W. Mark Roberts: Curriculum vitae

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Ph.D.	Princeton University, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology	2000
M.A.	Princeton University, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology	1995
M.Sc.	University of British Columbia, Zoology	1992
B.Sc. (Honours)	University of British Columbia, Zoology	1987

2001
The H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment
The State of the Nation's Ecosystems Project, Grassland/Shrubland Work Group

Developed indices of grassland bird population trends from North American Breeding Bird Survey data.

Conducted statistical comparisons between native and invasive bird species.

Roberts, W. M. 2001. Grassland birds.xls. Workbook prepared for The H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment. Pp. 58.
Roberts, W. M. 2001. Materials and Methods: Grassland Birds - Native/Non-Native Indicator. Report prepared for The H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment. Pp. 6.
Roberts, W. M. 2001. Draft Technical Note: Grassland Birds - Native/Non-Native Indicator. Report prepared for The H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics and the Environment. Pp. 2.

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2000 - 2001
State of New Jersey, U.S.A., Department of Environmental Protection
New Jersey Comparative Risk Project, Ecological Quality Technical Working Group

Integrated published and Internet-based information sources to assess the risks of habitat loss and habitat fragmentation to biodiversity and ecosystem health in the State of New Jersey, U.S.A.

Roberts, W. M. 2001. New Jersey Comparative Risk Project, Ecological Technical Work Group, Stressor-Specific Risk Assessment: Habitat Loss. Report prepared for New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Pp. 32.
Roberts, W. M. 2001. New Jersey Comparative Risk Project, Ecological Technical Work Group, Stressor-Specific Risk Assessment: Habitat Fragmentation. Report prepared for New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Pp. 32.

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1999 - 2000
Environmental Defense (formerly, Environmental Defense Fund)

Applied GIS and statistical software to conduct a population viability analysis of Utah prairie dogs, federally listed in the United States as a threatened species.

Reappraised existing management plans for Utah prairie dogs.

Roberts, W. M., J. P. Rodriguez, and A. P. Dobson. 2000. Review of the Habitat Conservation Plan for Utah Prairie Dogs in Iron County, Utah. Report prepared for Environmental Defense (formerly Environmental Defense Fund). Pp. 30.
Roberts, W. M., J. P. Rodriguez, T. C. Good and A. P. Dobson. 2000. Population Viability Analysis of the Utah Prairie Dog. Report prepared for Environmental Defense. Pp. 51.
Roberts, W. M., J. P. Rodriguez, and A. P. Dobson. 1999. Review of Utah Prairie Dog Recovery Plan (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1991). Report prepared for Environmental Defense Fund. Pp. 9.

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1992
British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods
B.C. Blueberry Industry Development Council
Corporation of the District of Pitt Meadows

Researched critical aspects of the problem of bird damage to blueberry crops, in consultation with provincial and municipal government, industry leaders, growers and public.

Devised recommendations to manage resident-grower conflicts, and to improve crop protection, that have been adopted province-wide and remain the current standard.

Roberts, W. M. 1993. Controlling bird damage to blueberry crops: bird behaviour and crop protection. Proceedings of the 35th Annual Lower Mainland Horticultural Improvement Association Grower’s Short Course (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada): 101-103.
Roberts, W. M. 1992. Controlling bird damage to blueberry crops in Pitt Meadows: a study of bird behaviour and crop protection devices. Report prepared for British Columbia Provincial Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, B.C. Blueberry Industry Development Council and Corporation of the District of Pitt Meadows. Pp. 37.

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1990
British Broadcasting Corporation, Natural History Film Unit

Provided technical advice and assistance for special effects to communicate information about animal migration in Sir David Attenborough’s broadcast documentary series The Trials of Life.

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1987
University of California, Irvine, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Created software programs and strategies to analyse complex data sets of animal behaviour.

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1996 - ongoing
Endangered species and geography

Research to identify geographical patterns and predictors of threats to biodiversity, including the incorporation of endangered species distributions in conservation policy. This work is a collaboration with Dr. Andrew Dobson, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University, and Dr. Jon Paul Rodriguez at IVIC (Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research).

See a sample of press coverage.

