Title: Supervisory Research Wildlife Biologist, Research Ornithologist
Company: International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service
Location: North Andover, Massachusetts, United States
Wayne J. Arendt, PhD, supervisory research wildlife biologist and research ornithologist at the International Institute of Tropical Forestry with the USDA Forest Service, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Scientists for dedication, achievements, and leadership in ornithology.
With nearly five decades of experience to his credit, Dr. Arendt has established a distinguished career in environmental science and conservation, and the study of wildlife preservation and management, specializing in ornithology and forestry. He currently excels as a supervisory research wildlife biologist and research ornithologist at the International Institute of Tropical Forestry with the USDA Forest Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a role he has held since 1978. Prior to this, he served with the United States Army from 1966 to 1969.
In his current roles, Dr. Arendt is responsible for conducting research with his field teams in Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. He engages in a broad range of studies, from morphometrics to genetics, driven by his passion for all aspects of his work. His responsibilities include adapting to current federal priorities, and his research has encompassed various focus areas, including endangered species in the 1960s, migratory birds, and most recently, genetics and urban bird studies. He is also involved in ecological studies and attends conferences to present his research on topics such as urban birds and mangrove systems.
Throughout his career, Dr. Arendt has dedicated significant time to mentoring and training the next generation of wildlife biologists and foresters, a process he refers to as “technology transfer.” Since the 1970s in the Caribbean, he has trained professionals on almost all the major islands. In the late 1990s, his focus expanded to Mesoamerica, where he trained biologists and tour guides across all seven Central American countries, along with individuals from Mexico and North America. His work often utilizes birds as bioindicator species to assess the health and integrity of various habitats.
Dr. Arendt has also contributed as an author and co-author of various publications, including “US Forest Service General Technical Report IITF-GTR-27,” and over 200 peer-reviewed publications and technical reports published in professional journals. Laying a solid foundation for these successes, he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of California Los Angeles, a Master of Science in Caribbean ornithology, with honors, from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a research doctorate in wildlife ecology and forestry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1993.
In addition to his career, Dr. Arendt is a member of the Smithsonian-Peace Corps Environmental Program and Awana® Clubs International. He has also served as a mentor for university students in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, volunteered with the Puerto Rican Parrot Restoration at the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, and dedicated time to the Boy Scouts of America. A standout moment of his career is his 404-page “US Forest Service General Technical Report IITF-GTR-27,” which has garnered citations from researchers worldwide, including in Alaska, Norway, Argentina, and the Commonwealth of Oceana. In recognition of his impressive undertakings, he won a national essay contest on the Prothonotary Warbler, received bronze, gold, and silver Palm Awards, earned 40 Merit Badges, and numerous camping, long-distance swimming, hiking, cycling, and canoeing awards, and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow by the Boy Scouts of America.
Reflecting on his career, Dr. Arendt takes great pride in his extensive research on Caribbean mimicry, which spans over two decades and was published in the Perlite Thrasher Publication. He was among the pioneers who delved into the study of avian ectoparasites in tropical regions, and his groundbreaking research has been widely referenced and expanded upon by many researchers. He attributes his success to his unwavering persistence and determination.
In the coming years, Dr. Arendt intends to remain dedicated to his work, particularly focusing on urban bird studies. Currently, he and his team are implementing occupancy models to quantify various parameters related to urban bird habitats. Additionally, they are investigating bird-window collisions, a significant issue resulting in the mortality of billions of birds annually in the United States alone. Their research also includes studying urban predators like dogs and cats and monitoring bird diseases.
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