Robert McClure McElderry
PhD Candidate, Department of Biology
University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146 CV as a PDF
Education
University of Miami, Ph.D., May 2015
University of Arkansas, M.S., 2008
University of Arkansas, B.S., 2006
Positions
Teaching assistant, Department of Biology, University of Miami, 2011 - 2015
Research assistant, University of Arkansas Herbarium, 2007 - 2008
Teaching assistant, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, 2006 - 2008
Field assistant, University of Arkansas Herbarium, 2004 - 2006
Research Interests
Plant-insect interactions, Population Biology, Conservation Biology; Life history
Publications
McElderry, R.M., M.H. Salvato, and C.C. Horvitz. 2015. Population viability models for an endangered endemic subtropical butterfly: effects of density and fire on population dynamics and risk of extinction. Biodiversity & Conservation: 1-20.
Coll, C., C.C. Horvitz, and R. McElderry. 2012. Stage-Structured Periodic Population Model for the Florida Leafwing. International Journal of Complex Systems in Science 2(1): 1-5.
Hardcastle, E.L., R.M. McElderry, and J.L. Gentry. 2007. Distribution, habitat, and current population size estimates for Polymnia cossatotensis (Cossatot leafcup) [Asteraceae], a rare Arkansas endemic. Castanea 72(4): 194-204.
Dissertation & Theses
McElderry, R.M. 2008. Ecology and demography of Solidago ouachitensis (Asteraceae), Ouachita goldenrod, a rare endemic of the Ouachita Mountains. Master Thesis. University of Arkansas. Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.A.
Technical reports
McElderry, R.M. and J.L. Gentry. 2006. Sensitive plant species survey: Solidago ouachitensis C. & J. Taylor (Ouachita goldenrod), Asteraceae: a rare endemic of the Ouachita Mountains. Submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
McElderry, R.M. and J.L. Gentry. 2006. Sensitive plant species survey: Carex latebracteata Waterfall (Waterfall’s sedge), Cyperaceae: an endemic sedge of the Ouachita Mountains. Submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
Invited Research Seminars
Analysis of population viability for the Florida leafwing. Department of Biology, University of Miami, 26 April 2013
How oceans affect terrestrial communities. Futures Forum: Oceans Week, Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, University of Arkansas, Hot Springs, Arkansas, 17 November 2010
Ecology and demography of the Ouachita goldenrod, Solidago ouachitensis. Department of Biology, University of Miami, 15 September 2008
Oral Presentations
McElderry, R.M. Estimating stage-specific demographic rates using a hidden Markov model for juvenile stages in Anaea aidea (Nymphalidae). 62nd Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, 17 November 2014
McElderry, R.M. Estimating stage-specific demographic rates using a hidden Markov model for juvenile stages in a nymphalid butterfly. 2nd Annual Meeting of the Evolutionary Demography Society, 11 November 2014, Talk and Poster
McElderry, R.M., M. Salvato, and CC. Horvitz. Population viability models for a threatened endemic subtropical butterfly. Imperiled Butterflies of Florida Workgroup. 23 January 2013
McElderry, R.M., M. Salvato, and CC. Horvitz. Population viability models for a threatened endemic subtropical butterfly. Department of Biology Graduate Student Symposium, University of Miami, 10 January 2014
McElderry, R.M., M. Salvato, and CC. Horvitz. Environmental drivers of population viability of an endemic Florida butterfly (Anaea floridalis: Nymphalidae). 1st Annual Meeting of the Evolutionary Demography Society, 9 October 2013, Talk and Poster
McElderry, R.M. and A. Moas. Morphometric analysis of Anaea aidea and Anaea andria larval head capsule ornamentation. Department of Biology Graduate Student Symposium, University of Miami, 11 January 2013
McElderry, R.M. and J.L. Gentry. Rarity in the Ouachita Mountains: ecological and physiographical factors correlate with endemic plant distributions. Plant Biologists of South Florida Annual Meeting, 5 April 2009
