Byron V.

Weckworth
Regional Scientist and China Program Director
Snow Leopard Program, Panthera
bweckworth@panthera.org

Current Employment
5/2012- Regional Scientist and China Program Director for the NGO Panthera’s snow leopard project.
Present: Coordinate research and field efforts on snow leopard related projects across Central Asia. This
includes capture and radio collaring animals, ungulate surveys, conservation genetics, community
conservation projects, supervising graduate students and collaborating with multiple partners
(NGOs, Universities and Government agencies). Direct and coordinate research and conservation
programs across all China partners.

Education
Peking University, Beijing, China - Post-doctoral Fellow at Center for Nature and Society
University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada - PhD in Environmental Design
Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, USA - MS in Biological Sciences
University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA - BA in Biology with emphasis in Zoology

Contributed Refereed Publications

15. Gubili C, Mariani S, Weckworth BV, Galpern P, McDevitt A, Hebblewhite M, Nickel B, Musiani M (2016)
Environmental and anthropogenic drivers on connectivity patterns: a basis for prioritizing conservation
efforts for threatened populations. Evolutionary Applications DOI: 10.1111/eva.12443.
14. Li J, McCarthy TM, Wang H, Weckworth BV, Schaller G, Mishra C, Lu Z, Beissinger S (2016) Climate refugia
of snow leopards in high Asia. Biological Conservation, 203, 188-196.
13. Weckworth BV, Dawson N, Talbot S, Cook J (2015) Genetic distinctiveness of Alexander Archipelago wolves
(Canis lupus ligoni): reply to Cronin et al. (2015). Journal of Heredity, 106(4) 412-414.
12. Yannic, G, Pellissier L, …Weckworth BV, …Côté, S (2014) Genetic diversity in caribou linked to past and
future climate change. Nature Climate Change, 4(2), 132-137.
11. Weckworth BV and Li J (2013) Multi-stakeholder approaches to snow leopard conservation on the Tibetan
Plateau. Cat News, 59, Autumn.
10. Weckworth, BV, Musiani M, DeCesare NJ, McDevitt AD, Hebblewhite M, Mariani S (2013) Preferred habitat
and effective population size drive landscape genetic patterns in an endangered species. Proceedings of the
Royal Society B, 280, doi:10.1098/rspb.2013.1756.
9. Weckworth BV, McDevitt A, Musiani M, Hebblewhite M, Mariani S (2012) Reconstruction of caribou
evolutionary history in Western North America and its implications for conservation. Molecular Ecology, 21,
3610-3624.
8. Blanchong J, Grear D, Weckworth BV, Keane D, Scribner KT, Samuel M (2012) Effects of chronic wasting
disease on reproduction and fawn harvest vulnerability in Wisconsin white-tailed deer. Journal of Wildlife
Diseases, 48, 361-370.
7. Weckworth BV, Dawson N, Talbot S, Flamme M, Cook J (2011) Going coastal: Shared evolutionary history
between coastal British Columbia and Alexander Archipelago wolves (Canis lupus). PLoS ONE, 6(5),
e19582.
6. Grear DA, Samuel MD, Scribner KT, Weckworth BV, Langenberg, JA (2010) Influence of genetic relatedness
and spatial proximity on CWD transmission among female white-tail deer. Journal of Applied Ecology, 47,
532-540.
5. Weckworth BV, Talbot S, Cook J (2010) Phylogeography of wolves (Canis lupus) in the Pacific Northwest.
Journal of Mammalogy, 91, 363-375.
4. McDevitt AD, Mariani S, Hebblewhite M, DeCesare NJ, Morgantini L, Seip D, Weckworth BV, Musiani M
(2009) Survival in the Rockies of an endangered hybrid swarm from diverged caribou (Rangifer tarandus)
lineages. Molecular Ecology, 18, 665-679.
3. Blanchong JA, Samuel MD, Scribner KT, Weckworth BV, Langenberg JA, and Filcek K (2008) Landscape
genetics and the spatial distribution of chronic wasting disease. Biology Letters, 4, 130-133.
2. Weckworth BV, Talbot S, Sage K, Cook J (2005) A signal for independent coastal and continental histories
among North American wolves. Molecular Ecology, 14, 917-931.
1. Badyaev AV, Hill GE, Weckworth BV (2002) Species divergence in sexually selected traits: increase in song
elaboration is related to decrease in plumage ornamentation in finches. Evolution, 56, 412-419.

