Julianna Hoza, BS
PhD Candidate
Washington State University
Vancouver, WA | United States
Project Location & Description
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest | WA | United States
Lazarev Kanjon is a protected natural monument in Eastern Serbia. Located within Kučaj Mountains and spanning 1,755.50 hectares, it is an area of exceptional importance because of its diverse flora and fauna and unique landscape. While preliminary research indicates that the wider area is important nesting ground for rare owl species, a lack of data on these species within Lazarev Kanjon threatens habitat loss and destruction due to poorly planned logging. This project aims to collect data on the presence and nesting habits of protected owl species, such as the Ural owl and the Eurasian eagle-owl, to modify existing management plans and designate important nesting areas as high-priority conservation zones.
Researcher Bio
While completing her undergraduate degree, Julianna Hoza worked as a United States Forest Service wildlife technician for five seasons. During that time, she performed a variety of wildlife surveys that included acoustic monitoring for bats. Julianna first-authored two published research projects as an undergrad and decided to pursue a career in ecology research. She is a second-year PhD student at Washington State University, where her research focuses on evaluating the biotic effects of beaver-related restoration. In addition to beavers, study subjects include amphibians (which require upland and wetland habitats to complete their life cycle) and bats (which depend on emerging aquatic insects for food).
Awarded: (5) Song Meter Mini Bat 2 (AA)
Dr. Marko Ljubiša Nikolić, Ph.D.
President & Board Member
Biological Society "Dr. Sava Petrović" | Serbia
Project Location & Description
Lazarev kanjon | Kučaj Mountains | Serbia
Lazarev kanjon, a protected Natural Monument located on the eastern edge of the Kučaj Mountains, represents the deepest, longest, most impassable, and best-preserved canyon in Eastern Serbia. It is characterized by exceptional floristic, faunistic, and landscape diversity. While preliminary research indicates that the wider area is an important nesting ground for rare owl species, a lack of data on these species within Lazarev kanjon can lead to inadequately planned logging, thereby threatening habitat loss and destruction. This project aims to collect data on the presence and nesting habits of protected owl species, such as the Ural owl and the Eurasian eagle-owl, to modify existing management plans and designate important nesting areas as high-priority conservation zones.
Researcher Bio
Dr. Marko Nikolić holds a PhD in Biology from the Faculty of Science at the University of Niš. He has extensive experience managing monitoring programs in protected areas, having participated in over 30 national and international projects and coordinated 18 projects in ornithology, nature conservation, education, and science popularization. He has authored nine ornithological studies and edited two studies on the biodiversity of protected areas. Currently, Dr. Nikolić is the head of the Biological Society "Dr. Sava Petrović," and leads fauna monitoring programs in protected areas. He is also engaged as an ornithologist in the project for wetland restoration as a system for preserving wildlife in the Danube Basin.
Awarded: (7) Song Meter Mini 2 (AA); (1) Kaleidoscope Pro License
Dr. Christopher Pocknee, PhD, BSc
Landscape & Biodiversity Conservation Ecologist
Central Victorian Biolinks Alliance, Inc.
Kyneton, VIC | Australia
Project Location & Description
Central Goldfields Region | Victoria | Australia
The vast majority of Box-Ironbark forests across the Central Goldfields region of Australia are severely degraded due to timber harvesting and gold mining. Many of these landscapes are now dominated by dense, single-age Eucalyptus regrowth, with minimal ground cover or midstory vegetation, and have lost much of their ability to retain water. At a Box-Ironbark forest near Heathcote, we have carried out strategic ecological thinning, contour ripping, gully ponding, direct seeding of native grasses, and planting of native semi-aquatic plants around ponds. To assess the efficacy of their actions, we will monitor bioacoustics and other ecological indicators within a treatment micro-catchment and a control micro-catchment. Passive acoustic monitoring will be used to survey nocturnal birds, bats, and frogs. If proven successful, our ecological restoration techniques could guide future actions at degraded Box-Ironbark forests in Central Victoria.
Researcher Bio
Chris is a Landscape and Biodiversity Conservation Ecologist with Biolinks Alliance, where he leads the Glideways in Central Victoria program and has played a key role in establishing and delivering ecological monitoring programs to measure the impact of projects across Central Victoria. He has significant conservation ecology experience across various ecosystems and ecological communities, completing a PhD (University of Queensland), an MSc (University of Melbourne), and an internship with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. The primary focus of his work is conserving native Australian fauna and finding solutions to the threats facing many of these species. Chris has experience working with species ranging from tree-kangaroos in the north Queensland rainforest to small reptiles in semi-arid New South Wales.
Awarded: (4) Song Meter Mini Bat 2 (AA); Accessories; (1) Kaleidoscope Pro License
Charley Marlow Vance, MSc
Principal Investigator
Florida Gulf Coast University
Fort Myers, FL | United States
Project Location & Description
Picayune Strand State Forest | FL | United States
South Florida faces several significant environmental threats, including climate change, wildfires, invasions of exotic species, and human disturbance. The Picayune Strand Restoration Project (PSRP) is an ecological restoration area located at the northwestern boundary of the Florida Everglades. It is home to several species, such as snail kites, mangrove crabs, and endangered Florida bonneted bats. As a part of regular natural succession management, select areas of the PSRP will undergo controlled burns this summer. However, it is unclear how ecological communities within a landscape undergoing restoration respond to and recover from prescribed burns or wildfires in South Florida. To investigate ecosystem resilience within the PSRP (and provide a model for communities worldwide), this project will use bioacoustics to assess PSRP biodiversity before and after fire occurs and compare it with reference sites.
Researcher Bio
Charley Vance is a graduate student specializing in landscape ecology at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). His interests include disturbance ecology, ecosystem restoration, community dynamics, and ecoacoustics. Charley has a strong background in scientific fieldwork and experimental design. His career has been shaped through investigations of major ecosystem disturbances such as Deepwater Horizon; Hurricanes Ian, Ike, and Irma; and West Florida red-tide events. He aims to promote the conservation of natural areas and the biosphere’s resilience to anthropogenically induced climate-change effects. Currently, he is building an FGCU program that focuses on the resilience of restored habitats, using bioacoustics as a continuous, real-time data set.
Awarded: (3) Song Meter Mini 2 (AA); (3) Song Meter Mini Bat 2 (AA); (3) Song Meter Micro 2; (1) Kaleidoscope Pro License
Wildlife Acoustics, Inc.
3 Mill and Main Place, Suite 110
Maynard, MA 01754-2657 USA
+1 (978) 369-5225
+1 (888) 733-0200