Graduate Assistant

• Conducted survey design sensitivity analyses to determine the best protocol for monitoring the federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow in Everglades National Park, Florida.

Graduate Assistant

• Coordinated ongoing research on the conservation of the Federally Endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis) (CSSS) in Everglades National Park
• Collected, analyzed, and published field data on the relationship between fire and the demography of the CSSS
• Obtained federal and state permits for conducting research in Everglades National Park (park permit) and on an endangered species (FWS)
• Produced annual reports for both the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Park Service CESI program

• Presented findings and advised management efforts at annual adaptive management meetings in coordination with Everglades Fire Management and Everglades NP wildlife biologists

Teaching Assistant - Ornithology (Spring)

• Developed curriculum for laboratory portion of Ornithology course, including original lecture material, laboratory procedures and interactive course website (eCompanion)
• Designed two semester-long field projects, digital photography and bioacoustics, for students to apply concepts learned in lecture
• Developed two practical laboratory exams per semester
• Guest lecturer for Ornithology on topics of Evolution of Bird Song, Patterns of Migration, and Conservation

• Supported lecturer by facilitating group discussions
• Prepared online quizzes twice a week to test student knowledge of lecture material
• Provided performance evaluations for each student, twice during the semester
• Held regular office hours during the week to provide student support and engagement

• Organized evening review sessions before each of the two cumulative examinations

Co-Instructor - Field Techniques in Ecology & Evolution (Spring)

• Developed unique presentation material to stimulate collaborative group activities and experiential learning throughout week-long course
• Led students through group discussions and decision-making process
• Mentored student groups and guided them during experimental design and implementation
• Provided expertise support for students and worked to keep student groups on task during independent learning

• Evaluated final project results and provided feedback to groups for interactive reflection at end of course
• Responsible for oversight of 20 undergraduates in a remote field environment for one week per semester

Co-Instructor - Ecology & Evolution of the Jersey Shore

• Developed a Freshman seminar course aimed to foster understanding of evolutionary and ecological concepts through exploration of the New Jersey shoreline
• Created lectures ranging from shoreline physiognomy to coastal community dynamics to introduce students to ecological concepts within the primary literature
• Developed field lectures illuminating ecological and evolutionary concepts for two full-day field trips to coastal ecosystems
• Provided constructive criticism for writing assignments aimed at developing critical analytical skills

Teaching Assistant - Invertebrate Zoology

• Taught 2 laboratory sections of Invertebrate Zoology, composed of a lecture, lab demonstration, and support during execution
• Developed two practical laboratory exams per semester
• Researched and prepared lab experiments
• Provided performance evaluations for each student, twice during the semester

• Held regular office hours during the week to provide student support and engagement
• Provided administrative support for lecture instructor

Teaching Assistant - General Biology

Cartographic Technician

• Designed a GIS Geodatabase to manage 50 years of fire perimeter data for the 1.5 million acre National Park
• Populated the GIS with fire perimeter data through digitization of hardcopy, as well as digitally obtained data
• Developed Standard Operating Procedures for GPS data collection
• Provided primary GIS support during both prescription and wildland fire operations

• Managed all Everglades Fire GIS data
• Provided daily GIS and GPS support for 35 Everglades Fire Management personnel

Teaching Assistant - General Biology

Field Biologist

• Used GPS and GIS to design and install a two-square kilometer study plot in Everglades National Park
• Created a dynamic GIS project to monitor the effects of fire on the endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow (CSSS) (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis)
• Resighted color-banded CSSS individuals
• Created territory maps for CSSS individuals within the study plot

Field Biologist

• Used GPS and GIS to map TFI property and locations of study transects, study plots, and individual trees
• Created an expandable GIS project to aid in the reforestation efforts of TFI
• Created digital and paper-based maps to aid in the relocation of study sites
• Collected and processed tree measurement data

Research Assistant

• Mapped, tagged, and monitored all known extant populations of Jacquemontia reclinata (Beach Jacquemontia) using
• GPS (Trimble ProXRS) and GIS (ArcView 3.2; ERDAS Imagine)
• Created a GIS database of all known individual J. reclinata plants
• Created professional digital and paper-based maps of J. reclinata populations

• Designed several field experiments to test effects of microhabitat variables on J. reclinata recruitment and
• establishment
• Excavated and illustrated root system of J. reclinata
• Prepared annual and semi-annual reports for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• Collected GPS data and created a GIS project for the monitoring and restoration of Pseudophoenix sargentii to
• Elliott Key, Florida
• Created digital and paper-based maps to aid in the monitoring of four endangered species endemic to the South
• Florida Pine Rockland community

• Created a database of all plant species found in the Coastal Dune community of South Florida
• Collaborated with land managers at county, state, and national levels
• Provided field and office support for Director of Conservation
• Assisted senior scientists in collection of data and analysis of results

Research Technician

• Independently conducted breeding bird point count surveys in Costa Rica, within three distinct habitats: monoculture plantation, native forest and pastureland
• Assessed vegetation at each site by measuring DBH, canopy height, percent canopy cover and understory density
• Mastered the identification of over 250 bird species in SW Costa Rica by sight and sound
• Marked 50 meter fixed radius points to prepare sites for sampling

• Analyzed topographical maps and other data to select viable point-count locations

Environmental Educator

• Conducted environmental education activities for children grades K-9
• Created curriculum and provided instruction on diverse topics including: Everglades Wildlife, Plants of South Florida, Native Plant Landscaping, Florida's Water, Alternative Energy, Organic Gardening and Butterfly Gardening
• Constructed nature trails and restored native Pine-Rockland
• Developed a program teaching children bird identification techniques

