Russell Mittermeier
Encyclopedia
Russell Alan Mittermeier (born November 8, 1949) is a primatologist
, herpetologist
and biological anthropologist
. He has written several books for both popular and scientist audiences, and has authored some 300 scientific papers.
, New York City
. He received his B.A. (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from Dartmouth
in 1971 and his Ph.D. from Harvard in Biological Anthropology in 1977.
He has conducted fieldwork for over 30 years on three continents and in more than 20 countries in mainly tropical
locations, notably Brazil
, Suriname
and Madagascar
. Mittermeier's fieldwork has been focused on primate
s, protected areas, and other conservation issues and he is considered an expert on such topics as biological diversity and its value to humanity, ecosystem conservation, tropical biology and species conservation.
Mittermeier has formally discovered several monkey
species. He was honored for his work in Madagascar
in 2006 with the naming of a newly discovered species of mouse lemur
Microcebus mittermeieri, or Mittermeier's Mouse Lemur. Russell Mittermeier is the author of Lemurs of Madagascar, a comprehensive field guide on the country's flagship species
. He is also notable as one of relatively few scientists to argue in favor of serious study of the North American Bigfoot
phenomenon.
Mittermeier was named president of Conservation International
in 1989. In addition to his work at CI
, Mittermeier has served as Chairman of the IUCN-World Conservation Union Species Survival Commission's Primate Specialist Group since 1977, and as the Chairman of the World Bank
's Task Force of Biological Diversity in 1988 and 1989. He also serves as President of the Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation and an Adjunct Professor at the State University of New York at Stony Brook
. Prior to coming to Conservation International
, he was Vice President for Science at the World Wildlife Fund.
, a marine biologist by training and Executive Director of the International League of Conservation Photographers
(ILCP).
of the book series Handbook of the Mammals of the World
.
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
, herpetologist
Herpetology
Herpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians and reptiles...
and biological anthropologist
Physical anthropology
Biological anthropology is that branch of anthropology that studies the physical development of the human species. It plays an important part in paleoanthropology and in forensic anthropology...
. He has written several books for both popular and scientist audiences, and has authored some 300 scientific papers.
Biography
Mittermeier was born in The BronxThe Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He received his B.A. (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from Dartmouth
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1971 and his Ph.D. from Harvard in Biological Anthropology in 1977.
He has conducted fieldwork for over 30 years on three continents and in more than 20 countries in mainly tropical
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
locations, notably Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
and Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. Mittermeier's fieldwork has been focused on primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
s, protected areas, and other conservation issues and he is considered an expert on such topics as biological diversity and its value to humanity, ecosystem conservation, tropical biology and species conservation.
Mittermeier has formally discovered several monkey
Monkey
A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...
species. He was honored for his work in Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
in 2006 with the naming of a newly discovered species of mouse lemur
Mouse lemur
The mouse lemurs are nocturnal lemurs of the genus Microcebus. Like all lemurs, mouse lemurs are native to Madagascar.Mouse lemurs have a combined head, body and tail length of less than , making them the smallest primates ; however, their weight fluctuates in response to daylight duration.Mouse...
Microcebus mittermeieri, or Mittermeier's Mouse Lemur. Russell Mittermeier is the author of Lemurs of Madagascar, a comprehensive field guide on the country's flagship species
Flagship species
The concept of flagship species is a surrogate species concept with its genesis in the field of conservation biology. The flagship species concept holds that by raising the profile of a particular species, it can successfully leverage more support for biodiversity conservation at large in a...
. He is also notable as one of relatively few scientists to argue in favor of serious study of the North American Bigfoot
Bigfoot
Bigfoot, also known as sasquatch, is an ape-like cryptid that purportedly inhabits forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid...
phenomenon.
