About Us
Advancing conservation science through research, education, and partnerships across the Borderlands.
GRADUATE ASSISTANT
Bryce Mann
MS Student
Project: Mapping and modeling wetland availability in the Chihuahuan Desert
Advisor: Dr. Antonio Cantu
Bryce’s passion for animals and the natural world began in early life during summers spent on his great-grandparents’ ranch. After spending time on the family farm and working at veterinary clinics, Bryce found his way to Texas Tech University where he had countless opportunities to learn more about natural resources management and truly develop career skills through volunteering with vegetation surveys, wildlife projects, and the museum collections. Now that he is a graduate student at Sul Ross State University, Bryce is eager to continue pursuing his passion.
The Chihuahuan Desert is home to many wetlands that provide crucial habitat for migratory birds in North America. Climate change and anthropogenic water use are affecting migratory birds’ wintering and stopover habitats. Therefore, it is imperative to find effective habitat conservation methods to better support populations of these species. A deeper understanding of the current status and trajectory of wetlands is needed in order to better inform wetland conservation strategies. In this project, we are assessing the spatiotemporal availability of surface water within the Chihuahuan Desert of Mexico and southwestern United States using time series of surface water extents via satellite remote sensing. The result of this study will provide clear information on the status, trend, and factors affecting wetland habitats across the Chihuahuan Desert.
