The Mccleery labDepartment of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation The University of Florida |
Welcome to the Mccleery lab
Our goals are to foster healthy populations and communities of wild animals and to advance the relationship between humans and the environment. Through research and teaching we provide regional and international leadership in mammalian conservation, global change ecology, and endangered species management.
Research PhilosophyThe precipitous decline of the planet’s vertebrate diversity has created immense challenges for human well-being and the maintenance of ecological functionality on our rapidly changing planet. Our research program focuses on understanding the influence of large-scale anthropogenic changes to the environment (e.g., urbanization, intensive agriculture, shrub encroachment, defaunation, sea-level rise, invasive species) on wildlife populations and communities. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, we work to understand how anthropogenic drivers alter communities and ecological processes that are important to humans. We also work to understand how to recover endangered species and manage wildlife into human-dominated landscapes, such as agricultural and urban settings.
|
Teaching PhilosophyToday’s students are increasingly separated from nature, with minimal understanding, experience, skills, and confidence working in natural settings. Without an ability to understand and appreciate the natural processes and recourses needed to maintain biodiversity, feed a growing population, and enhance human well-being, our students will be unprepared to tackle their generation’s most pressing issues. Our students are awash in scientific information, but the challenge is to teach them to comprehend and synthesize this information, foster critical thinking skills, and apply that knowledge to novel situations. Finally, as the spread of information has accelerated the process of globalization, we are increasingly connected to economic, social, and political activity outside of our borders. To thrive in this new reality, our students must be able to work effectively in a cross-cultural and global environment. To address these challenges, we believe it is critical to engage students in natural setting, foster active learning and incorporate field activities into our classes. To promote problem solving and engagement, we often use a flipped classroom approach and emphasize experiential learning techniques. To enhance students’ cultural intelligence, we created and continue to lead a study abroad classes to Eswatini and South Africa. Additionally, we have run intensive undergraduate research programs (NSF funded) that pair students with African researchers. Today more than ever we also believe that successful instruction necessitates dynamic teachers. As teachers, we continually adapt and change to our students’ needs, technological advances, job opportunities, and political and social realities. |
Lab News
August 2022
We welcome Monica and Storm to the McCleery Lab!
Maggie led a 6-week long field-intensive undergraduate research experience for students from the University of Florida, University of Eswatini, and University of the Witwatersrand.
Congratulations to Paul on being hired as Assistant Professor at UNC Chapel Hill!
Bob recently published a long-awaited reference textbook on working with small mammals. Click here to buy a copy.
January 2022
Congratulations to Marina for successfully defending and submitting her MS thesis!
Bob, Marina, Paul, and Rebecca participated on a webinar to discuss ongoing problems related to invasive pythons in South Florida.
Former lab member Katie was named a finalist for the Presidential Management Fellowship! Check out the list of finalists here.
Former lab member Karen has released a podcast! Check out The Creature Connection!
August 2021
Congratulations to Alex and Friederike Potash on the birth of their daughter, Eleanora Mae!!!
Congratulations to Jack for successfully defending and submitting his MS thesis!
July 2021
Lab alum Wes Boone started a postdoc at NC State University under the advisement of Dr. Krishna Pacifici. Congrats Wes!
June 2021
Alex successfully passed his qualifying exams, and is officially a PhD Candidate!
May 2021
Rebecca gave an invited presentation to an FWC gopher tortoise working group.
Rebecca's MS research was highlighted in the May/June issue of The Wildlife Professional.
The Journal of Wildlife Management used 2 of Rebecca's photos for the cover of their most recent issue.
February 2021
Marina successfully defended her MS proposal!
We welcome Monica and Storm to the McCleery Lab!
Maggie led a 6-week long field-intensive undergraduate research experience for students from the University of Florida, University of Eswatini, and University of the Witwatersrand.
Congratulations to Paul on being hired as Assistant Professor at UNC Chapel Hill!
Bob recently published a long-awaited reference textbook on working with small mammals. Click here to buy a copy.
January 2022
Congratulations to Marina for successfully defending and submitting her MS thesis!
Bob, Marina, Paul, and Rebecca participated on a webinar to discuss ongoing problems related to invasive pythons in South Florida.
Former lab member Katie was named a finalist for the Presidential Management Fellowship! Check out the list of finalists here.
Former lab member Karen has released a podcast! Check out The Creature Connection!
August 2021
Congratulations to Alex and Friederike Potash on the birth of their daughter, Eleanora Mae!!!
Congratulations to Jack for successfully defending and submitting his MS thesis!
July 2021
Lab alum Wes Boone started a postdoc at NC State University under the advisement of Dr. Krishna Pacifici. Congrats Wes!
June 2021
Alex successfully passed his qualifying exams, and is officially a PhD Candidate!
May 2021
Rebecca gave an invited presentation to an FWC gopher tortoise working group.
Rebecca's MS research was highlighted in the May/June issue of The Wildlife Professional.
The Journal of Wildlife Management used 2 of Rebecca's photos for the cover of their most recent issue.
February 2021
Marina successfully defended her MS proposal!
