Curriculum vitae
EDUCATION
University of California Berkeley - PhD candidate August 2017 to May 2024 (expected graduation date)
Arthur Middleton's Lab
Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management in the College of Natural Resources
Dissertation title: “Ecological & social challenges of wolf-livestock conflict: wolf-elk interactions & local perspectives in the eastern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem”
Middlebury College - Bachelor of Arts Degree September 2009 - May 2013 Joint Major in Environmental Studies and Biology (Conservation Biology); Minor in Chinese
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
SHAWLER CONSERVATION PLANNING LLC 2015-2017
Ketchum, Idaho
I worked as an independent contractor under my own LLC for several conservation non-profit organizations based in south central Idaho including: Lava Lake Institute for Science & Conservation, The Nature Conservancy, Idaho Conservation League & Central Idaho Rangelands Network. See below for specifics on each contract.
SHAWLER CONSERVATION PLANNING LLC CONTRACTS
WOOD RIVER WOLF PROJECT - LAVA LAKE INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE & CONSERVATION
Hailey, Idaho
Contracted Project Coordinator April 2015 – August 2017
The Wood River Wolf Project collaborative promotes the coexistence of livestock and predators by proactively using nonlethal measures to prevent depredation.
Directed field staff and coordinated volunteers
Worked with the Idaho Governor’s Office of Species Conservation on the Wolf Depredation Prevention Program application to help fund the Wood River Wolf Project
Communicated with our collaborators on a weekly basis
Worked with Blaine County on Annual Funds Request Application
Wrote training and safety protocols for volunteers
Conduced nonlethal equipment training sessions for sheep herders and ranchers
Researched and applied for grants to fund the Project
Worked the the Project's booth at the local Farmers' Markets and educated the local community
Recruited and coordinated volunteers for field work, the Farmers' Market, and data entry
Managed annual budget for the Project
Organized collaborators' meetings
Researched and purchased field equipment (satellite communicators, game cameras, non-lethal deterrent equipment, etc.)
Managed website and and worked on other marketing materials
IDAHO CONSERVATION LEAGUE
Ketchum, Idaho
Contracted Field Assistant April 2015 to August 2017
My main contract was focused on inventorying units in the Shoshone and Burley BLM Field Offices to see if they qualify as Lands with Wilderness Characteristics (LWC). I wrote reports and created maps for each unit to submit to the BLM for review. I also assisted ICL on other projects in the field and represent ICL at meetings.
Generated comprehensive reports for each unit, and advocated for LWC designation
Created maps using ArcGIS and edited unit boundaries based on my findings
Communicated with the BLM and engaged in field tours with both the Shoshone and Burley Field Offices
Navigated on 4WD roads and camped out in the field alone
Monitored designated routes in the proposed Borah Peak and Pioneer Mountains Wilderness Areas
Designed a pilot study in the Owyhee Canyonlands to monitor the effects of grazing
Represented ICL at the Minidoka Ranger District field tour to observe the effectiveness of recent rehab work
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
Hailey, Idaho
Conservation Easement Document Report Contractor March - July 2016
I wrote the Easement Document Report for a conservation easement The Nature Conservancy was working on with a private landowner.
Worked with staff at The Nature Conservancy and private landowners to gather historical and environmental data on the property
Conducted field work to gather information about the environmental condition of the property and assess the human impact
Created about 20 different types of maps detailing the geology, vegetation communities, riparian areas, etc. of the parcel
Compiled data into an Easement Document Report that was submitted to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for review
CENTRAL IDAHO RANGELANDS NETWORK (CIRN)
Central Idaho (Hailey, Salmon, Mackay)
Contracted Coordinator 5-15 hours/week, January 8th to August 2017
I was contracted to assist CIRN with various administrative and logistical tasks. I worked with staff at The Nature Conservancy, Wood River Land Trust and Lemhi Regional Land Trust, as well as local ranchers.
