curriculum vitae - zach j. farriszachfarris.yolasite.com/resources/farris zj - cv.pdf · karpanty...

1 Z.J. Farris

Curriculum vitae

Zach J. Farris, PhD Auburn University ∞ Assistant Research Professor ∞ Instructor

Mad Dog Initiative ∞ Non-profit President & Co-Founder

Address: 349 Funchess Hall

Department of Biological Sciences

Auburn University, Auburn AL 36830

Phone: (540) 818 0119

Email : [email protected]

Personal Website: www.zachfarris.yolasite.com

Non-profit Mad Dog Initiative: www.maddoginitiative.com

EDUCATION

2014 Ph.D. Virginia Tech (Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Conservation). Dissertation:

“Carnivore ecology across the Masoala-Makira Landscape, Madagascar.”

2006 M.S. University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Wildlife Sciences). Thesis:

“Presence and distribution of Aye-Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)

across primary and secondary forest at Ranomafana, Madagascar.”

2003 B.S. University of Central Arkansas (Dept. of Biology).

POST DOCTORAL TRAINING

2014 – 2016 Mad Dog Initiative: Controlling feral dogs to conserve Madagascar’s

wildlife.” Collaborating with Dr. Patricia Wright, Centre Valbio & Stony

Brook University.

APPOINTMENTS

2016 – Present Asst. Research Prof / Instructor Auburn University (Dept. of

Biological Sciences)

2015 – 2016 Adjunct Faculty Virginia Tech (Dept. of Fish &

Wildlife Conservation)

2014 – 2016 Postdoctoral researcher Centre Valbio, Ranomafana National

Park, Madagascar

2009 – 2014 Graduate Research/Teaching Virginia Tech (Dept. of Fish and

Assistant Wildlife Conservation)

2006 – 2009 Instructor University of Arkansas Little Rock

(Dept. of Biology)

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.zachfarris.yolasite.com/

http://www.maddoginitiative.com/

2 Z.J. Farris

2004 – 2006 Graduate Teaching Assistant University of Arkansas Little Rock

(Dept. of Biology)

PUBLICATIONS

*undergraduate student; ** graduate student (advisory role); ***Malagasy researcher/student

Peer-Reviewed

**Murphy A., Farris Z.J., Kelly M.J., Karpanty S., and **Ratelolahy F. (In Press). Using

camera traps to examine distribution and occupancy trends of ground-dwelling rainforest

birds in northeastern Madagascar. Bird Conservation International.

Farris Z.J., Kelly M., Karpanty S., **Murphy A., ***Andrianjakarivelo V.,***Ratelolahy F.,

and Holmes C. (2016). The times are a changin’: Multi-season surveys reveal exotics

replace native carnivores in a rainforest community. Biological Conservation. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.10.025

**Murphy A., Farris Z.J., Karpanty S., ***Andrianjakarivelo V., and Kelly M.J. (2016).

Landscape and dynamic trends in small mammal occupancy in the Masoala and Makira

protected areas, northeastern Madagascar. Submitted to Journal of Mammalogy. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw168

Valenta K., Gettinger-Larson J., Chapman C., and Z.J. Farris. (2016). Barking up the

right tree: Understanding local attitudes towards dogs in villages surrounding

Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar can benefit applied conservation. Madagascar

Conservation & Development. DOI: 10.4314/mcd.v11i2.4

Brown K ѱ., Farris Z.J., et al. (2016). Modeling co-occurrence between toxic prey and naïve

predators in an incipient invasion. Biodiversity and Conservation. DOI: 10.1007/s10531-

016-1198-3 (ѱ Dual first author)

**Murphy A., Farris Z.J., Karpanty S., ***Andrianjakarivelo V., and Kelly M.J. (2016).

Estimating Encounter Rates and Densities of Three Lemur Species in Northeastern

Madagascar. International Journal of Primatology, Vol. 37 (3): 371-389.

Farris Z.J., Golden C., Karpanty S., **Murphy, A., Stauffer D., ***Andrianjakarivelo

V.,***Ratelolahy F., and Holmes C , Kelly M.J (2015). Hunting, Exotic Carnivores, and

Habitat Loss: Anthropogenic Effects on a Native Carnivore Community, Madagascar.

