The Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Lab at the University of Dayton is a research group formed by Dr. Mariela Gantchoff , graduate and undergraduate students. Typical projects involve working to understand wildlife use of natural and human-modified landscapes, range expansion of recolonizing species, how human activities influence species behavior, occurrence, and activity, and mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts.

There is no "one size fits all" approach to conservation and management of natural resources around the world. Social, economic, and cultural values play a huge role in how people interact with nature. Yet people and nature are not separate entities that must be apart to coexist.  We believe it is crucial to forge local collaborations and communicate our scientific findings and their importance within and beyond the scientific community in order to have meaningful connections to society and promote human-wildlife coexistence. 

Moreover, our lab strives to create an place that promotes the well-being and success of our lab members. We believe diversity in STEM makes science stronger. We are supportive of all aspiring scientists including underrepresented groups, & value the perspectives of all backgrounds in regards to science & conservation.