Jen has finished her PhD which focused on the reproduction of New Zealand frogs and completed a post-doc at the Conservation and Research Department at Memphis Zoo.   In NZ she developed a noninvasive technique to sex native frogs and track their reproductive cycles and investigated various aspects of the reproduction of native frogs.   She completed a MSc in Zoology looking at the effects of translocations on the Maud Island frog (Leiopelma pakeka) and a BSc with Honours at Miami University where she researched factors that influenced the restricted range of the Mountain Chorus frog.  Prior to this, Jen worked with the Department of Conservation studying the endangered Otago skink and overseas (USA, Costa Rica, Grenada, and Australia) with sea turtles, snakes, lizards, and frogs.






Click here to see a short interview with Jen about her work.
 

Jennifer M. Germano  Curriculum Vitae

Technical Advisor Ecology/Kiwi Recovery Group Leader
Department of Conservation—Te Papa Atawhai
DDI: +64 7 858 1571 | VPN: 6071 | jgermano@doc.govt.nz


Citizenship: United States     
Permanent Residency: New Zealand
 

Education

PhD Zoology, 2006-2010, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
•    Thesis: Sex Identification and Reproductive Biology of Leiopelmatid Frogs. 
•    Supervisors: Phil Bishop and Alison Cree

MSc Zoology with distinction, 2006, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
•    Thesis: Responses of the Maud Island frog, Leiopelma pakeka, to artificial displacement.
•    Supervisor: Phil Bishop

BPhil Interdisciplinary Studies focus in Ecology, minor in Geology, 2003, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, USA
•    Thesis: Living on the border:  exploring the Ohio distribution of Pseudacris brachyphona, the mountain chorus frog.
•    Supervisor: Hays Cummins
•    Graduated with Honors and  Magna Cum Laude
 

 

Work Experience

Maintenance of Captive Frog Population
University of Otago, New Zealand, 2006-07
•    In charge of feeding captive frogs, cleaning tanks, and monthly weight/health checks
•    Organised schedules for others involved in caring for frogs kept in captivity and trained new staff in frog care routines
•    Assessed and changed food orders when needed



Contract Conservation Work
Landcare Research, New Zealand, 2005
•    Mark-recapture of common and McCann’s skinks to determine effect of pest abundance
•    Taught summer assistants how to toe-clip and handle lizards

Research Fellow 
New Zealand Department of Conservation, Joanna Jackson Goldman Memorial Prize Fellowship, 2003-04
•    Designed and ran radio-tracking study on the home ranges and movements of the endangered Otago skinks (Oligosoma otagense)
•    Wrote all proposals for funding, ethical approvals, and permits
•    Published results in peer-reviewed journal
•    Advised Department of Conservation managers on practical applications of findings

Summer Intern
Research Experience For Undergraduates, Avila University, Missouri, USA, 2002
•    Designed and carried out a study on the effects of land use on the herpetofauna of Grenada, West Indies

Primary Sea Turtle Tagger
Mote Marine Laboratory, Florida, USA, 2001
•    Ran nightly sea turtle beach patrols of Casey Key
•    Tagged nesting loggerhead turtles with PIT and flipper tags
•    Assisted in the care of turtles in rehab

Sea Turtle Volunteer
Asociacion ANAI and Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica, 2001
•    Assisted with tagging and measuring of leatherback and hawksbill turtles
•    Monitored nests in the hatchery
•    Checked hatchlings for worms before release

Summer Intern
Research Experience For Undergraduates, Georgia State University, USA, 2000
•    Completed a study on “Micropaleontology, Clay mineralogy and Petrology of the Eocene Sandersville Limestone”
•    Presented results at a national geological conference
 
Research Assistant
Miami University, USA, 1999-2000
•    Sorted and identified microfossils for a study on the paleoecology of the Bahamas
 

 

Teaching Experience

Guest Lecturer
University of Otago, New Zealand, 2007
•    Biology 112 lecture on “New Zealand’s unique herpetofauna and the conservation research and management currently being undertaken to protect them”   

Senior Demonstrator for 300 level Animal Behaviour Course
University of Otago, New Zealand, 2007
•    In charge of creating and organizing student research projects
•    Supervised students and other demonstrators
•    Marked final project write-ups and proposals.