Recent Publications
For access to all McCleery Lab publications, click here
Bold names indicate current and former McCleery lab members
For access to all McCleery Lab publications, click here
Bold names indicate current and former McCleery lab members
Parsons, E. I., R. A. Gitzen, J. T. Pynne, L. M. Conner, S. B. Castleberry, S. I. Duncan, J. D. Austin, and R. A. McCleery. 2022. Determining habitat requirements for the southeastern pocket gopher (Geomys pinetis) at multiple scales. Journal of Mammalogy 103:672–679. | PDF
Nhleko, Z. N., R. Ahrens, S. M. Ferreira, and R. A. McCleery. 2022. Poaching is directly and indirectly driving the decline of South Africa’s large population of white rhinos. Animal Conservation 25:151–163. | PDF
McCleery, R. A., Z. N. Nhleko, R. M. Arhens, and S. M. Ferreira. 2022. The white rhino can again be a conservation success. Animal Conservation 25:168–169. | PDF
Darracq, A. K., S. J. Hromada, L. Neighbors, L. L. Smith, L. M. Conner, and R. A. McCleery. 2022. Reducing Populations of an Invasive Ant Influences Survival, Growth, and Diet of Southern Toads (Anaxyrus terrestris). Journal of Herpetology 56:84–91. | PDF
Boone, W. W., and R. A. McCleery. 2022. Climate change likely to increase co-occurrence of island endemic and invasive wildlife. Climate Change Ecology 4:100061. | PDF
Bailey, K. M., K. R. Hooker, A. A. Loggins, A. D. Potash, D. W. Hardeman, and R. A. McCleery. 2022. It pays to get paid: Factors influencing wildlife‐related employment success. Wildlife Society Bulletin 46:e1252. | PDF
Accolades & Awards
Alex was selected by WEC faculty to receive the Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award.
Rebecca received a $1000 WEC Jennings Scholarship.
Fezile won the best student presentation award at the Savanna Science Networking Meeting.
Alex was awarded $1000 from the Florida Wildlife Federation Scholarship and received a $1140 grant from the University of Florida Open Access Publishing Fund to pay for open access fees for a recent publication.
Cat was awarded $1000 from the African Safari Club of Florida Scholarship
Marina received a $1000 WEC Jennings Scholarship.
Cat received a $1000 UF Doris Lowe and Earl and Verna Lowe Scholarship and a $2000 UF Courtney A. Tye Memorial Graduate Student Scholarship.
Rebecca received a $1000 WEC Jennings Scholarship.
Fezile won the best student presentation award at the Savanna Science Networking Meeting.
Alex was awarded $1000 from the Florida Wildlife Federation Scholarship and received a $1140 grant from the University of Florida Open Access Publishing Fund to pay for open access fees for a recent publication.
Cat was awarded $1000 from the African Safari Club of Florida Scholarship
Marina received a $1000 WEC Jennings Scholarship.
Cat received a $1000 UF Doris Lowe and Earl and Verna Lowe Scholarship and a $2000 UF Courtney A. Tye Memorial Graduate Student Scholarship.
Southeastern Fox SquirrelsWe study a variety of aspects of southeastern fox squirrel ecology, including fox squirrel movement (in conjunction with NEON sites), behavior, genetics, and conservation initiatives. You can find out more about how we use NEON sites to transform wildlife research by clicking here.
|
South African LandscapesWe have ongoing long-term research in South Africa and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) focusing on everything from plant communities to rodent monitoring to megaherbivore impacts on ecosystems.
|
Invasive pythonsWe research the effects of invasive Burmese pythons on mammal communities in the Florida Everglades ecosystem. We partner with various state and federal agencies, along with private landowners to determine how pythons are impacting native animal communities and try to identify novel ways to remove invasive pythons from the ecosystem.
|
For more information about our research, check out our publications, follow us on Twitter and YouTube, or contact us directly.
Please contact graduate students directly for inquiries about specific research or opportunities to help out on a project
Click here to see McCleery Lab alumni
Click here to see McCleery Lab alumni
Alex Potash
|
Cat frock
|
maggie jones
|
Monica Lasky
|
|
|
|
Maggie is from Elkins, WV and started her PhD with the McCleery lab in 2018. She completed her MS in Wildlife Ecology at Iowa State University, where she studied the effects of immunocontraception on feral horse behavior and physiology. Her PhD research centers around plant-herbivore interactions in African savannas, specifically focusing on the effects of different herbivores on savanna tree demography.
Email: jones.m@ufl.edu |
Monica is from Raleigh, NC and joined the McCleery Lab in 2022. She completed her BS in Zoology at NC State University and MS in Ecology at Colorado State University. Monica is broadly interested in wildlife ecology, and identifying mechanisms driving wildlife behavior and species interactions.
Website Email: Lasky.monica@ufl.edu |
Rebecca mckee
|
Storm miller
|
|
|
|
Rebecca joined the McCleery Lab in the fall of 2020. Originally from the mountains of North Carolina, Rebecca completed her B.S in environmental studies at Davidson College and her M.S. in wildlife ecology and management at the University of Georgia in 2019. She is broadly interested in wildlife ecology and animal behavior. Her PhD research will focus on the interactions of mammals and invasive pythons in the Everglades.
Website Google Scholar ResearchGate Email: rmckee@ufl.edu |
Storm did his undergrad at Michigan State University obtaining a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife with a concentration in conservation biology. There, he studied a variety of subjects ranging from black bears population dynamics to Lyme disease ecology to human hunting modes. His masters research focuses on improving detection and capture methods as well as the use scent lures to attract the invasive Burmese Python in the Everglades.
Email: storm.miller@ufl.edu |
ramccleery@ufl.edu | (352) 846-0566
|
Feel free to contact Dr. McCleery using the form below.
|
|
|
For website issues, please contact Alex Potash
|
314 newins-ziegler hall
|
"Our ability to perceive quality in nature begins, as in art, with the pretty. It expands through successive stages of the beautiful to values as yet uncaptured by language."
-Aldo Leopold
