Dr. C. Richard Tracy, Professor
Autecology, Desert Biology, Paleoecology, and Conservation Biology

California State University, Northridge
1966, B.A., Biology
1968, M.S., Biology

University of Wisconsin
1972, Ph.D., Major Zoology, Minor Botany

University of Nevada
Biology Department m/s 314
Reno NV 89557

email Dr. Richard Tracy

Office phone
775-784-1925
FAX number
775-784-1302

Current Projects / Research Interests:

My research interests and experiences are broad and include descriptive ecology, autecology (broadly defined to include physiological ecology, biophysical ecology, animal behavior, and population biology), evolutionary biology, theoretical ecology, organismal biology, and conservation biology. Some of my research interests include: Proximate and ultimate interactions between organisms and their environments. The ecological importance of Grinnellian Niches in organisms, and the autecological function of these niche relationships in determining distribution, dispersion, dispersal, and population fluctuations. Conservation Biology: the ecology and conservation of amphibians and reptiles (especially sensitive species such as desert tortoise and western toads); the biology, ecology, and conservation of deserts; and paleobiology and extinction process.

Selected Publications:

Tracy, C. R. 2006. Science and biological resources in Nevada. in, G. Chisholm, C. Elphick, Nevada Breeding Bird Atlas. University of Nevada Press. Reno, NV pp. xi-xii

Downs, C.J., J.P. Hayes, and C.R. Tracy. 2008. Confidence Limits for Scaling Metabolic Rate with Body Mass and Body Temperature: Testing the Arrhenius Fractal Supply Model . Functional Ecology Functional Ecology 22:239–244

Tracy, C.R., Christian, K.A., Betts, G., Tracy, C.R. 2008 Body temperature and resistance to evaporative water loss in tropical Australian frogs. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A 150 (2008) 102–108

Gienger, C. M. and C. R. Tracy. 2008. Ecological interactions between Gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum) and desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii). The Southwestern Naturalist 53(2):265–268

Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Szabolcs Lengyel, Béla Kiss, and C. Richard Tracy. 2008. Clutch size determination in shorebirds: revisiting incubation limitation in the pied avocet ( Recurvirostra avosetta). Journal of Animal Ecology doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2008.01486.x

Hunter, K. W., S. A. duPre, T. Sharp, F. C. Sandmeier, C. R. Tracy. 2008. Western blot can distinguish natural and acquired antibodies to Mycoplasma agassizii in the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). Journal of Microbiological Methods 75 (2008) 464–471

Sandmeier, F.C., C. R. Tracy, S. duPre, K. Hunter. 2009. Upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) as a threat to desert tortoise populations: A reevaluation. Biological Conservation 142 (2009) 1255–1268.

Field, K.J., C.R. Tracy, P.A. Medica, R.W. Marlow, and P.S. Corn. 2009. Return to the wild: Translocation as a tool in conservation of the Desert Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) Biological Conservation 142 (2009) 1255–1268

Hagerty, B.E. and C.R. Tracy. 2010. Defining population structure for the Mojave desert tortoise. Conservation Genetics. DOI 10.1007/s10592-010-0073-0

R.D. Inman, K. E. Nussear, and C. R. Tracy. 2009. Detecting trends in desert tortoise population growth: elusive behavior inflates variance in estimates of population density. Endangered Species Research.  doi: 10.3354/esr00214

Tracy, Christopher R., K. A. Christian, S. Reynolds, L. McArthur, and C. Richard Tracy. 2007.  Ecology of aestivation in a burrowing frog, Cyclorana australis (Hylidae). Copeia 2007(4): 901- 912

Tracy, Christopher R., Keith A. Christian, and C. Richard Tracy.  2010. Not just small, wet, and cold:  Interacting effects of body size, skin resistance, and microclimate on thermoregulation and arboreality in frogs. Ecology 91(5), 1477–1484

Esque, T.C., J. P. Kaye, S. E. Eckert, L. A. DeFalco,  C. R. Tracy. 2010. Short-term soil inorganic N pulse after experimental fire alters invasive and native annual plant production in a Mojave Desert shrubland, Oecologia DOI 10.1007/s00442-010-1617-1

B.E. Hagerty and C.R. Tracy. 2011. A history of Mojave Desert tortoise movement: a view through the window of population genetics. Mojave National Preserve Science Newsletter 2011(1): 1-7.

F.C. Sandmeier, C.R. Tracy, S. DuPré, H. Mohammadpour, and K. Hunter. 2011.  Upper respiratory tract disease (URTD), mycoplasmosis, and antibody responses in the Mojave Desert tortoise, Mojave National Preserve Science Newsletter 2011(1): 8-13

Additional Links:

Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program

C. Richard Tracy Homepage