Department of Environmental Conservation

Ph.D. in Environmental Conservation

Degrees held:

M.A. in Geography (with distinction), King’s College, University of London
B.A. in History, Skidmore College

Project:

Spatial modeling of non-native plant invasion, fire risk and wildlife habitat to support conservation planning and management of public lands in the arid Southwest

Contact:

Email: lpelech ‘at’ eco.umass.edulpelech(at)eco.umass.edu

Office: GIS Lab, Holdsworth Hall

Mail: Lori Pelech
Department of Environmental Conservation
Holdsworth Hall
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003

Position:

Research Assistant

Web links:

http://blogs.umass.edu/lpelech/

http://blogs.umass.edu/bethanyb/

Support:

Department of Defense (DoD) – Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP)

Faculty Advisor:

Bethany Bradley

Project Abstract:

This project will model distribution, biomass, invasion risk and fire risk associated with five different plant species that are invasive to the Sonoran Desert on the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range, and Kofa and Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuges.  Research findings will be embedded into a dynamic decision-support package to guide management on DoD and surrounding public lands.