Ph.D. University of California - San Diego (1994)

 

Phone: 315-268-7933

Fax: 315-268-7118

Email: tlangen@clarkson.edu

 

Postal Mail: 8 Clarkson Ave., Potsdam NY, 13699-5805 USA

 

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Research

My research focuses upon behavioral ecology - the study of the adaptive function of animal behaviors, & cognitive ecology - how animals learn about their natural and social environment, and then use this information to make decisions. I am also involved in conservation biology - how biology can be applied to conserving species and ecosystems.

 

Current Projects

Impact of Roads on Costa Rica National Parks. In 2009-2008, I am a visiting professor in the International Institute in Wildlife Conservation & Management (ICOMVIS), National University of Costa Rica. I will be using geographic information systems and remote sensing data to evaluate the fingerprint of public roads that bisect national parks in Costa Rica. I will also conduct field work in the Guanacaste Conservation Area on the impact of the Pan-American Highway on movements of wildlife.

 

Impact of Road Mortality on Turtles and other Herpetofauna. There is increasing concern among conservation biologists about the long-term impact of roads on reptiles and amphibian populations. My research is focused on how to predict and mitigate hotspots of road mortality on turtles and other reptiles and amphibians. More....

 

Environmental Impacts of Deicing Road Salt. Deicing road salt and sand applied to roads in winter are causing significant environmental damage in cold climate regions of North America and elsewhere. This project's goals are to evaluate the impact of deicing road salt use on the Cascade Lakes region of New York's Adirondack State Park, and to make recommendations to reduce any environmental degradation caused by winter road management. More....

 

Waterbirds as Indicators of Environmental Health in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Waterbirds, including coastal and pelagic species, can provide good indicators of environmental productivity and environmental stress. This project focuses on mapping the spatial dispersion of waterbirds in relation to productivity gradients, distance from land, and known anthropogenic stressors. It also includes collaborative research on the environmental quality of wetlands and rivers in the St. Lawrence Valley / Adirondack Mountain region. More....

 

Sociobiology and Cognition in the New World Jays. The New World Jays are model group for understanding the evolution and ecology of reproductive cooperation and sociality. Experiments with jays are also revealing new insights into learning and memory in vertebrates. My work has primarily focused on two species: the white-throated magpie-jay and the western scrub-jay.  More....

 

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Teaching

• Teaching Philosophy

• University Courses Taught

• Undergraduate Research

• Graduate Research

• Additional Educational Activities

• Selected Publications

 

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Links

• Curriculum Vita

• Publications (full listing & links)

• Career & Education Opportunities in the Environmental Sciences

• Dept. of Biology, Clarkson University

• Dept. of Psychology, Clarkson University

• Clarkson Center for the Environment

• Clarkson REU Program in Environmental Science & Engineering

• Organization for Tropical Studies

• International Program in Wildlife Conservation & Management

• Guanacaste Conservation Area, Costa Rica

• Ecological Society of America Education Resources

• Network of Conservation Educators & Practitioners

 

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Press Releases & Clippings (linked)

• Clarkson Biology Professor Will Travel to Costa Rica as Fulbright Scholar

• Clarkson Research Group Publishes Paper on Land Use Influence on Water Quality in the St. Regis River

• Profs troll for botulism cause

• Road salt affecting Adirondack lakes

• Clarkson University is conducting survey of botulism in the St. Lawrence River

• American Naturalist 2005 President's Award Citation

• Clarkson Professor awarded for research on bird decision making “rules” by American Society of Naturalists

• Understanding the distribution and feeding patterns of Lake Ontario waterbirds

• Bird surveys needed In offshore Great Lakes

• Salt's impact on mountain lakes studied

• Clarkson scientists tackle complex problem: how to reduce harmful effects of road deicing on environment and still maintain safe winter travel

• Biologists study turtle trips in St. Lawrence County

• Clarkson Students experience freshwater ecological research and high seas on Lake Ontario

• Saving turtles from traffic

• Clarkson University Professor’s research into roadkill focuses on impact of highways on native turtle population

• Wildlife corridor would strengthen parks - Study says locals would fight project

• Clarkson University students decide proposed wildlife corridor desirable, but difficult to implement

• The competition factor