Team MEMBERS
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Mohamed Khalil Meliane
Biological scientist II [email protected] Khalil, the Biological Scientist at the Rangeland Wildlife Ecology Lab with Dr. Ellington, brings a wealth of experience. His journey began with a bachelor’s degree in natural sciences, followed by a master’s degree in evolutionary biology. Khalil then worked to conserve and research Saharan wildlife using different monitoring techniques, ranging from direct mammal observation to spoor identification and camera-trapping. His work addressed critical questions related to wild ungulates, red necked ostriches, houbara bustards, porucpines, African wolves and Saharan fox conservation. Through his position, Khalil will contribute to the lab’s research and management. Scholar - LinkedIn |
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Dakotah Shaffer
PhD student [email protected] My name is Dakotah Shaffer and I am PhD student in Dr. Ellington’s lab where I am examining coyote movement behavior in Florida. I am from Pennsylvania and I received my B.S. and M.S. in Biology with a concentration in Ecology and Conservation from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Most of my previous research has focused on wildlife response to habitat management in the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania and Maryland. I have primarily worked with songbirds, but other focal species include ruffed grouse, American woodcock, elk and the Allegheny woodrat. My M.S. thesis was focused on the response of an imperiled songbird, the Cerulean Warbler, to target habitat management on private lands in Pennsylvania and western Maryland. I have a passion and appreciation for all wildlife and seek to conduct applied research that can give us insights to improve how we manage wildlife and human-wildlife conflict. |
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Christian Kammerer
PhD student [email protected] Christian is a PhD student in Dr. Ellington’s lab. After obtaining his masters in nematology at University of Florida, he became an extension agent in Hendry and Glades county. His work focuses on research and education in sugarcane production zones. His research will be focusing on understanding wildlife utilization and movement in sugarcane production zones with an emphasis on the rodents and their respective predators. His interests include previous work in ex situ conservation project of birds, hoofstock, reptiles and primates with a special focus on parasites and scavenger species. |
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Melis Toke
PhD student [email protected] Melis is a PhD student at the Rangeland Wildlife Ecology Lab, where she will collaborate with Dr. Ellington. She earned her Bachelor's degree from Istanbul University and continued at the same institution to complete her Master's degree in Zoology. During her Master’s studies, she focused on monitoring meso and large carnivores in the Eastern Marmara region of Türkiye using camera traps, conducting the first systematic research in the area. Her work involved analyzing spatio-temporal overlap patterns based on the camera-trap data collected during her fieldwork. With a strong passion for nature and science, Melis also actively participated in fieldwork contributing to various projects such as monitoring and collaring large carnivores (brown bear, gray wolf, and lynx), sea turtle conservation, and bird banding. Building on this experience, she looks forward to investigating coyote movement ecology in the urban landscapes of South Florida, contributing to a deeper understanding of their behavior and ecological role. |
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Jules Ofalt
MS student [email protected] Jules is an MSc student studying the interactions between wild turkeys and coyotes in Florida. Jules was raised in eastern Pennsylvania, where her love for the outdoors and wildlife was fostered at a young age through fishing and camping with her family. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology with a minor in Applied Statistics from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, NY, where she spent much of her time competing on the school’s lumberjacking team. Afterwards she spent several years conducting field research around the United States on a variety of species, including wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, elk, quail, grouse, sea turtles, and clapper rails, before moving to Florida to work for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in 2022. In addition to being a member of the Rangeland Wildlife Ecology Lab, Jules continues to work full time for the FWC as the Wild Turkey and Furbearer Management Program Coordinator, where she conducts statewide game management in Florida. Jules is passionate about research that informs management decisions, and is excited to expand her research background through graduate studies at UF! |
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Laura Sánchez