Mittermeier was named president of Conservation International
Conservation International
Conservation International is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, which seeks to ensure the health of humanity by protecting Earth's ecosystems and biodiversity. CI’s work focuses on six key initiatives that affect human well-being: climate, food security, freshwater...
in 1989. In addition to his work at CI
Conservation International
Conservation International is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, which seeks to ensure the health of humanity by protecting Earth's ecosystems and biodiversity. CI’s work focuses on six key initiatives that affect human well-being: climate, food security, freshwater...
, Mittermeier has served as Chairman of the IUCN-World Conservation Union Species Survival Commission's Primate Specialist Group since 1977, and as the Chairman of the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
's Task Force of Biological Diversity in 1988 and 1989. He also serves as President of the Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation and an Adjunct Professor at the State University of New York at Stony Brook
State University of New York at Stony Brook
The State University of New York at Stony Brook, also known as Stony Brook University, is a public research university located in Stony Brook, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island, about east of Manhattan....
. Prior to coming to Conservation International
Conservation International
Conservation International is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, which seeks to ensure the health of humanity by protecting Earth's ecosystems and biodiversity. CI’s work focuses on six key initiatives that affect human well-being: climate, food security, freshwater...
, he was Vice President for Science at the World Wildlife Fund.
Family
Russell Mittermier has been married for 16 years to Cristina MittermeierCristina Mittermeier
-Biography:Born as Cristina Sofía Goettsch Cabello in Mexico City, Mexico. Is a Mexican marine biologist, photographer and biochemical engineer. She has coauthored several books for both popular and scientific audiences, and has coauthored several scientific papers as well as numerous magazine...
, a marine biologist by training and Executive Director of the International League of Conservation Photographers
International League of Conservation Photographers
The International League of Conservation Photographers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering environmental and cultural conservation through ethical photography...
(ILCP).
Awards and honors
Mittermeier has received many awards, including:- San Diego ZooSan Diego ZooThe San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, is one of the most progressive zoos in the world, with over 4,000 animals of more than 800 species...
Gold Medal, 1988 - The Order of the Golden Ark from His Royal Highness Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands (1995)
- The Grand Order of the Southern CrossOrder of the Southern CrossThe National Order of the Southern Cross is a Brazilian order of chivalry founded by Emperor Pedro I on 1 December 1822. This order was intended to commemorate the independence of Brazil and the coronation of Pedro I...
from the President of BrazilPresident of BrazilThe president of Brazil is both the head of state and head of government of the Federative Republic of Brazil. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the Brazilian Armed Forces...
(1997) - The Grand Sash and Order of the Yellow Star from the President of SurinamePresident of SurinameThe President of the Republic of Suriname is, in accordance with the Constitution of 1987, the head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of Suriname....
(1998) - In 1998, he was also selected as one of Time magazine's "EcoHeroes for the Planet".
- The second annual Aldo Leopold AwardAldo LeopoldAldo Leopold was an American author, scientist, ecologist, forester, and environmentalist. He was a professor at the University of Wisconsin and is best known for his book A Sand County Almanac , which has sold over two million copies...
from the American Society of MammalogistsAmerican Society of MammalogistsThe American Society of Mammalogists was founded in 1919. Its primary purpose is to encourage the study of mammals and professions studying mammals. There are over 4,500 members of this society, and they are primarily professional scientists who emphasize the importance of public policy and...
(ASM), 2004.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-07/ci-aso072904.php - The twelfth annual Roger Tory Peterson Memorial Award from the Harvard Museum of Natural History.
Selected bibliography
Among the many books coauthored by Russell Mittermeier, Hotspots, Wilderness Areas, and Transboundary Conservation stand out. Mittermeier is also editor in chiefEditor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of the book series Handbook of the Mammals of the World
Handbook of the Mammals of the World
Handbook of the Mammals of the World is a book series from the publisher Lynx Edicions. The 8 volumes will be published from 2009. Each mammal family is assessed in a full text introduction with photographs and each species has a text account with a distribution map and illustrations on a plate...
.