• Designed and maintained organic vegetable and butterfly gardens

Research Technician

• Collected and processed tree measurement data for rainforest restoration project
• Designed new study transects and plots for future research
• Identified local flora and fauna including an extensive number of plant and bird species
• Ability to work independently and adapt easily to foreign surroundings resulted in early completion of project

Naturalist Guide

• Lead three nature walks per day through primary and secondary Cloud Forest
• Taught about local flora and fauna as well as local history
• Guided groups through a system of cables and platforms 80-110 feet above the ground, immersed in the forest canopy
• Gained knowledge of canopy flora and fauna as well as rock climbing gear and safety techniques

Doctor of Philosophy (Ecology & Evolution)

• Dissertation Title: Effects of fire on the Cape Sable seaside sparrow: Adaptive management planning for the future state of a restored Everglades ecosystem
• Tested the direct effect of fire on the demography and habitat structure and composition of the federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis) in Everglades National Park
• Identified the mechanistic link between fire and recolonization of burned habitat by sparrows (La Puma et al. 2007)
• Employed occupancy modeling to scale our results to the landscape level and determined the pattern of sparrow return time after fire (La Puma et al, In Prep)
• Conducted a sensitivity and feasibility analysis of three survey methods to aid management in detecting changes to sparrow abundance and occupancy (La Puma, In Prep)

Bachelor of Arts (Planned Studies - Environmental Studies)

2008 Pennington, NJ. Birdwatching on a Mega-Scale: Using Doppler Radar to predict birding conditions in your neck of the woods. Washington Crossing Audubon Society.

2008 Red Bank, NJ. Birdwatching on a Mega-Scale: Using Doppler Radar to predict birding conditions in your neck of the woods. Monmouth County Audubon Society.

2007 Homestead, FL. Eight steps toward better management of the Cape Sable seaside sparrow. Everglades Fire Management working group.

2007 Doylestown, PA. Birdwatching on a Mega-Scale: Using Doppler Radar to predict birding conditions in your neck of the woods. Bucks County Bird Club.

2007 Philadelphia, PA. Birdwatching on a Mega-Scale: Using Doppler Radar to predict birding conditions in your neck of the woods. Delaware Valley Ornithological Club.

2007 Burlington, NJ. Fall migration over New Jersey. Burlington County Naturalists.

2006 Homestead, FL. From Lopez to the Landscape: Beginning to See the Big Picture. Everglades Fire Management working group.

2006 Veracruz, MX. Poster presentation; Little Sparrow on the Prairie: A Landscape Approach to Estimating Return Time of the Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis) following fire. North American Ornithological Congress.

2005 Homestead, FL. Fire, Who Needs It? An empirical look at fire effects on the Cape Sable seaside sparrow in Everglades National Park. Everglades Fire Management working group.

2005 Santa Barbara, CA. Fire, Who Needs It? An empirical look at fire effects on the Cape Sable seaside sparrow in Everglades National Park. American Ornithologists' Union.

2004 Homestead, FL. And a Fire Runs Through It: The Return of the Cape Sable seaside sparrow following fire. Everglades Fire Management working group.

La Puma, D.A., Cassey, P, Lockwood, J.L. Change in Cape Sable seaside sparrow site use after fire in Everglades National Park, Florida: importance of fire characteristics and time-since-fire. Ecological Applications, In Prep.

Baiser, B.H., Lockwood, J.L., La Puma, D.A., and Aronson, M.F., 2008. A Perfect Storm: Two Ecosystem Engineers Interact to Degrade Deciduous Forests of New Jersey. Biological Invasions 10 (6), 785-795.

La Puma, D.A., Lockwood, J.L., Davis, M.J., 2007. Endangered species management requires a new look at the benefit of fire: The Cape Sable seaside sparrow in the Everglades ecosystem. Biological Conservation 136, 398-407.

La Puma, D.A. July-August 2007. Mega-Scale Observations: Use weather radar to predict birding conditions in your neck of the woods. WildBird Magazine 21 (4), 34-39.

2007 Lockwood, J.L., La Puma, D.A., Cassey, P., Davis, M.J., and Fenn, K.H. Final Report: Fire effects on Cape Sable seaside sparrow Demography. Everglades National Park, Homestead, Florida.

2007 Lockwood, J.L., Boulton, R.L., Baiser, B.H., Davis, M.J., and La Puma, D.A. Detailed study of Cape Sable seaside sparrow nest success and causes of nest failure. Recovering small populations of the Cape Sable seaside sparrow. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Vero Beach, Florida.

2006 Lockwood, J.L., La Puma, D.A., Cassey, P., Davis, M.J., Fenn, K.H. Effects of fire on the Cape Sable seaside sparrow 2006 Annual Report. US National Park Service, Homestead, Florida.

2004 Lockwood, J.L. and La Puma, D.A., Fire effects on Cape Sable seaside sparrow demography: 2004 final report. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Vero Beach, Florida.

Hutcheson Memorial Forest Summer Research Grant, (2008) $1,500 - Avian diversity and distribution across a successional gradient at the Hutcheson Memorial Forest (continued funding)

Hutcheson Memorial Forest Summer Research Grant, (2007) $1,500 - Avian diversity and distribution across a successional gradient at the Hutcheson Memorial Forest (continued funding)

Hutcheson Memorial Forest Summer Research Grant, (2006) $1,200 - Avian diversity and distribution across a successional gradient at the Hutcheson Memorial Forest

American Ornithologists' Union Student Travel Award, (2006) $450 - Travel to IV North

American Ornithological Conference, Veracruz, Mexico.

Rutgers Graduate School Travel Award, (2006) $200 - Travel to IV North American Ornithological Conference, Veracruz, Mexico.

2007 - American Birding Association
2006 - American Ornithologists' Union
2005 - American Association for the Advancement of Science
2004 - 2005 Society for Conservation Biology

Knowledge of written and spoken Spanish