Bilingual wildlife extension communicator [email protected] As a bilingual Wildlife Extension Communicator, Laura combines expertise in foreign languages, science communication, and wildlife biology. With experience spanning government, non-profit, and academic sectors, she specializes in marine and coastal ecosystems, supporting projects in natural resource management. Fluent in Spanish and Mandarin, Laura brings a unique international perspective to the team, enhancing bilingual outreach and stakeholder engagement. She ensures that conservation messages reach diverse audiences through clear, accurate and culturally appropriate translation. Passionate about conveying environmental research, Laura excels in creating science-based content, visualizing data, and translating complex concepts for both scientific and general audiences. She holds an M.A. in International Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management, a B.A. in East Asian Languages and Literature, and a minor in Zoology. |
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Sarah Tirado
Wildlife technician [email protected] My name is Sarah and I am originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I graduated from Millersville University of Pennsylvania in 2021 with a degree in Biology and a concentration in Animal Behavior. Since graduating, I have gotten to travel across the US for a variety of field jobs. Most of the projects I have worked on involved different trapping methods to study mammals, and I have had the privilege to work with many species including rodents, mesopredators, and white-tailed deer. In my spare time I enjoy hiking, video games, and spending time with my one-eyed rescue cat, Jayaa. |
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Jason Rosales
Wildlife technician [email protected] My name is Jason Rosales and I am excited to be joining Dr. Ellington’s lab as a wildlife technician. I graduated last year from Nova Southeastern University with a degree in Marine Biology, with a passion for conservation and research. In my most recent position I was an Agroecology Research Intern at Archbold’s Buck Island Ranch in Central Florida. With my intern project focusing on the impact of cattle presence and pasture management upon zooplankton community structure and biodiversity in wetlands. I am eager to further pursue my interest in applied ecology and help out with ongoing projects in Florida’s rangelands. |
previous lAB mEMBERS
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Katie Barton
Wildlife technician [email protected] Katie Barton, born and raised in North Carolina, grew up with a passion for animals of all variety. She graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) in December 2023 with a B.A. in Biology and a B.S. in Environmental Science. Katie started field research during her freshman year of college, when she joined UNCW’s Wildlife Ecology & Management Lab. She continued to work in the lab throughout her undergraduate career. She also completed two summer research internships - at the North Carolina Zoo and Bald Head Island Conservancy, respectively - and studied abroad for a semester with The School for Field Studies in the middle of the rainforest in Far North Queensland, Australia. After graduating, Katie moved to Florida for a six-month position with Walt Disney World as a Conservation Education Presenter (aka “Wilderness Explorer troop leader”) at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Katie now works as a wildlife technician in the University of Florida’s Rangeland Wildlife Ecology lab, where she’s excited to further pursue her interest in applied ecology. |
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Abigail Brook
Wildlife technician [email protected] Abigail is the granddaughter of a lumberjack and the daughter of an arborist and was naturally drawn to the forest from a young age. She grew up in a small town in rural Maine and loves those rare places where the mountains meet the sea. Her passion for exploring the natural world has taken her from the Amazon river, to the fjords of New Zealand, to the rainforests of Borneo. While volunteering with Yucatan black howler monkeys in the Maya Forest Corridor she was inspired to channel her love of nature into a career in wildlife conservation. Abigail went on to graduate from Unity College with a BS in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology. She now works as a wildlife technician for the University of Florida's Rangeland Wildlife Ecology Lab. |
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James Long
Wildlife technician [email protected] Hi I’m James Long. I graduated from LSSU up in Sault Sainte Marie Michigan with a bachelors degree in Conservation Biology. I’ve worked a couple different technician positions in Michigan and Nebraska and am currently working as a Wildlife Technician here in Ona Florida. |
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Alex Furst
MS student [email protected] Alex is a MSc student in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, studying the abundance and habitat use of Argentine black and white tegus. He received a bachelor's degree from Muskingum University in 2019 where he studied Environmental Science with a minor in Biology. Alex spent a year at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida on the Burmese Python Research and Removal Project, where he assisted in tracking numerous scout snakes using radio telemetry and aided in the capture and removal of invasive Burmese pythons. Alex has since spent time as a non-native fish and wildlife biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, assisting in management and removal projects for Argentine black and white tegus and Burmese pythons. In his free time, Alex enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, and herping. |
