René Armando Salinas, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Academic History
Summer 2003
Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Concentration
in Mathematical Ecology
Spring 1996
B.S. in Biology (minor in Chemistry) from
Texas A&M University at Kingsville
B.S. in Physics (minor in Mathematics)
from Texas A&M University at Kingsville
Research Interests
In general I am interested in spatial control issues in conservation/management
biology. By this I mean using models (mathematical and computational)
to address the when, where, and how much questions in conserving/managing
wildlife populations. These questions can range from the placement
and size of reserves to optimal harvesting strategies. My dissertation
involved developing models on the spatial control of black bear (Ursus
americanus) harvesting to minimize potential bear-human encounters
in the southern Appalachains.
I have recently taken great interest in questions relating to estimates
of population size. I am presently using an individual-based black
bear model to simulate the mark-recapture study performed in Great Smoky
Mountains National Park. Traditional Jolly-Seber estimates do not
take into account trap biases. I am hoping to determine the effects
of these hypothesized biases on the population estimates.
Interesting Research Stuff...
Human population map of the southern Appalachians
Note: The large sanctuary in the center is Great Smoky Mountains
National Park (GSMNP). The large populated area to the northwest of
GSMNP is the Knoxville, TN metro area. The urban area just east is
Asheville, NC.
Personal Stuff
Contact Information
René A. Salinas
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
596 Dabney Hall
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: 865 . 974 . 4894
Fax: 865 . 974 . 3067
email: salinas@tiem.utk.edu