McElderry, R.M. and J.L. Gentry. Ecology and conservation of Solidago ouachitensis (Asteraceae), Ouachita goldenrod, a rare endemic of the Ouachita Mountains. Arkansas Academy of Science Annual Meeting, 13 April 2007
Poster Presentations
McElderry, R.M. Estimating stage-specific demographic rates using a hidden Markov model for juvenile stages in a nymphalid butterfly. Department of Biology Graduate Student Symposium. University of Miami, 9 January 2015
McElderry, R.M. Estimating stage-specific vital rates using a hidden Markov model for juvenile stages in a nymphalid butterfly. 99th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, 15 August 2014
McElderry, R.M. and C.C. Horvitz. Effects of larval food plant on performance of a widespread butterfly. Department of Biology Graduate Student Symposium. University of Miami, 13 January 2012
McElderry, R.M., L.E. Gilbert, and C.C. Horvitz. Estimating butterfly abundance using baited traps and mark- recapture methods. Department of Biology Graduate Student Symposium, University of Miami, 14 January 2011
McElderry, R.M. and C.C. Horvitz. Unburned refugia decrease return time of Florida leafwing butterflies to recently burned pine rocklands. Department of Biology Graduate Student Symposium, University of Miami, 15 January 2010
McElderry, R.M. and J.L. Gentry. Conservation assessment of Solidago ouachitensis (Ouachita goldenrod) Asteraceae: a rare endemic plant of the Ouachita Mountains. Arkansas INBRE Symposium, University of Arkansas, 24 February 2006
Teaching
Undergraduate classes
Workshop Leaders in Biology I and II (BIL 381, 382), 18 sections, co-organized with lecture instructors, 2012 – 2015
General Biology (BIL 150), University of Miami, TA for Michael Gaines, 3 sections, 2012 – 2014
HHMI Evolution Laboratory (BIL 152, 162), University of Miami, 4 sections, 2011 – 2012
Evolution and Biodiversity Laboratory (BIL 161), University of Miami, 1 section, Summer 2011
Plant Biology Laboratory, University of Arkansas, 2 sections, Spring 2007
Principles of Biology Laboratory, University of Arkansas, 7 sections, 2006-2007
Summer courses
HHMI Research in Ecology for Middle School Students and Teachers, University of Miami, 2012 and 2013
Service
Outreach
Educator, The Fairchild Challenge: Exploring Environmental Science Day, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, presented mark-recapture of butterflies to high school children, 25 November 2014
Invited Speaker, The elusive leafwings, Miami Blue Quarterly Meeting at John Pennekamp State Park, 3 November 2013
Judge, The Fairchild Challenge, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, judged two essays contests, an art contest, and a debate, 2010 - 2013
Educator, The Fairchild Challenge: South Florida Ecosystem Workshop, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, presented aquatic invertebrates and plants to middle school children, 15 October 2011
Educator, The Fairchild Challenge: Freshwater Ecology Workshop, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, presented aquatic invertebrates to middle school children, 2 October 2010
Tour Guide, Arkansas Native Plant Society, led members on a tour of cedar glades, Buffalo River National Park, Pruitt, AR, April 2008
Educator, The Ozark Society, informal lecture on endemism in the Ouachita Mountains, Crater of Diamonds State Park, Murfreesboro, AR, Fall 2007
Departmental
Workshop Leader, An introduction to R, Department of Biology, University of Miami, Fall 2013 – Spring 2014
Organizer, Friday Seminars, Biology Graduate Student Association, University of Miami, Fall 2012
President, Biology Graduate Student Association, University of Miami, 2010 - 2011
Member, Aresty Chair in Tropical Ecology Search Committee, Department of Biology, University of Miami, Spring 2010
Organizer, Biology Graduate Student Association, University of Miami, luncheon with seminar speaker, 2008 – 2009
Reviewer – Journals
Biotropica – 2014
Professional Society Membership (*currently active)
Ecological Society of America*
Entomological Society of America
Evolutionary Demography Society*
Imperiled Butterflies Working Group*