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Rebeca Prieto
Bilingual wildlife outreach and extension assistant [email protected] Hi, my name is Rebeca and I am a recent UF graduate with a Bachelors in Media Production, Management, and Technology and a minor in Public Relations. During the fall semester 2023, I was an Active Learning Program intern for the Natural Resources Extension & Outreach to Hispanic Communities Project where I worked closely with Dr. Ellington and Alejandra Areingdale translating Florida wildlife factsheets from English to Spanish and creating social media videos and posts for promotion. I was later hired to continue working for the project and to help guide future ALP interns. Currently, I work part-time assisting with the translations of documents and producing informational social media content. While I plan to eventually work for a public relations agency or in a digital communications role, I have a passion for helping the Hispanic community and an increasing interest in wildlife ecology. I hope to use my knowledge in Spanish and from my degree to aid in this project as much as possible. |
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Miranda Imeri
International scholar [email protected] With a background in Animal Sciences from the University of Prishtina and a stint in Hungary at Szent Istavn University, I embarked on my journey in wildlife studies. I earned my MSc in Wildlife Engineering from MATE University, becoming the first Wildlife Engineer in my country. Afterward, I ventured to Germany, where I delved into wildlife ecology as a scientist fellow at both the German Federal Environmental Foundation and Goethe University in Frankfurt. During this time, I conducted Ecotoxicological risk assessments and data gap analyses in alignment with the latest EU guidance law. Passionate about wildlife conservation, I co-founded the Kosovo Wildlife Organization, conserving nature in Kosovo through advocacy, research and awareness initiatives. Currently, I'm pursuing a PhD in Animal Sciences and Biotechnology, eager to deepen my expertise in this domain. I'm thrilled to become a part of the research laboratory at the Range Cattle REC and eager to contribute to our shared goals! |
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Kailee Pearson
Wildlife technician [email protected] My name is Kailee Pearson and I am a wildlife technician in the Rangeland Wildlife Ecology lab. I am originally from the Chicago suburbs and graduated from Michigan State University in 2022 with my degree in Wildlife Biology and Management and a minor in Environmental and Sustainability studies. Throughout my time at MSU I worked in wildlife rehabilitation, ran an independent project on wild rice restoration, and worked as a coastal wetland field technician for my Native American tribe, the Sault Sainte Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. After graduating, I interned at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida on the sea turtle project while also working for a dolphin research eco-tour, the Dolphin Explorer. Since starting in this lab in November 2023, my favorite projects have been trapping/collaring coyotes and servicing our trail camera network. In my free time I enjoy yoga, hiking, and traveling to new places. |
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Zachery Holmes
MS student [email protected] Zachery is pursuing his MSc in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and is interested in how avian biodiversity is affected by varying pasture management techniques and stocking densities throughout south-central Florida. His program began in spring 2021. Zach has worked with listed avian species for the past 4 years. Prior to beginning his MSc program, Zach worked for several entities including research stations, governmental agencies, and private consulting companies across the state of Florida. Zach's previous experience, passion, and research interests revolve around birds and how they adapt to anthropogenic landscapes such as urbanization and agriculture, as well as climate impacted landscapes. Zach's goal is to continue applied avian research to aid in conservation. Outside of research and work, Zach also enjoys hiking, kayaking, volunteering, and birding - all with family, friends, and the pups. |
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Sophie Mirotznik
