Dr. Gad Perry

Research Interests

My research centers on ecology in the broadest sense, with a large emphasis on conservation issues and the increasingly profound impacts of humans on the environment, including urban ecosystems and international development. The ethics of such research is also an interest. Much of my work is carried out on reptiles and amphibians, and invasive species are a common focus. My research is primarily conducted in the field and typically focuses on the whole organism and its interactions with its biotic (including human) and a-biotic environment. Whenever possible, I use multiple methods, and this integrative approach has led to continuously-evolving research spanning varied sub-disciplines.

Service

I serve as a Section Editor for Reptiles & Amphibians and a member of the Invasive Species and Iguana Specialist Groups of the IUCN. I am also the Senior Director of the Division of International Research and Development at the Office of International Affairs and the Director of the International Center for Arid and Semi-Arid Land Studies. 

Courses Taught

1. NRM 3307 Principles of Conservation Science
2. NRM 6324 Advanced Tropical Ecology and Conservation

Recent Publications

Anderson, W., Wester, D., Salice, C., Perry, G. (2017). Habitat utilization by the Texas horned lizard (Phrynosom cornutum) from two sites in central Texas. Journal of North American Herpetology, 2017(1), 28-33.

Perry, G., Cox, R. (2016). Grasslands. In Larry Jones, Ken Halama, and Rob Lovich (Ed.), Habitat Management Guidelines for Amphibians and Reptiles of the Southwest (pp. 62-67). South West PARC.

Gao, D., Perry, G. 2016. Species–area relationships and additive partitioning of diversity of native and nonnative herpetofauna of the West Indies. Ecology and Evolution, 2016, 1-21.

Granberg, R., Brown, L., East, J., Garcia, A., Godar, A., Mejia, M., Boal, C., Perry, G. (2016). Assessing Effects of Feral Sheep on Plant Composition and Structure in a Caribbean Tropical Dry Forest. Caribbean Naturalist, 33, 1-18.

Perry, G. (2016). Herpetological Ethics. Journal of Herpetology, 50(3), 345-346.

Verble, R., Granberg, R., and Perry, G. 2015. Using Historic Evidence to Inform Conservation Decisions for the Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum). Post Oak & Prairie Journal 1:25-35.

Reza, A.H.M., and Perry, G. 2015. Herpetofaunal species richness in the tropical forests of Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Conservation Biology 4:100-108.

Curzer, H.J., P. Muhlberger, G. Perry, D. Perry, and M. Wallace. 2013. The Ethics of Wildlife Research: A Nine R Theory. ILAR Journal 54:52-57.

Ramesh, R., K. Griffis-Kyle, G. Perry, and M. Farmer. 2012. Urban Amphibians of the Texas Panhandle: Baseline Inventory and Habitat Associations in a Drought Year. Reptiles & Amphibians 19:242-252.

Perry, G., and M. Farmer. 2011. Reducing the risk of biological invasion by creating incentives for pet sellers and owners to do the right thing. Journal of Herpetology 45:134–141.

Powell, R., R.W. Henderson, M.C. Farmer, M. Breuil, A.C. Echternacht, G. van Buurt, C.M. Romagosa, and G. Perry. 2011. Introduced amphibians and reptiles in the greater Caribbean: Patterns and conservation implications. Pp. 63-143 In: Conservation of Caribbean Island Herpetofaunas Volume 1. Edited by Adrian Hailey, Byron S. Wilson, and Julia A. Horrocks.

Sosa, A., O. Reyes, and G. Perry. 2010. Turtles in the Dust: Effects of Hands-on Scientific Training on a Group of Behaviorally At-risk Students' Knowledge and Empathy. Reptiles & Amphibians 17:108-111.

Perry, G. and D. Vice. 2009. Forecasting the risk of brown tree snake dispersal from Guam: a mixed transport-establishment model. Conservation Biology 23:992-1000.

Perry, D. and G. Perry. 2008. Improving interactions between animal rights groups and conservation biologist.Conservation Biology 22:27–35.

Perry, G., B.W. Buchanan, R.N. Fisher, M. Salmon, and S.E. Wise. 2008. Effects of artificial night lighting on reptiles and amphibians in urban environments. Pp. 239-256 In: R.E. Jung and J.C. Mitchell (eds). Urban herpetology. Herpetological Conservation Vol. 3, Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Salt Lake, Utah.