Dr Ninon Meyer
Conjoint Lecturer
School of Environmental and Life Sciences
Career Summary
Biography
I'm a wildlife ecologist with a research background in landscape connectivity, and applied conservation science. In particular, my solution-oriented research focuses on investigating the ecological interactions between terrestrial mammals and their environment, and the mechanisms that drive their movement and resource use. This information is critical in helping us understand how best to improve global biodiversity conservation and restoration strategies, and provide policy guidance.
After a double degree at Wageningen University, NL (MSc Forest & Nature Conservation) and Lasalle Beauvais, France (Agricultural engineering), I did my PhD on the behavioural movement patterns of large mammals in tropical fragmented landscapes and the implications for designing biological corridors. I used large-scale camera trapping data in Panama and movement data of white-lipped peccaries, puma and ocelot to derive landscape resistance and create a set of connectivity scenarios across the Panamanian portion of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. After completing my PhD in December 2018, I stayed for another six months in Panama to set up two wildlife conservation projects as part of the Baird's tapir Survival Alliance. The first was to understand the hunting impact on tapir populations throughout Central America. The second project was to establish a monitoring and vigilance program with indigenous people in the Darién National Park, which is a stronghold for tapirs, jaguars and macaws in the region.
My first post-doctoral was based at the University of Goettingen in Germany, and brought me to work with Prof. Matt Hayward and the Conservation Science Research Group at the University of Newcastle, Australia, to study the movement and connectivity of squirrel gliders in the suburban area of Newcastle. Currently, I am conducting my second post-doctoral position funded by a Marie Curie Fellowship, at the University of Freiburg in Southwestern Germany. I am examining the effects of retention forestry on the large mammal community in the Black Forest. While based in Freiburg, I continue to be involved in research and conservation projects in Central America and Australia through several positions (i.e., country coordinator for the IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group in Panama, and program director of the Baird's Tapir Survival Alliance in Panama www.bairdstapir.org ). As for Australia, I am Partner Investigator on the ARC Linkage Project assessing the post-fire survival of threatened macropods in Eastern Australia - led by Matt Hayward at UON. Accordingly, I was appointed Conjoint Lecturer at the University of Newcastle in 2020. These positions enable me to collaborate with fellow conservationists/researchers on several continents.
Qualifications
- Phd in Ecology and Sustainable Development, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur- Mexica
Keywords
- Animal spatial ecology
- Camera trapping
- Conservation biology
- GPS-telemetry
- Landscape connectivity
- Large terrestrial mammals
- Movement ecology
- Neotropical forests
Languages
- French (Mother)
- Spanish (Fluent)
- English (Fluent)
Professional Experience
Professional appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
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15/6/2019 - 15/12/2020 | PRIME DAAD Fellow | University of Göttingen, Germany and University of Newcastle, Australia Wildlife Sciences, Faculty of Forest Sciences (Goettingen) and School of Environmental and Life Sciences (UON) Germany |
1/1/2021 - 31/12/2022 | Marie Curie-Sklodowska Fellow | The University of Freiburg Wildlife Ecology and Management Germany |
Awards
Award
Year | Award |
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2019 |
Society for Conservation Biology Travel Award Society for Conservation Biology |
2017 |
Prestigious Travel Award International Federation of Mammalogists |
2015 |
Society for Conservation Biology Travel Award Society for Conservation Biology |
Recipient
Year | Award |
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2021 |
Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Research Fellowship European Commission, European Union |
2019 |
Postdoctoral Researchers International Mobility Experience German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) |
Scholarship
Year | Award |
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2017 |
Short-term Research Grant German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) |
2015 |
Postgraduate Scholarship National Council of Science and Technology |
2013 |
Predoctoral Fellowship Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Chapter (1 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | |||||
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2019 |
Meyer NFV, Moreno R, Martínez-Morales MA, Reyna-Hurtado R, 'Spatial ecology of a large and endangered tropical mammal: The white-lipped peccary in Darién, Panama', Movement Ecology of Neotropical Forest Mammals: Focus on Social Animals 77-93 (2019) © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019. Large mammals are negatively affected by habitat loss, fragmentation, and hunting. Thus, many of them are nowadays in urgent need of conserv... [more] © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019. Large mammals are negatively affected by habitat loss, fragmentation, and hunting. Thus, many of them are nowadays in urgent need of conservation actions to decrease their risk of extinction. Examining space use of large mammals by integrating empirical data and modeling is a primary prerequisite both for basic ecological understanding and for effective conservation planning. In this study, we investigated the basic spatial ecology of the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), a keystone ungulate species in the Neotropics. Specifically, we examined the home range and habitat use of the species in the Darién, Panama, which constitutes one of the last remaining strongholds for the species in Mesoamerica. In May and July 2016, we fitted GPS collars on two white-lipped peccaries from different herds and monitored them during 15 months and 1 month. The two herds used an area covered by mature forest and did not venture into disturbed areas during the time we monitored them. Both herds displayed home ranging behavior, and their estimated home range sizes were 58 km2 and 25 km2. The herd that was followed during 15 months showed little difference between seasonal home ranges, suggesting that the forest of Darién provided enough resources throughout the year for the herd to remain in the same area. Based on this study and other research in Panama, we consider that the white-lipped peccary population in Darién is healthy contrasting with many other sites in the country. Management actions need to address both the hunting pressure and the protection of large continuous tracts of undisturbed forests to guarantee the persistence of the species in Panama.