Demonstrator/Teaching Assistant
Miami University, USA and University of Otago, New Zealand, 2000-09   
•    Undergraduate Biology Courses (all year levels)
•    Supervised student research projects and labs
•    Ran field trips
•    Organized introductory statistics workshops
•    Marked exams, essays, and presentations

Hands-On-Science Educator
University of Otago, New Zealand, 2005
•    Helped run summer science course for high school students

Project Supervisor
Miami University, USA, University of Otago, New Zealand, and School for International Training, New Zealand, 2000-present   
•    Supervised undergraduate students on independent and group research projects
•    Supervised 2 University of Otago summer bursary students

Course Coordinator
Miami University, USA, 2003
•    Designed, wrote the curriculum for, and co-taught an environmental seminar class
•    Co-teacher: Joseph Dorsey
 

Professional Societies

Member of the following societies:
•    New Zealand Federation of Graduate Women
•    Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand
•    Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
•    American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
•    Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour
 

Professional Activities

•    Reviewer for New Zealand Journal of Zoology
•    Member of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles Conservation Committee
•    Symposium moderator at the Sixth World Congress of Herpetology, Brazil
•    Co-organiser of Herpetofaunal Reintroduction and Translocation Symposium at the Sixth World Congress of Herpetology in Manaus, Brazil
•    Attendance and presentation to the Native Frog Recovery Group Meeting, Gisborne, New Zealand, 2007
•    Moderator for Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand (SRARNZ) Conference 2007
•    Organiser for biannual Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand (SRARNZ) Conference, Dunedin 2007
•    Attendance and presentation to the Native Frog Recovery Group Meeting, Nelson, New Zealand, 2006
 

Publications

•    Germano, J.M.  Molinia, F.C.,  Bishop, P.J. and Cree, A. (in press). Urinary hormone analysis assists reproductive monitoring and sex identification of bell frogs (Litoria raniformis). Theriogenology 2009 (in press).
•    Germano, J.M. and P.J. Bishop. 2009. Suitability of amphibians and reptiles for translocation. Conservation Biology 23(1):7-15.
•    R.C. Clemas, Germano, J.M., R. Speare, and P.J. Bishop. 2009. Use of three individual marking methods in Australian frogs (Genus: Litoria) with notes on the placement of Visible Implant Alphanumeric tags. New Zealand Natural Sciences 34:1-7.
•    Germano, J.M. and H. White.  2008. Litoria raniformis clutch size. Herpetological Review. 39(4): 461-462.
•    Bishop, P.J., J.M. Germano, and B. Bell. 2008. Leiopelmatid frogs: the world’s most archaic frogs.  Pages 71-72 in Threatened Amphibians of the World, Edited by: S. Stuart, M. Hoffman, J. Chanson, N. Cox, R. Berridge, P. Ramani, B. Young. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona Spain, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia, USA.
•    Germano, J.M. and P.J. Bishop. 2007. Leiopelma pakeka (Maud Island Frog)  Reproduction. Herpetological Review 38(2):187-188.
•    Germano, J.M. 2007. Movements, home ranges, and capture effect of the endangered Otago Skink (Oligosoma otagense). Journal of Herpetology 41(2):179-186.
•    Germano, J.M. 2006. BOOK REVIEW Sea turtles: a guide for the general public. Iguana. 13(4): 52.
•    Germano, J.M. 2005. Stephens Island: land of lizards. Iguana. 12(1): 38-42.
•    Germano, J.M. 2005. Oligosoma otagense predation. Herpetological Review. 36(4): 453-453.
•    Germano, J.M. 2005. Home ranges, movements, and effects of capture on the Otago skink (Oligosoma otagense).  SRARNZ abstract. NZ J. Zool. 32: 222.
•    Germano, J.M., J.M. Sander, R.W. Henderson, and R. Powell. 2003. Herpetofaunal communities in Grenada: A comparison of altered sites, with an annotated checklist of Grenadian amphibians and reptiles. Carib. J. Sci. 39: 68-76.
•    Williamson, K.E., A.J. Poche, Jr., B.T. Greene, B.R. Harris, J.M. Germano, P.M. Simmons, D.T. Yorks, R. Powell, J.S. Parmerlee, Jr., and R.W. Henderson. 2003. Herpetofauna of Hog Island, Grenada. Herpetol. Bull. 82: 26-29.
•    Sander, J.M., J.M. Germano, R. Powell, and R.W. Henderson. 2003.  Color and pattern polymorphism in Eleutherodactylus johnstonei on Grenada. Herpetol. Bull. 83: 22-25.
•    Pajewski, K.A., J.M. Germano, S.N. Tourshcer, J.R. Anderson, C.D. Young, and W.C. Elliott. 2000, Micropaleontology, Clay mineralogy and Petrology of the Eocene Sandersville Limestone, Georgia: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v.32, no.7, p. A272.
 

