Çağan H. Şekercioğlu, Ph.D.
Center for Conservation Biology · Stanford University · Stanford, CA 94305-5020 · USA
Tel: (1) 650 724 0510 · E-mail:
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· Web: www.sekercioglu.org
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Avian ecology, climate change, community-based conservation, conservation finance, ecosystem services, ecotourism, entomology, landscape ecology, ornithology, primatology, tropical ecology
EDUCATION
Stanford University, Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford, USA 1998-2003
Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, Ecology & Evolution program, August 2003
Harvard University, Cambridge, USA 1993-1997
B.A. in Biology, magna cum laude
B.A. in Anthropology, magna cum laude
Robert College, Istanbul, TURKEY 1986-1993
Graduated with highest honors
EMPLOYMENT & CONSULTING
Stanford University Department of Biological Sciences 2006-Present
Senior research scientist in ecology, conservation biology, and ornithology
Stanford University Center for Conservation Biology 2003-2006
Research fellow
Photographer and writer 1996-Present
Specializing in natural history, wildlife, landscape, and travel. Portfolio: http://www.naturalphotos.com/. Sample articles: www.stanford.edu/~cagan/popular%2520writings.html
Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology, Entomology Department 1994-1995
Curatorial assistant. Sorted Coleoptera. Inventoried Carabidae and Scarabideae families.
Aga Khan University, East Africa 2009-Present
Consultant in bird ecology, conservation, environmental education, and habitat restoration
Turkey Ministry of Environment and Forestry 2009-Present
Consultant in conservation, ecology, wildlife biology, and ecotourism
National Geographic Society 2007-Present
Scientific consultant for books, grants, and wildlife documentaries
TEMA and Doga Dernegi - Turkish environmental NGOs 2003-Present Ecotourism consultant
Environmental science consultant to the Turkish media 1996-Present
TEACHING & MENTORING
Thesis committees
Lochran Traill, Ph.D. thesis, Adelaide University, Australia 2008-2009
E. Coban, U. Durdu, S. Inak, Y. Sasmaz. M.Sc. theses, Kafkas University, Turkey 2007-2009
Griselda Quijano Manilla, B.S.thesis, Instituto Teconologico de Huejutla, Mexico 2007-2008
Melissa J. Fullwood undergraduate honors thesis, Stanford University, USA (advisor) 2004-2005
Kafkas University, Kars, Turkey 2005-2009
Instructor in field ornithology. Designed the course, obtained funding, gave lectures, arranged logistics, led field trips, established a banding station, and taught bird study techniques.
Ethiopia 2006-2009
Director of the Ethiopia Bird Education Project that teaches bird watching and bird conservation, and builds student capacity in ornithological research techniques, such as bird banding.
Stanford University, Department of Biological Sciences
-Co-instructor for “Ornithology”. Gave lectures, arranged class logistics, led field trips, designed the research project, wrote the exams, and graded papers. Spring 2002.
-Sole teaching assistant for “Conservation Biology”. Gave lectures, arranged class logistics, led field trips, wrote exam questions, and graded papers. Winter 2000.
-Teaching assistant for introductory biology course “Ecology, Evolution, and Genetics”. Led discussion sections, conducted review sessions, designed, and graded examinations. Fall 1998.
