Director of Conservation and Field Research

Ph.D. 2003, Arizona State University
M.S. 1994, University of Wyoming
B.A. 1991, Oberlin College

My research interests focus on the interactions among animals, people, the environment we share, and human social structures. Although most of my studies are of the ecology and demography of birds, my interests extend beyond ornithology, and I have published on a variety of topics, including mammalian ecology and physiology, invertebrate parasitoid ecology and taxonomy, and the interplay between human social behavior and conservation of natural resources.

Since 1997 I've conducted research on the ecology and conservation of eagles at a nature reserve in north-central Kazakhstan. This project started as an ecological study of the coexistence of the four species of large eagles that live at the reserve. In recent years it has morphed into a conservation and demographics study, and involves both mathematical modeling of eagle populations and cutting edge conservation genetics for non-invasive monitoring of these rare species. For more details on this research, see Conservation and Ecology of Eagles in Kazakhstan.

In 2000 I began to study vultures in Kazakhstan to understand which species were present and at what densities they occurred in the southeast part of the country. This information is important because of the astonishingly rapid decline in vulture populations in south Asia. This research has been supported by mathematical modeling and a novel application of the non-invasive monitoring techniques we developed for the eagles in northern Kazakhstan. We are also applying these techniques to estimate population size of vultures in Cambodia. For more details on this research, see Conservation and Demography of Vultures in the former Soviet Union.

Since coming to the National Aviary, I have initiated projects in the Philippines and in Pennsylvania. In the Philippines I am working with the Philippine Eagle Foundation to develop research and conservation strategies for protection of the Philippine Eagle - one of the world's most endangered birds. In Pennsylvania we are studying the potential impacts of the development of wind power on migratory golden eagles and other birds of prey. In both cases these projects are driven by our departmental mission to focus on the role of human population expansion and resource consumption on the environment. More details on each of these is given on the projects page.

Sharing my interest in wildlife conservation, field research, and the impact of human overpopulation and resource consumption with the community at large is, in my opinion, an important part of my mission as a scientist. In that vein, in addition to conducting research, I advise students and try to publish regularly - not only in scientific journals, but also in wildlife-related magazines that reach a larger audience.

I am a member of the faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh and I am currently taking graduate students. Prospective students interested in more information, please e-mail me.

Publications

Contact Information Send an email to Dr. Todd Katzner

Curriculum Vitae (pdf)