Dr. Thomas D. Lambert, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Office: Compton Science Center 211
Telephone: 301-687-4167
E-Mail: tdlambert@frostburg.edu

 

BACKGROUND

I have a B.S. & a M.S. in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, I received my Ph.D. in 2004 from the University of Toronto. Since completing my Ph.D. I was a post-doc with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, a postdoctoral teaching & research associate at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and a teaching fellow at the University of Virginia's College at Wise. Since 2008 I have been an assistant professor of biology here at Frostburg State University.

 

RESEARCH PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

My research has largely focused on small mammal ecology. Specifically how anthropogenic changes in habitat structure impact small mammal community structure and in turn how changes in small mammal community structure can impact overall biodiversity through changes in seed predation and seed dispersal. Largely these projects have been conducted in the Tropics, with past research being done in Panama, Venezuela & Brazil. However my interests are not limited to the tropics and I am activity seeking to conduct more research in temperate regions. Additionally I am not only interested in small mammals but have recently begun several projects looking at deer browsing and the potential impacts of coyotes on deer populations.

 

ACADEMIC TRAINING

Ph.D., 2004. Forestry, University of Toronto. Dissertation Title: “Small mammals of the southeastern Amazon and the ecological consequences of selective logging.” Supervisors: Jay R. Malcolm & Barbara L. Zimmerman.

M.S., 1999. Zoology, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Thesis Title “Effects of forest Fragmentation on Rodent Community Structure.” Supervisor: Gregory H. Adler.

B.S., 1995. Zoology, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

 

POSITIONS HELD

2008- Assistant Professor of Biology, Frostburg State University

2006-2008 Teaching Fellow of Biology, University of Virginia’s College at Wise.

2005/2006 Postdoctoral Teaching/Research Associate. University of Nevada-Las Vegas

2004/2005 Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Visiting Scientist Fellow. Automatic Radio Telemetry Project. Barro Colorado Island, Republic of Panamá

2003 Laboratory Instructor for Studies in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior, Dept. of Zoology, University of Toronto.

2003 Teaching Assistantship for Case Study Analysis in Forest Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto.

2000-2001 Teaching Assistantship for Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto.

1999 Research Assistant for Jay R. Malcolm, Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto.

1999 Wildlife Technician, US Forest Service, Juneau, Alaska.

1997-1998 Research Assistant for Gregory H. Adler, Dept. of Biology, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

1997 Biology Tutor, Dept. of Biology, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

 

GRANTS

Granting Institution:

Title:

Location:

Year & Amount:

 

National Geographic Society

 

Impacts of liana removal on small mammal communities, seed fate and forest regeneration

 

Barro Colorado Nature Monument, Panamá

2010; $17,400

Smithsonian Institution Grand Challenges Grant (Awarded to a team of researchers lead by staff scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institution; TDL listed as a co-investigator)

 

Tropical vertebrate diversity loss and the emergence of tick-borne diseases:
a pilot to develop SIGEO for monitoring wildlife and diseases

 

Barro Colorado Nature Monument and adjacent areas Central Panamá

2010; $100,000

Frostburg State University Honors Program: Undergraduate Research Opportunity Award

 

Undergraduate Research Mentoring in Panamá

Barro Colorado Nature Monument and adjacent areas Central Panamá

2010; $2,000

Frostburg State University Graduate Project Award

 

Behavioral Interactions by Two Sympatric Species of Echimyid Rodent in Central Panamá

 

Soberaña National Park, Panamá

2009; $2,000

Frostburg State University Honors Program: Undergraduate Research Opportunity Award

 

Undergraduate Research Mentoring in Panamá

Barro Colorado Nature Monument and adjacent areas Central Panamá

2009; $2,000

Frostburg State University Faculty Development Award

 

Roads as barriers to seed dispersal in a Neotropical Forest

Soberaña National Park, Panamá

2008; $2,000

UVa-Wise FINS Undergraduate Research Project Award

 

Influence of seed height on seed fate in a Neotropical forest.

Soberaña National Park, Panamá

2007; $1,500

National Geographic Society (to J.R. Malcolm, P.I. proposal written by TDL & JRM)

Ecological consequences of selective logging on mammal communities in the southern Amazon

 

Kayapó Indigenous Area, Pará, Brazil.

2001; $14,100

American Society of Mammalogists

Ecological consequences of selective logging on mammal communities in the southern Amazon

 

Kayapó Indigenous Area, Pará, Brazil.

2001; $1,000

Wildlife Conservation Society

Ecological consequences of selective logging on mammal communities in the southern Amazon

 

Kayapó Indigenous Area, Pará, Brazil.