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Journal article (15 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
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2020 |
Meyer NFV, Balkenhol N, Dutta T, Hofman M, Meyer JY, Ritchie EG, et al., 'Beyond species counts for assessing, valuing, and conserving biodiversity: response to Wallach et al. 2019', Conservation Biology, (2020)
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2020 |
Thornton D, Reyna R, Perera-Romero L, Radachowsky J, Hidalgo-Mihart MG, Garcia R, et al., 'Precipitous decline of white-lipped peccary populations in Mesoamerica', BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION, 242 (2020)
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2020 |
Schank CJ, Cove M, Arima EY, Brandt LSE, Brenes-Mora E, Carver A, et al., 'Population status, connectivity, and conservation action for the endangered Baird's tapir', BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION, 245 (2020)
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2020 |
Callen A, Hayward MW, Klop-Toker K, Allen BL, Ballard G, Broekhuis F, et al., 'Envisioning the future with compassionate conservation : An ominous projection for native wildlife and biodiversity', Biological Conservation, 241 (2020) © 2019 Elsevier Ltd The ¿Compassionate Conservation¿ movement is gaining momentum through its promotion of ¿ethical¿ conservation practices based on self-proclaimed principles of ... [more] © 2019 Elsevier Ltd The ¿Compassionate Conservation¿ movement is gaining momentum through its promotion of ¿ethical¿ conservation practices based on self-proclaimed principles of ¿first-do-no-harm¿ and ¿individuals matter¿. We argue that the tenets of ¿Compassionate Conservation¿ are ideological - that is, they are not scientifically proven to improve conservation outcomes, yet are critical of the current methods that do. In this paper we envision a future with ¿Compassionate Conservation¿ and predict how this might affect global biodiversity conservation. Taken literally, ¿Compassionate Conservation¿ will deny current conservation practices such as captive breeding, introduced species control, biocontrol, conservation fencing, translocation, contraception, disease control and genetic introgression. Five mainstream conservation practices are used to illustrate the far-reaching and dire consequences for global biodiversity if governed by ¿Compassionate Conservation¿. We acknowledge the important role of animal welfare science in conservation practices but argue that ¿Compassionate Conservation¿ aligns more closely with animal liberation principles protecting individuals over populations. Ultimately we fear that a world of ¿Compassionate Conservation¿ could stymie the global conservation efforts required to meet international biodiversity targets derived from evidenced based practice, such as the Aichi targets developed by the Convention on Biological Diversity and adopted by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and the United Nations.
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2019 |
Hody AW, Moreno R, Meyer NFV, Pacifici K, Kays R, 'Canid collision-expanding populations of coyotes (Canis latrans) and crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous) meet up in Panama', JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY, 100 1819-1830 (2019)
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2019 |
Schank CJ, Cove M, Kelly MJ, Nielsen CK, O'Farrill G, Meyer N, et al., 'A Sensitivity Analysis of the Application of Integrated Species Distribution Models to Mobile Species: A Case Study with the Endangered Baird's Tapir', ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, 46 184-192 (2019)
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2019 |
Reyna-Hurtado R, Sima-Pantí D, Andrade M, Padilla A, Retana-Guaiscon O, Sanchez-Pinzón K, et al., 'Tapir population patterns under the disappearance of freestanding water', Therya, 10 353-358 (2019) © 2019 Asociación Mexicana de Mastozoología. Baird¿s tapir is the largest Neotropical tapir species, and it is considered Endangered by the IUCN. The Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (C... [more] © 2019 Asociación Mexicana de Mastozoología. Baird¿s tapir is the largest Neotropical tapir species, and it is considered Endangered by the IUCN. The Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (CBR) is the largest protected tropical forest in Mexico. The CBR is at the heart of the Maya Forest, a tri-national forest located in Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize that is the largest tropical forest outside the Amazon River basin. Free-standing water in the CBR occurs in only a few ephemeral ponds. These ponds are rare in the landscape, with a mean density of one pond in every 10 km2, and with an average distance among ponds of 3 km. Only some of these ponds have free-standing water in every year. A decreasing trend in water availability from these ponds was detected from 2008 to 2018. Our present objective was to document population of the tapirs during these 11 years, and reveal any relationship to the pattern of water availability. Using the technique of photo-trapping, we monitored from 9 to 15 ponds over a period of 8 years (a total of more than 18,000 camera-days) during the 11-year period. Results showed that although the population remained relatively stable, the index of relative abundance indicated a slight decrease in population abundance and in some sites seemed at least superficially associated with decreasing water availability. Such long-term population studies are becoming more important for estimating the impacts of possible changes and for predicting the future of populations. In turn, they assist the conservation of endangered and sensitive species such as Baird¿s tapir.