Contacted ranchers, agencies, NGOs and other CIRN members to coordinate monthly meetings
Took meeting minutes and ensured the meeting agenda moves along
Assisted with the Strategic Planning Process and helped create working groups
Helped facilitate the potential formation of a Grazing Association
Assisted CIRN members with the development of pilot projects as needed
FIELDWORK & GIS EXPERIENCE
UC SANTA CRUZ/ NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, California
Wildlife Field Technician November 2014 to March 2015
I surveyed caves in the backcountry of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park to look for winter hibernacula for multiple bat species.
Completed surveys of 50-60 caves found in the park during the field season
Hiked up to 15 miles a day with a full pack
Conducted decontamination protocol to prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome between caves
Maintained, cleaned and kept track of field equipment
Recorded data and took detailed notes of each cave
Conducted data entry and analysis of data collected while in the field
Wrote report on bat prevalence in the caves of the Park to be submitted for peer-review
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT- SHOSHONE FIELD OFFICE
Shoshone, Idaho
Biological Technician /CLM (Conservation and Land Management) Intern April to September 2014
I performed duties equivalent to a Biological Technician GS-05/06 that focus mainly on sage grouse habitat vegetation surveys and range trend monitoring vegetation surveys.
Inventoried and field checked Lands with Wilderness Characteristics (LWC) for the BLM
Conducted greater sage grouse lek surveys, recording information on numbers and sex
Surveyed lava caves for bat maternity colonies and conducted acoustic monitoring
Conducted nested frequency surveys on range trend plots
Located and GPSd range trend plots from the 1970s using handwritten directions and hand drawn maps
Collected native plant seeds according to the Seeds of Success (SOS) protocol
Collected, pressed and mounted herbarium vouchers for the Shoshone BLM Office
Learned to identify about 80 species of plants of the sagebrush steppe of southern Idaho using photographs, voucher specimens, field guides, dichotomous keys and online resource
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE- SOUTHEAST ARIZONA GROUP (SEAZ)
Southeast Arizona Region - Chiricahua National Monument, Coronado National Memorial and Fort Bowie National Historic Site
Resource Management Intern (Student Conservation Association) October 2013-March 2014
I worked in the Resource Management Division and performed duties equivalent to a Biological Technician GS-05.
Established a protocol for a wildlife camera trap study, which involved setting up over 40 cameras in the field and sorting through over 150,000 photos
Conducted and led others on my repeat photography project which used a viewshed analysis in ArcMap, historic photos, a GigaPan, and a DSLR camera to monitor landscape change in the parks
Conducted bi-monthly bat surveys with a wildlife biologist by setting up three mist nets, identifying 5-14 species per night and recording information for up to 50 bats per night
Monitored and mapped agave restoration project next to the US-Mexico Border
Conducted weekly surveys of selected birds and plants for the USA National Phenology Network
Assisted with invasive species management program by mapping Lehmann lovegrass using Trimble units and percent cover estimation techniques, and by mitigating using mechanical eradication methods
Restored native grass populations using seed collection and re-dispersal methods
NATIONAL ECOLOGICAL OBSERVATORY NETWORK (NEON)
Boulder, CO
Seasonal Biological Field Technician June-September 2013
I learned all of the protocols for all NEON field methodologies. I was part of the first ever field team for NEON and worked mainly on the Plant Crew carrying out protocols to measure plant biodiversity and biomass.
Learned to identify about 100 species of plants in the Central Plains Experimental Range of Colorado
Conducted vegetation surveys in 20x20meter plots to measure plant biodiversity on the short-grass prairie
Conducted clip harvest techniques in a 10 x 2cm clip strip to gather information on plant biomass
Operated lab equipment such as a Wiley Mill, drying oven, analytical balance, centrifugal mill, and muffle furnace to carry out laboratory protocols including plant grinding and measuring soil pH
Pressed and prepared 80 voucher plant specimens for the NEON Domain 10 Herbarium
Carried out mosquito trapping protocols by setting up, checking and taking down traps at dawn and dusk
Established 50 sampling plots in Colorado and North Dakota using TruPulse Rangefinders and Trimble units
Learned and practiced protocols for small mammal and ground beetle trapping
TRAININGS, SKILLS & CERTIFICATIONS
Trainings: Western Conservation Leadership Development Program (WCLDP): Fundamentals of Western Conservation Leadership Course 2021-2022
Software: R Statistical Computing, ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, MAXQDA qualitative analysis software
Field techniques: cluster searching, necropsies, radio telemetry, GPS collar programming & data management, wildlife collaring and blood sampling (elk and wolves), wildlife tracking, camera trapping, plant ID for the Northern Rockies, 4WD, UTV, towing experience, working in grizzly country, backcountry orienteering, horsepacking
Safety certifications: Wilderness First Responder, AIARE Level 1 (avalanche safety)
Other professional skills: public speaking, grant writing, budgeting, fundraising, project management, volunteer recruitment and management, representing organizations while meeting with state legislators (in Idaho and Washington DC), community engagement and outreach
PUBLICATIONS
Peer-reviewed Publications
Tucker, M. A., Schipper, A. M., Adams, T. S., Attias, N., Avgar, T., Babic, N. L., ...Shawler, A.L.,…. & Mueller, T. (2023). Behavioral responses of terrestrial mammals to COVID-19 lockdowns. Science, 380(6649), 1059-1064.