Conference Presentations

(oral presentation unless otherwise noted; *represents student prize)

•    S. K. Penniket, J. M. Germano, and P. J. Bishop. Testing induced mating behaviour by hormone treatment in Leiopelma pakeka. Second Meeting of Australasian Societies for Herpetology, Auckland, New Zealand, 2009. (Poster presentation)
•    J. Germano, F. C. Molinia, P. J. Bishop, B. D. Bell, and A. Cree. Urinary Hormone Metabolites For Reproductive Monitoring and Sex Identification in the Monomorphic Maud Island Frog, Leiopelma pakeka. Second Meeting of Australasian Societies for Herpetology, Auckland, New Zealand, 2009.
•    *J. Germano, F. Molinia, P. Bishop, and A. Cree. Sex identification in anurans: a method using urinary hormone metabolites. University of Otago Zoology Symposium, 2008. (Poster presentation, 1st Prize for Best Poster)
•    J. Germano and P. Bishop.  A Review of 15 years of amphibian and reptile translocations.  World Congress of Herpetology, Manaus, Brazil, 2008.
•    J. Germano, F. Molinia, P. Bishop, and A. Cree. Sex identification in anurans: a method using urinary hormone metabolites. World Congress of Herpetology, Manaus, Brazil, 2008. (Poster presentation)
•    T. Bell, J. Germano, and K. Miller.  A review of herpetofaunal translocation projects in New Zealand. World Congress of Herpetology, Manaus, Brazil, 2008. (Poster presentation)
•    J. Germano, F. Molinia, P. Bishop, and A. Cree.  Sex identification of frogs through urinary hormone analysis.  Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Montreal, Canada, 2008.
•    F. Molinia,  J. Germano,
 T. Bell,  R. Jakob-Hoff and D. Gleeson.  Reproductive technologies to source, monitor, and secure threatened
 species for ecological restoration. New Zealand Ecological Society Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, 2008.
•    F. Molinia, J. Germano, and T. Bell. Reproductive technologies for species conservation.  New Zealand Conservation Management Group (CMaG)/ ARAZPA Conference, Kerikeri, New Zealand, 2008.
•    J. Germano and P. Bishop. The responses of the Maud Island Frog (Leiopelma pakeka) to artificial displacement.  Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand, 2007.
•    J. Germano, F. Molinia, P. Bishop, and A. Cree. Male or female? Developing a technique for sex identification in a monomorphic frog.  University of Otago Zoology Department Student Symposium. Dunedin, New Zealand, 2007. (Poster presentation)
•    J. Germano and P. Bishop. Reviewing amphibian and reptile translocations over the past 15 years.  Australasian Wildlife Management Society Conference, Auckland, New Zealand. 2006 (Best Student Conservation Talk*)
•    P. Bishop and J. Germano. Re-introduction of endangered New Zealand frogs to predator-free islands. Australasian Wildlife Management Society Conference, Auckland, New Zealand. 2006.
•    J. Germano and P. Bishop. Movement responses to artificial displacement.  Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour, Sydney, Australia, 2006.
•    J. Germano and K. Watson. Reported statistical significance varies with journal impact. Zoology Student Colloquium, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, 2005.
•    J. Germano. Movements, home ranges, and the effect of capture of the Otago skink, Oligosoma otagense. Joint Meeting of the Australian Society of Herpetologists, Society for Research on Amphibians and Reptiles in New Zealand, and the Fijian Society of Herpetologists, Gold Coast, Australia, 2005.
•    J. Germano. Movements and home ranges of the Otago skink, Oligosoma otagense.  New Zealand Ecological Society Conference. Invercargil, New Zealand, 2004. (Third Prize Student Talks*)
•    J. Germano. The ability of herpetofauna to recolonize restored rainforest plots. SFS Centre for Rainforest Studies Directed Research Presentation. Atherton, QLD, Australia, 2002.
•    Pajewski, K.A., J.M. Germano, S.N. Tourshcer, J.R. Anderson, C.D. Young, and W.C. Elliott.Micropaleontology, Clay mineralogy and Petrology of the Eocene Sandersville Limestone, Georgia. Geological Society of America Conference, Reno, NV, USA. 2000. (Poster presentation)
 

