Howard L. Snell is an American Ecologist and Professor at the University of New Mexico. His research and conservation efforts have improved the Galapagos Island's land iguanas' populations, which were in danger of extinction.

Biography

Snell was born in 1953, in La Mesa, California.
He received his BS in Zoology at San Diego State University in 1976. After graduating from San Diego State, he worked in the Galapagos Islands with the Peace Corps (1977 to 1979), and for the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galapagos National Park from 1977-1980. Subsequently, he returned to achieve his Ph.D. in Zoology at Colorado State mentored by C. R. THoward L. racy (1979–1983). He was a doctoral associate at Texas Christian University working with Gary Ferguson (1984 to 1985). His first academic position was as assistant professor at Memphis State University (1985 to 1986), after which he moved to the University of New Mexico where he is currently a Full Professor teaching herpetology and acting as curator of amphibians and reptiles at the Museum of Southwestern Biology at the University of New Mexico. Snell is also an active member of The Charles Darwin Foundation.

In 1975, he married Heidi Klienschmidt, an artist and photographer, who shares his passion for wildlife conservation. She has a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts and is also an active member of The Charles Darwin Foundation.

Research

Snell’s research largely focuses on how different mechanism of anthropogenic activity and exotic species affect naturally occurring species. Snell has conducted most of his research in the Galápagos Island with lizards including the land iguanas on all islands including comparing individual variation and differential phenotypic success to identify components of life history, morphology, and behavior susceptible to anthropogenic activity. Snell has also expanded his research to include archipelago-wide patterns of co-variation among populations and species. Some of Howard Snell’s specific projects include researching co-variation of life-history components among Galápagos organisms (primarily reptiles) and their susceptibility to extirpation and correlations within spatial patterns of extinction, distribution of organisms, and human activity within the Galápagos and among oceanic archipelagos. Snell has also conducted extensive research on the efficiency of various restoration strategies for Galápagos vertebrates, and how to improve processes to control, eradicate and mitigate exotic species of vertebrates. Snell has also worked on developing effective methods for ecological monitoring and improved response by management agencies primarily in the Galápagos. Aside from doing research, Snell teaches Ecology, Evolution, Vertebrate Zoology, Herpetology, Conservation Biology, and General Biology.

Howard Snell has also been involved with philanthropic organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund and government agencies including the Galápagos National Park Service, the Instituto Nacional de Galápagos, providing research and information to help these agencies make well informed decisions about conservation in the Galápagos.

Teaching and Advising

Professor Snell clearly loves teaching and is passionate about his field of study. His students have posted wonderful comments on the website www.ratemyprofessor.com. “This guy is amazing. Period. He loves his field, he likes his students, he likes teaching.”

Snell has been a major advisor for many graduate students. He has advised eleven doctoral students, some of which have become professors themselves, who have also advised many students. He has advised thirteen students in a master’s program.

Publications

Here is a selection of some of Howard Snell’s most important publications;

• "Snell, H.L. The realities and distribution of biological diversity in the Galápagos". Paper presented in the symposium "Ciencia y conservación en Galápagos," 21 July 1999, Quito.

• "Snell, H.L. The realities and distribution of biological diversity in the Galápagos". Paper presented in the symposium "Galápagos: Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation in Darwin’s Islands," American Association for the Advancement of Science, Pacific Division, 80th Annual Meeting, 20–23 June 1999, San Francisco, California.

• "Snell, H.L. and S. Rea. El Niño 1997–1998 en Galápagos". Poster presented in the symposium "Ciencia y conservación en Galápagos," 21 July 1999, Quito.

Achievements

Honorary President – Ecuador’s First Congress of Ecology and the Environment. October 2002. Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador.

Citizen’s Merit Medal – Community Recognition for Contributions of Scientific Research. 2001. The Municipal Government of Santa Cruz, Isla Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador.

Invited Member, IUCN Iguana Specialist Group. 2001 – present. Species Survival Commission of The World Conservation Union.

Medal of Merit in Recognition of Contributions to the Conservation of the Galápagos. 1999. Charles Darwin Foundation.

Vice President for North America September 1992 - 1997, Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galápagos Islands.

Editor; Noticias de Galápagos; 1992 - 1997.

Invited Member, IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group. 1990 – present. Species Survival Commission of The World Conservation Union

Associate Editor; Noticias de Galápagos, 1988 - 1992.

Fulbright Research Fellow, June 1987 - August 1989 (summers), Fulbright Program, US Department of State; Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galápagos National Park Service, Isla Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador.

Professor in the UNM Arts and Sciences Participatory Seminar Series; 1988, College of Arts and Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Field Associate; 1977–1980; San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego, California.

Books

Snell, H.M., H. L. Snell, G. Davis-Merlyn, T. Simkin, and R. Silbergleid. 1996. Bibliografía de Galápagos: 1535-1995. 300 pages. Fundación Charles Darwin, Quito, Ecuador.

Snell, H. L., H. M. Snell, P. A. Stone, M. Altamirano, A. Mauchamp, and I. Aldáz. 1995. La diversidad biológica de las islas Galápagos, volumen uno: análisis de la flora. 62 pages, Fundación Charles Darwin, Quito, Ecuador.