Managing Multiple Species in a Changing Environment: A New Conservation Model

Conservation biologist Karen Root studies the ecological requirements of species and what makes them vulnerable to extinction. She examines where they live, identifies what they need for long-term viability, and develops recommendations for conservation and management. Recently, she has been exploring a new model for multispecies assessments as part of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service effort in South Florida. Her research combines fieldwork with the application of quantitative techniques such as GIS and risk assessment. Root is an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Bowling Green State University. She earned an MS in behavioral Ecology from the University of Michigan and a PhD in conservation biology and population ecology from the Florida Institute of Technology. Part of the 2008 Iowa Conservation Symposium.