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Research

PROJECTS AND INTERESTS

Conservation Education

We are most interested in exploring the training and preparation of K-12 teachers in environmental literacy, ecological knowledge, and perceptions of real-world issues related to the environment and conservation. Even more so, we are passionate about exploring the land ethic, stewardship, and affinity towards nature that is present in students attending underserved, urban schools.

Learn more about our ongoing project below!

Cal Poly Wild

Education Research Interests:

  • Professional development of teachers

  • Curriculum development and evaluation

  • Visiting scientists in the classroom

  • Practice of inquiry in biology education at the university level

  • Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs)

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Urban Wildlife Ecology

Learn more about our ongoing projects below!

Urban Parrot Project

Urban Wildlife Information Network

We are most interested in work relating to population monitoring, particularly involving non-native species, behavior, habitat use through the use of GIS and remote sensing techniques and field surveys, human attitudes and perceptions towards wildlife.

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RESEARCH TEAM

Ortiz Lab

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Adrianna Elihu
Master's Student

Urban Wildlife of the

San Gabriel Valley

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Jennifer Flores
Master's Student

Camera Trapping in the Undergraduate Biology Classroom

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Caleb Sandoval
Master's
Student

Urban Wildlife & Ectoparasites of the San Gabriel Valley

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Noemi Villareal
Undergraduate Student

Camera Trapping on the

Voorhis Preserve

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Gabby Ferraro
UndergraduateStudent

Camera Trapping on the           Voorhis Preserve

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Lisset Hernandez
Undergraduate Student

Urban Wildlife of the

San Gabriel Valley

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Raul Alvarado
Undergraduate Student

Urban Wildlife of San Gabriel Valley

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Dawn Wantoch
Field Assistant

Camera Trapping in the

San Gabriel Valley

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Isabella Garcia
Undergraduate Student

Urban Parrot Project

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Grey Squirrel
Image by Joshua J. Cotten

FORMER
RESEARCH TEAM MEMBERS

Bryanna Ramos, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate

    Project: Urban Wildlife of the San Gabriel Valley, Fall 2022

 

Karen Salazar, Cypress College, Undergraduate

    Project: Presence of Pest Rodent Species in Urbanized Areas: Who is Impacted?, Summer 2022

 

Gabriela Gonzalez, Cypress College, Undergraduate

    Project: Human and Wildlife Coexistence in the San Gabriel Valley, Summer 2022

 

Kassie Craft, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate

    Project: Urban Wildlife of the San Gabriel Valley, Spring 2022-Fall 2022

 

Giselle Sandoval, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate

    Project: Urban Wildlife of the San Gabriel Valley, Spring 2022-Fall 2022

 

Jocelyn Urias, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate

    Project: Urban Wildlife of the San Gabriel Valley, Spring 2022

Judy Ly, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate

    Project: Mapping Urban Parrot Distributions, Fall 2021-Fall 2022

Isabel Castillo, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate

    Project: Cal Poly Wild: An On-Campus Wildlife Learning Experience, 2021-2022

 

Stephanie Zuniga, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate (SPIRES Scholar)

    Project: Social Behavior of Waterfowl in an Urban Park, 2021-2022

 

Celina Rong, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate

    Project: Diet of Urban Parrots in Southern California, Spring 2021

 

Anam Qayyum, Cal Poly Pomona, Undergraduate

    Project: Landscape Characteristics of Urban Parrot Roost Sites in Southern California, Spring 2021

    Currently: Master’s Student, University of California, Riverside

Beatriz Martinez-Martin, University of San Diego, Undergraduate

    Project: Avian Insectivores and Diet Availability in South Texas, 2019-2021

 

Angelica Ocaña, University of San Diego, Undergraduate

    Project: Sex Aggregations in White-tailed Deer on South Texas Rangelands, 2019-2020

    Currently: Laboratory Technician, Pharmatech

 

Maxwell Johnson, University of San Diego, Undergraduate

    Project: Establishing a Monitoring Program for Population Estimates of Urban Parrots, 2019

 

Maisy Feeley, University of San Diego, Undergraduate

    Project: Establishing a Monitoring Program for Population Estimates of Urban Parrots, 2019

 

Charlie Daria, University of San Diego, Post-Baccalaureate

    Project: Diet of Introduced Parrots in San Diego, CA, 2018-2019

    Currently: Master's Student, Florida Atlantic University

 

Alexandra Sigg, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Undergraduate

    Project: Impact of Human Disturbance on the Relative Abundance and Diversity of Native and Exotic Avian Species, 2016

 

Oscar Mariscal, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Undergraduate

    Project: Impact of Human Disturbance on the Relative Abundance and Diversity of Native and Exotic Avian Species, 2016

If you are interested in working with Dr. Ortiz as an undergraduate or graduate student reach out by email.

Include in your email: information about you, why you are interested in conducting research, and your research interests.

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