EDUCATION:

2004. Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, Saint Louis University.    Advisors: Drs. Cheryl Asa and Tom Valone

1995. M.S. in Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming – Laramie.    Advisor: Dr. Henry Harlow

1991. B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut –    Storrs.

2011– Present. Research Associate. Department of Biology at the University of    Missouri – St. Louis.

2008 – Present. Lecturer. Department of Biology (Environmental Studies Program)    at Washington University in St. Louis.

2004 – 2010. Post-Doctoral Fellow. Department of Biology at the University of    Missouri – St. Louis. Mentor: Dr. Patricia Parker

1995- 2004. Research Assistant/Database Manager. Saint Louis Zoo Research    Department

While my research interests are diverse, they are focused on understanding the basic biology and ecological interactions that occur at both the species and community level. I have used a variety of approaches to address this research question including behavioral ecology, physiological ecology, reproductive physiology, general ecology, ecological genetics, and species’ distribution/status. My research has been conducted with both wild and captive populations, as the latter can provide insight into basic biological information that may be impossible to collect in the field. I have conducted field research in several Neotropical countries including Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. The majority of these field studies have been focused on understanding the community structure of neotropical carnivores. Details on a few of these studies are listed below:

2009 - present: This is a collaborative study with Argentinean colleagues that uses three noninvasive techniques (detection dogs to locate scat, genetic analyses of scats, GIS technology) to determine how four landscape carnivores (jaguar, puma, bush dog, ocelot) are moving both in and between protected areas in the northern-central portion of Misiones Argentina. The goal is to expand our knowledge of how these species are moving through the landscape so we can determine locations for biological corridors/wildlife crossings that maximize animal movement and minimize human-wildlife conflict (DeMatteo et al. In Prep). Three critical components to the success of this research program are the involvement of local undergraduate/graduate students in the field work, extensive training programs on the techniques used in the study, and an intensive conservation education program for the primary/secondary schools in the region.

2007-2008: In general, standard field techniques (e.g., live-traps, camera traps, hair snares) have had little success at gathering much needed ecological information on many rare and elusive carnivores, including the bush dog. This study switched the focus from attracting species to a particular location to locating evidence that is left during an animal’s natural movements (e.g., scat). This collaborative pilot study demonstrated that detection dogs are effective at detecting rare canids in the dense forest of Misiones Argentina despite the dense vegetation and difficult terrain (DeMatteo et al. 2009a).

2006 – 2007: Characterized eight dinucleotide microsatellite loci and confirmed sexing primers (DBX6 and DBY7) for the bush dog (DeMatteo et al. 2009b). These loci and primers were developed with the goal to use them in future studies and population ecology of wild bush dogs, such as with scat collected with the assistance of detection dogs.

2004 - 2005: Very little is known about the bush dog’s ecology mainly because they are extremely difficult to observe and capture. I collaborated with Brazilian colleagues on the first systematic ecological study with bush dogs in the wild. This study, which involved the capture and marking of a family of bush dogs with VHS radio collars, successfully gathered detailed data on their behavioral ecology, including details on daily activity patterns, home range size, habitat use, and diet (Lima et al. In Review).

2003: Due to the difficulties associated with learning about the bush dog’s ecological requirements and distribution in the field, I created a survey of people working in the area of carnivore conservation in an attempt to use indirect methodologies to determine the bush dog’s conservation status in the wild, public and governmental attitudes towards the species, its current distribution, identify ecological needs by correlating habitat types to bush dog sightings, and identify species-specific conservation efforts. GIS analyses allowed the status of bush dog habitat to be re-evaluated and areas that require more intensive research and protection to be identified (DeMatteo and Loiselle 2008). The survey also demonstrated that despite the lack of human-bush dog conflict, largely indifferent public attitudes, and the high value the government places on bush dog conservation, bush dogs continue to be threatened by the destruction of their habitat and the lack of enforcement of protection laws (DeMatteo 2008).

1999 - 2001: The goal of this study was to use insights on bush dog olfactory (urine) and auditory communication (long call vocalizations) to develop a field technique to increase the probability of locating and, thereby, studying bush dogs in the wild. Field data indicated that the combination of taped long calls and deposition of conspecific urine may lure bush dogs to a specific location (DeMatteo et al. 2004a). More data on visitation frequency, stimulus habituation, and habitat differences are needed to optimize the technique’s potential value.