Blogger Profile: James Sheppard
James Sheppard, Ph.D., is a wildlife biologist in the Applied Animal Ecology Division of the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research with a background in spatial ecology, landscape ecology, and animal behavior. James received his doctorate from James Cook University in Australia and has extensive experience researching the ecology of diverse taxa, including the habitat use and movement behaviors of California condors, giant pandas, golden eagles, dugongs, and desert tortoises. His primary research interests lie in the application of cutting-edge tracking, "bio-logging" technologies, GIS, and spatial modeling techniques to identify and characterize the behaviors of endangered wildlife with a view to enhancing conservation management strategies. James is currently the chair of the Spatial Ecology & Telemetry Working Group of The Wildlife Society.
Space, The Final Frontier for Conservation Research
Spatial ecology, the fastest-growing field of study in ecology, is a powerful approach to understanding how ecosystems function and the ways populations and communities of species interact with their environment. read more
“Carrion” Research to the Next Level
I have found myself amazed by condor curiosity and playfulness, as well as the complexity of their tight-knit society. read more
Wild Condor Chick Gets Own TV Show
Okay, great, so you have a neat video camera – but how do you install one in a condor nest high up in the mountains? With a lot of sweat, grunt-work, and no fear of heights! read more
Measuring Wind beneath Condor Wings
Last month, we conducted an expedition to install a series of meteorological stations on the remote and inaccessible eastern escarpment of the Sierra Mountains of Baja California, Mexico. read more
Condors: Quest for the Egg
April has been a very busy and exciting month for the San Diego Zoo’s California condor project. read more