Robert College, Istanbul, Turkey 1992, 1993
Summer school science teacher and athletics instructor for grades 1-9
GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Born Free Foundation grant for mammal conservation 2009
Whitley Fund for Nature grant wetland conservation 2008-2010
Christensen Fund Conservation Science Fellowship 2006-2010
Christensen Fund grants for bio-cultural conservation and education (5 grants) 2004-2011
National Geographic Society research and exploration grant 2004, 2008
Conservation Leadership Programme conservation grant (advisor) 2008
UNDP GEF Small Grants for the Kars-Igdir Biodiversity Project (2 grants) 2007
Raffles Museum Fellowship of National University of Singapore 2005
Wildlife Conservation Society research fellowship 2004
Center for Latin American Studies research grant 2002
Stanford University Bing research grant 1999, 2000
Yapi Kredi Bank of Turkey writing grant 1998
Dr. Walter Loewenstern doctoral fellowship 1998-2003
Sigma Xi grants-in-aid of research 1996, 1999
The Explorers Club youth activities grant 1996
Harvard University undergraduate research grant 1996
Goelet Fund research award 1996
Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory AMAX student scholarship 1995
Harvard College Honorary Scholarship and Dean's List 1994-1997
AWARDS AND HONORS
Elected International Fellow of the Explorers Club 2009
Invited to appear in Who’s Who in America 2009
“Ambassador” of the Whitley Fund for Nature 2009
University of Kent Honorary Researcher 2009
Official commendation by the President of Turkey, Abdullah Gul 2008
Commendatory plaque from the governor for service to Kars, Turkey 2008
Whitley Gold Award 2008
Whitley Award donated by William Brake Charitable Trust 2008
Promoted to full member of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society 2007
Japanese government travel award, 2nd Biology of Extinction Conference 2006
BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Contest, semi-finalist (six photos) 2006, 2009
Visiting scholar, National University of Singapore 2005
Junior Chamber of Turkey award for environmental and moral leadership 2003
Elected one of the top 100 academics of Turkey by Aktuel magazine 2001
Elected to The Explorers Club 1999
Elected as student member to Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society 1997
Summa cum laude for Harvard University honors thesis 1997
Turkish government scientific achievement award 1993
Silver medal in the fourth International Biology Olympics, Utrecht 1993
PEER REVIEW
Editorial board
Avian Conservation and Ecology
Biotropica
Endangered Species Research
Hacettepe Journal of Biology and Chemistry
Open Journal of Ornithology
Tropical Conservation Science
Harvard Journal of Undergraduate Sciences Anthropology and Biology editor 1995-1997
Referee
1-Acta Oecologica
2-Agricultural Ecosystems & Environment
3-Amphibia-Reptilia
4-Animal Conservation
5-Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
6-Austral Ecology
7-Avian Conservation and Ecology
8-Biodiversity Conservation
9-Biological Conservation
10- Biotropica
11-Climatic Change
12-Condor
13-Conservation Biology
14-Conservation Letters
15-Current Biology
16-Diversity and Distributions
17-Ecology
18-Ecography
19-Ecology Letters
20-Ecosystems
21-Endangered Species Research
22-Environmental Conservation
23-Forest Ecology and Management
24-Hacettepe Journal Biology
25-Ibis
26-Journal Nature Conservation
27-International Journal Environment and Pollution
28-Journal Animal Ecology
29-Journal of Applied Ecology
30-Journal of Biogeography
31-Journal of Community Ecology
32-Journal for Nature Conservation
33-Journal of Sustainable Tourism
34-Journal of Tropical Ecology
35-Landscape and Urban Planning
36-Open Journal Ornithology
37-Ornitologia Colombiana
38-Ornitologia Neotropical
39-Oryx
40-Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (PNAS)
41-Quarterly Review of Biology
42-Proceedings of the Royal Society Biological Sciences (B)
43-Raffles Bulletin of Zoology
44-Restoration Ecology
45-Science
46-Studies in Avian Biology
47-The Auk
48-Tropical Conservation Science
Scientific book reviewer
1-CABI Publishing
2-Cornell University Press
3-CRC Press
4-Institute for Ecosystem Studies
5-Oxford University Press
6-University of Chicago Press
Scientific grant reviewer
1-Conservation Leadership Program
2-Ingiltere Rural and Land Use Programme
3-Lincoln Park Society Grants
4-National Geographic Grants
5-USA National Science Foundation
6-Rolex Awards
7-Yeni Zelanda Marsden Research Fund
8-ΣΔΕ Graduate Women in Science Fellowships
SERVICE
Founder and president of the NGO KuzeyDoga Society (www.kuzeydoga.org) 2007-Present
Founder and president of environmental NGO Nature Turkiye Foundation 2009-Present
Co-founder and vice-president of the NGO Yer Gok Anadolu 2006-2009
Co-founder and president of the NGO Anatolia Foundation 2006-2009
Society for Conservation Biology European Section, Board of Directors 2004-2007
Designed and led the first Turkish birdwatching tour (turkishbirding.com) 2003-2005
Coordinator of locally-based and non-profit wildlife tourism in Turkey 2003-Present
Stanford University/City of Palo Alto Mountain Lion Task Force 2004-2005
Stanford University Ecology & Evolution Graduate Applications Committee 2001-2002
Stanford University Ecology & Evolution Interviews & Orientation Committee 1999-2000
Yelkovan-Ornithological Journal of Turkey founder and associate editor 1998-Present
Anthropology and Biology editor, Harvard Journal of Undergraduate Sciences 1995-1997 Founder and president, Harvard Nature Photography Society 1995-1997
President, Harvard Turkish Students Association 1994-1996
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS
Şekercioğlu, Ç.H. 2010. Ecosystem functioning and services. Conservation Biology for All, eds. N.S. Sodhi and P.R. Ehrlich. Oxford University Press. In press.