2000, $8,080

American Society of Mammalogists

Ecological consequences of selective logging on mammal communities in the southern Amazon

 

Kayapó Indigenous Area, Pará, Brazil.

2000, $1,000

Zoological Society of Milwaukee County

Effects of forest fragmentation on tropical rodent community structure.

 

Lago Guri, Bolívar, Venezuela.

1998, $2,000

American Museum of Natural History

Systematics of the genus Tylomys.

New York, New York, U.S.A.

1997; $500

 

SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS

Ontario Graduate Scholarship, 2003-2004

Organization of American States, Regular Training Program Fellowship, 1999-2001

Connaught Scholarship, 1999-2000

College of Letters and Science Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award, 1999

 

PUBLICATIONS: (* denotes undergraduate student)

Lambert, T.D., & Halsey, M.K. In Press. Relationship between lianas and arboreal mammals: examining the Emmons-Gentry hypothesis. In Ecology of Lianas. Eds. Schnitzer S., Bongers F., Burnham R., Putz, F. Wiley-Blackwell Press.

Lambert, T.D., Sumpter, K.L.*, Dittel, J.W., Durpe, S.I., Casanova, K.*, Winker, A., & Adler, G.H. 2014. Roads as Barriers to Seed Dispersal by Small Mammals in a Neotropical Forest. Tropical Ecology. 55: 263-269.

Kays, R., Tilak, S., Crofoot, M., Fountain, T., Obando, D., Ortega, A., Kuemmeth, F., Mandel, J., Swenson, G., Lambert, T.D., Hirsch, B., & Wikelski, M. 2011. Tracking Animal Location and Activity with an Automated Radio Telemetry System in a Tropical Rainforest. The Computer Journal.

Lambert, T.D., Halsey, M.K*., Dittel J.W., Mangan, S.A., Delfosse, E.*, Adler, G.H., & Schnitzer, S.A. 2011. First record of Alston’s Woolly Mouse Opossum (Micoureus alstoni) from the canal area of Central Panamá. Mammalia. 75: 107-109.

Crofoot, M., Lambert, TD., Kays, R., & Wikelski, M. 2010. Does watching a monkey change its behavior? Quantifying observer effects in habituated wild primates using automated radio telemetry. Animal Behaviour. 80:475-480.

Kilgore, A.*, Lambert TD, & Adler GH. 2010. Lianas influence fruit and seed use by rodents in a tropical forest. Tropical Ecology. 51: 143-149.

Lambert, T.D., Kays, RW, Jansen, P.A. Aliaga-Rossel, E. & Wikelski, M. 2009. Nocturnal activity by the primarily diurnal Central American agouti (Dasyprocta punctata) in relation to environmental conditions, resource abundance and predation risk. Journal of Tropical Ecology. 25: 211-215.

Flagel, D.*, Adler, G.H. & Lambert, T.D. 2009. Influence of seed height on removal rates by rodents in central Panamá. Mammalia. 73: 76-77.

Adler, G.H. & T.D. Lambert. 2008. Spatial and temporal variation in fruiting phenology of palms in isolated stands. Plant Species Biology 23: 9-17.

Lambert T.D., J.R. Malcolm & B.L. Zimmerman. 2006. Amazonian small mammal abundances in relation to habitat structure and resource abundance. Journal of Mammalogy. 87: 766-776.

Lambert T.D., J.R. Malcolm, & B.L. Zimmerman. 2005. Variation in small mammal richness by trap height and trap type at a southeastern Amazonian site, with notes on a new method of canopy trapping. Journal of Mammalogy. 86: 982-990.

Lambert T.D., J.R. Malcolm, & B.L. Zimmerman. 2005. Effects of mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) logging on small mammal communities, habitat structure, and seed predation in the southeastern Amazon basin, with implications for conservation. Forest Ecology and Management. 206: 381-398.

Lambert T.D., G.H. Adler, C.M. Riveros, L. Lopez, R. Ascanio & J. Terborgh. 2003. Rodents on tropical land-bridge islands. Journal of Zoology. 260: 179-187.

Terborgh J., L. Lopez, P. Nunez, M. Rao, G. Shahabuddin, G. Orihuela, M. Riveros, R. Ascanio, G.H. Adler, T.D. Lambert & L. Balbas.. 2001. Ecological Meltdown in Predator-Free Forest Fragments. Science. 294: 1923-1926.

Lambert T.D. & Adler G.H. 2000. Habitat use by a tropical forest rodent, Proechimys semispinosus, in central Panamá. Journal of Mammalogy. 81(1): 70-76.