PLOS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136456.

Farris Z.J., Karpanty S., Kelly M., **Murphy A., ***Ratelolahy F., and Holmes C. (2015).

Patterns of spatial co-occurrence among native and exotic carnivores in north-eastern

Madagascar. Journal of Animal Conservation, Vol. 19 (2): 189-198.

Farris Z.J., Gerber B., Kelly M.J., Karpanty S., **Murphy, A., and ***Andrianjakarivelo V.,

(2015). When carnivores roam: temporal patterns and overlap among Madagascar’s

native and exotic carnivores. Journal of Zoology, Vol. 296 (1): 45-57.

Farris Z.J., *Boone H., Karpanty S., Kelly M., and **Murphy A. (2015). Feral cats and the

fitoaty: first population assessment of the black forest cat in Madagascar’s rainforests.

Journal of Mammalogy, Vol. 97 (2): 518-525.

Farris Z.J., Karpanty S., ***Ratelolahy F., and Kelly M.J. (2014). Predator-primate distribution,

activity, and co-occurrence in relation to habitat and human activity across fragmented

and contiguous forests in northeastern Madagascar. International Journal of Primatology

Vol. 35 (5): 859-880.

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Farris Z.J., Kelly M., ***Andrianjakarivelo V.,***Ratelolahy F., Karpanty S., and Holmes C. (2012). Confirmation of Brown-tailed mongoose (Salanoia concolor) across Makira

Protected Area: Photographic evidence from camera trapping. Small Carnivore

Conservation. Vol. 47: 82–86.

**Sefczek, T.L., Farris, Z.J., and Wright, P. (2012). Aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)

feeding strategies at Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar: An indirect sampling

method. Folia Primatologica 83(1):1-10.

Farris Z.J., *T. Sefczek, T.L. Morelli, and P.C. Wright. (2011) Presence and Distribution of

Aye-Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) within Ranomafana National Park,

Madagascar. Folia Primatologica 82(2):94-106.

Book Chapters

Farris Z.J., Gerber, B., Karpanty S., Kelly M., and Ratelolahy F. (In Press). Spatio-temporal

overlap between a native and exotic carnivore in Madagascar: Evidence of competitive

exclusion. In Small Carnivores: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior, and Conservation. Editor

Emmanuel Do Linh San. Wiley-Blackwell Publishers.

Book Reviews

Farris Z.J. (2012). Keeping a Field Notebook: A Review of Canfield, Michael R., editor.

2011. Field notes on science & nature. Harvard University Press, Cambridge,

Massachusetts. Journal of Ecology 93(3): 691-692.

Manuscripts Currently In Review (draft manuscripts available)

Farris Z.J., Gerber B., Valenta K., et al. (In Review). Threats to a rainforest carnivore

community: a multi-year assessment of occupancy and co-occurrence in Madagascar.

Submitted to Biological Conservation.

Rasambainarivo F., Andrianalizah H., Farris Z.J, and Parker P. (In Review). Spatial and

temporal interactions between native and exotic carnivores in Betampona Natural

Reserve, Madagascar: implications for disease transmission. Submitted to EcoHealth.

**Murphy A., Gerber B., Kelly M.J., Karpanty S.,***Ratelolahy F., and Farris Z.J. (In

Review). A dollar out of fifteen cents: Making the most of sparse data to estimate the

density of rare and threatened species. Submitted to Journal of Applied Ecology.

Rich L., Davis C., Farris Z.J., et al. (In Review). Assessing global patterns in carnivore

occupancy and richness by integrating local camera trap surveys. Submitted to Global

Change Biology.

Geider K., Geider T., Farris Z.J., and Karpanty S. (In Review) Using Unique Antler

Characteristics to Estimate Population Density of the Non-native Sika Deer at Assateague

Island National Seashore, Maryland. Submitted to Southeastern Naturalist.