Kissling, W.D., Sekercioglu, C.H., Jetz, W. 2010. Species richness of bird dietary guilds across latitudes, environments, and regions. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
Primack, R.B., Miller-Rushing, A.J., Şekercioğlu, Ç.H. 2010. Conservation consequences of climate change for birds. Effects of Climate Change on Birds, eds. A. Møller, W. Fielder, and P. Berthold. Oxford University Press. In press.
Posa, M.R.C., Sodhi, N.S., Sekercioglu, C.H., McLaughlin, J.P. 2010. Correlates of extinction risk in the Philippine avifauna. Animal Conservation: In press.
Mendenhall, C. D.,Sekercioglu, C. H., Oviedo-Brenes, F. 2010. Using interpubic distance for sexing manakin species in the field. Journal of Field Ornithology. In press.
Sekercioglu, C.H. 2009. Tropical conservation: riparian corridors connect fragmented forest populations. Current Biology: R210-R213
Jetz, W., Sekercioglu, C.H., Boehning-Gaese, K. 2008. Worldwide variation in avian clutch size across species and space. Public Library of Science (PLOS) Biology 6: e303
Sekercioglu, C.H. 2008. Quantifying co-author contributions. Science 322: 371.
Tscharntke, T., Sekercioglu, C.H., Dietsch, T.V., Tylianakis, J., Sodhi, N.S. 2008. The role of landscape in determining levels of diversity in different taxa. Ecology 89: 944-951.
Sekercioglu C.H. 2008. People skills for the conservation professional. Ecology 89: 882-883.
Sodhi, N.S., Bickford, D., Diesmos, A.C., Lee, T.M., Koh, L.P., Brook, B.W., Sekercioglu, C.H., Bradshaw, C.J.A. 2008. Measuring the meltdown: drivers of global amphibian extinction and decline. Public Library of Science One 3: 1636-1643.
Sekercioglu, C.H, Schneider, S.H, Fay, J.P., Loarie, S. 2008. Climate change, elevational range shifts, and bird extinctions. Conservation Biology 22: 140-150.
Jetz, W., Sekercioglu, C.H., Watson, J. 2008. Ecological causes and conservation implications of range overestimation. Conservation Biology 22: 110-119
Sodhi, N.S., Koh, L.P., Peh, K.S.-H., Tan, H.T.W., Chazdon, R.L., Corlett, R.T., Lee, T.M., Colwell, R.K., Brook, B.W., Sekercioglu, C.H., Bradshaw, C.J.A. 2008. Determinants of extinction proneness in tropical vascular plants. Diversity & Distributions 14: 1-10.
Sekercioglu, C.H., Sodhi, N.S. 2007. Conservation biology: Predicting birds’ responses to forest fragmentation. Current Biology 17: R838-R840.
Sekercioglu, C.H., Loarie, S., Oviedo-Brenes, F., Daily, G.C., Ehrlich, P.R. 2007. Persistence of forest birds in tropical countryside. Conservation Biology 21. 482-494. Essential Science Indicators “Hot Paper”: http://sciencewatch.com/about/met/thres-hotpprs/
Svensson, L. M. E., Ruegg, K. C., Sekercioglu, C.H., Sehgal, R. N. M. 2007. Widespread and structured distribution of blood parasite haplotypes across a migratory divide of the Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus). Journal of Parasitology 93: 1488-1495.
