The San Diego Zoo's Conservation and Research for Endangered Species: Divisions & Staff

Free-flying California condor in Baja A California condor flies free in Baja California, Mexico.

Applied Animal Ecology

The Applied Animal Ecology Division of CRES focuses on large-scale conservation programs that assist in the recovery of endangered and threatened populations. The Division often targets flagship species that can also serve as ambassadors for endangered ecosystems. Towards this end, its conservation programs include significant educational outreach, recognize and accommodate the culture and economic needs of local communities, and involve local, national, and international collaborations. Several research strategies are used, but most involve the application of scientifically acquired behavioral and ecological knowledge to solve conservation problems.

Ongoing conservation programs include the Giant Panda Conservation program, reintroduction of the California condor to Baja California, Mexico, the Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program, the San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Program, conservation breeding programs for white rhinoceros, translocation programs for black rhinoceros, reproduction in Sri Lankan elephants, headstarting programs for critically endangered Caribbean rock iguanas, translocation strategies for the Pacific pocket mouse, and biodiversity monitoring and habitat management in Southern California.

Staff

  • Ron Swaisgood, Ph.D., Associate Director of CRES/Applied Animal Ecology
  • Michael Wallace, Ph.D., Conservation Program Manager
  • Lisa Nordstrom, Ph.D., Scientist
  • Tandora Grant, Research Laboratory Coordinator
  • Jeffrey Lemm, Research Animal Coordinator
  • Jean-Pierre Montagne, Senior Research Laboratory Technician
  • Russell Van Horn, Ph.D., Senior Researcher
  • Frank Santana, Research Assistant
  • Matthew Thomas, Research Assistant
  • Dale Airton, Field Assistant
  • Shannon Chapman, Field Assistant
  • Andrea Johnson, Volunteer
  • Jeannine Carlin, Volunteer
  • Andrea Lehotsky, Volunteer
  • Donald Schultz, Volunteer
  • Caleb Smith, Volunteer
  • Kiersten Kamps, Volunteer
  • Rick Strum, Volunteer

Staff/Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program

  • Alan Lieberman, Conservation Program Manager
  • Tracey Goltz, Conservation Coordinator
  • Robby Kohley, Conservation Coordinator
  • Amy Poopatanapong, Conservation Coordinator
  • Cynthia Kuehler, Senior Research Laboratory Technician
  • Sara Bebus, Research Associate
  • Sharon Belcher, Research Associate
  • Rebecca Espinoza, Research Associate
  • Karen Hotopp, Research Associate
  • Joshua Kramer, Research Associate
  • Amy Lockyer, Research Associate
  • Adam Lockyer, Research Associate
  • Lisa Komarczyk, Research Associate
  • Lindsey Nicolas, Research Associate
  • Angela Sewell, Research Associate
  • Charlotte Forbes Perry, Office Assistant
  • Megan Dalton, Student Intern


Read blogs from Hawaii Endangered Bird Conservation Program staff.

Staff/San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike Program

  • Susan Farabaugh, Ph.D., Conservation Program Manager
  • Susan Hammerly, Research Coordinator
  • Kathleen De Falco, Research Associate
  • Jeremy Hodges, Research Associate
  • Kim Roth, Research Associate
  • David Hayes, Research Associate
  • Christopher Leon, Research Associate
  • Ania Bukowinski, Research Assistant

Staff/Giant Panda Conservation Unit

  • Ron Swaisgood, Ph.D., Co-head
  • Carmi Penny, Curator of Mammals, Co-head
  • Zhang Zejun, Ph.D., Field Project Manager
  • Megan Owen, M.A., Conservation Program Manager
  • Suzanne Hall, Senior Research Technician
  • Pamela Crowe, Research Technician
  • Wang Guan, M.Sc. student, CAS
  • Nie Yongang, Ph.D. student, CAS
  • Wang Yu Zhang, M.Sc. student, Nanchong Normal University
  • Zhang An Xing, Field Assistant
  • Wang Xiaoling, Field Assistant
  • He Qing Gu, Field Assistant
  • He Yi Wen, Seasonal Field Assistant
  • Feng Min Gang, Seasonal Field Assistant
  • Pu Chuan Ju, Seasonal Field Assistant
  • Pu Yang Xiang, Seasonal Field Assistant
  • Li Cheng Dong, Seasonal Field Assistant
  • Tang Deng Yin, Seasonal Field Assistant
  • Yan Yonge, Consultant

Read blogs from Giant Panda Conservation Unit staff.