Dobson, A. P., J. P. Rodriguez, and W. M. Roberts. 2001. Synoptic tinkering: integrating strategies for large-scale conservation. Ecological Applications 11: 1019-1026.
Dobson, A. P., J. P. Rodriguez, W. M. Roberts and D. S. Wilcove. 1997. Geographical distribution of endangered species in the United States. Science 275: 550-553. Read paper and the commentary written by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt (requires Science Online access). Read summary.
Dobson, A. P., J. P. Rodriguez, W. M. Roberts and D. S. Wilcove. 1997. Response to Czech, B. and P. R. Krausman (1997. Distribution and causation of species endangerment in the United States. Science 277:1116-1117). Science 277:1117. Read correspondence (free access).
Dobson, A. P., J. P. Rodriguez, W. M. Roberts and D. S. Wilcove. 1997. Response to Dunn, C. P. et al. (1997. Endangered species “hot spots”. Science 276:513-515) and Ehrenfeld, D. et al. (ibid:515-516). Science 276:516-517. Read correspondence (requires Science Online access).
Rodriguez, J. P., W. M. Roberts and A. Dobson. 1997. Where are endangered species found in the United States? Endangered Species Update 14:1-4. Read paper.
Dobson, A., W. M. Roberts, J. P. Rodriguez and D. Wilcove. 1999. Conservation strategies at a demi-continental scale: reconciling problems of scale, perspective and geographical distribution. Presented at Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Spokane, WA, 8 - 12 August 1999.
Dobson, A. P., J. P. Rodriguez, W. M. Roberts and D. S. Wilcove. 1996. The geographical distribution of endangered species in the United States. Supplement to the Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 77:115. Presented at ESA 1996 Annual Combined Meeting, Providence, RI, 10 - 14 August 1996.

1994 - 2000
Causes and consequences of colour dimorphism in butterflies

Doctoral research on the genetic control - and the ecological and evolutionary consequences - of variation in wing colour in butterflies, employing a combination of field, laboratory and museum techniques. Papers in preparation.

Roberts, W. M. 2000. Dimorphism for silvering in Mormon fritillary butterflies (Speyeria mormonia) Boisduval (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Argynnini). Ph.D. Thesis. Princeton University, Princeton. Pp. ix + 104

	Listen in streaming RealAudio to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio interview, 30 May 1998.
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1987 - 1992
Economics of decision-making by foragers

M.Sc. and B.Sc. (Honours) research, using a combination of mathematical modelling and behavioural experiments in a computer-controlled laboratory environment to test the profitability of birds' foraging choices.

Roberts, W. M. 1996. Hummingbirds’ concentration preferences at low volume: the importance of time scale. Animal Behaviour 52: 361-370.
Roberts, W. M. 1995. Hummingbird licking behaviour and the energetics of nectar feeding. The Auk 112: 456-463.
Temeles, E. J. and W. M. Roberts. 1993. Effect of sexual dimorphism in bill length on foraging behavior: an empirical analysis of hummingbirds. Oecologia 94: 87-94.
Gass, C. L. and W. M. Roberts. 1992. The problem of temporal scale in optimization: three contrasting views of hummingbird visits to flowers. The American Naturalist 140: 829-853.
Roberts, W. M. 1994. Hummingbirds’ concentration preferences and the energetics of nectar feeding: time scale and optimality. Journal fur Ornithologie 135:151. Presented at XXI International Ornithological Congress, Vienna, Austria, 20 - 25 August 1994.
Roberts, W. M. 1992. Hummingbirds’ concentration preferences and the energetics of nectar feeding: predictions, tests, and implications for optimal foraging theory and pollination biology. M.Sc. Thesis. University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Pp. viii + 96.
Roberts, W. M. 1987. Temporal patterns of feeding regulation in the rufous hummingbird. B.Sc. Honours Thesis. University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Pp. vi + 50.

Reviewer for the following scientific journals
	Conservation Biology
	Biological Conservation
	Animal Behaviour
	BioScience
	The Auk
	The Condor

Lecturer, McGill University Biostatistical Analysis; Methods in Biology of Organisms		2001
	Read student evaluations
Lecturer, Yale University Population Ecology		2000
	Read student evaluations
Lecturer, Princeton University Conservation and Biodiversity; Comparative Animal Physiology		1999 - 2000
Assistant Instructor, Princeton University Evolution of Biological Diversity; Comparative Animal Physiology		1993, 1996 - 1998
Sessional Lecturer, University of British Columbia Comparative Vertebrate Zoology		1993
Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of British Columbia Introduction to Animal Behaviour; Comparative Vertebrate Zoology; Comparative Invertebrate Zoology; Advanced Biology of Invertebrates		1988 - 1992

1993
Programme Manager
Canadian Centre for Creative Technology, Shad Valley UBC Summer Programme

Managed summer residency course providing intensive exploration of science, technology and business for gifted high school students from across Canada.

Accurately carried out all accounting for programme, managing a budget of CDN$110,000.

Negotiated contracts for accommodation, catering, and transportation, conducted staff hiring interviews, set up office, located and organized guest speakers, suppliers and service providers, and planned daily schedules for all programme participants.

1988 - 1989
Interpreter (Visitor Services Naturalist)
Vancouver Public Aquarium

Developed interactive programmes at Vancouver’s top tourist attraction to convey key concepts about conservation and marine biology to visitors from around the world.

Collaborated with World Wildlife Fund (Canada) to distribute fundraising materials for rainforest conservation.

Scripted and narrated marine mammal shows, and conducted tour groups.

References available upon request

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