Sekercioglu, C.H. 2007. Conservation ecology: Area trumps mobility in fragment bird extinctions. Current Biology 17: R283-R286.
Sekercioglu, C.H. 2006. Ecological significance of bird populations. Invited review and foreword to the Handbook of the Birds of the World, volume 11: 15-51.
Peh, K.S.-H., Sodhi, N.S., de Jong, J., Sekercioglu, C.H., Yap, C.A.M., Lim, S.L.-H. 2006. Conservation value of degraded habitats for forest birds in southern Peninsular Malaysia. Diversity & Distributions 12: 572-581.
Kati, V., Sekercioglu, C.H. 2006. Linking bird community structure to conservation in a Greek reserve. Diversity & Distributions 12: 620-629.
Sekercioglu, C.H. 2006. Increasing awareness of avian ecological function. Invited review. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 21: 464-471.
Pimm, S., Raven, P., Peterson, A., Sekercioglu, C.H., Ehrlich, P.R. 2006. Human impacts on the rates of recent, present, and future bird extinctions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) 103: 10941-10946
Sekercioglu, C.H., Riley, A. 2005. A brief survey of the birds in Kumbira Forest, Gabela, Angola. Ostrich 76: 111-117.
Sekercioglu, C.H., Daily, G.C., Ehrlich, P.R. 2004. Ecosystem consequences of bird declines.
PNAS 101: 18042-18047.
Sekercioglu, C.H. 2004. Prion diseases and a penchant for brains. Science 305: 342-343.
Kandul, N.P., Coleman, J.W.S., Lukhtanov, V., Dantchenko, A., Sekercioglu, C.H., Haig, D.,
Pierce, N.E. 2004. Karyotype diversification and species radiation within the genus Agrodiaetus (Lepidoptera), a molecular phylogenetic approach. Systematic Biology 53: 278-298.
Sekercioglu, C.H. 2003. Causes and consequences of bird extinctions. Ph.D. thesis. Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2003. Review of Field Guide to the Wildlife of Costa Rica by Carrol L. Henderson. Quarterly Review of Biology 78: 106.
Sekercioglu, C.H., Ehrlich, P.R., Daily, G.C., Aygen, D., Goehring, D., Figeroa-Sandí, R. 2002. Disappearance of insectivorous birds from tropical forest fragments. PNAS 99: 263-267.
Sekercioglu, C.H. 2002. Impacts of birdwatching on human and avian communities. Environmental Conservation 29: 282-289.
Sekercioglu, C.H. 2002. Effects of forestry practices on the vegetation structure and the bird
community of Kibale Forest, Uganda. Biological Conservation 107: 229-240.
Sekercioglu, C.H. 2002. Sensitivity of insectivorous birds to tropical forest fragmentation. Invited contribution to Directions in Science 1: 62-64.
Goehring, D.M., Daily, G.C., Sekercioglu, C.H. 2002. Distribution of ground-dwelling arthropods in tropical countryside habitats. Journal of Insect Conservation 6: 83-91.
Sekercioglu, C.H. 1999. Megapodes: A fascinating incubation strategy. Harvard Undergraduate
Journal of Sciences 5: 77-83.
Sekercioglu, C.H. 1997. The effects of logging-based habitat modification on the vegetation structure and forest bird communities of the Kibale Forest National Park, Uganda. B.A. thesis. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
CITATIONS
ISI Web of Science: 405. Google Scholar: 576. h-index: 11
MANUSCRIPTS IN PROGRESS
Sekercioglu, C. H., Mendenhall, C., Oviedo-Brenes, F., Loarie, S.R., Daily, G. C., Ehrlich, P.R. In prep. Postfledging survival of countryside birds of southern Costa Rica.
