OSU flying high by naming Bollenbach Chair holders in Wildlife Biology

Monday, July 21, 2014

Oklahoma State University’s Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (NREM) has a strong reputation in wildlife biology, and with a recent announcement, their presence will only gather strength.

Keith Owens, NREM department head, was pleased to hear the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education recently approved the appointment of Craig Davis and Dwayne Elmore as the Bollenbach Chair holders in Wildlife Biology.

“Dwayne and Craig are both outstanding members of our faculty and have made significant advancements to the wildlife and natural resources in our state, region and country,” Owens said.

The Bollenbach Chair was previously held by Fred Guthery, who retired last year, leaving the position vacant in his absence. After some restructuring, the chair was divided into two separate positions – one emphasizing research and one emphasizing outreach. Davis, NREM professor, was awarded the Bollenbach Chair in Wildlife Biology 1.

“The separation of the Bollenbach Chair into two chair positions also provides a very unique opportunity to elevate the influence of our research results on wildlife conservation and management in the state and beyond,” Davis said. “Dr. Guthery certainly maintained a productive research program as the Bollenbach Chair and I will focus on building on his past successes, but also will use the Bollenbach Chair as means to pursue other funds to further build our upland gamebird research program at OSU.”

The emphasis of the chairs is on upland gamebirds, such as Northern bobwhite, scaled quail, ring-necked pheasants, greater and lesser prairie-chicken and wild turkey. While Davis will focus primarily on the research, Elmore, NREM associate professor, is responsible for providing education, outreach and applied research.

“I am currently working on outreach products for wild turkey management in the southern Great Plains, scaled quail ecology and management and a guide to key plants for the northern bobwhite,” Elmore said. “Additional programs which I plan on creating include apps to assist professionals and landowners with land management relative to gamebirds.”

These programs will allow for expanded conservation efforts.

“This endowed chair provides tremendous opportunities for us to make great strides in upland gamebird wildlife conservation and management in the state,” said Davis. “I hope to build on our recent efforts and successes such that OSU becomes even more renown for upland gamebird research not only in the Great Plains, but in the United States.”