November 3, 2023
Carnivore complexities within dynamic socio-ecological interfaces
Dr. Nyeema Harris
Yale School of the Environment
*Seminar recording not available at the request of the presenter.
Abstract
Carnivores interact with humans in a myriad of ways, some positive, some negative, and possibly some neutral. These interactions have direct impacts on society and also have profound effects on ecosystem function and species persistence. Collaborative research led by the Applied Wildlife Ecology (AWE) Lab in the School of the Environment at Yale University will investigate carnivore-human interactions across systems and scale. Specifically, this seminar will highlight urban environments in the US, agricultural landscapes in Chile, protected areas in West Africa, and global species distributions. The central theme of these coupled ecosystems is the dominant anthropogenic pressure shaping carnivore behavior and ecology where unraveling the mechanisms of conflict to promote coexistence are an immediate need.
Biosketch
Dr. Nyeema Harris received her Ph.D. from North Carolina State University in 2011. She is currently the Knobloch Family Associate Professor of Wildlife and Land Conservation at Yale University, where she leads the Applied Wildlife Ecology (AWE) Lab. Dr. Harris studies the behavior and ecology of carnivore movement, with emphasis on how interactions between carnivores and other members of their ecological communities shape conservation concerns and decisions. To address these questions, Dr. Harris conducts field work in Africa, India and the US. Her study systems include natural as well as urban ecosystems and human-wildlife conflict is central to much of her work. Dr. Harris is also a nationally and internationally recognized advocate for the inclusion of diverse voices in science, a theme that is evident not only in her research, but also in her teaching, mentoring, and work with local communities.