Sekercioglu, C. H., Newsome, S., Fullwood, M., Chamberlain, P., Brenes, F. O., Daily, G. C., Ehrlich, P. R. Submitted to Oecologia. Assessing diet limitation of Costa Rican birds with stable isotope analysis.
Mendenhall, C. D.,Sekercioglu, C. H., Loarie, S.R., Brenes, F.O, Daily, G. C., Ehrlich, P. R. In prep. Challenging biological sex: gender expression and behavior in an intersex White-ruffed Manakin (Corapipo altera). To be submitted to Science.
Sekercioglu, C. H., Mendenhall, C., Oviedo-Brenes, F., Loarie, S.R., Daily, G. C., Ehrlich, P. R. In prep. Community ecology of forest and countryside birds of southern Costa Rica.
Sekercioglu, C. H. et al. In prep. Global significance of Turkey’s neglected biodiversity.
Sekercioglu, C. H., Ehrlich, P. R., Daily, G. C. In prep. Prey base of Costa Rican forest birds. To be submitted to Auk.
Sekercioglu, C. H., Loarie, S.R., Mendenhall, C.D., Oviedo-Brenes, F., Ehrlich, P. R., Daily, G. C. In prep. Survival of seed-dispersing birds in Costa Rican countryside.
Morales, H., Soto-Pinto, L., Philpott, S.M., Sekercioglu, C.H., Altieri, M.A. In prep. How could agroecosystems contribute to conservation in Mesoamerican landscapes?
PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS
Sekercioglu, C.H., Daily, G.C., Ehrlich, P.R. 2006. Ecological implications of bird extinctions. Journal of Ornithology 147 (5), Supp. 1: 250.
Sekercioglu, C. H., Daily, G. C., Ehrlich, P. R., Loarie, S., Ruiz-Gutierrez, V. 2003. Habitat use and movements of native forest birds in Costa Rican agricultural countryside. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting Abstracts (ESA) 88: 304.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1998. The effects of forestry practices on the vegetation structure and the bird community of an Afrotropical forest. Ostrich 69: 449-450.
POPULAR PUBLICATIONS (ENGLISH)
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2007. Kars, Turkey: A new birding frontier. Winging It 19 (6): 17.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2007. Ibis quest. Living Bird 27 (5): 24-30.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2006. A birder’s guide to Turkey. Living Bird 26 (1): 14-23
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2003. Birding economics. Birding 35: 394-402.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2003. Burn baby burn: a journey into America’s top counter-cultural festival. Robert College Quarterly 21: 32-34.
Anonymous (Interview on doctoral research). 2002. Where have all the rainforest flycatchers gone—and why? American Scientist 90: 391.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2002. Why are insectivorous birds disappearing from forest fragments? Center for Conservation Biology (CCB) Update 14: 6-7.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2001. Birdwatching as ecotourism. CCB Update 13: 6-7.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1999. The effects of forestry practices on the Kibale Forest of Uganda. CCB Update 11: 8-9.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1997. Domestic cat predation of wild animals. Harvard Environmental Reporter 6: 27-29.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1997. A birder on the prowl. Harvard Environmental Reporter 6: 31.
POPULAR PUBLICATIONS (TURKISH)
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2009. Guney Afrika (South Africa). Nature magazine Atlas 201: In press.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2009. Sirtlan adam (Hyena man of Harar). Atlas 193: 14
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2009. Surinam’da tembel olmak (Surinamese rain forest) Atlas 192: 54-67
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2008. Kac kaldi 2100? (Climate change and birds) Atlas 184: 22
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2008. Kars’taki Cennet: Kuyucuk Golu (Lake Kuyucuk) Atlas 175: 20
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2007. Kus Gozlem Rotasi. Birdwatching chapter in Kars travel guide.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2007. Aras’in Kuslari (Birds of Aras). Atlas 174: 58-71.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2007. Yillar sonra ilk goc (Migration of bald ibis) Atlas 167: 22-25.
