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Ph.D. Student Profile: Stephanie CosterDegree: Natural Resources and Environmental Studies Research Topic: Landscape genetics of pond-breeding amphibians in a working forest Advisors: Dr. Adrienne Kovach and Dr. Kimberly Babbitt |
Description of Research
Connectivity across a landscape is an important component of healthy animal populations as it allows for the rescue of declining populations and promotes genetic diversity. With increasing human influence and associated land use changes, this connectivity is in jeopardy. Understanding the factors that facilitate or inhibit movement is therefore essential for conservation management. I will use a genetic and spatial analytical approach to identify factors that influence dispersal in two different amphibians species in a managed forest. This research will enhance our understanding of animal connectivity and population persistence in human modified landscapes, and will help managers promote healthy ecosystems.
Selected Presentations and Publications
Coster, S., A.I. Kovach. (in review). Anthropogenic influences on the spatial genetic structure of black bears. Conservation Genetics.
Coster, S., A.I Kovach, P. Pekins, A. Cooper, A. Timmins, A. 2011. Genetic Mark-
Recapture Population Estimation in Black Bears and Issues of Scale. Journal of
Wildlife Management, 75: 1128-1136.
Coster, S., D. O. Ribble. 2005. Density and cover preferences of the Black-and-rufous elephant-
shrew in Chome Forest Reserve Tanzania. Belgian Journal of Zoology, 135: 175-177.
Education
Ph.D. in Natural Resources and Earth Systems Science - Expected May 2013.
with Cognate in College Teaching; University of New Hampshire - Durham, NH.
M.S. in Natural Resources; Wildlife Concentration - 2008
University of New Hampshire - Durham, NH.
B.S. in Biology; Ecology Concentration - 2002
Minor in English; Trinity University - San Antonio, TX. Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa.