Staff/Sri Lankan Elephant Program

  • Roshan Bandara, Research Assistant
  • Maya Sri Anuradha, Research Assistant
  • Sashika Jayasekara, Research Assistant
  • Chandrika Priyadharshane, M.Sc. Student

Recent Publications

  • Van Horn, R., J. Altman, and S. Alberts (2008). Can't get there from here: inferring kinship from pairwise genetic relatedness. Animal Behavior 75, 1173-1180. View in pdf...
  • Peters, G., M. Owen and L. Rogers (2007). Humming in bears: a peculiar sustained mammalian vocalization. Acta Theriologica 52(4): 379-389.
  • Linklater, W. and R. Swaisgood (2007). Behavioural modification in meta-population management of black rhino, southern Africa. Re-introduction News, 25:37-39.
  • Zhang, Z., R. Swaisgood, H. Wu, Z. Zhang, M. Li, Y. Yong, J. Hu, and F. Wei (In press).  Factors predicting den use by maternal giant pandas. Journal of Wildlife Management. 71: 2694 - 2698.
  • White, A., R. Swaisgood, and N. Czekala (2007). Ranging patterns in white rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum simum: implications for mating strategies. Animal Behaviour 74: 349-356.
  • White, A.. R. Swaisgood, and N. Czekala (2007). Differential investment in sons and daughters: do white rhinoceros mothers favor sons? Journal of Mammalogy 88: 632-638.
  • Stamps, J. and R. Swaisgood (2007). Someplace like home: experience, habitat selection and conservation biology. In: Swaisgood, R. (ed.) Special Issue: Animal Behaviour, Conservation and Enrichment. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 102: 392-409.
  • Swaisgood, R. (2007). Current status and future directions of applied behavioral research for animal welfare and conservation. In: Swaisgood, R. (ed.) Special Issue: Animal Behaviour, Conservation and Enrichment. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 102: 139-162.
  • Swaisgood, R., G. Zhang, X. Zhou, and H. Zhang (2006). The science of behavioral management: creating biologically relevant living environments in captivity. In: Giant pandas: biology, veterinary medicine and management (Ed. by Wildt, D., A. Zhang, H. Zhang, D. Janssen, and S. Ellis). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 274-298.
  • Swaisgood, R., M. Owen, N. Czekala, K. Hawk, R. Kinoshita, and J. Tang (2006). Evaluating stress and well being in giant pandas: a system for monitoring. In: Giant pandas: biology, veterinary medicine and management (Ed. by Wildt, D., A. Zhang, H. Zhang, D. Janssen, and S. Ellis). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 299-314.
  • Swaisgood, R. and D. Shepherdson (2006). Environmental enrichment as a strategy for mitigating stereotypies in zoo animals: a literature review and meta-analysis. In: Stereotypic animal behaviour: fundamentals and applications to welfare, 2nd edition (Ed. by Mason, G. and J. Rushen). Wallingford, U.K.: CAB International. pp. 255-284.
  • Grant, T. and A. Alberts (In press). Monitoring the effects of natural and anthropogenic habitat disturbance on the ecology and behavior of the San Diego coast horned lizard Phrynosoma coronatum blainvillei. In: Planning for Biodiversity: Bringing Research and Management Together. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona: USDA Forest Service and USGS Western Ecological Research Center.
  • Lemm, J. (2007). Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of the San Diego Region. University of California Press.
  • Swaisgood, R., D. Dickman, and A. White (2006). A captive population in crisis: testing hypotheses for reproductive failure in captive-born southern white rhinoceros females. Biological Conservation 129: 468-476.
  • Owen, M., N. Czekala, R. Swaisgood, K. Steinman and D. Lindburg (2005). Seasonal and diurnal dynamics of glucocorticoids and behavior in giant pandas: implications for monitoring well-being. Ursus, 16, 208-221.
