#Findthatlizard: Ecology, Science Outreach, and Supporting Underrepresented Groups in Herpetology and Natural Resources

Abstract

Global climate change and its effects are impacting both humans and other organisms. For instance, the southwestern US is experiencing unprecedented prolonged severe drought. Lack of precipitation is causing temperatures to rise and streams to dry, both of which can affect species living in riparian areas. It can also have negative effects on people who live in and around cities, such as Tucson, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas, as water resources become scarcer. These impacts are often felt most severely by communities of color, including Black Americans, who were historically excluded from the fields of ecology and natural resources, and who rarely are involved in decision-making processes about natural resources and mitigating climate change. The goals of this dissertation were to investigate 1) the biological responses of riparian species facing climate change, 2) the barriers that prevent Black women from entering natural resource careers, and 3) alternative educational approaches that could encourage Black girls to pursue careers in natural resources. This dissertation is comprised of three chapters. The first addresses the impact of stream drying on riparian lizard species in southeastern Arizona. There have been many studies examining the diets of lizards, however, few investigate if these species are utilizing emerging aquatic insects as prey items. Although this study did not detect aquatic invertebrates as significant prey items for our study species, it likely they are benefiting at least indirectly from stream water. Further research should quantify terrestrial insect abundances at both perennial and ephemeral streams. The second chapter is a literature review of the barriers preventing Black women from entering and remaining in natural resources careers. We found that Black women experience biases at the intersection of their identity. The three primary types of barriers they face are structural, socioeconomic, and cultural. However, these barriers often overlap. We recommend centering Black women to learn more about 1) the unique barriers they face so that those barriers may be removed, 2) how to support them at all career stages, and 3) how we can lift them into leadership roles. It is more crucial than ever to increase the diversity of natural resources professionals. From the research in my second chapter, it was clear that Black girls lacked access to experiences with natural resources careers. As a result, my final chapter describes an educational program I developed: Black (girls) Outside Leadership Development (BOLD). I created this program to introduce middle school-aged Black girls to careers in natural resources. This program was done in partnership with a Black Greek Letter Organization, Delta Sigma Theta Inc. Over the course of five months, participants in this program heard presentations from nine women of color in natural resources careers. Presenters talked about their backgrounds, pathways through STEM, and personal interests, and were also asked to lead an interactive activity with the girls. During the weeks we did not meet, the girls were tasked with completing independent activities designed to help them gain ownership over the topics they learned about during the presentation. We found that BOLD participants did have some prior knowledge of careers in natural resources. However, they did not recognize specific careers, such as herpetologist, entomologist, or scientist, as being natural resources careers prior to participation in BOLD. Some participants expressed an interest in natural resources careers, and those that were not interested still had an interest in the environment. These results illustrate that it is crucial to provide middle school aged Black girls with experiences to learn about natural resources careers and the resources to pursue these careers when they are ready. By doing so, those Black girls will become future leaders that can help solve ecological challenges, such as those faced by riparian lizards in a drier, hotter climate.