A professor with Texas Tech University's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and an honored graduate of the academic unit now working in Kansas have been presented a "Wildlife Publication Award" from The Wildlife Society for their book, Ecology and Conservation of Lesser Prairie-Chickens. The Maryland-based professional group of wildlife biologists has an international membership of more than 10,000.

Clint Boal, who serves both as a professor with Tech's Department of Natural Resources Management and assistant leader of the Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the university, and David Haukos, Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Leader and Research Ecologist, were presented the honor this month at the Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society in Cleveland. Hauko, a migratory gamebird expert, received his master's degree (1988) and doctorate (1991) in wildlife science from Tech's Department of Natural Resources Management, and was presented CASNR's Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2004.

"While it is very gratifying to have this work recognized at such a high professional level, it is really a testament to the effort and work of all the authors that contributed to the volume," Boal said.

The brown-and-white striped bird's population has been a matter of concern for years. In their book, Boal and Hauko provide data, analytical results, and synthesis generated among wildlife biologists, conservation biologists, and ornithologists. In addition, it reviews life history, genetics and ecology of the species, and is ultimately directed toward developing and establishing appropriate conservation management strategies.

Published by Taylor & Francis, the 300-page book presents a detailed analysis of the issues and risks relative to conservation, as well as an overview of potential conservation tools. Lesser Prairie-Chickens have experienced substantial declines in terms of population and the extent of area that they occupy.

In 2014, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed Lesser Prairie-Chickens as a threatened species, granting them federal protection under the Endangered Species Act, which included a special rule recognizing significant conservation planning efforts made by state and federal wildlife agencies within the geographical range of the species. Although the listing was vacated by judicial ruling in 2015, concern and conservation efforts for the species has continued.

The Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit was established at Texas Tech in 1988. Part of the National Cooperative Research Units Program, it resides within the U.S. Geological Survey. According to program leaders, its mission is to conduct and facilitate research and education activities related to natural resource management and conservation. The unit's cooperators include Texas Tech, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, U.S. Geological Survey, the Wildlife Management Institute, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Current research efforts focus on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

CONTACT: Mark Wallace, Chairman, Department of Natural Resources Management, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2841 or mark.wallace@ttu.edu

1024NM18