Wildlife technician [email protected] My name is Sophie and I am very excited to be in Dr. Ellington’s lab as a wildlife technician! I graduated from the University of Delaware in May 2022 with a Wildlife Ecology and Insect Ecology bachelor’s degree, with a minor in Public Policy. My senior thesis studied how light pollution impacts nocturnal moth populations, and in turn how that has impacted bat populations in northern Delaware and eastern Pennsylvania. During the summer of 2021 I was a technician for the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank Commission, where I worked with goats, conducted vegetation surveys, bird surveys, moth surveys, and water quality checks. That following winter, I worked for a graduate student at my university studying Sika deer in eastern Maryland, which involved trapping deer using clover traps and drop nets. In the summer of 2022 I was a Biological Field Technician for NPS on the US Virgin Islands as a sea turtle intern. There, for two months I was completely nocturnal and surveyed the beaches of St. Croix for laying Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles, and during the rest of my time I excavated nests and released trapped hatchlings. Last summer I worked as an intern on the NPS Bison Team in Yellowstone National Park, where I worked on a long-term grazing study, darted bison for genetics, and hiked the park to sex and age both herds of bison. I’m really passionate about conservation and I’m so excited for the opportunity to live in such a cool place and work with a variety of awesome animals! |
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Stephanie Ibarra
Wildlife technician [email protected] Stephanie graduated from the University of Arizona in 2020 with a bachelors in Natural Resources: Conservation Biology. She has been working various field jobs since then. She maintains a curiosity for knowledge and encourages others to embark on their own quest in knowledge. She is currently working with the lab on a large scale project revolving around making extension materials used in land grant universities more accessible to the Spanish speaking community. She hopes to continue to make an impact in her journey in the conservation field. |
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Taylor Golden
Wildlife technician [email protected] My name is Taylor Golden and I am from Columbus, Georgia. I am a graduate of the University of Georgia, where in May of 2020 I received my Bachelors of Science in Forest Resources (emphasis on Wildlife Sciences) from UGA's Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. I have volunteered and worked with wildlife most of my life, as I have always had a passion for wildlife conservation, management and ecology. Through college and since graduation, I have had the opportunity to delve into many areas of wildlife related work - working as a field technician on various projects involving mammals/birds/reptiles/amphibians, working in a loggerhead sea turtle genetics research lab, and working as a zookeeper, among other volunteer experiences. In my last year at UGA, I also completed a thesis titled "The Detectability of Eastern Box Turtles: Implications for Reptile Disease Detection and Surveillance" under the advisors of Dr. John C. Maerz and Dr. Sonia Hernandez; this thesis is in the process of publication. My main interests include the following: mammalian, avian and herpetofauna population dynamics and biodiversity and how human activities affect their populations over time; the effects of invasive species on native populations; predator-prey dynamics; general conservation research. Currently, I serve as a wildlife technician for Dr. Hance Ellington's Rangeland Wildlife Ecology Lab. In this lab, we are addressing questions about wildlife and ecology in rangeland habitats throughout Florida. I am very excited to be back working and living in Florida, as I fell in love with the state in 2018 when I lived in Orlando, working for Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. In my free time, I enjoy the outdoors, reading, traveling and spending time with my many pets. |
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Samantha Nunn
Wildlife technician [email protected] Samantha recently graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in Fisheries & Wildlife with emphasis in wildlife science. She is interested in studying herpetofauna and becoming a herpetologist after graduate school. Samantha joined the lab in January 2022. She is assisting in the deployment of remote cameras and acoustic recording units, as well as collecting and processing data used to monitor wildlife at the RCREC in central Florida. Her favorite herps are the Eastern indigo snake and marbled salamander. |
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Alejandra Areingdale
Bilingual wildlife outreach and extension specialist [email protected] Alejandra is currently completing her BSc in environmental science and policy at the University of South Florida. She is assisting with the RWELab’s extension program through the translation and social media promotion of wildlife resources aimed at increasing accessibility of educational materials to Florida’s Hispanic community. Previously, Alejandra has interned at a non-profit and assisted with at-risk species research by collecting data on the status and distribution of threatened skink species in Central Florida. She also assisted with a variety of fieldwork such as species surveys, vegetative monitoring, and reintroducing native plant species. When Alejandra is not working or studying, she enjoys reading, crocheting, and spending time with family and friends, especially her cat Julio. |
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Emilie Dedeban
