The U.S. Endangered Species Act requires all listed species to have quantitative recovery criteria stated in their recovery plans for determining when species can be delisted. However, there is often not enough data to determine the extinction risk of each species, which is needed to provide a scientific basis for setting the species-specific recovery criteria. In order to improve recovery planning for threatened species, I compiled and analyzed data for >1600 U.S. listed plant and animal species as part of my postdoctoral research. Data sources included federal recovery plans and primary literature on the species' historical and current abundances, demographic rates, biological traits, and anthropogenic threats. Understanding how these factors interact and contribute to population declines helps to improve the ability of managers to determine consistent, science-based recovery criteria and management objectives. We also developed a method to evaluate species viability based on spatial habitat data, which can help inform conservation planning for the large number of listed species that lack detailed demographic data.
In 2015, I joined the Conservation and Science Dept. at Lincoln Park Zoo to continue applying population modeling and cross-species comparative analysis to species conservation. My research projects included evaluating how zoos contribute to listed species recovery, and conducting population viability analyses to improve the management of zoo-based and wild populations.
I am currently a Biologist with the FWS Ecological Services Headquarters Branch of SSA Science Support, where I provide analytical and scientific support for Species Status Assessments (SSAs) under the US Endangered Species Act.
Li, Y.-W., J.W. Malcom, J. Che-Castaldo, M.C. Neel. 2020. Recovery plans need better science to support decisions that allow species to decline in abundance but be recovered. bioRxiv 2020.02.27.966101.
Che-Castaldo, J.P., C.J. Che-Castaldo, and M.C. Neel. 2018. Predictability of demographic rates based on phylogeny and biological similarity. Conservation Biology 32(6):1290-1300.
Che-Castaldo, J.P., S.A. Grow, and L.J. Faust. 2018. Evaluating the contribution of North American zoos and aquariums to endangered species recovery. Scientific Reports 8:9789.
Che-Castaldo, J.P. and M.C. Neel. 2016. Species-level persistence probabilities for recovery and conservation status assessment. Conservation Biology 30(16):1297-1306.
D.M. Evans, J.P. Che-Castaldo, D. Crouse, F.W. Davis, R. Epanchin-Niell, et al. 2016. Species recovery in the United States: Increasing the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act. Issues in Ecology #20. pdf
Zeigler, S.L., J.P. Che-Castaldo, and M.C. Neel. 2013. Actual and potential use of population viability analysis in recovery of plant species listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Conservation Biology 27(6): 1265–1278.
Neel, M.C. and J.P. Che-Castaldo. 2013. Predicting recovery criteria for threatened and endangered plant species based on past abundances and biological traits. Conservation Biology. 27(2): 385-397.
Che-Castaldo, J.P. and M.C. Neel. 2012. Testing surrogacy assumptions: Can threatened and endangered plants be grouped by biological similarity and abundances? PLoS ONE 7(12): e51659.
In 2015, I joined the Conservation and Science Dept. at Lincoln Park Zoo to continue applying population modeling and cross-species comparative analysis to species conservation. My research projects included evaluating how zoos contribute to listed species recovery, and conducting population viability analyses to improve the management of zoo-based and wild populations.
I am currently a Biologist with the FWS Ecological Services Headquarters Branch of SSA Science Support, where I provide analytical and scientific support for Species Status Assessments (SSAs) under the US Endangered Species Act.
Li, Y.-W., J.W. Malcom, J. Che-Castaldo, M.C. Neel. 2020. Recovery plans need better science to support decisions that allow species to decline in abundance but be recovered. bioRxiv 2020.02.27.966101.
Che-Castaldo, J.P., C.J. Che-Castaldo, and M.C. Neel. 2018. Predictability of demographic rates based on phylogeny and biological similarity. Conservation Biology 32(6):1290-1300.
Che-Castaldo, J.P., S.A. Grow, and L.J. Faust. 2018. Evaluating the contribution of North American zoos and aquariums to endangered species recovery. Scientific Reports 8:9789.
Che-Castaldo, J.P. and M.C. Neel. 2016. Species-level persistence probabilities for recovery and conservation status assessment. Conservation Biology 30(16):1297-1306.
D.M. Evans, J.P. Che-Castaldo, D. Crouse, F.W. Davis, R. Epanchin-Niell, et al. 2016. Species recovery in the United States: Increasing the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act. Issues in Ecology #20. pdf
Zeigler, S.L., J.P. Che-Castaldo, and M.C. Neel. 2013. Actual and potential use of population viability analysis in recovery of plant species listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Conservation Biology 27(6): 1265–1278.
Neel, M.C. and J.P. Che-Castaldo. 2013. Predicting recovery criteria for threatened and endangered plant species based on past abundances and biological traits. Conservation Biology. 27(2): 385-397.
Che-Castaldo, J.P. and M.C. Neel. 2012. Testing surrogacy assumptions: Can threatened and endangered plants be grouped by biological similarity and abundances? PLoS ONE 7(12): e51659.