Sekercioglu, C. H. and Tan, G. 2006. Papua Yeni Gine: Kayip kuslarin dunyasi (Papua New Guinea: The land of lost birds). Interview in Atlas 156: 22-24.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2005. Kuslarin ekolojik onemi (Ecological importance of birds). Environmental magazine Yeşil Atlas 8: 23.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2005. Kus gozlem turizmi (Birdwatching tourism). Yeşil Atlas 8: 90-93.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2005. Turkiye’nin ilk kus gozlem turu bir rekor kirdi: 276 tür (Turkey’s first birdwatching tour breaks a record: 276 species). Atlas 150: 36.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 2005. Kuslarin olum yuzyili. Nature and travel magazine Atlas 150: 26-27.
Cirik, O. & Sekercioglu, C. H. 2005. Turkish translation of Sekercioglu, C. H. 2002. Environmental Conservation 29:282-289. Doga Dernegi (BirdLife Turkey), Ankara.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1998. Denali (National Park). Nature travel magazine Doga ve Gezi 6: 10-13.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1998. Primatlar (Primates). National Geographic Traveler Turkey 14: 46-47.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1998. Hakkimiz var mi? (Endangered species). National Geographic Traveler Turkey (Gezi) 9: 30-32.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1998. Degisim mucizesi (Butterflies 2). National Geographic Traveler Turkey (Gezi) 7: 22-23.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1998. Doganin gorkemli kanatlari (Butterflies 1). National Geographic Traveler Turkey (Gezi) 6: 28-29.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1998. Doganin kucuk harikalari (Insects). National Geographic Traveler Turkey (Gezi) 5: 38-39.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1998. Sulak gezegenin sakinleri (East African wetlands). Nature, outdoor sports, and travel magazine Outdoor 24: 76-85.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1998. Dunyanin dibinde ada var! (New Zealand). Outdoor 21: 82-89.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1998. Nairobi katliaminin Turk tanigi (The bombing of the U.S. embassy in Nairobi). News magazine Tempo 34/558: 18-21.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1997. Mini minnacik devler (Insects 1). National Geographic Traveler Turkey (Gezi) 3: 36-37.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1997. Uganda yagmur ormanlari (Ugandan rainforest). Doga ve Gezi 2: 32-34.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1997. Dogu Afrika savanasi (East African savanna). Doga ve Gezi 1: 12-15.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1997. Doga fotografciligi (Nature photography). Turkish photography magazine Foto 15: 98-101.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1997. Gozunuz yukseklerde olsun (Birdwatching). National Geographic Traveler Turkey (Gezi) 1: 34-36.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1997. Insan tipki sempanze (Interview with primatologist Richard Wrangham). Outdoor 16: 94-101.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1997. Uluru’da bir damla insan (The Northern Territory of Australia). Outdoor 13: 68-77.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1997. Sadece gozunle dokun (Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory). Outdoor 10: 86-91.
Sekercioglu, C. H. 1996. Yagmur ormaninin sahilinde (Rainforest of northeastern Queensland). Nature and travel magazine Atlas Kis 1: 96-103.
Sekercioglu, C. H. In review. Yokolan Afrika (Vanishing Africa, book). Yapi Kredi Publishing. Online (abridged): www.stanford.edu/~cagan/Afrika1.html
Sekercioglu, C. H. Ekvador’dan Antarktika’ya bir bilim ve kesif yolculugu (A journey of scientific exploration from Ecuador to Antarctica). Completed book manuscript. 96 pages.
