Biography
Tara holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from the University of Guelph and a Master of Science in Biology from Acadia University. Under the supervision of Dr. Tom Herman and Dr. Steve Mockford, her research focused on the ecology of the eastern ribbonsnake, a threatened species in Nova Scotia. The project documented movements and habitat use of the snake in highly disturbed and pristine lakeshore wetlands. To date, data from this project has proven to be useful in assisting the Eastern Ribbonsnake Recovery Team in Atlantic Canada through the delineation of critical habitat and by helping to identify gaps in the team’s knowledge of eastern ribbonsnake ecology. This research was also incorporated into a management plan for the eastern ribbonsnake in Ontario and monitoring efforts in New York state. Tara was also involved with nest monitoring for the endangered Blanding’s turtle in Nova Scotia.
In 2008, Tara was contracted by WPC to conduct a telemetry study on juvenile, captive-reared Eastern Loggerhead Shrikes from the field propagation and release site in Carden Plain, Ontario. This study provided insight into the survival, dispersal and early migratory movements of these captive-reared birds and helped to inform future management actions with the captive population. After the telemetry project was complete, she continued to work with WPC on other projects involving both the captive and wild populations of shrikes in Ontario.
In 2009, Tara was selected to be WPC’s 20th Canada’s New Noah. During her time in Mauritius, she helped to eliminate a recently established rat population on Ile aux Aigrettes, an island nature reserve containing many of the rare bird, reptile and plant species found on Mauritius. She also worked with the Mauritius kestrel team to monitor breeding success and productivity – a dream come true. Her independent research project investigated the effect of forest quality on native gecko populations, and the potential impact that gecko abundance and forest quality may have on kestrel hunting success. She has submitted a manuscript of this work for publication.
Upon her return to Canada, she coordinated the Grassland Bird Survey in 2010. This volunteer initiative helped document trends in bird species abundance and composition in grassland habitat across Ontario. Following the completion of this contract, she was hired by Virginia Tech and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to monitor overwintering populations of piping plovers along the Gulf of Mexico and document the potential impacts of the Deepwater Horizon (BP) oil spill in 2010/11. Results from this project will provide a greater understanding of overwintering biology for piping plovers. Following cold weather events in Texas, she assisted the Padre Island National Seashore with Green Sea Turtle rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
Currently, Tara is working for WPC as a Species Recovery Biologist, coordinating the Eastern Loggerhead Shrike Recovery Program. This position involves coordinating field activities (wild population monitoring, captive breeding and releases), habitat stewardship and restoration projects.
Publications
Imlay, T.L., J.F. Crowley, A.M. Argue, J.C. Steiner, D.R. Norris and B.J.M. Stutchbury. (2010) Survival, dispersal and early migration movements of captive-bred juvenile eastern loggerhead shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus migrans). Biological Conservation 143(11): 2578-2582.
Imlay, T., R. Dale, S. Buckland, C. Jones and N. Cole. A novel approach to counting geckos: Phelsuma density in Mauritian forests. Herpetological Review (submission #FA-1291).
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