Book Chapters
3. Caragiulo A, Amato G, Weckworth BV (2016) The role of genetics: conservation genetics of snow leopards. In:
Snow Leopards (eds McCarthy T, Mallon D), 664 pp. Elsevier.
2. ,Robinson H & Weckworth BV (2016) Landscape ecology: linking landscape metrics to ecological processes. In:
Snow Leopards (eds McCarthy T, Mallon D), 664 pp. Elsevier.
1. Liu Y, Weckworth B, Li J, Xiao L, Zhao X (2016) China: The Tibetan Plateau, Sanjiangyuan Region. In: Snow
Leopards (eds McCarthy T, Mallon D), 664 pp. Elsevier.

Contributed Publications in Review/Revision

Weckworth BV, Hebblewhite M, Mariani S, Musiani M (Accepted/in revision) Lines on a map: Designatable units,
meta-population dynamics and recovery of woodland caribou in Canada. Ecosphere
Li J, Weckworth BV, Pires M, McCarthy T, Lu Z, Schaller G, Beissinger S (In review) Identifying effective
surrogate species: a case study of mammal conservation on the Tibetan Plateau. Biological Conservation
Xiao L,…Weckworth BV, et al. (In review) Role of the “fungus gold-rush” on alleviating grazing pressures on the
Tibetan Plateau. Conservation Biology
Cavedon M,…Weckworth BV, et al. (submitted) Genes, environment and balancing selection in behaviorally
bimodal populations: the caribou case. Science Advances
Li J, Weckworth BV, et al. (In prep.) Defining priorities for a global snow leopard conservation landscape.

Contributed Non-refereed Publications

Weckworth BV, DeCesare NJ, Hebblewhite M, Musiani M (2011) Genetic analysis of caribou connectivity and the
spatial effects of wolf predation on caribou survival in Banff and Jasper National Parks. Report to Parks
Canada, March, 2011, 58 pp.
Hebblewhite M, Musiani M, DeCesare N, Hazenberg S, Peters W, Robinson H, Weckworth B (2010) Linear
features, forestry, and wolf predation of caribou and other prey in west central Alberta. Final report to the
Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada (PTAC). 84 pp.
Weckworth, BV (2009) Caribou of the Canadian Rockies: Understanding environmental change in the context of
conservation and evolution. Mountain Forum Bulletin, July 2009.
Enders L, Spring-Pearson S, Weckworth B, Nunney L (2007) The utility of wildlife crossing structures as tools to
enhance gene flow and population longevity in Western Riverside County. Report for the University of
California Center for Conservation Biology, 26 pp. (order of authors is random).