Xu, W., Barker, K., Shawler, A., Van Scoyoc, A., Smith, J.A., Mueller, T., Sawyer, H., Andreozzi, C., Bidder, O.R., Karandikar, H., Mumme, S., Templin, E., and A. Middleton. (2021). The plasticity of ungulate migration in a changing world. Ecology, p.e03293.
*Wilkinson, C., McInturff, A., Miller, J., Yovovich, V., Gaynor, K., Calhoun, K., Karandikar, H., Martin, J., Parker-Shames, P., Shawler, A., Van Scoyoc, A., & Brashares, J. (2020). ecological framework for contextualizing carnivore-livestock conflict. Conservation Biology. 34(4), 854-867.
*The 2021 Wildlife Society Wildlife Publication Award in the Student Paper category
Other Publications
Supporting Working Lands and Wildlife with the Four C’s: Policy Recommendations from the Conflict Reduction Consortium (pdf) May 2022
Working across the rural-urban divide: Messaging for large carnivore conflict reduction (pdf) June 2021
AWARDS AND FUNDING
USDA National Institute of Food & Agriculture Predoctoral Fellowship ($120,000) 2022-2023
AniMove Animal Movement Analysis summer school, selected participant 2022
Max-Planck Institute for Animal Behavior | Radolfzell, Germany
The Cause for Conservation Graduate Fund ($2500) 2021
ESPM, UC Berkeley
The Oliver Lyman Wildlife & Fisheries Fund Recipient ($5130) 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021
ESPM, UC Berkeley
Outstanding Student Poster Award 2018
14th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem | Big Sky, MT
PRESENTATIONS, PANELS & POSTERS
Shawler, A. April 2024. “Ecological & social challenges of wolf-livestock conflict: Investigating wolf-elk interactions and local perspectives around Cody, Wyoming”. The Wildlife Society Wyoming Chapter Conference. Cody, Wyoming. Presentation.
Shawler, A. May 2023. “Investigating socioeconomic barriers to carnivore-livestock conflict mitigation”. Pathways 2023: Human Dimensions of Wildlife Conference. Colorado State University. Fort Collins, CO. Presentation
Shawler, A. May 2022. “How migratory coupling of wolves and elk may influence patterns of wolf-livestock conflict in the eastern GYE”. 15th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in Bozeman, MT. Presentation.
Shawler, A. November 2020. “Finding Balance in the Working Wild” panel discussion. Women in Ranching Confluence virtual conference. Invited panelist.
Shawler, A. October 2019. “Wolf movements and predation in ranching landscapes of the eastern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem”. The Wildlife Society Annual Conference in Reno, NV. Poster.
Shawler, A. September 2018. “Patterns and drivers of livestock depredation along the eastern frontier of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem”. 14th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in Big Sky, MT. Poster
Shawler, A. February 2017. “Wolf-Livestock Coexistence Strategies: The Wood River Wolf Project in Central Idaho”. The Wildlife Society, Colorado Chapter – Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Symposium in Fort Collins, CO. Invited plenary speaker.
Shawler, A. February 2017. “Wolf Conservation in Colorado: Past, Present, and Future” film screening and panel discussion. Defenders of Wildlife. Fort Collins, CO. Invited panelist.