  • Owen, M., R. Swaisgood, R. N. Czekala, and D. Lindburg (2005). Enclosure choice and well-being in giant pandas: is it all about control? Zoo Biology 24, 475-481.
  • Swaisgood, R. and D. Shepherdson (2005). Scientific approaches to enrichment and stereotypies in zoo animals: what's been done and where should we go next?. Zoo Biology, 24:499-518.
  • Swaisgood, R., A. White, X. Zhou, G. Zhang, and D. Lindburg (2005). How do giant pandas respond to varying properties of enrichments? A comparison of behavioral profiles among five enrichment items. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 119, 325-334.
  • Lemm, J., S. Steward, and T. Schmidt (2005).  Captive reproduction of the critically endangered Anegada iguana Cyclura pinguis at the San Diego Zoo.  International Zoo Yearbook 39: 141-152.
  • Lemm, J. M. and G. Bedford. 2005.  Varanus spenceri.  In: Varanoid Lizards of the World ( E. Pianka and D. King, eds.) Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Indiana.
  • Alberts, A., J. Lemm, T. Grant , and L. Jackintell (2004). Testing the utility of headstarting as a viable conservation strategy for West Indian rock iguanas. In Iguanas: Biology and Conservation (Alberts, A., R. Carter, W. Hayes, and E. Martins, eds.), pp. 210-219. Berkeley: University of California Press.
  • Durnin, M., R. Swaisgood, N. Czekala, and H. Zhang (2004). Effects of radiocollars on giant panda stress-related behavior and hormones. Journal of Wildlife Management. 68, 987-992.
  • Swaisgood, R., D. Lindburg, A. White, H. Zhang, and X. Zhou (2004). Chemical communication in giant pandas: experimentation and application. In: Giant pandas: biology and conservation (Ed. by Lindburg, D. & Baragona, K.), pp. 106-120. Berkeley, California: University of California Press.
  • Zhang, G, R. Swaisgood, and H. Zhang (2004). Evaluation of behavioral factors influencing reproductive success and failure in captive giant pandas. Zoo Biology, 23, 15-31.
  • Lemm, J., M. Edwards, T. Grant, and A. Alberts (2004).  Comparison of growth and nutritional status of juvenile Komodo monitors Varanus komodoensis maintained on rodent or poultry-based diets.  Zoo Biology 23:239-252.
  • Fisher, H., R. Swaisgood, and H. Fitch-Snyder (2003). Odor familiarity and female preferences for males in a threatened primate, the pygmy loris, Nycticebus pygmaeus: applications for genetic management of small populations. Naturwissenschaften, 90, 509-512.
  • Swaisgood, R., X. Zhou, G. Zhang, D. Lindburg, and H. Zhang (2003). Application of behavioral knowledge to giant panda conservation. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 16, 65-84.
  • Lemm, J . and T. Grant. 2003.  A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of the U. S. Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  Zoological Society of San Diego special publication.
  • Swaisgood, R., D. Lindburg, and H. Zhang (2002). Discrimination of oestrous status in giant pandas via chemical cues in urine. Journal of Zoology, London, 257, 381-386.
  • White, A., R. Swaisgood, and H. Zhang (2002). The highs and lows of chemical communication in giant pandas Ailuropoda melanoleuca: effect of scent deposition height on signal discrimination. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 51, 519-529.
  • Swaisgood, R., A. White, X. Zhou, H. Zhang, G. Zhang, R. Wei, V. Hare, E. Tepper, and D. Lindburg (2001). A quantitative assessment of the efficacy of an environmental enrichment programme for giant pandas. Animal Behaviour, 61, 447-457.

  • Swaisgood, R., D. Lindburg, X. Zhou, and M. Owen (2000). The effects of sex, reproductive condition and context on discrimination of conspecific odours by giant pandas. Animal Behaviour, 60, 227-23.