Individual Fellowships and Grants

• Davidson’s Honors College Grant for undergraduate research, University of Montana, summer and fall,
1999 : total of $1200 USD
• NSF Summer Program in Asia 2002, travel and living expenses plus $5,000 USD
• Dean’s Distinguished Fellowship Award, University of California-Riverside, 2005/2006 academic year,
$18,000 USD
• Co-PI on Shippley-Skinner Grant from University of California Center for Conservation Biology,
2006/2007 academic year: total of $7,613.50 USD
• Dean’s Entrance Scholarship, University of Calgary, 2007. $6,000 CAD
• Alberta Conservation Association Grants in Biodiversity, 2009. $16,020 CAD
• Alberta Ingenuity Fund PhD Graduate Student Scholarship, 2009-10. $55,000 CAD over two years
• Alberta Sport, Recreation Parks and Wildlife Foundation Development Initiatives Program Grant, 2009,
$3,000 CAD
• Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative’s Sarah Baker Memorial Fund grant, 2009, $2500 CAD
• ESRI Canada Scholarship, 2010, $2000 CAD (plus latest ESRI software, books, $4k of online courses)
• Chinese Science Foundation post-doctoral research grant, 2013, 80,000 RMB (~$13,000 USD)
• International Bear Association Research and Conservation Grant, 2014-15, $15,000USD
Lectures
International Conservation: PANTHERA and Snow Leopards
• Guest lecturer at the University of Maine for the Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation Biology departments
WLE 470 course, Wildlife Policy and Administration (2018)
Energy Development and Wildlife
• Guest lecturer at the University of Montana for the Department of Ecosystem and Conservations Sciences
WILD 275 Wildlife Conservation for non-majors course (2012, 2015 and 2016)
Snow Leopards and their Conservation
• Guest lecturer at University of Montana’s Wilderness and Civilization Program (2015)
Conservation in Practice
• Guest lecturer at the University of Montana for the Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences
WILD 470 Conservation of Wildlife Populations course (2014)
Invited Seminars
Snow Leopard Conservation: from global to local
• Seminar at Wright State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Dayton, OH (2017)
Molecular Ecology and Conservation of Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in Western North America
• Seminar at Peking University in the School of Life Sciences, Beijing, China (2012)
Scientific/Professional Meeting Presentations
An Overview of Snow Leopard Research and Conservation
• 1st Annual International Snow Leopard Workshop, Yushu, China (2015, Talk)
• 2nd Annual Snow Leopard Workshop, Xinjiang, China (2016, Talk revised/updated from 2015)
Economic, personal and cultural impacts of human-snow-leopard conflicts in the Sanjiangyuan region of the Tibetan
Plateau
• 26th International Congress for Conservation Biology, Baltimore, MD (2013, Talk)
Re-evaluating patterns of caribou genetics in western North America: implications for conservation of intraspecies
diversity
• Invited talk at the Foothill Research Institute’s caribou workshop, Calgary, AB (2012, Talk)
Caribou genetic diversity in western North America: implications for hunting and conservation planning
• 13th International Arctic Ungulate Conference, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories (2011, Talk)
Evolutionary dynamics of caribou (Rangifer tarandaus) in western North America: a molecular review of taxonomy,
ecotypes and populations
• 91st Annual meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, Portland, OR (2011, Talk)
Evolution, phylogeography and classification of caribou in western North America
• 6th Annual meeting of the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution, Banff, AB (2011, Talk)
Mixing it up after the Ice Age: post-Pleistocene genetic and behavioral dynamics of partially migratory caribou in the
Canadian Rockies
• Special caribou session at 24th Annual International Congress for Conservation Biology, Edmonton, AB,
Canada (2010, Talk)
• Invited to present at 94th Annual Conference of the Ecological Society of America, Albuquerque, NM
(2009, Invited Special Sessions Talk)
Consequences of Heavy Harvest Regimes: the significance of insignificant results
• 15th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Miami, FL (2008, Talk)
Tracking wolves in British Columbia and Southeast Alaska with genetic footprints
• Invited for 62nd British Columbia Trappers Association annual meeting, Prince George, BC (2007, Talk)
Tracking wolves with genetic footprints
• Invited talk for US Forest Service, Petersberg, AK (2006, Talk)
A phylogeographic perspective: Endemism and conservation in southeast Alaska
• Grad Fest 2006 University of California-Riverside (2006, Talk)
Tracking wolves through the Pacific Northwest with the signatures of Holocene genetic footprints
• 85th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, Springfield, IL. (2005, Talk)
Phylogeography and Population Genetics of Canis lupus in the Pacific Northwest
• 84th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mammalogists, Arcata, CA. (2004, Talk)
A molecular perspective on Pacific coastal wolves (Canis lupus ligoni)
• 17th Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology, Duluth, MN. (2003, Poster)
Do most colorful birds sing most beautiful songs? Species divergence in sexually selected traits in Cardueline
finches.
• National Conference on Undergraduate Research, University of Montana, Missoula, MT. (2000, Talk)
• Western Regional Wildlife Society Conclave, Logan UT. (2000, Talk)
Public Talks
The Alexander Archipelago Wolf
• Invited speaker to the University of Alaska-Southeast Natural History lecture series, Sitka, AK (2015)
Caribou of the Canadian Rockies: Conservation in a Changing Landscape
• Invited public presentation to the Alberta Junior Forest Wardens, Calgary, AB (2011)
Tracking wolves with genetic footprints
• Invited talk at the Calgary Zoo (2010)

Contributed Media
Weckworth, BV (2009) Interviews published in over 70 International News Websites, Newspapers and Radio in North
America and Europe. Topic: Publication of paper: McDevitt et al. Survival in the Rockies of an endangered
hybrid swarm from diverged caribou (Rangifer tarandus) lineages. Molecular Ecology 18:665-679.
• Canadian Press, Calgary Herald, Calgary Sun, Toronto Sun, The Star, Winnipeg Free Press, The Chronicle
Herald, West Island Chronicle, among other newspapers in Canada
• Local Calgary TV
• CBC Radio and Radio-Canada International in Latin America
• Discovery Channel News
Weckworth, BV (2011) Radio interview with CBC North discussing caribou genetic work across western North
America: http://www.cbc.ca/thetrailbreaker/episodes/2011/08/26/caribou-ancestry/
Weckworth, BV (2015) hour long radio interview with Raven Radio in Sitka, AK for nature series:
http://www.sitkanature.org/wordpress/2015/03/29/raven-radio-show-76-byron-weckworth/
Weckworth, BV (2016) Multiple interviews published across a variety of online blogs and news websites pertaining
to our study: Li J et al. Climate refugia of snow leopards in high Asia. Biological Conservation, 203, 188-196