Davis C., Rich L., Farris Z.J., et al. (In Review). Exploring variables driving global carnivore

spatial co-occurrence patterns. Submitted to Ecology Letters.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE (course evaluations available upon request)

2017 Human Anatomy & Physiology II

Asst. Research Professor, Auburn University

2016 Human Anatomy & Physiology I

Asst. Research Professor, Auburn University

4 Z.J. Farris

2015 Population Dynamics & Estimation (Graduate, Undergraduate level)

Instructor, Virginia Tech

2013, 2014 Wildlife Field Techniques

Co-instructor, Virginia Tech

2013, 2014 Principles of Fisheries and Wildlife Management and Conservation

Teaching Assistant, Virginia Tech

2012 Conservation Biology


2012 Population Dynamics and Estimation (Graduate, Undergraduate level)


2004-2008 Zoology (Lecture and Lab)

Instructor, University of Arkansas Little Rock

2004-2008 Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II (Lecture and Lab)


2008, 2009 Evolution (Graduate, Undergraduate level)


2007 Primate Behavioral Ecology

Co-instructor, University of Arkansas Little Rock

2007, 2008 Botany (Lecture and Lab)


2005, 2006 Evolutionary and Environmental Biology

Lab Instructor, University of Arkansas Little Rock

2005 Study Abroad Madagascar

Volunteer Field Instructor, Ranomafana, Madagascar, Stony Brook Univ.

2004-2006 Introductory Biology

Lab Instructor, University of Arkansas Little Rock

EXTRAMURAL FUNDING & FELLOWSHIPS

Farris, Z.J. and Valenta K. 2017. Mad Dog Initiative. Detroit Zoo Cons. Fund $5,000

Valenta K. and Farris, Z.J 2017. Mad Dog Initiative. Lush Cosmetics North America, In

kind contribution $25,000

Schwartz T., Zohdy S., Oaks J., & Farris Z.J. The coevolution effect as an ecological

driver of viral spillover events in human populations. Auburn University College of

Science and Mathematics Intramural Grants Program $9,768

Farris, Z.J. and Valenta K. 2016 Mad Dog Initiative. Detroit Zoo Cons. Fund $5,000

Karpanty S., Farris, Z.J, and Fraser J. 2015-2016. Effectiveness of a predator removal

program on Virginia’s threatened barrier islands, Eastern Shore, VA. The Nature

Conservancy $10,000

Farris, Z.J. and Murphy A. 2015. “Red ruffed lemurs, fosa and a new ecotourism site in

the largest protected area complex in Madagascar” Riverbanks Zoo $3,229

Valenta K. and Farris, Z.J. 2015-2016. The Mad Dog Initiative: Protecting

Madagascar’s lemurs through the humane control of feral dog populations. Goldberg

Conservation Grant from the Nacey Maggioncalda Foundation. $15,000

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Farris, Z.J. 2014 Conserving Betampona’s Lemurs: Estimating population parameters

and investigating co-occurrence with carnivores and humans. St Louis Zoological Park,

Field Research for Conservation Grant $9,985

Farris, Z.J. 2014 Madagascar Dog Initiative: Controlling feral dogs to conserve

Madagascar’s wildlife at RNP, Madagascar. The Ruffourd Foundation, $9,990.

Farris, Z.J. 2014 Mad Dog Initiative: Controlling feral dogs to conserve Madagascar’s

wildlife at RNP, Madagascar. Compassionate Conservation International, $1,000

Farris, Z.J. 2013. Carnivore ecology across Madagascar. Henry Mosby Fellowship,

Virginia Tech Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, $1,000.

Farris, Z.J. 2012. Carnivore ecology across Masoala-Makira Landscape, Madagascar.

Virginia Tech Chapter of Sigma Xi, Doctoral Research Award. $2,000.

Holmes, C., Kelly, M.J., and Farris, Z.J J. 2010-2012. Fosa (Cryptoprocta ferox) radio

telemetry across the Makira NP, Madagascar. EAZA Madagascar Campaign $26,000

Farris, Z.J. 2012. Applied Conservation through Education: Presentations and

Educational Lectures on Conservation across the Makira region, NE Madagascar. Little

Rock Zoo Fund, $500.

