University of Washington

Department of Biology

A maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) crosses a harvested corn field (photo courtesy of JCF).

Carly H. Vynne

 

Doctoral Candidate, Biological Sciences

Research Interest:

The majority of mortality for carnivores and other wide-ranging species occurs outside of reserves that are intended to provide them safe haven.  Increasing agricultural expansion and land use intensification necessitate that management for large bodied species incorporate the mosaic of land uses outside of nature reserves and national parks.  While the role of these landscapes in species persistence is well-recognized, there is little data about how these areas contribute to populations of interest. 

The Cerrado biome of Brazil comprises the world’s most biological diverse tropical savanna.  It is also one of the world’s most threatened regions.  The Cerrado is home to hundreds of endemic species and comprises the primary habitat of the maned wolf, a wild canid found only in the grasslands of central South America.  The majority of the maned wolves’ range is under conversion for agricultural production, yet scientists have little idea of how this conversion is affecting the population status of the maned wolves.  My research objectives are to determine how areas outside of national parks may best be managed for wide-ranging mammals such as the maned wolf.

Carly Vynne

Biology Department

University of Washington

Box 351800

Seattle, WA  98195-1800

 

Phone: 206-437-5247

Fax: 206-543-3041

E-mail: cvynne@u.washington.edu

Contact Information:

Natural habitat fragments, ranches, and croplands create a mosaic of habitats in the Cerrado.