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2019 |
Sánchez-Pinzón K, Reyna-Hurtado R, Meyer NFV, 'Moon light and the activity patterns of baird s tapir in the Calakmul region, Southern Mexico', Therya, 11 (2019) © 2020 Asociación Mexicana de Mastozoología. The Baird¿s tapir (Tapirella bairdii) is an endangered species throughout its distribution area, however many aspects of its biology a... [more] © 2020 Asociación Mexicana de Mastozoología. The Baird¿s tapir (Tapirella bairdii) is an endangered species throughout its distribution area, however many aspects of its biology and ecology have been poorly studied, due to its evasive behavior and low densities. The goal of this study was to evaluate the activity patterns of T. bairdii, a large ungulate species from the Neotropics, in relation to moon phases in two sites with different degree of human perturbation: the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (CBR) and the Nuevo Becal (NB) community. We monitored twenty waterbodies in each site for 18 months using camera traps. The photographic capture rate (CR) and the corresponding moon phases for both sites were recorded. The CR of T. bairdii was 0.054 in NB and 0.029 in CBR. T. bairdii was more active at night and dawn-twilight periods. In general, T. bairdii showed major activity during the dark moon phases but the differences with the light phases were not statistically significant. However, we found a trend of tapirs to be more active in dark nights and in the darkest hours in NB than CBR. The apparent preferences for dark nights in NB could be caused by the perturbation caused by human activities at site, which may have influenced the behavior of the tapir that avoid moving out in periods of abundant light in disturbed sites. More research is needed to confirm this finding.
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2019 |
Hayward MW, Callen A, Allen BL, Ballard G, Broekhuis F, Bugir C, et al., 'Deconstructing compassionate conservation', Conservation Biology, 33 760-768 (2019) [C1] © 2019 Society for Conservation Biology Compassionate conservation focuses on 4 tenets: first, do no harm; individuals matter; inclusivity of individual animals; and peaceful coex... [more] © 2019 Society for Conservation Biology Compassionate conservation focuses on 4 tenets: first, do no harm; individuals matter; inclusivity of individual animals; and peaceful coexistence between humans and animals. Recently, compassionate conservation has been promoted as an alternative to conventional conservation philosophy. We believe examples presented by compassionate conservationists are deliberately or arbitrarily chosen to focus on mammals; inherently not compassionate; and offer ineffective conservation solutions. Compassionate conservation arbitrarily focuses on charismatic species, notably large predators and megaherbivores. The philosophy is not compassionate when it leaves invasive predators in the environment to cause harm to vastly more individuals of native species or uses the fear of harm by apex predators to terrorize mesopredators. Hindering the control of exotic species (megafauna, predators) in situ will not improve the conservation condition of the majority of biodiversity. The positions taken by so-called compassionate conservationists on particular species and on conservation actions could be extended to hinder other forms of conservation, including translocations, conservation fencing, and fertility control. Animal welfare is incredibly important to conservation, but ironically compassionate conservation does not offer the best welfare outcomes to animals and is often ineffective in achieving conservation goals. Consequently, compassionate conservation may threaten public and governmental support for conservation because of the limited understanding of conservation problems by the general public.
