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:
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Professional development of teachers
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Curriculum development and evaluation
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Visiting scientists in the classroom
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Practice of inquiry in biology education at the university level
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Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs)
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.
RESEARCH TEAM
Ortiz Lab
Adrianna Elihu
Master's Student
Urban Wildlife of the
San Gabriel Valley
Jennifer Flores
Master's Student
Camera Trapping in the Undergraduate Biology Classroom
Caleb Sandoval
Master's
Student
Urban Wildlife & Ectoparasites of the San Gabriel Valley
Noemi Villareal
Undergraduate Student
Camera Trapping on the
Voorhis Preserve
Gabby Ferraro
UndergraduateStudent
Camera Trapping on the Voorhis Preserve
Lisset Hernandez
Undergraduate Student
Urban Wildlife of the
San Gabriel Valley
Raul Alvarado
Undergraduate Student
Urban Wildlife of San Gabriel Valley
Dawn Wantoch
Field Assistant
Camera Trapping in the
San Gabriel Valley
Isabella Garcia
Undergraduate Student
Urban Parrot Project
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.