Shelby LeClare

Shelby LeClare, MS Candidate

biogirl92@ufl.edu

Research Interests

I am primarily interested in understanding how species interactions shape and stabilize ecosystem functions, and how these interactions shift and adapt through disturbance and changing environments at the community scale. Additionally, I am interested in utilizing network analysis to study ecological communities as well as increase my understanding of the quantitative and computational methodologies utilized in analyzing and interpreting observations to answer these ecological questions.

Currently, I am utilizing ecological network analysis to evaluate impacts of the invasive Burmese python on the native food-web community of Everglades National Park to try and get a better understanding of the potential impacts an invasive top carnivore can exert on the structure and function of native trophic communities.

Education

2018 BS Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida

About Me

My academic journey has been a winding road of coursework, gap years, and outdoor shenanigans. Born and raised in northern Florida I had my eyes on the University of Florida from the start, only to not get accepted into the freshman class of 2011. But you know what they say about perseverance. An AA degree, a gap year or two, and a backpacking trip later I was accepted into UF's Wildlife Ecology and Conservation program as a transfer student in 2016.

Graduate school was always the goal, so I hit the ground running. I capitalized on any opportunity to gain experience in ecological research. I took multiple ecological field courses, volunteered on various graduate projects, and had the opportunity to sit in on graduate lab meetings for two different labs as I cultivated my studies at UF. In the summer of 2018, I was accepted into UF’s IRES program and had the exciting opportunity to put all I had learned to the test as I conducted an independent research project in the beautiful savannas of Eswatini. And let me just say, it’s hard not to think you’ve peeked when you get a paid summer to explore African savannas.

As an undergrad, I developed a surprising interest in the quantitative side of ecology and had demonstrated an aptitude in R programming and network analysis. Upon graduation, I was on the traveling road again, gaining experience in different field jobs across the country for the next three years. Now, as I continue my education, I have returned to the University of Florida to foster my skills in quantitative ecology and am excited for this next chapter.

Outside of my professional pursuits, you can find me rock climbing, gardening, or wondering some winding trail.

Publications

LeClare, S.K., Mdluli, M., Wisely, S.M. and Stevens, N., 2020. Land-use diversity within an agricultural landscape promotes termite nutrient cycling services in a southern African savanna. Global Ecology and Conservation, 21, p.e00885.