Nicole Duplaix

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Nicole Duplaix (born 1943) [1] is a French-American zoologist, ecologist, teacher, and photographer who specializes in studying otters.

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Biography

Duplaix first begin working with otters while volunteering at the Bronx Zoo. She earned her master's degree at the University of Paris in 1966 and 1968. She later studied giant otters in South America. Over two years in this study she managed to identify 249 different individuals. She also helped Suriname officials learn how to preserve giant otters, though they still face endangerment there today and in the rest of South America. [2]

She later returned to the University of Paris to complete her PhD. Her 1980 dissertation focused on the giant otters of Suriname's Kaboeri Creek and the phylogeny of the 13 species of otters. [3] She also is a co-founder of TRAFFIC in 1973 which monitors the trade in wildlife worldwide. There are now over 16 TRAFFIC offices around the world which have played a major role in documenting and curbing illegal animal trade. In 1974 she created the IUCN-SSC Otter Specialist Group for the International Union of Conservation for Nature. Today the Group has over 300 members dedicated to global otter conservation. [4]

Duplaix lives in Oregon and is a senior instructor at Oregon State University's Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otter</span> Subfamily of mammals (Lutrinae)

Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic, or marine, with diets based on fish and invertebrates. Lutrinae is a branch of the Mustelidae family, which also includes weasels, badgers, mink, and wolverines, among other animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Species reintroduction</span> Wildlife conservation technique

Species reintroduction is the deliberate release of a species into the wild, from captivity or other areas where the organism is capable of survival. The goal of species reintroduction is to establish a healthy, genetically diverse, self-sustaining population to an area where it has been extirpated, or to augment an existing population. Species that may be eligible for reintroduction are typically threatened or endangered in the wild. However, reintroduction of a species can also be for pest control; for example, wolves being reintroduced to a wild area to curb an overpopulation of deer. Because reintroduction may involve returning native species to localities where they had been extirpated, some prefer the term "reestablishment".

Claudio Sillero-Zubiri is an Argentine-born British zoologist. He is a Professor of Conservation Biology at Oxford University's WildCRU, the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, and Bill Travers Fellow at Lady Margaret Hall. He is the Chair of the IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group, and Chief Scientist of the Born Free Foundation. He is internationally recognized for his work with carnivore conservation, and in particular the endangered Ethiopian wolf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant armadillo</span> Species of mammals belonging to the armadillo order of xenarthrans

The giant armadillo, colloquially tatu-canastra, tatou, ocarro or tatú carreta, is the largest living species of armadillo. It lives in South America, ranging throughout as far south as northern Argentina. This species is considered vulnerable to extinction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American river otter</span> Species of semi-aquatic mammal

The North American river otter, also known as the northern river otter and river otter, is a semiaquatic mammal that lives only on the North American continent, along its waterways and coasts. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurasian otter</span> Species of carnivore

The Eurasian otter, also known as the European otter, Eurasian river otter, European river otter, common otter, and Old World otter, is a semiaquatic mammal native to Eurasia and Maghreb. The most widely distributed member of the otter subfamily (Lutrinae) of the weasel family (Mustelidae), it is found in the waterways and coasts of Europe, many parts of Asia, and parts of northern Africa. The Eurasian otter has a diet mainly of fish, and is strongly territorial. It is endangered in some parts of its range, but is recovering in others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant otter</span> Species of mammal

The giant otter or giant river otter is a South American carnivorous mammal. It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.8 m. Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. The groups are centered on a dominant breeding pair and are extremely cohesive and cooperative. Although generally peaceful, the species is territorial, and aggression has been observed between groups. The giant otter is diurnal, being active exclusively during daylight hours. It is the noisiest otter species, and distinct vocalizations have been documented that indicate alarm, aggression, and reassurance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neotropical otter</span> Species of mammal