Adler G.H., S.A. Mangan & T.D. Lambert. 1998. Reproductive phenologies of Cryosophila warscewiczii in central Panamá. Principes. 42(4): 185-189.

Adler G.H., D.C. Tomblin & T.D. Lambert. 1998. Ecology of two species of echimyid rodents in central Panamá. Journal of Tropical Ecology. 14: 705-711.

Adler G.H. & T.D. Lambert. 1996. Ecological correlates of trap response of a Neotropical forest rodent, Proechimys semispinosus. Journal of Tropical Ecology. 13: 59-68.

COURSES TAUGHT

  • Graduate Seminar in Statistical Analysis
  • Graduate Seminar in Tropical Ecology and Conservation
  • Senior Wildlife and Fisheries Seminar on Deer Biology and Management
  • Mammalogy (Graduate and Undergraduate level)
  • Animal Behavior
  • Quantitative Analysis of Vertebrate Populations (Graduate and Undergraduate Level)
  • Scientific Investigation and Communication
  • Vertebrate Zoology
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Processes.
  • Introduction to Biodiversity.
  • Introduction to Biodiversity Laboratory.
  • Introduction to Biology I.
  • Introduction to Biology I Laboratory.
  • Introduction to Biology II Laboratory.
  • Human Biology and the Environment.
  • Human Biology and the Environment Laboratory.
  • Conservation Biology.
  • Field Ecology
  • Studies in Evolution, Ecology and Behavior (Laboratory Instructor)
  • Case Study Analysis in Forest Management (Teaching Assistant)
  • Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (Teaching Assistant)

PRESENTATIONS & POSTERS

Bretscher, A., Lambert, T.D. & Adler, G.H. 2013. Microhabitat and microclimate characteristics of refuge sites for two Rodent species in Central Panama. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting Spring 2013.

Halsey, M.K., Lambert, T.D., Mangan S.A., Adler, G.H. & Schnitzer, S.A. 2013. Impacts of liana removal on small mammal communities in Central Panama. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting Spring 2013.

Krause, C., Lambert, T.D., Adler, G.H., Kennedy, E., & Ammer, F.K. 2013. Influence of resource abundance on behavioral interactions of two echimyid rodents in Central Panama. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting Spring 2013.

Phillips, A., Lambert, T.D., Adler, G.H. & Ammer, F.K. 2013. Preliminary assessment of the influence of tree-fall gaps on directed seed dispersal by small mammals in Central Panama. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting Spring 2013.

Preskitt, S.N., Lambert, T.D., Mangan, S.A., Adler, G.H. & Ammer, F.K. 2013. Arbuscular mychorrizal consumption in two echimyid rodents in central Panama and the impacts of liana removal on AMF consumption by Proechimys semispinosus. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting Spring 2013.

Cochran, C., Lambert, T.D., & Keller, K. 2013. Investigation of parasite loads in intestinal tracks of white-tailed populations in Maryland. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting Spring 2013.

Curry, J., Lambert, T.D., & Keller, K. 2013. Endoparasites of small mammals in Western Maryland. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting Spring 2013.

Russell, L., Lambert T.D. & Keller, K. 2013. Analysis of placental scaring to evaluate the reproductive output of white-tailed deer in Maryland. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting Spring 2013.

Mckewen, M. & Lambert, T.D. 2013. A preliminary analysis of seasonal variation in Coyote diet in Western Maryland. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting Spring 2013.

O’Brien, D. & Lambert T.D. 2013. Analysis of the rumen chamber of the white-tailed deer stomach to determine food preference in Maryland. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting Spring 2013.

Cochran, C., Lambert, T.D., & Keller, K. 2013. Investigation of parasite loads in intestinal tracks of white-tailed populations in Maryland. Frostburg State University, College of Letters and Science Undergraduate Research Symposium Spring 2013.

Curry, J., Lambert, T.D., & Keller, K. 2013. Endoparasites of small mammals in Western Maryland. Frostburg State University, College of Letters and Science Undergraduate Research Symposium Spring 2013.

Russell, L., Lambert T.D. & Keller, K. 2013. Analysis of placental scaring to evaluate the reproductive output of white-tailed deer in Maryland. Frostburg State University, College of Letters and Science Undergraduate Research Symposium Spring 2013.

Mckewen, M. & Lambert, T.D. 2013. A preliminary analysis of seasonal variation in Coyote diet in Western Maryland. Frostburg State University, College of Letters and Science Undergraduate Research Symposium Spring 2013.

