Welcome to my new Blog. Here I will post news and updates about my work and photography. I will also post links to articles, stories, and photos that I've published on other websites. I hope you enjoy.
Systematics of the Endangered Toad Genus Andinophryne
After a couple years of work with the enigmatic and threatened toad genus Andinophryne from the forests of Manduriacu we have completed the first phylogenetic analysis of the genus. Our results show that, despite our love for the interesting name, Andinophryne is actually part of the genus Rhaebo. The results from our analysis can be viewed in our recent ZooTaxa publication here: Systematics of the endangered toad genus Andinophryne (Anura: Bufonidae):phylogenetic position and synonymy under the genus Rhaebo.
Reserva Jama-Coaque gets a drone!
Our efforts to map the Jama-Coaque Reserve in high resolution photos just got a lot better! Thanks to friend Shawn McCracken we've been able to jumpstart a UAV-based mapping project in the reserve. Preliminary results are extremely exciting and we can't wait for the months ahead when we really dive into our mapping work! The applications of this technology put Third Millennium Alliance/ Grupo Ecologico Jama-Coaque at the forefront of the conservation world in Ecuador! Check out this great blog post by Shawn McCracken to learn more about our drone-based mapping: http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/drones-for-ecology-and-conservation-over-ecuador-s-pacific
Rediscovery of Lost toad
*Recent News: 21 April 2014
Today another article I wrote about the rediscovery of Andinophryne olallai was published in the online magazine Frog Log. The article highlights the importance of rediscovering 'Lost" frogs by sharing our story of Andinophryne olallai in Ecuador. You can find the article here (story starts on page 40):
Lost Frogs Offer Conservation Hope: A Story of Rediscovery in Ecuador
Third Millennium Alliance
*Recent News: 15 March 2014
After two wonderful years of working with The Biodiversity Group and the PEEK program I have been forced to seek other work due to funding issues - Welcome to life in the non-profit world! Thankfully fellow conservation organization Third Millennium Alliance had an opening for me on their team just at the right time. I now work as Director of Research for Third Millennium Alliance here in Ecuador and look forward to many great adventures to come in their Jama Coaque Reserve on the central coast of Ecuador. You can find out more about Third Millennium Alliance at their website here:
Rediscovery of Andinophryne
*Recent News: 15 February 2014
The secret of rediscovering the long lost and thought extinct Tandayapa Andean Toad (Andinophryne olallai) is finally out! Our paper was published this month in the open access journal Amphibian & Reptile Conservation. You can find the article here: