Clare Aslan

About

Dr. Clare Aslan is an Associate Professor and Director of the School of Earth and Sustainability at Northern Arizona University, where she has been a faculty member since 2014. She also serves as Co-Director of the Center for Adaptable Western Landscapes and the Landscape Conservation Initiative (LCI).

Research Interests

Conservation Biology and Restoration Ecology

• Solutions-oriented research targeting critical conservation challenges
• Restoration of interspecific interactions in degraded ecosystems
• Endangered species conservation strategies
• Resilience to biological invasions and fire in coupled human-natural systems

Plant-Animal Interactions

• Global biodiversity implications of mutualism disruption and novel mutualism formation
• Role of birds in ecological functions, particularly seed dispersal and pollination
• Pollinator declines as a result of environmental degradation
• Cross-boundary connectivity for species conservation

Social-Ecological Systems

• Social-ecological dynamics and resilience
• Integration of human needs and values into conservation decision-making
• Sustainability across the Colorado Plateau
• Conservation approaches that promote social justice

Education

• Ph.D. Ecology, University of California, Davis
• B.S. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona

Research Accomplishments

Dr. Aslan has authored or co-authored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications and has successfully advised 28 graduate students, including eight doctoral students.

Awards and Recognition

• David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellow
• Wilburforce Fellow in Conservation Science
• Flinn-Brown Fellow

Leadership Roles

Center for Adaptable Western Landscapes

• Co-Director, focusing on solutions-oriented research for western landscape challenges

Research Philosophy

Dr. Aslan believes that an ethical approach to conservation requires the integration of human needs and values into decision-making and planning, and that the conservation of Earth’s biodiversity ultimately requires social justice. Her work spans disciplines, scales, and systems to address complex conservation challenges.

Graduate Student Supervision

Dr. Aslan mentors graduate students in:

• Field ecology and conservation research methods
• Interdisciplinary approaches to conservation challenges
• Social-ecological systems analysis
• Professional development in conservation science

Service and Outreach

• Collaboration with land and resource management agencies
• Contributor to conservation policy and management decisions
• Advocate for integrating social justice into conservation practice
• Mentor for early-career conservation researchers Gemini Gemini in Drive doesn’t support text files Gemini in Workspace can make mistakes, so double-check responses. Learn more