Farris, Z.J. 2012. Applied Conservation through Education: Presentations and

Educational Lectures on Conservation across the Makira region, NE Madagascar.

Anonymous donors, $3,800.


Burd Sheldon McGinnes Graduate Fellowship, Virginia Tech $2,000

Farris, Z.J. 2010-11. Carnivore ecology across Masoala-Makira Landscape,

Madagascar. National Geographic Society-Waitts Grant, $13,500.

Ratelolahy, F., Jaozandry, J.J., and Farris, Z.J. 2010-2011. Carnivore ecology across

Masoala-Makira, Madagascar. People’s Trust for Endangered Species $5,800.


Idea Wild Grant Recipient $1,250.

Farris, Z.J. 2009-12. Carnivore ecology across Masoala-Makira Landscape,

Madagascar. Wildlife Conservation Society Matching funds $50,000.


Cleveland Metroparks Africa Seed Grant $3,150.

Farris, Z.J 2009. Carnivore ecology across Masoala-Makira Landscape, Madagascar.

Idea Wild Grant Recipient $1,250.

Farris, Z.J. 2004-05. Comparing presence of aye-aye across primary and secondary

forest at Ranomafana National Park and Nosy Mangabe Reserve, Madagascar. Arkansas

Game and Fish Conservation Scholar $8,000.

GRANTS PENDING

Controlling exotic carnivores to conserve Madagascar’s threatened wildlife. National

Geographic Committee on Research and Exploration $23,000

Mad Dog Initiative: Controlling feral dogs to conserve Madagascar’s wildlife at RNP.

National Geographic Conservation Grant $18,000

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Mad Dog Initiative: Expanding wildlife surveys and dog control to the Andasibe region.

Ruffourd’s Small Grants: Continuation Grant $13,000

Evaluating biodiversity and threats to it in key protected areas. Critical Ecosystem

Partnership Fund (CEPF) $50,000

RESEARCH INTERESTS & EXPERIENCE

Research Interests:

Invasive species biology

Species interactions (via co-occurrence and co-detection modeling)

Carnivore ecology and predator-prey dynamics

Anthropogenic effects on biodiversity, species richness, animal movement, and health

Population modeling, mark-recapture analyses (density, survival, occupancy, co-occurrence)

Human-wildlife conflict and poaching

- “Effectiveness of a predator removal program on Virginia’s threatened barrier islands”

Eastern Shore, VA 2015-present Co-PI

- “Patterns in global carnivore occupancy and co-occurrence”

Multiple sites Worldwide 2015-present Co-PI

- “Carnivore ecology across the Masoala-Makira Landscape, Madagascar.”

Masoala and Makira, Madagascar 2009-2014 Principle Investigator

- “Modeling the effects of the invasive Asian common toad of Madagascar’s endemic carnivore

community across eastern rainforest habitat”

Multiple sites, Madagascar 2014-present Co-PI

- “Madagascar Dog Initiative: Controlling feral dogs to conserve Madagascar’s wildlife at

Ranomafana National Park Madagascar”

Ranomafana, Madagascar 2013-present Principle Investigator

- “Providing the missing pieces for one of Madagascar’s top conservation sites: Estimating

carnivore and lemur populations at the Betampona Reserve, Madagascar.”

Betampona Reserve, Madagascar 2013-present Principle Investigator

- “The effects of poaching and bushmeat hunting on tenrec populations in Makira Natural

Park, Madagascar”

Makira Natural Park, Madagascar 2012-2015 Co-PI

- “Red Knot Project: Linking foraging and habitat ecology in the Delaware Bay and Coastal

Virginia to population dynamics”

Eastern Shore, VA 2012-2014 Research Asst / Field Tech

- "Sea Duck Survey: Investigating the Validity of Satellite Imagery Surveys"

Eastern Shore, VA 2009-2010 Co-PI / Research Asst

- “Presence and Distribution of Aye-Aye in Primary and Secondary Habitat, Ranomafana

National Park, Madagascar.”