OUTREACH & SERVICE
Outreach:
Conflict Reduction Consortium documents (see Learning Materials page) 2021
MeatEater’s Campfire Stories: Close Calls audiobook contributor 2021
Draper Natural History Museum, “What does the GYE mean to you” video 2020
Invited speaker for Friends of Panthertown Webinar Series 2020
All Things Wild podcast guest. “Wolf-livestock conflict with Avery Shawler” 2020
STEMinist Club presentation at Berkeley High School 2019 & 2022
Invited speaker for Berkeley Institute for Parks, People and Biodiversity Event 2018
Idaho Representative for the Conservation Lands Foundation Washington DC Fly In 2017
Service:
Alliance of Therapy Dogs volunteer in Cody, Wyoming 2021-2023
Conflict Reduction Consortium member, Western Landowners Alliance 2020-present
The ESPM Buddy Program, UC Berkeley 2020-2021
Bay Area Scientists in Schools (BASIS), Berkeley, CA 2018-2019
Journal Reviewerships:
Ambio
Biological Conservation
Oikos
TEACHING APPOINTMENTS
Graduate Student Instructor (remote) Fall 2020
ESPM C103/IB C156 - Principles of Conservation Biology | UC Berkeley
Teaching Assistant Fall 2012
BIOL 0302 Vertebrate Natural History | Middlebury College
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH & WORK EXPERIENCE
CONSERVATION PLANNING FOR THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBURY
Middlebury, VT
GIS Conservation Consultant January 2013
I collaborated with a team of fourteen students and the Middlebury Planning Commission to create a Conservation Plan for the Town of Middlebury.
Conducted a raster-based cost surface analysis in ArcGIS 10 to identify important natural habitats and wildlife corridors in Middlebury
Prioritized areas in need of conservation protection based on our analysis and presented the results to the Middlebury Planning Commission and to the people of Middlebury
VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
Rutland, VT
Volunteer (for Senior Independent Study) Fall 2012
I created maps and conducted GIS analysis for the “Got Bats” Campaign, which employs citizen reporting of bat populations to monitor the effects of white-nose syndrome on bats in Vermont.
Met with a state wildlife technician to obtain GIS data of known summer maternity roosts in the state
Conducted a multi-criteria evaluation in ArcMap 10 to determine bat habitats and potential survey areas
Created a spatially balanced random bat surveying methodology in order to make the citizen science reporting more systematic
VERMONT NONGAME AND NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM, VT FISH & WILDLIFE
Middlebury, VT
GIS Intern Summer 2012
I mapped natural communities in Nature Conservancy lands by conducting fieldwork and using ArcGIS 10.
Identified plant species in upland and wetland communities to determine the natural community association
Used GPS units to navigate and to make waypoints and tracks with the field notes linked to them
Interpreted aerial photos and satellite imagery to identify plant communities
Created maps by combining my data and previous data collected by ecologists of the VT FWS
Researched and wrote site reports of both areas
Presented my work at the Middlebury Summer Research Symposium
ROUND RIVER CONSERVATION STUDIES
Kunene Region, Namibia
Student Scientist Fall 2011
I co-wrote the 2011 Kunene Region Ecological Analyses Report for Namibia’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism (Research Permit # 1621/2011) with the Namibia Desert Student Program. We worked in collaboration with the central 5 Kunene conservancies and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, and initiated long-term game counts to augment the annual regional game census efforts. In conjunction with these counts, Round River is also working closely with the conservancy game guards to provide needed training assistance.
Camped in remote backcountry of Namibian Desert to survey wildlife
Conducted wildlife game counts along vehicular transects and point counts at high points
Conducted distance sampling analysis and mapped data in ArcGIS
Completed Namibia Desert Student Program courses
OTHER UNDERGRADUATE JOBS
Lifeguard, Middlebury Natatorium (2009-2011)
Office Assistant, Middlebury Language Schools (2011-2012)
Travel & Logistics Coordinator for International Student Orientation, Middlebury International Student and Scholar Services (Summer 2012)
Afterschool Caretaker (2012)