MEMBERSHIPS
American Ornithologists Union (nominated an elective member), BirdLife International, Ecological Society of America, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society (by nomination and elected full member), The Association of Tropical Biology and Conservation, The Explorers Club (nominated a member (1999) and international fellow (2008)), The Society for Conservation Biology (board member and membership chair of European section 2004-2007)
TALKS & WORKSHOPS
Integrating Turkish scientists into European conservation (Symposium organizer) 2006
Intermediate-level workshop on mark-recapture data analysis using MARK (Participant) 2006
NCEAS Working Group on Conservation in Mesoamerican Countryside (Invited) 2005
Stanford University Workshop on Conservation & Ecotourism (Organizer) 2005
Stanford University Workshop on Conservation Finance (Invited) 2004
Bird conservation in agricultural lands
International Ornithology Congress, CD Jordao, Brazil (Symposium keynote speaker) 2010
Population dynamics of tropical forest birds
Association for Tropical Biology, Paramaribo, Suriname (Invited symposium speaker) 2008
University of California, Berkeley, California (Invited) 2008
Ecological Society of America meeting, San Jose, California 2008
Elevational limits, climate change, and avian extinctions
Tulane University, New Orleans (Invited) 2008 University of California, Davis (Invited) 2008
Society for Conservation Biology Conference, Port Elizabeth, South Africa 2007
University of California, Berkeley (Invited) 2006
Second Biology of Extinction Conference, Okazaki, Japan (Invited) 2006
Impacts of birdwatching on human and avian communities
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, California (Invited) 2006
Society for Conservation Biology Conference, Brazilía, Brasil 2005
Ecological consequences of bird extinctions
Redwood Sciences Laboratory, USDA Forest Service, Arcata, California (Invited) 2008
National Geographic Society, Washington, DC (Invited) 2008
Harvard University Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Seminar, Cambridge (Invited) 2006
National University of Singapore (Invited) 2005
Persistence of tropical forest birds in Costa Rican countryside
University of New Orleans, New Orleans (Invited) 2008
Humboldt State University, Arcata (Invited) 2008
University of California, San Diego (Invited) 2006
International Ornithological Congress, Hamburg, Germany 2006
Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge (Invited) 2006 National University of Singapore (Invited) 2005
University of California, Santa Cruz (Invited) 2004
Cornell University, Ithaca (Invited) 2004
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama (Invited) 2004
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley (Invited) 2004
2004 Angolan Ornithological Expedition
Redwood Audubon Society, Arcata, California (Invited) 2008
National University of Singapore (Invited) 2005
American Museum of Natural History (Invited) 2004
Cornell University (Invited) 2004
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society (Invited) 2004
The Explorers Club (Invited) 2004
Integrating avian ecology, conservation, and economics
Cornell University (Invited) 2004
Pescadero Conservation Alliance, California (Invited) 2003
Disappearance of insectivorous birds from tropical forest fragments
Organization for Tropical Studies Symposium, San Jose, Costa Rica 2003
University of Vermont (Invited) 2002
Middle Eastern Technical University, Ankara, Turkey (Invited) 2001
Effects of forest fragmentation on insects and insectivorous birds
Mesoamerican Conservation Biology Conference, Panama City, Panama 2000
Society for Conservation Biology Conference, Missoula, Montana 2000
Ornithology in the tropics
Monterey Audubon Society (Invited) 2000
Vanishing worlds: Research and travels in the tropics
The Explorers Club (Invited) 2000
Effects of forestry practices on the bird community of Kibale Forest, Uganda
Bay Area Conservation Biology Symposium, UC Berkeley 1999
Harvard University, Nuttall Ornithological Club (Invited) 1999
International Ornithological Congress, Durban, South Africa 1998
FIELD RESEARCH
Las Cruces Biological Station, Costa Rica 6/1999-Present
We have been studying the population dynamics, ecology, behavior, habitat use, diet, breeding success, parasites, and movements of the birds of fragments and agricultural countryside. Worked with 20 local and ten foreign assistants to mist net 50,000+ birds and to collect, measure, and identify 100,000+ insects. We analyzed 735 bird diet samples and radio-tracked 451 birds.
Kars, Igdir, and Ardahan provinces, Turkey 9/2003-Present
At three globally important wetlands, we integrate ecological research on multi-taxa, undertake ecological restoration, environmental education, local capacity building, and income generation. We are working to get official protection and to establish regional biodiversity learning centers.
Rift Valley, Ethiopia 9/2006-Present
I am establishing the Ethiopian bird banding program and comparing shrubland, forest, and coffee plantation bird communities near Arba Minch, Awassa, and Wondo Genet.