UALR & Ranomafana, Madagascar 2004 – 2006 Principle Investigator

- “Kin Selection in Milne-Edwards Sifakas RNP, Madagascar.”

Ranomafana, Madagascar 2003 – 2004 Research Asst

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MENTORING & ADVISING

Independent Study Contracts Virginia Tech = 45 students

Auburn University = 4 students

Honors Contracts


Undergraduate Research Students

Virginia Tech = 4 students


Field technicians

International projects = 28 students

US projects = 6 students

Masters Theses:

*projects stemmed from students’ involvement on my research projects in Madagascar

Tojonirina Ramilijaonjatovo (Univ d'Antananarivo), 2014-2015.

DVM, Graduate project: “The prevalence of disease across captive and wild lemur

populations.”

Claude Jacquot Ralazampirenena (Univ d'Antananarivo), 2014.

Masters thesis: “Population estimation of carnivores at Ranomafana National Park,

Madagascar from TEAM network surveys.”

Hunter Doughty (University of Virginia), 2013.

Masters thesis:"Bushmeat and the Carnivores of Forested Africa: a Meta-Analysis.”

Charles Gerard Beandraina (Univ d'Antananarivo), 2012.

Masters thesis: “Comparing carnivore populations across a fragmented and contiguous

forest site in NE Madagascar”

Rabe Franck (Univ d'Antananarivo), 2006.

Masters thesis: “Survey of Aye-aye feeding sites at Ranomafana National Park,

Madagascar

Honors Theses:

*projects stemmed from students’ involvement on my research projects in Madagascar

Chelsea Miller (Univ of Central Arkansas), 2013.

Honors thesis: “The impacts of rural Malagasy people in rainforest regions on

populations of endemic animals: Ecotourism as a solution to conflict in NE Madagascar.”

Kathleen Miles (Virginia Tech), 2011.

Honors thesis: “The benefits of tourism to the biodiversity of Madagascar.”

Andi Evans (Virginia Tech), 2009.

Honors thesis: “Assessment of biodiversity at the Anjanaharibe site in Makira,

Madagascar.”

Special topics study

Cullen Anderson (Auburn University) 2016-Present

Improving conservation efforts for the fosa (Cryptoprocta ferox) via scent lure and hair

snare trials in captivity and the wild.

Zoo Atlanta research project

8 Z.J. Farris

Applicant for Auburn Undergraduate Fellowship Program

Hailey Boone (Virginia Tech) 2015-2016

Occupancy dynamics of ground-dwelling birds at Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar

Submitted to Bird Conservation International

Hailey Boone (Virginia Tech) 2013-2014

Occupancy and interactions of feral cats across Madagascar’s NE rainforests

Published in Journal of Mammalogy

AWARDS AND HONORS

2015 - Virginia McKenna Conservation Award (Compassionate Conservation International)

2015 - Contributor to IUCN Specialist Group (IUCN Red List)

2014 - PhD student of the year (Virginia Tech; College of Natural Resources & Environment)

2014 - Oral Presentation Award (Virginia Tech Graduate Symposium)

2014 - Outstanding PhD Award (Virginia Tech, Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Conservation)

2014 - Top Presentation (Virginia Chapter of the Wildlife Society Annual Conference)

2013 - Henry Mosby Fellowship (Virginia Tech, Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Conservation)

2012 - Doctoral Research Award (Sigma Xi, Virginia Tech Chapter)

2012 - Burd Sheldon McGinnes Fellowship (Virginia Tech, Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Cons.)

