David Wilcove
Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs
I search for innovative ways to better protect endangered species and biodiversity in the United States and other countries, blending ecology, public policy, and sometimes a little bit of economics. In recent years, I have undertaken a number of studies pertaining to imperiled wildlife and the Endangered Species Act, examining such factors as the causes of species endangerment, the geographical distribution of imperiled species, and the costs of habitat restoration and conservation. Working with colleagues at Environmental Defense, I have coupled this research with several on-the-ground projects involving private landowners in Virginia, Texas, and Utah (ongoing). These projects use economic and regulatory incentives to obtain the cooperation of landowners in efforts to recover the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Golden-cheeked Warbler, Black-capped Vireo, Utah Prairie Dog, and other species. My current projects include a book on the conservation of migratory animals and an assessment of ongoing efforts to preserve the endemic plants and animals of the Florida scrub ecosystem.
Publications:
Books
Wilcove, D.S. 1999." The Condor's Shadow: The Loss and Recovery of Wildlife in America." W.H. Freeman and Company, New York. (paperback published in 2000 by Anchor Books).
Articles and Book Chapters
Wilcove, D.S. and J. Lee. In press. "Using economic and regulatory incentives to restore endangered species: lessons learned from three new programs." Conservation Biology.
Pimm, S.L. et al. 2001. "Can we defy nature’s end?" Science 293: 2207-2208.
Abbitt, R.J.F., J.M. Scott, and D.S. Wilcove. 2000. "The geography of vulnerability: Incorporating species geography and human development patterns into conservation planning." Biological Conservation 96: 169-175.
Wilcove, D.S. and L.Y. Chen. 1998. "Habitat management costs for endangered species." Conservation Biology 12: 1405-1407.
Wilcove, D.S., D. Rothstein, J. Dubow, A. Phillips, and E. Losos. 1998. "Quantifying threats to imperiled species in the United States." BioScience 48:607-615.
Dobson, A.P., J.P. Rodriguez, W.M. Roberts, and D.S. Wilcove. 1997. "Geographic distribution of endangered species in the United States." Science 275:550-553.