 Robert B. Blair
Associate Professor, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation
Biology
Phone: 612-624-2198
Email: blairrb@umn.edu
Ph.D. Stanford
University
Fields of Interest
Ecology of human-dominated landscapes, birds as indicators of ecological
integrity, conservation of native species, environmental education.
Courses
- ESPM 3011W Ethics, Conflict, and Leadership in Resource Management
- ESPM 5480 Topics in Natural Resources - Schoolyards, Science and Sustainability
- Schoolyard Ecology Explorations - Professional Development for Teachers
- Minnesota Master Naturalist - Natural History for Enthusiastic Minnesotans
Research
My research interests in conservation biology focus on how land use
affects bird and butterfly communities. While many conservation
biologists choose to concentrate on pristine habitat islands and
endangered species, I prefer to focus on the "unswimmable ocean" of
the human-dominated landscape. My recent research has centered on the
changes that occur to native birds and butterflies as sites become
progressively more developed. Currently, I am examining urban to
rural gradients in Minnesota, Ohio, and California to see how
urbanization is leading to the homogenization of the world's fauna.
My outreach efforts in science and environmental education center on two programs: Minnesota Master Naturalist and Schoolyard Ecology Explorations.
Minnesota Master Naturalist is a volunteer program that teaches adults about Minnesota's natural resources, empowers them to educate others, and provides opportunities to do conservation projects. The mission of the Minnesota Master Naturalist Program is to promote awareness, understanding, and stewardship of Minnesota's natural environment by developing a corps of well-informed citizens dedicated to conservation education and service within their communities. More information on the program can be found at www.minnesotamasternaturalist.org/
Schoolyard Ecology Explorations is a professional development workshop for teachers. Its goal is to increase student and teacher expertise in ecological research, natural history and sustainability. Through summer workshops, teachers learn to utilize their schoolyards as sites for student investigations into the natural world. Schoolyard Garden Grants provide funds for teachers to plant new or expand schoolyard gardens. More information on the program can be found at www.monarchlab.umn.edu/schoolyards/
Publications
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Blair R. B., D. Flinn, and A. R. B. Rager. In preparation, expected 2008. Big Woods, Big Rivers: An Introduction to the Natural History of Minnesota’s Deciduous Forest. University of Minnesota Extension Service: Saint Paul, MN
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Pennington, D.N., Blair R.B., and J.R. Hansel. In press. The Conservation Value of Urban Riparian Areas for Landbirds During Spring Migration: Land Cover, Scale, and Vegetation Effects. Biological Conservation.
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Blair, R.B and Johnson E. 2008. Suburban habitats and their role in the urban-rural habitat network. Points of extinction and invasion? Landscape Ecology (currently pre-publication on-line at http://www.springerlink.com/content/103025/?Content+Status=Accepted).
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Savanick, M.A. and R.B. Blair. 2005. Assessing the need for Master Naturalist programs. Journal of Extension. 43(3): Article 3FEA7 http://www.joe.org/joe/2005june/a7.shtml
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Blair, R. B. 2004. The effects of urban sprawl on birds at multiple levels of biological organization. Ecology and Society formerly known as Conservation Ecology 9(5): 2. [online] URL: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol9/iss5/art2. Invited manuscript.
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