2009-2010 - Research Assistantship (Virginia Tech, Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Conservation)

2006 - John D Rickett Outstanding Graduate Student Award (UALR, Dept. of Biology)

2006 - Meritorious Research Award (UALR, College of Science)

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Ad hoc Reviewer:

National Geographic Society Grants

Compassionate Conservation Foundation Grants

Diversity & Distributions

Oryx: International Journal of Conservation

Journal of Mammalogy

International Journal of Primatology

American Journal of Primatology

Folia Primatologica

Journal of Madagascar Conservation and Development

Small Carnivore Conservation

African Journal for Wildlife Research

Biotropica

PlosOne

AgroForestry Systems

Professional Societies

Virginia Tech Sigma Xi

International Primatological Society

American Association of Physical Anthropologists

9 Z.J. Farris

National Chapter of The Wildlife Society

Virginia State Chapter of The Wildlife Society

2016 - Virginia Tech Undergrad Research Symposium

2015 - NY Student Conference on Conservation Science (Faculty Mentor)

2014 - Madagascar Fauna Group (Invited Research Contributor)

2012 - Madagascar School Project (Developed and operated project)

2011-2016 - Virginia Tech Student Chpt. of the Wildlife Society (Mentor)

2010-2011 - English teacher and tutor for Maroantsetra High School

2010 - Biennial Conference on University Education (Staff member)

2006-2009 - UALR Premedical Advisory Committee (Faculty evaluator)

POPULAR ARTICLES & PUBLIC OUTREACH (draft articles available)

2017 – BBC Radio, Life of Dogs; Research contributor to story on feral dogs

2016 Contributor for: Cryptoprocta ferox. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Version 2015.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. (To be updated 2015-16).

2016 Contributor for: Fossa fossana. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.


2016 Contributor for: Eupleres goudotii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.


2016 Contributor for: Galidia elegans. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.


2016 Contributor for: Galidictis fasciata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.


2016 Contributor for: Salanoia concolor. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.


2016 “By forest storytellers at the Festival of the Whale” (Report on the Mad Dog

Initiative) in Vegan Italy magazine. December 2016

2015 “Wild Cam: TWS Members Find What’s Eating Lemurs in Madagascar.” The

Wildlife Society publication on the Wild-Cam series featuring research by Farris, Z.J. of

Virginia Tech.

2013 Farris, Z.J. et al. PACE (Pan African Conservation Education), Human-Wildlife

Conflict: Fosa Action Sheet.

2012 Farris, Z.J. “The elusive and threatened Aye-aye of Madagascar.” BBC Radio

Broadcast with Tobias Nowlan, Makira Protected Area, NE Madagascar.

2012 Farris, Z.J. “The Finger: Curse of the Aye-aye.” Asian Geographic Magazine

Vol. 90.

2012 Creature Feature “Aye-aye love you.” Cosmos Magazine Interview with Aye-aye

biologist Zach J. Farris.

2007 Farris, Z.J. BBC “Final Chance to Save” series with actress Miranda Richardson.

Featured in documentary as Aye-Aye Specialist.

10 Z.J. Farris

ACADEMIC PRESENTATIONS & INVITED LECTURES

* first author only provided; since 2010 *

2016 Farris, Z.J., et al. “Exploring spatio-temporal interactions via camera trap and

population modeling.” The Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Raleigh, NC.

2016 Farris, Z.J. “Poaching, exotics, and fragmentation: Investigating the factors influencing

Madagascar’s endemic fauna across the Masoala-Makira landscape.” Invited lecture,

School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University.

2016 Farris, Z.J. “Cameras, collars, models!!: Using non-invasive measures to address

questions in landscape, community, and population ecology.” Invited lecture, California

State University Bakersfield.

2015 Farris, Z.J. et al. “The space-time continuum: the development of spatio-temporal model

for investigating carnivore interactions.” The Wildlife Society Annual Conference,

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

2015 Farris, Z.J. et al. “Improving conservation via spatio-temporal analyses: Carnivore

ecology, Madagascar.” Student Conference on Conservation Science American

Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

2014 Farris, Z.J. et al. “The carnivores of the MaMaBay landscape: Estimating population

parameters and interactions among endemic and exotic carnivores.” Wildlife

Conservation Society Headquarters, Bronx Zoo, NY

2014 Farris, Z.J. et al. “Madagascar endemic and exotic carnivore ecology across NE

Madagascar landscape: the impact of anthropogenic disturbance on population

parameters and interactions.” Student Conference on Conservation Science American

Museum of Natural History, New York, NY.

