David S. Wilcove

David S. Wilcove

David Wilcove’s research focuses on the conservation of biodiversity and in particular the development of innovative approaches to protect endangered species, migratory species, and wilderness.

 

Over the past decade, Wilcove has undertaken a number of studies pertaining to imperiled wildlife and the US Endangered Species Act, examining such factors as the causes of species endangerment, the geographical distribution of imperiled species, and the costs of habitat restoration and conservation. More recent projects include an assessment of ongoing efforts to preserve the endemic plants and animals of the Florida scrub ecosystem, with the goal of developing better tools for identifying key areas and species to protect (in collaboration with Conservation International and the Archbold Biological Station) and studies of insect migration in collaboration with colleagues at Princeton University.

 

He has undertaken various research and policy projects related to the conservation of freshwater biodiversity in the United States, the protection of the northern spotted owl and its old-growth forest habitat in the Pacific Northwest, and the management of the national forests surrounding Yellowstone National Park. Prior to joining the Princeton faculty in 2001, Wilcove served as senior ecologist with Environmental Defense (1991–2001) and The Wilderness Society (1986–1991).

 

In addition to No Way Home, David S. Wilcove is the author of The Condor’s Shadow: The Loss and Recovery of Wildlife in America (Freeman, 1999). He is the author of over 90 scientific publications, book chapters, and popular articles dealing with the conservation of biological diversity, endangered species, ornithology, island biogeography, and conservation policy.

 

He holds a B.S. in biology from Yale University and a Ph.D. and M.A. in biology from Princeton University, where he is currently Professor of Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Public Affairs.

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Out of sight, out of time?

Here's a quiz for the birdwatchers out there: Which country has experienced the greatest loss of bird species over the past quarter century? (And by "greatest loss," I mean global extinctions). The answer is not Brazil, Indonesia, Colombia, or some other developing country—it's the United States. By my calculation, nine species of birds have vanished from the US since 1980 (see Wilcove, D.S. 2005. "Rediscovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker." Science 308: 1422-1423), by far the largest number of any nation during this time period.
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Can Pres. Obama restore the integrity of federal science?

A reporter recently called me, asking what changes in environmental policy I hoped to see in an Obama Administration. I immediately thought of the specific issues that have troubled me over the past eight years: unregulated oil and gas exploration in the West, too few species protected under the Endangered Species Act, too many snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park, the reckless quest to drill, baby, drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, etc., etc. And then it struck me that there was something far more fundamental that President Obama needs to do.
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Bison slaughter in Montana

According to the New York Times, Jeffrey Scott Hawn, a wealthy software developer, recently pleaded guilty to one count of criminal mischief and one count of cruelty to animals for illegally killing 32 bison on his ranch in Colorado last winter. The bison apparently wandered onto Mr. Hawn's property from an adjacent ranch, probably because a heavy snowfall caused them to go searching for forage. For his misdeed, Mr. Hawn will pay $157,000 in fines and restitution.
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Northern Invaders

Lately I've been paying more attention to the birds visiting my backyard feeder, and I'm sure I'm not the only one doing so. As the end of fall approaches, lots of birdwatchers in the northeastern United States begin to wonder whether the "winter finches" will appear.
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New Lessons from Old Europe

Scientists tend to distrust conclusions that are not based on empirical data and adequate sample sizes. So take what I'm about to say with a large grain of salt, since it is neither empirical nor based on sufficient data.