MS student [email protected] Since Fall 2021, Emilie has been working towards her MSc at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland, under the co-supervision of Eric Vander Wal and Hance Ellington. She has a particular interest in conservation and human-wildlife interactions. Her project aims to understand how caribou respond to linear features and quantify the potential impact on their fitness. Prior to this, Emilie studied in France at the University of Poitiers where she earned a master’s in applied ecology. Afterwards, she did an internship in the WEEL lab (Wildlife Evolutionary Ecology Lab in St John's, NL) to study migratory caribou. She worked for almost two years at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in France. The goals of the latter project were to understand how the movements and behavior of birds could be affected by the presence of large infrastructure, such as wind farms. |
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Bri Ryver
MS student [email protected] Bri is a MSc in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation working on a wild pig management survey to identify potential barriers to the implementation of best management practices. Bri earned their BSc in Wildlife at Purdue University in Fall 2021. Some of Bri’s work highlights include two years in an underground rodent lab, working with Dr. Rod Williams and his hellbenders, and traveling around Indiana to camp and collect data on eastern hemlock. In their free time, Bri enjoys watching horror films and birdwatching. |
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Peyton Niebanck
Wildlife technician [email protected] Peyton is from Alpharetta, GA and graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife. After graduating, she worked for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division, conducting gopher tortoise and eastern indigo snake surveys. After that, she moved down to Florida and was involved in invasive reptile management by trapping black and white Argentine tegus in and around Everglades National Park. Most recently, she was part of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), radio tracking various freshwater turtle species on Sanibel and Captiva islands. Now, Peyton is assisting in deploying game camera traps, bio-acoustic units, and tegu trapping. She hopes to gain more experience with data management and learn more about the connectivity and impacts among wildlife in rangeland ecosystems. |
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Nicole Rita
Wildlife technician [email protected] Nicole is originally from Finland but has lived in Florida for many years. She graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a B.S in Neuroscience. Now, she is assisting the Rangeland Wildlife Ecology Lab with camera trapping, bio-acoustic data, and tegu trapping. For the last 4 years she has worked on a variety of avian ecology projects throughout Florida as a field biologist and hopes to gain more experience with data management working with UF. |
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Hannah Fox
Wildlife technician Hannah assisted with the design and implementation of a survey of landowners on wild pig management, in order to identify barriers to the use of best management practices. In addition, she developed and assisted with several EDIS publications. Hannah is now working towards her Master’s in Earth and Environmental Resources Management with Dr. John Kupfer at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. Hannah is interested in conservation planning, landscape ecology, and GIS. She hopes to be able to intern with SCDNR or the Congaree Land Trust. In addition to studying wildlife and spending time outdoors, Hannah loves listening to music. |
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Edder Antunez
Wildlife technician Edder was a technician with the lab from Jan 2022 through July 2022. He is originally from the city of Chicago, Illinois, where he received his B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2015. During his undergraduate career, Edder was a volunteer for a large scale camera trap research project studying urban wildlife in the greater Chicagoland area. After deploying dozens of camera traps and analyzing thousands of photos, Edder developed a strong interest in the field of wildlife ecology. More specifically, he is interested in studying the impacts humans have on wildlife populations. He has surveyed shore birds in the Pacific Northwest, banded migratory birds in the gulf coast, deployed acoustic recorders to study bats in the East coast, and programmed acoustic recording units to monitor South African birds. Edder is currently pursuing his MSc at Colorado State University. |
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Bethany Wight
Biological scientist Bethany was a Biological Scientist in the lab from July 2020 through August 2022, and served as a Biological Scientist in another program at the Range Cattle REC for several years prior to that. Bethany is originally from Seattle, WA and moved to Florida in 2005. She earned her B.S. in Biology from the University of West Florida in 2010. This led to her graduate degree and a research position at UWF from 2010-2014 conducting prey density sampling, habitat and vegetation sampling and quantifying aspects of avian foraging behavior. She assisted in all aspects of research and extension programs. She enjoyed being part of a team that contributes to the conservation of our natural ecosystems and wildlife. |