2014 Farris, Z.J. et al. “Madagascar carnivore ecology: The effects of fragmentation, exotic

species, and hunting on endemic carnivore populations.” The Wildlife Society Annual

Conference, Pittsburgh, PA

2014 Farris, Z.J. “Madagascar’s carnivores: Last chance to see.” Invited lecture for

Madagascar Study Abroad, Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.

2014 Farris, Z.J. ”Madagascar carnivore ecology.” Virginia Tech Graduate Symposium,

Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. (*First place: Best Oral Presentation)

2014 Farris, Z.J. “Response of Madagascar’s native carnivores to degradation,

fragmentation, exotic carnivores, and hunting across the Masoala-Makira landscape, NE

Madagascar. Dissertation defense, Department of Fish & Wildlife, Virginia Tech.

2014 Farris, Z.J., et al. “Madagascar carnivore ecology across Masoala-Makira landscape,

Madagascar.” The Virginia Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Front Royal, VA. (*First

place: Best Presentation)

2013 Farris, Z.J., et al. “Multi-season occupancy of carnivores, lemurs, and small mammals

across Makira NP, Madagascar.” The Wildlife Society Annual Conference,

Milwaukee, WI.

2013 Farris, Z.J., et al. “Carnivore occupancy: Degraded vs. Non-degraded Rainforest,

Madagascar.” The Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Milwaukee, WI.

2013 Farris, Z.J., et al. “How predator activity and trap rates impact Silky sifaka

(Propithecus candidus) movement and ranging patterns at the Makira Natural Park,

Madagascar.” American Association of Physical Anthropologists Annual Meeting,

Knoxville, TN.

11 Z.J. Farris

2012 Farris, Z.J., et al. “Investigating Carnivore-Primate Dynamics: Combining Camera

Traps and Line Transect Sampling.” International Primatological Society Meeting,

Cancun, Mexico.

2011 Farris, Z.J. “Effects of fragmentation on endemic wildlife in Madagascar.” Invited

Lecture for Masoala Resort, Madagascar Biodiversity Tourism Cortez Travel.

2011 Farris, Z.J. “Carnivore Ecology across the Masoala-Makira Landscape, Madagascar.”

Invited Lecturer for College of Nat Science and Math. Fall Seminar Series at

University of Central Arkansas.

2011 Farris, Z.J. “Results and analyses from Wildlife Conservation Society and USAID

socio-economic and family health surveys across the Maroantsetra region, Madagascar.”

WCS Makira Offices Maroantsetra, Madagascar.

2010 Farris, Z.J. "Carnivore Ecology Across the Masoala-Makira Landscape" Dissertation

Research Proposal, Virginia Tech Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences.

2010 Farris, Z.J. “Use of non-invasive methods to study rare, elusive species in

Madagascar.” Virginia Tech Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Blacksburg, VA.

STUDENT ORAL & POSTER PRESENTATIONS

(*undergraduate student; **Malagasy researcher/student counterpart)

2016 Murphy, A., Farris, Z.J., Karpanty, **S., Ratelolahy, **F., Andrianjakarivelo, V., and

Kelly, M.J. Aliens among us: how exotic predators influence the distribution of native

species. Oral presentation: The Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Raleigh, NC.

2016 Murphy, A., Farris, Z.J., Karpanty, S., **Ratelolahy, F., **Andrianjakarivelo, V., and

Kelly, M.J. 2016. Aliens among us: how exotic predators influence the distribution of

native species. Oral Present.: Student Conference on Conservation Science in New York

2016 *Boone, H., Gerber, B., Murphy, A., Karpanty, S., Kelly, M, and Farris Z.J.. The

Occupancy Dynamics of Ground-Dwelling Forest Birds in Ranomafana National Park,

SE Madagascar. ACC Meeting of Minds Conference, Syracuse, NY.

2016 *Boone H., Gerber B., Kelly M., Murphy A., Karpanty S., **Razafimahaimodison J., and

Farris Z.J. “Ground-dwelling forest bird occupancy at Ranomafana National Park, SE

Madagascar.” Oral Presentation: Wildlife Society, Virginia Chapter Annual Meeting,

Fredericksburg, VA.