O’Brien, D. & Lambert T.D. 2013. Analysis of the rumen chamber of the white-tailed deer stomach to determine food preference in Maryland. Frostburg State University, College of Letters and Science Undergraduate Research Symposium Spring 2013.

Curry, J., Lambert, T.D., & Keller, K. 2012. Endoparasites of Deer Mice, Peromyscus maniculatus, in Western Maryland. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting, Spring 2012

Curry, J., Lambert, T.D., & Keller, K. 2012. Endoparasites of Deer Mice, Peromyscus maniculatus, in Western Maryland. Frostburg Undergraduate Research Symposium, Spring 2012

Krause, C., Lambert, T.D. & Adler G.H. 2012. Influence of Resources on Interactions Between the Armored and Spiny Rat. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting, Fall 2012

Sumpter K., Lambert T.D., Adler G.H. & Dittel J. 2011. Roads as barriers to seed dispersal in a Neotropical forest. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting, Spring 2011.

Sumpter K., Lambert T.D., Adler G.H. & Dittel J. 2011. Roads as barriers to seed dispersal in a Neotropical forest. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting, Fall 2011.

Halsey M. & Lambert T.D. 2011. Impacts of liana removal on small mammal communities, seed predation and forest regeneration: a preliminary assessment. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting, Spring 2011. AWARDED BEST UNDERGRADUATE POSTER

Dupre S.I., Lambert T.D. & Kennedy E. 2011. Behavioral Interactions by Two Sympatric Species of Echimyid Rodent in Central Panama. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting, Spring 2011.

Stivala, S., Krause, C., Lambert, T.D., & Adler G.H. 2011. Influence of Resources on Interactions Between the Armored and Spiny Rat. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting Fall 2011. AWARDED BEST UNDERGRADUATE POSTER.

Lambert, T.D. 2011. The Role of Small Mammals in the Origins, Maintenance and Conservation of Tropical Biodiversity. Frostburg State University, Biology Department Seminar Series.

Sumpter K., Lambert T.D., Adler G.H. & Dittel J. 2010. Roads as barriers to seed dispersal in a Neotropical forest. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting, Spring 2010. AWARDED BEST UNDERGRADUATE POSTER.

Sumpter K., Lambert T.D., Adler G.H. & Dittel J.. 2010. Roads as barriers to seed dispersal in a Neotropical forest. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting, Fall 2010.

Halsey M. & Lambert T.D. 2010. Impacts of liana removal on small mammal communities, seed predation and forest regeneration: a preliminary assessment. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting, Fall 2010.

Dupre S.I., Lambert T.D. & Kennedy E. 2010. Behavioral Interactions by Two Sympatric Species of Echimyid Rodent in Central Panama. Maryland/Delaware Wildlife Society Meeting, Fall 2010.

Lambert, T.D. 2008. What can small mammals teach us about conservation and management of tropical forests. Frostburg State University Biology Department Seminar.

Lambert, T.D. 2008. What can small mammals teach us about tropical conservation. Central Connecticut State University.

Lambert, T.D. 2008. Why did the agouti go out at night? Examining risk behavior in relation to environmental conditions and resource abundance. California University of Pennsylvania.

Lambert, T.D. 2007. What can we learn from (and about) the response of mammals to disturbance. Illinois Natural History Survey.

Lambert, T.D. 2006. What can we learn from (and about) the response of mammals to disturbance. University of Virginia’s College at Wise.

Lambert, T.D. 2005. Animal Capture on Barro Colorado Island. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Barro Colorado Island, Republic of Panamá

Lambert, T.D. 2004. Small mammals of the southeastern Amazon and the ecological consequences of selective logging. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Barro Colorado Island, Republic of Panamá.

Lambert, T.D., J.R. Malcolm & B.L. Zimmerman. 2004. Effects of selective logging on small mammal communities and implications for Amazonian conservation. 18th Annual Meeting of the Society of Conservation Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York.

Lambert, T.D., J.R. Malcolm & B.L. Zimmerman. 2004. Variation in small mammal richness by trap height and trap type at a southeastern Amazonian site, with notes on a new method of canopy trapping. 84th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California.

Lambert, T.D. 2001. Small Mammals of the Kayapó Indigenous Area (KIA). Texas A&M University, College Station Texas.

Lambert, T.D. 2001. What do we really know about preserving tropical diversity? 7th Annual Environmental Science Symposium. University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario.

Lambert, T.D. 1998. Ecological Relationship Among: Density, Ubiquity and Position as seen in Neotropical Rodents. University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Department of Biology seminar.

Lambert, T.D. 1998. Ecomorphological analysis of community structure. University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Department of Biology seminar.

