Dr. Paul Bartelt
Dr. Paul E. Bartelt
Professor of Biology
213 Nilssen-Boe
Phone: (641) 585-8236
Fax: (641) 585-8194
barteltp@waldorf.edu
Education:
B.S. (1974) Iowa State University; Fisheries & Wildlife Biology
M.A. (1977) University of South Dakota; Biology; specialization in Ecology
Ph.D. (2000) Idaho State University; Biology; specialization in Ecology and Conservation Biology
Courses:
General Biology I & II (BIOL 141 & 142)
Env. Science (BIOL 125)
Microbiology (BIOL 271)
Honors Philosophy (PHIL 200)
Research:
Amphibian ecology and conservation biology; habitat modeling; water quality
Amphibians currently are receiving a lot of attention, because many populations of amphibians have declined worldwide and many others contain malformed frogs in alarming numbers. Wide fluctuations in amphibian numbers are normal, but the widespread pattern of these phenomena suggests a global problem is involved. Biologists are working to understand the cause and nature of population declines and malformities, but their work is hampered by a lack of information on the natural history and general ecology of these small and secretive animals. I have been studying the biology of amphibians for almost 20 years. Most of my work has been concentrated on amphibians in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana) and in northern Iowa. By using radio-telemetry, a Global Positioning System (GPS), a Geographic Information System (GIS), and biophysical models, I study the movements and habitat relationships of frogs and toads, and the impact of land management on these animals.
Habitat modeling is the next step for better understanding the ecology of amphibians. After years of concentrated study in selected areas, biologists are beginning to collect enough information to begin understanding the natural history of amphibians. For example, we know that amphibians may travel farther overland (away from water) than we expected (e.g., several miles), and that they depend on particular habitats to complete these movements. Biophysical models allow us to quantify how different terrestrial habitats may limit the movements and activity of amphibians. By using this information, together with the power of a GIS, I am working with other biologists to produce maps that will be able to predict the occurrence of amphibian populations and habitats across a landscape.
Wetlands are essential to amphibians; without them, amphibians could not breed and tadpoles could not grow into adults. Wetlands need protection from destruction and from pollutants. A number of factors may be causing the high frequency of frog malformities that occur in many areas, and one of these may be water pollution. Water pollutants reduce the quality of water, for amphibians as well as all animals, including humans. In northern Iowa, agriculture and municipal activities are primary sources of chemical pollutants. The Winnebago County Supervisors support an on-going program to monitor changes in water quality in the county. I periodically collect water from about 20 sites in the county and analyze the amounts of different chemicals and bacteria that occur in them. By maintaining this program over many years, the resulting database will provide the Supervisors with the information they need to make better decisions about land management in the county. These data also will be used by the Iowa DNR, IOWATER Program to help build a water quality database for the entire state of Iowa.
Distinctions:
- Research Associate, National Academy of Science, Washington, D.C., May 2002 – April 2004
- Visiting Scientist, National Center for Earth Resources Observation & Science (EROS), Sioux Falls, SD, May 2002 – Present
- President, Iowa Academy of Science, Cedar Falls , IA , April 2005 – Present
- Member, Board of Directors, Iowa Academy of Science, Cedar Falls , IA , April 2001 – Present
- Fellow , Iowa Academy of Science, Cedar Falls , IA
- Holmen Professional Excellence Award ( Waldorf College ), 1988, 2002
- Certified Wildlife Biologist (000-177-6 MR#400, The Wildlife Society)
- Certificate of Merit , United States Department of Agriculture, 1982
- Technical Advisor, Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, Wyoming Dept. of Game & Fish, 2005 – Present
- Technical Advisor, Boreal Toad Recovery Team, Colorado Dept. of Wildlife, 1995 – Present
- Member, Advisory Committee, Iowa NatureMapping Program (thru Iowa State University ), 2000 - Present
Invited Presentations:
Landscape Suitability for Amphibians: An Integrated Approach for Yellowstone National Park
Joint Meeting of ASIH, HL, SSAR, and AEL
Norman, OK May 2004
Building Geospatial Models of Amphibian Breeding Habitat in Yellowstone National Park
24 th Annual meeting of SETAC
Austin, TX November 2003
Movements and Habitat Use of Western Toads (Bufo boreas) in Southeastern Idaho: Effects of Habitat Modification
Keynote Speaker, Rocky Mountain Boreal Toad Recovery Team
Denver, Colorado October 1995
A Workshop on the Amphibians and Reptiles of Idaho and Montana
Annual Meeting of Biologists in Region 1, USDA Forest Service
Missoula, Montana February 1995
Using GIS to Study Habitat Selection in Western Toads
workshop on The Use of Geographic Information Systems for Biodiversity Conservation
Jackson , Wyoming June 1994
Publications:
Bartelt, P.E. and C.R. Peterson. 2005. Physically modeling operative temperature and evaporative water loss in amphibians. Journal of Thermal Biology 30: 93-102.
Bartelt, P.E., C.R. Peterson, and R.W. Klaver. 2004. Sexual differences in the movements and habitats selected by Western toads in southeastern Idaho. Herpetologica 60(4): 55-67.
Bartelt, P.E., R. Hay, and J. Barin. 2002. Managing for amphibians and reptiles in grasslands and agricultural landscapes. In: B.R. Kingsbury, ed. Guidelines for Managing Amphibians and Reptiles in the United States. Partners for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.
http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/index.htm?http://herpcenter.ipfw.edu/outreach/MWHabitatGuide/&2
Bartelt, P.E. and C.R. Peterson. 2000. A description and evaluation of a plastic harness for attaching radio-transmitters to Western toads (Bufo boreas). Northwest Naturalist 81: 122-128.
Bartelt, P.E. 1990. INQUIRERE: A unique program for enhancing academic growth among freshmen and sophomores. Pro-Scholis 2(4): 3.