The Neotropical otter or Neotropical river otter is an otter species found in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the island of Trinidad. It is physically similar to the northern and southern river otter, which occur directly north and south of this species' range. Its head-and-body length can range from 36–66 centimetres (14–26 in), plus a tail of 37–84 centimetres (15–33 in). Body weight ranges from 5–15 kilograms (11–33 lb). Otters are members of the family Mustelidae, the most species-rich family in the order Carnivora.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian elephant</span> Most widespread subspecies of Asian elephant

The Indian elephant is one of three extant recognised subspecies of the Asian elephant and native to mainland Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smooth-coated otter</span> Species of carnivore

The smooth-coated otter is an otter species occurring in most of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with a disjunct population in Iraq. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1996 and is threatened by habitat loss, pollution of wetlands and poaching for the illegal wildlife trade. As its name indicates, its fur is smooth and shorter than that of other otter species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildlife trade</span> Worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of wildlife

Wildlife trade refers to the products that are derived from non-domesticated animals or plants usually extracted from their natural environment or raised under controlled conditions. It can involve the trade of living or dead individuals, tissues such as skins, bones or meat, or other products. Legal wildlife trade is regulated by the United Nations' Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which currently has 184 member countries called Parties. Illegal wildlife trade is widespread and constitutes one of the major illegal economic activities, comparable to the traffic of drugs and weapons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinese pangolin</span> Species of mammal

The Chinese pangolin is a pangolin native to the northern Indian subcontinent, northern parts of Southeast Asia and southern China. It has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2014, as the wild population is estimated to have declined by more than 80% in three pangolin generations, equal to 21 years. It is threatened by poaching for the illegal wildlife trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulf Coast jaguarundi</span> Subspecies of carnivore

The Gulf Coast jaguarundi is an endangered population of the jaguarundi once ranging from southern Texas in the United States to eastern Mexico. The cat prefers dense shrubland and woodland, yet has been hampered by habitat loss.

TRAFFIC, the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network, is a global non-governmental organization monitoring the trade in wild plants and animals. TRAFFIC focuses on preserving biodiversity and sustainable legal wildlife trade while working against unsustainable illegal wildlife trade. It was originally created in 1976 as a specialist group of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and evolved into a strategic alliance of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the IUCN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon slender salamander</span> Species of amphibian

The Oregon slender salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae from the Northwestern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea otter conservation</span> Effort to increase sea otters

Sea otter conservation began in the early 20th century, when the sea otter was nearly extinct due to large-scale commercial hunting. The sea otter was once abundant in a wide arc across the North Pacific ocean, from northern Japan to Alaska to Mexico. By 1911, hunting for the animal's luxurious fur had reduced the sea otter population to fewer than 2000 individuals in the most remote and inaccessible parts of its range. The IUCN lists the sea otter as an endangered species. Threats to sea otters include oil spills, and a major spill can rapidly kill thousands of the animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amaravathi Dam</span> Dam on the Amaravathi River in India

The Amaravathi Dam is a dam constructed across the Amaravathi River. It is located at Amaravathinagar, 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of Udumalpet on SH 17 in the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Tirupur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The associated Amaravathi Reservoir is 9.31 square kilometres (3.59 sq mi) in area and 33.53 metres (110.0 ft) deep. The dam was built primarily for irrigation and flood control and now also has four megawatts of electrical generating capacity installed. It is notable for the significant population of mugger crocodiles living in its reservoir and catchment basin.

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References

  1. Yount, Lisa. (1999). A to Z of women in science and math . New York, NY: Facts on File. ISBN   0816037973. OCLC   40052289.
  2. 1 2 "Nicole Duplaix". Oregon State University. Oregon State University. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  3. Oakes, Elizabeth H. (2007). "Duplaix, Nicole". Encyclopedia of World Scientists (Rev. ed.). New York: Facts on File. pp. 193–194. ISBN   978-1-4381-1882-6.
  4. "Dr. Nicole Duplaix". Oregon State University. Oregon State University. Retrieved 3 February 2024.