Lambert, T.D. 1998. Habitat fragmentation and rodent community structure. Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference. Eastern Illinois University, Charleston IL.

Lambert, T.D. 1997. Fruiting phenologies of isolated palm stands in Panamá. Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference. University of Louisville, Louisville, KY.

Lambert, T.D. 1997. Effects of forest fragmentation on rodent community structure. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Barro Colorado Island, Republic of Panamá.

 

SERVICE

UVa-Wise representative to the Waters of the Appalachians Tested and Reviewed project.

Member of Frostburg State University’s Science Discovery Center ACTION committee

Elected member of the Frostburg State University’s Summer School and Intersession Advisory Committee (in 2010 & 2012)

Member of the following Frostburg State University, Department of Biology committee’s: Undergraduate Wildlife/Fisheries/Interpretive Biology and Natural History Curriculum Committee; Departmental Assessment Committee; Web Committee; Seminar Committee; Introductory Course Sequence Revision Committee; Departmental Evaluation Committees for various faculty members

Ad Hoc support for various student activities, departmental recruitment efforts, Wildlife Society Activities and community outreach.

Ad Hoc Reviewer

Forest Ecology and Management (14), Biological Conservation (21), Journal of Mammalogy (3), Journal of Tropical Ecology (4), Mammalian Species (1), Biotropica (5), Ecography (1), Population Ecology (1), Mammalia (3), Mammalian Biology (1), Acta Theriologica (2), Current Zoology (2), Journal of Arid Environments (2), Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (1) Zoologia (1).

 

Graduate Students Advised

Autumn Phillips. M.S. Do tree-fall gaps influence directional seed dispersal by Neotropical small mammals? September 2012 to Present.

Steven Preskitt. M.S. Impacts of liana removal on Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi consumption by Two Sympatric Species of Echimyid Rodent in Central Panama. September 2012 to Present.

Michaela Halsey. M.S. Impacts of liana removal on small mammal communities, seed fate and forest regeneration. January 2012 to December 2013.

Andrew Bretscher. M.S. Refuge site use by Two Sympatric Species of Echimyid Rodent in Central Panama. January 2012 to Present.

Casey Krause. M.S. Influence of Resources on Interactions between Two Sympatric Species of Echimyid Rodent in Central Panama. September 2011 to May 2013.

Sam Dupre. M.S. Project: Behavioral Interactions by Two Sympatric Species of Echimyid Rodent in Central Panama. January 2010 to December 2011.

 

Graduate Committee Member

Jacob Dittel-M.S. University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Jennifer Saville-M.S. University of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Science Appalachian Labortory.

 

Undergraduate Research Projects Supervised

Nicholas Bundy. 2013. Frostburg State University. Age Structure and health of White-tailed deer of Western Maryland.

Lindsey Russell. 2013. Frostburg State University. Impacts of age and parasite loads on fertility of White-tail deer.

Megan McKewen. 2013. Frostburg State University. Dietary analysis of coyotes in Western Maryland

David R. O’Brien. 2013. Frostburg State University. Analysis of the rumen chamber of the White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) stomach to determine food preference in Western Maryland

Kaitlin Zembower. 2013. Frostburg State University. Age Structure of White-tailed deer in Western Maryland.

Christopher Cochran. 2013. Frostburg State University. Investigation of parasite loads in intestinal tracts of White-Tail populations in Western Maryland.

Seth Stivala. 2011. Frostburg State University. Small mammal trapping in experimental liana removal plots.

Michaela Halsey. 2010-2011. Frostburg State University. Preliminary Assessment of small mammal diversity on experimental liana removal plots. Project Outputs to date: One publication (Lambert et al. 2011), & one poster presentation:

Michaela Halsey. 2009-2011. Frostburg State University. Production of a Mammalian Species Account for the Brazilian Guinea Pig (Cavia aperea). Project outputs to date: Manuscript submitted. One Poster Presentation. One seminar.

Kenton Sumpter. 2009-2011. Frostburg State University. Roads as barriers to seed dispersal in a Neotropical forest. Project outputs to date: Manuscript Submitted to Biological Conservation, 2 Poster presentations, one seminar:

Erika Delfosse. 2010. University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Preliminary Assessment of small mammal diversity on experimental liana removal plots. Project Outputs to date: One publication (Lambert et al. 2011).

Anthony Kilgore. 2008. University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Influence of seed height on seed fate in a Neotropical forest. Project outputs: One publication. (Kilgore et al. 2010)

David Flagel. 2007. University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Influence of seed height on removal rates by rodents in central Panama. Project outputs: One publication. (Flagel et al. 2009).