Southeast Asia 9/2005-11/2005
As a visiting scholar, I spent over three weeks in the field to study the lowland and montane rainforest bird communities Malaysia, Singapore, and Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Angolan Escarpment Ornithological Expedition, Angola 1/2004
Participated in and documented a three week expedition focused around Caconda, Gabela, Mount
Moco, and Tundavala Important Bird Areas, in search of endemic and threatened bird species.
Stanford Foothills Restoration Project, California 2001-2003
Conducted bird surveys and territory mapping for the restoration project.
Eastern Turkey 6/2001-7/2001
Coordinated a collecting expedition for a Harvard University and University of St. Petersburg project studying the genome evolution and karyotype reorganization of Agrodiaetus butterflies. Guanacaste, Costa Rica 7/2000
Assisted a radio telemetry study of Thamnophilus doliatus and Camplorhynchus rufinucha.
Stanford University Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, California 2/1999-6/1999
Designed and conducted research on edge effects on the birds and insects of oak woodlands.
Researching the book The Vanishing Africa, sub-equatorial Africa 5/1998-9/1998
Conducted research and photography in eleven African countries including Madagascar for the book The Vanishing Africa, sponsored by the Yapi Kredi Bank of Turkey.
Pre-doctoral research, Amazon basin, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia 9/1997-2/1998
Conducted pilot studies for doctoral research in Madidi, Manu, and Yasuni National Parks.
Research assistant for the USGS National Biological Survey, Alaska 6/1997-8/1997
Conducted bird counts, nest monitoring, nest searches, and vegetation surveys in Wrangell-St
Elias National Park. Received training in the use of heavy firearms for protection from bears.
Honors thesis research, Kibale Forest, Uganda 6/1996-8/1996
Designed and conducted research on effects of forestry practices on forest birds. Assisted by a local assistant, completed 500+ hours of bird counts, mist netting, and vegetation surveys.
Center for Rainforest Studies, Atherton Tablelands, Australia 9/1995-12/1995
Designed and conducted research on rainforest avian diversity in forest fragments and vegetation corridors with point counts and mist netting.
Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Colorado 6/1995-8/1995
Designed and conducted research projects on the foraging success of Falco sparverius in modified and natural habitats, and on effects of avalanche/cattle disturbance on insect diversity.
Merida state, Venezuela 1/1995
For Harvard tropical ecology graduate course, designed and conducted short-term projects on the foraging behavior of Coeligena torquata and on the impact of grazing on Espeletia timotensis.
Bird survey volunteer, Turkish Society for the Protection of Nature, Turkey 1992-1996
SKILLS AND CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Ecologist, Ecological Society of America
English: Excellent (TOEFL 120/120, GRE Verbal:770/880). Spanish: Fluent. Turkish: Native.
Advanced computer skills
Professional photography skills
Documentary filming skills. Contributor National Geographic Wild Chronicles documentaries.
Car and motorcycle driving license since 1997
Experienced in 4WD driving in the tropics since 1998
PADI advanced SCUBA diving certification since 1995
Wilderness First Aid certification in 2003
Technical rock and mountain climbing experience up to 6300 meters above sea level
PUBLIC OUTREACH
Since 1996, I have published over three hundred photographs in various books, annual reports, calendars, catalogs, faculty books, newsletters, newspapers, official web sites (e.g. National Wildlife Federation, Science, Voice of America), and journals such as American Scientist, Atlas, Birding, Bay Nature, Coast & Ocean, Discover, Ecology Letters, Living Bird, National Geographic Traveler Turkey, and Shutterbug. Various interviews and news pieces on my research have appeared in about 400 media outlets in over 50 countries, including in BBC, National Geographic, Conservation in Practice, Nature, Science, ABC News, American Scientist, Associated Press, Atlas, Bloomberg, California Wild, Cameroon Times, CBS News, Chicago Tribune, China View, CNN, Conservation, Der Spiegel, Discover, LA Times, Le Figaro, MSNBC, New York Post, New Zealand Herald, NPR, Reuters, San Francisco Chronicle, Science News, Terra Mexico, The Australian, The Hindu, The Malaysia Star, TNC Magazine, The Times, UPI, USA Today, Voice of America, Washington Post, Wired, and Yahoo News.