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2018 |
Fort JL, Nielsen CK, Carver AD, Moreno R, Meyer NFV, 'Factors influencing local attitudes and perceptions regarding jaguars &ITPanthera onca&IT and National Park conservation in Panama', ORYX, 52 282-291 (2018)
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2017 |
Schank CJ, Cove MV, Kelly MJ, Mendoza E, O'Farrill G, Reyna-Hurtado R, et al., 'Using a novel model approach to assess the distribution and conservation status of the endangered Baird's tapir', DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, 23 1459-1471 (2017)
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2016 |
Meyer NFV, Moreno R, Sanches E, Ortega J, Brown E, Jansen PA, 'Do protected areas in Panama support intact assemblages of ungulates?', Therya, 7 65-76 (2016) © 2016 Asociación Mexicana de Mastozoología. Ungulates play an essential role in terrestrial ecosystems, but suffer from hunting and habitat degradation which often results in the... [more] © 2016 Asociación Mexicana de Mastozoología. Ungulates play an essential role in terrestrial ecosystems, but suffer from hunting and habitat degradation which often results in their decline. Panama harbors five species of ungulate and is an important portion of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, but its forest habitat and its fauna are currently threatened. Protected areas have been designated to preserve the biodiversity, but studies evaluating their effectiveness in maintaining ungulates are lacking in Panama. In this study we used camera-trapping surveys to determine the occurrence and abundance of the ungulate species in 13 protected areas across Panama. There were large differences in the ungulate communities among the sites we surveyed. Some sites were impoverished with just one ungulate species recorded while just a single site harbored all five species. The white-lipped peccary was the rarest species and the collared peccaries the most common, captured in all the sites. Moreover, we found large variation in ungulate abundance across the sites. Our results indicate that few protected areas in Panama effectively maintain the entire assemblage of ungulate species.
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2015 |
Meyer NFV, Esser HJ, Moreno R, van Langevelde F, Liefting Y, Oller DR, et al., 'An assessment of the terrestrial mammal communities in forests of Central Panama, using camera-trap surveys', JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION, 26 28-35 (2015)
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Show 12 more journal articles |
Other (1 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
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2014 |
'Tapirus bairdii: Garcìa, M., Jordan, C., O'Farril, G., Poot, C., Meyer, N., Estrada, N., Leonardo, R., Naranjo, E., Simons, Á., Herrera, A., Urgilés, C., Schank, C., Boshoff, L. & Ruiz-Galeano, M.', (2014) [O1]
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Grants and Funding
Summary
Number of grants | 7 |
---|---|
Total funding | $330,000 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20201 grants / $7,000
Restoring connectivity for the threatened squirrel glider in an increasingly fragmented and urbanised core of NSW.$7,000
Funding body: Royal Zoological Society of NSW
Funding body | Royal Zoological Society of NSW |
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Project Team | Doctor Ninon Meyer, Professor Matthew Hayward, Associate Professor John Clulow |
Scheme | Paddy Pallin Science Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2020 |
Funding Finish | 2022 |
GNo | G1901205 |
Type Of Funding | C3112 - Aust Not for profit |
Category | 3112 |
UON | Y |
20181 grants / $110,000
Addressing the Threat of Baird’s Tapir Poaching in Central America$110,000
Funding body: National Geographic Society
Funding body | National Geographic Society |
---|---|
Project Team | Ninon Meyer, Esteban Brenes, Armando Dans, Nereyda Estrada, Manolo Garcia & Christopher Jordan |
Scheme | Research Grant |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2018 |
Funding Finish | 2019 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | External |
Category | EXTE |
UON | N |
20172 grants / $124,000
Baird's tapir Survival Initiative$115,000
Funding body: US Fish & Wildlife Services
Funding body | US Fish & Wildlife Services |
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Project Team | Ninon Meyer, Manolo Garcia, Nereyda Estrada, Armando Dans, Esteban Brenes-Mora & Christopher Jordan |
Scheme | Wildlife Without Borders - LAC Central America 2017 |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2017 |
Funding Finish | 2019 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | External |
Category | EXTE |
UON | N |
Movement and Conservation of Large Endangered Ungulates in the Darién: The Tapir and the White-Lipped Peccary$9,000
Funding body: The Rufford Foundation
Funding body | The Rufford Foundation |
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Scheme | The Rufford Small Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2017 |
Funding Finish | 2018 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | External |
Category | EXTE |
UON | N |
20153 grants / $89,000
Using large mammals as umbrella species to improve landscape connectivity in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor$75,000
Funding body: Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovacíon
Funding body | Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovacíon |
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Project Team | Ninon Meyer, Ricardo Moreno, Rafael Reyna-Hurtado |
Scheme | F I+D |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2015 |
Funding Finish | 2017 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | External |
Category | EXTE |
UON | N |
Participatory Monitoring of the Baird’s Tapir in the Darién, Panama$9,000
Funding body: The Rufford Foundation
Funding body | The Rufford Foundation |
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Scheme | The Rufford Small Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2015 |
Funding Finish | 2016 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | External |
Category | EXTE |
UON | N |
Movement and Conservation of the Baird's tapir in the Darién National Park, Panama$5,000
Funding body: GEMAS/Fondo Darién
Funding body | GEMAS/Fondo Darién |
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Scheme | Student Research Grant |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2015 |
Funding Finish | 2016 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | External |
Category | EXTE |
UON | N |
Dr Ninon Meyer
Position
Conjoint Lecturer
School of Environmental and Life Sciences
College of Engineering, Science and Environment
Contact Details
ninon.meyer@newcastle.edu.au |