Selected Previous Employment, Research and Field Experience

7/2012- Post-doctoral associate at Peking University, Beijing, China with Dr. Lu Zhi in the School of Life
6/2014: Sciences. Research focus on snow leopard population dynamics and carnivore community ecology
on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai Province, China.
7/2007- PhD research on phylogenetics, population and landscape genetic, and predator-prey dynamics of
6/2012: wolves and caribou in the Canadian Rockies. Field activities include caribou habitat sampling,
wolf, caribou and moose captures and collaring, kill site searches, telemetry flights, coordination
of aerial captures, and organizing field activities with other students and technicians.
1/2004- Research Technician in Kim Scribner’s lab at Michigan State University; led molecular lab
8/2005: component to assess population dynamics of white-tail deer in relation to chronic wasting disease.
8/2001- Masters Thesis research on the population dynamics and phylogeography of wolves (Canis
12/2003: lupus) in the Pacific Northwest.
5/2001- Field research technician for the Rocky Mountain Research Station. Assessment of impacts of
8/2001: cattle grazing on stream habitat for endangered fish.
6/2000- Wildlife technician for the University of Tennessee capturing and studying the ecology of black
11/2000: bears (Ursus americanus) in eastern North Carolina.
4/1999- Research assistant for research on the mechanical output in bird flight, effects of body size on
5/2000: foraging strategies in birds, and Brewer’s/Timberline sparrow distribution and song complexity

Graduate Advising
• Imogene Cancellare, University of Delaware (Committee member, PhD ongoing)
• Safia Janjua, Wright State University (Committee member, PhD ongoing)

Teaching Experience
• Teaching Assistant (TA) at ISU, Fall 2001, undergraduate biology majors lab in zoology
• TA at UCR, Fall 2005 and Winter 2007, upper-level undergraduate course in genetics
• TA at UCR, Winter 2006, undergraduate non-majors lab in organismal biology and evolution
• TA at UCR, Spring and Fall 2006, undergraduate majors lab in ecology and evolution
• TA at UCR, Spring 2007, upper-level undergraduate majors lab in terrestrial vertebrate ecology

Professional Affiliations
• United States Geological Survey, Molecular Genetics Lab in Anchorage (since 2002)
• Society for Conservation Biology (since 2000)
• American Society of Mammalogists (since 2005)
• Alberta Sustainable Resource and Development Fish and Wildlife Management (2007-2012)
• Parks Canada (since 2007)
• Bow Valley Naturalists (2009-2012)
• Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (2009-2012)
• Shan Shui (since 2012)
• Snow Leopard Trust (since 2012)
• Beijing Forestry University – Wildlife Institute (since 2015)
• Wildlife Conservation Society-China (since 2015)

Professional Service
• Reviewer for Biological Conservation, Conservation Genetics, Evolutionary Applications, Journal of
Applied Ecology, Journal of Biogeography, Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, Journal of Heredity,
Journal of Mammalogy, Journal of Wildlife Management, Molecular Ecology, Oryx, Ursus
• Student representative on search/hiring committee for Conservation Ecologist faculty position (UCR 2007)
• Student representative on hiring committee for Athena Chair faculty position (UC 2008)
• Student representative on PhD admissions committee (UC 2009)

Molecular Lab Skills and Experience

• Extracting DNA using a variety of kits and salt extraction methods
• Sequencing mtDNA; primarily cytochrome b and control region
• Primer optimization and genotyping of microsatellites
• Proficient with a variety of lab tools including: agarose and acrylamide gel electrophoresis, pipettes,
centrifuges, Licor, FM Bio, spectrophotometers and autoclaves.
• Molecular analysis programs including Gene Mapper, GENEPOP, Arlequin, PAUP, MDIV, Sequencer,
BioEdit, PHYLIP, STRUCTURE, MSA, FSTAT, Genemapper,Tree View, MrBayes and others.

Scientific field skills and techniques

• Wildlife capture and handling: using mist nets, Sherman live traps, foothold snares, leg-hold traps and kill
traps; handling birds of varying sizes (passerines to swans), large carnivores, ungulates, small mammals,
and fish. Taking morphological measurements of captured animals, administering anesthetic drugs, banding
birds, fitting animals with VHF and GPS collars, pit-tagging, and physiological monitoring
• Certificate of Accreditation for passing exams on the chemical and physical restraint of wildlife, received
via the Malilangwe Trust and Wildlife Capture Africa in Zimbabwe (02/2015)
• Radio telemetry and GPS collar uploads, including 250+ hours in fixed wing aircraft
• 100+ hours in helicopter for aerial captures and telemetry
• Setting up and maintaining monitoring devices such as camera traps and hair snares
• Habitat sampling for chemistry, geology, geometry, plants and invertebrates
• Behavioral observation and recording
• Field experience in navigating, hiking, and camping in remote areas of the Rocky Mountains, Sonoran
desert, Southeast Alaska, Canadian Rockies, Taiwan, Myanmar, Tibetan Plateau and high elevation Central
Asia.
• CPR and Wilderness First Aid certification (most recent 04/2017)