforth Conservation Biology Fund
2006 Award Recipients

Project Title:
Involving Teachers and Small Producers to Develop Community Support for Conservation of the Atlantic Forest and the Golden Lion Tamarin

Project Goal:
The Atlantic coastal forest of Brazil is a global priority for conservation because of its high biodiversity and high proportion of endemic species. The unplanned growth of the cities, and agricultural practices have fragmented this forest to dangerous levels. This initiative will work with local landowners and school to develop a pilot education project aimed to develop community support for the restoration of the forest corridors. This project will contribute to a larger ongoing effort to restore connectivity to the forest landscape permitting the long term conservation of a viable population of Golden lion tamarins as well as a vital watershed.

Location: Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Principal Investigator: Aline Leite Nunes

Project Title:
Inventory, distribution and Conservation action of the critically endangered Philippines forest turtle (Heosemys leytensis)

Project Goal:
This project will assess the distribution, habitat use, relative abundance, and threats to the critically endangered Philippine forest turtle in Palawan Island (Philippines) a world priority hot spot for bio-diversity. In addition, a global assessment will be conducted of all freshwater turtles living in Palawan, illegal suppliers of Philippine forest turtles will be identified, and an innovative educational program will be implemented. All data collected will be analyzed, and in conjunction with the Palawan Suitable Development Council, Palawan State University, and indigenous local groups, a long term core conservation plan will be proposed to insure the long term survival of the critically endangered Philippine forest turtle.

Location: Palawan, Philippines

Principal Investigator: Pierre Fidenci

Project Title:
Giant Anteaters on the Rupununi Savannas of Guyana

Project Goal:
Giant anteaters are a flagship species throughout Latin America, but due to habitat destruction and illegal hunting have been listed by the IUCN as threatened. This study will be used to examine impacts on disturbance on Giant anteaters and prompt governmental regulations if necessary. It will also provide the first information on hormones in wild giant anteaters, essential for captive reproductive management of this species.

Location: Guyana

Principal Investigator: Danielle Brown - California Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology

Project Title:
Kibale Community Fuel Wood Project

Project Goal:
The major goals and objectives of the KCFWP are to establish demonstration tree areas and actively promote home-grown wood and through an educational outreach program enhance appreciation for the National Park and its wildlife while teaching and encouraging the use of environmentally sustainable practices. Fulfillment of these measurable goals is also helping achieve the project’s stated purpose of protecting Kibale National Park from human encroachment and improving park-people relations by facilitating energy stability in surrounding villages.

Location: Fort Portal, Uganda

Principal Investigators: Rebecca Goldstone and Michael Stern, Chimp-n-Sea Wildlife Conservation Fund

Project Title:
Restoring cheatgrass-degraded sagebrush steppe systems: The interaction of ant foraging behavior, seed pools, and restoration management initiatives

Project Goal:
Sagebrush-steppe in the Great Basin is being degraded by invasion of non-native plants such as cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). This study will look at the interactions between seed harvesting ants and the seeds of native and non-native plant species in cheatgrass degraded areas and areas experimentally treated using a variety of restoration management techniques. Biologist will be looking at foraging behavior, the fate of ant collected seeds, and seedling establishment with and without Harvester ants in areas effected by cheatgrass and restoration techniques (fire, herbicide, mowing). Understanding ant-seed interactions in context of sagebrush-steppe restoration may improve our ability to maximize restoration efforts and better conserve this amazing habitat and the shrub-steppe species that depend on it.

Location: Utah, USA

Principal Investigator: Scott Newbold, Dept. of Biology and the Ecology Center, Utah State University

Sophie Danforth Conservation Biology Fund
Previous Award Recipients

Project Title: Involvement of Bedouins in the conservation of the endangered Egyptian toroise, T. kleinmanni
Principle Investigator: Omar Attum, University of Louisville
Project Goal: To save the highly endangered Egyptian tortoise in North Sinai, Egypt from extinction.

Project Title: Effects of small rodent seed predators on primary and secondary forest recruitment of Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica: Implications for Neotropical forests without large mammalian seed predators
Principle Investigator: Elizabeth DeMattia, University of Michigan
Project Goal: To determine the role of small mammals in tropical tree regeneration so tht forest diversity in Costa Rica can be better maintained and restored.

Project Title: Conservation biology of lowland tapirs (Tapirus  terrestris) and their potential as "landscape  detectives" at Pontal do Paranapanema Region,  Sao Paulo State, Brazil
Principle Investigator: Patricia Medici, Instituto de Pesquisas  Ecologicas
Project Goal: To protect and conserve lowland tapirs and the wildlife corridors of the Brazilian Atlantic forest.

Project Title: A program of wattled crane egg collection for the establishment of a viable captive population in South Africa
Principle Investigator: Lindy Rodwell, Endangered Wildlife Trust, South African Crane Working Group
Project Goal: To ensure the long-term survival of the critically endangered, genetically unique South African
sub-population of the wattled crane.

Project Title: Project Golden Frog/Proyecto Rana Dorada
Principle Investigators: Anthony Wisnieski and Vicky Poole, The Baltimore Zoo
Project Goal: To prevent the extinction of the endangered Panamanian golden frog (Atelopus zeteki)

Project Title: Conservation of an endangered frog species (Atelognathus patagonicus) in northern Patagonia, Argentina: Effects of water quality, UV-B radiation, fish predation, pathogens and their interaction
Principle Investigator: Joy Yoshioka, Oklahoma State University
(also a 2000 SDCBF recipient)
Project Goal: To determine and mitigate the causes for the decline toward extinction of this frog species, and to gain a better understanding of the factors that contribute to the declining amphibian phenomenon in general.

Jorge Botero, Cenicafe, Colombia
Ecology Of The Turquoise Dacnis (Dacnis Hartlaubi) A Rare Colombian Endemic In Coffee Regions.

Sam Cushman, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Forest Fragmentation and Neo-tropical Migrants in Western Massachusetts: Fragmentation Thresholds, Matrix Effects and Residential Sprawl.

Mitch Eaton, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
Sustainable Hunting Wildlife in Central African Forests.

Nathaniel Hawley, Sea Grant Institute, University of Wisconson, Green Bay, WI
Patterns of Diversity and Habitat Associations in A Vulnerable Island Butterfly Fauna.

Carolina Zagal Roberts, CODEFF (Comité Nacional Pro Defensa de la Fauna y Flora), Chile
Discovering the Diversity of Marine Invertebrates in Valdivia

Alexander Sanchez-Ruiz, Museo de Historia Natural Tomas Romay, Cuba
Illustrated Publication of Cuba Spider's Families to Be Distributed In the Community

Kimberly Whitman, Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, PA Environmental Educator for Rodrigues, Mauritius

Joy Yoshioka, University of Oklahoma, Stillwater, OK
A Conservation Study on Atelognathus Patgonicus, An Endangered Frog of Patagonia, Argentina