Awards and Scholarships

•    Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarship (Per annum: $25,000 living stipend, $3,000 for conferences, and tuition costs), 2007-09
•    Brenda Shore Award from the Federation of Graduate Women, Otago Branch (NZ$4,300 for research costs), 2007
•    Top Student Conservation Talk, AWMS Conference, Auckland, NZ (2 year membership to Conservation Biology Society, two year subscription to Conservation Biology, 1 year subscription to Conservation Practice), 2006
•    University of Otago Postgraduate Scholarship (for PhD studies, tuition plus stipend of NZ$20,000/year), 2006
•    University of Otago Postgraduate Scholarship (for MSc studies, tuition plus stipend of NZ$13,000), 2005-06
•    Fulbright Fellowship (University of Otago tuition plus stipend of NZ$13,000), 2004-05
•    Third place for the best student talks at the New Zealand Ecological Society Conference, 2004
•    Joanna Jackson Goldman Memorial Prize (US$24,000), 2003-04

Research Grants

•    SRARNZ (Society for Research of Amphibians and Reptiles of New Zealand) Herpetological Research Award (NZ$1000), 2008
•    Ecology Trust Grant, (NZ$300 for fieldwork expenses), 2008
•    Claude McCarthy Fellowship (NZ$4000 for travel to an overseas conference), 2007
•    ERG Student Travel Grant (NZ$150), 2006
•    AWMS (Australasian Wildlife Management Society) Student Travel Grant (AU$250), 2006
•    James Sharon Watson Trust Fund research grant (NZ$2945), 2006
•    ASSAB Student Travel Grant (NZ$332), 2006
•    Departmental Student Conference Assistance (NZ$250), 2006
•    Ecology Research Group Student Conference Travel Grant (NZ$250), 2006
•    SSAR (Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles) Grant-in-Herpetology (US$500), 2005
•    SRARNZ (Society for Research of Amphibians and Reptiles of New Zealand) Herpetological Research Award (NZ$2,500), 2005
•    SRARNZ Student Travel Grant (NZ$250), 2005
•    Undergraduate Research Grant. Miami University. (US$150), 2001
•    University Summer Scholars Grant. Miami University. (US$2000), 2001
 

Community Activities

•    Volunteer at the Royal Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (RSPCA)
•    Active member of the Women’s Climbing Club
•    Conservation education programmes for school children
•    Year of the Frog activities/public displays/talks