2016 * Boone H. and Farris Z.J. “Estimating rainforest bird occupancy using by-catch camera

data at Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar.” Oral Presentation: Virginia Tech

Undergraduate Research Symposium.

2015 *Boone H., Gerber B., Kelly M., Murphy A., Karpanty S., **Razafimahaimodison J., and

Farris Z.J. “The occupancy dynamics of ground-dwelling forest birds in Ranomafana

National Park, SE Madagascar.” Oral presentation at The Wildlife Society Annual

Conference. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

2015 Murphy A., Farris Z.J., Morin D., Kelly M.J., Karpanty S., **Andrianjakarivelo V.,

and **Ratelolahy F. “Estimating fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) density using spatial mark-

resight models across the Masoala-Makira landscape, Madagascar.” Oral presentation

at the Virginia State Chapter of The Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Natural

Bridge, VA.

2015 *Boone H., Farris Z.J., Murphy A., Kelly M.J., Karpanty S., **Andrianjakarivelo V.,

and **Ratelolahy F. “Fitoaty, feral cats, and fossa: the occurrence and impact of the

12 Z.J. Farris

‘fitoaty’ in Madagascar’s NE rainforests.” Oral presentation at the Virginia State

Chapter of The Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Natural Bridge, VA.



resight models across the Masoala-Makira landscape, Madagascar.” Poster presentation

at the Student Conference on Conservation Science American Museum of Natural

History, New York, NY.



resight models across the Masoala-Makira landscape, Madagascar.” Poster presentation

at The Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.

2014 *Boone H., Farris Z.J., Murphy A., Kelly M.J., Karpanty S., **Andrianjakarivelo V.,

and **Ratelolahy F. “Fitoaty, feral cats, and fossa: the occurrence and impact of the

‘fitoaty’ in Madagascar’s NE rainforests.” Poster presentation at The Wildlife Society

Annual Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.

OFFICIAL REPORTS (*undergraduate student; **Malagasy researcher/student counterpart)

Farris, Z.J. and Valenta, K. 2016. Mad Dog Initiative: Controlling feral dogs to conserve

Madagascar’s wildlife. Prepared for Madagascar National Parks, Madagascar

Government.

Karpanty S., Geider K., Geider T., and Farris Z.J. 2015. First assessment of sika deer (Cervus

nippon) populations occupancy Assateague Island, VA. Submitted to Virginia

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Farris, Z.J. and Valenta, K. 2015. Mad Dog Initiative: Controlling feral dogs to conserve

Madagascar’s wildlife. Prepared for Ruffourd’s Foundation and Madagascar

Government. Submitted January 1, 2015.

Farris, Z.J., Kelly, S., Holmes, C., **Andrianjakarivelo V.,**Ratelolahy F., 2012. Carnivore

ecology across Masoala-Makira Landscape, Madagascar. Prepared for European

Association for Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA). Submitted August 31, 2012, pp. 1-14.

Farris, Z.J., Kelly, M., Karpanty, S., Holmes, C., and **Ratelolahy, F. 2012. Carnivore

ecology across Masoala-Makira Landscape, Madagascar. Prepared for National

Geographic Society and Waitts Institute. Submitted March 15, 2012, pp. 1-14.


Prepared for Minestre de L’Environnment et des Forets (Madagascar National Parks

Service). Submitted on behalf of Virginia Tech and the Wildlife Conservation Society

Madagascar Program on February 10, 2012, pp. 1-6.

Farris Z.J. and Kelly, M.J. 2011. A preliminary assessment of carnivores across the Makira

Protected Area, Madagascar: Results from a WCS pilot camera study. Official report:

Wildlife Conservation Society, Madagascar, pp. 1-34.

Karpanty S. and Farris Z.J. 2010. Assessing the use of satellite imagery to quantify risk of

Virginia offshore wind development to sea duck and other birds. Official report: Virginia

Coastal Energy Research Consortium, pp. 1-30.

curriculum vitae - zach j. farriszachfarris.yolasite.com/resources/farris zj - cv.pdf · karpanty...

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