Joanne Earnhardt, Ph.D.
Director, Alexander Center for Applied Population Biology

Joanne Earnhardt received her B.A. in Biochemistry from Lawrence University, Wis., and her Ph.D. at the University of Illinois-Chicago.  Her dissertation focused on developing genetic and demographic management strategies to enhance persistence of reintroduced and captive populations.  Earnhardt directs the zoo's Alexander Center for Applied Population Biology.  Earnhardt’s projects involve creating and improving software for population management, such as ZooRisk and MateRx, as well as evaluating software used in PVAs (Population Viability Analyses), such as Vortex and RAMAS.  Earnhardt also serves on the staff of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s (AZA) Population Management Center (PMC) at Lincoln Park Zoo and conducts research on ape population biology as part of the Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes.  She chairs the AZA’s Reintroduction Scientific Advisory Group and is a member of AZA Scientific Advisory Groups (the Small Population Management Advisory Group and the Reintroduction Scientific Advisory Group) and the AZA Science and Technology Committee.

Publications

Faust L.J., Earnhardt, J.E. and Thompson, S.D.  2006.  Is reversing the decline of Asian elephants in captivity possible? An individual-based modeling approach.  Zoo Biology, 25(3): 201-218.  

Earnhardt, J.M., Thompson, S.D. and Schad, K.  2004.  Strategic planning for captive population: projecting changes in genetic diversity.  Animal Conservation, 7: 9-16.  

Faust, L.J. and Earnhardt, J.M.  2004.   Zoo Risk: A Risk Assessment Tool. User’s Manual.   Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois.  

Faust, L.J., Jackson, R., Ford, A., Earnhardt, J. M. and Thompson, S.D.  2004.  Models for management of wildlife populations: Lessons from spectacled bears in zoos and grizzly bears in Yellowstone.  System Dynamics Review, 20(2): 163-178.  

Faust, L.J., Thompson, S.D., Earnhardt, J.M., Brown, E., Ryan, S., Sherman, M. and Yurenka, M.  2003.  Using stage-based system dynamics modeling for demographic management of captive populations.  Zoo Biology, 22: 45-64.  

Earnhardt, J.M., Thompson, S.D. and Marhevsky, E.  2001.  Interactions of Target Population Size, Population Parameters, and Program Management of Viability of Captive Populations.  Zoo Biology, 20: 169-183.  

Schmidt, K.A., Earnhardt, J.M., Brown, J.S. and Holt, R.D.  2000.  Habitat selection under temporal heterogeneity: exorcising the ghost of competition past.  Ecology, 81: 2622-2630.  

Earnhardt, J.M.  1999.  Reintroduction programmes: genetic tradeoffs for populations.  Animal Conservation, 2: 279-286.  

Earnhardt, J.M., Thompsom, S.D. and Turner-Erfort, G.  1998.  Standards for data entry and maintenance of North American zoo and aquarium animal records databases.  Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois.  

Thompson, S.D., Earnhardt, J.M. and Turner-Erfort, G.  1997.  Guidelines for Data Entry and Maintenance of North American Regional Studbooks.  Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois.  

Earnhardt, J., Thompson, S.D. and Willis, K.  1995.  The ISIS database: An evaluation of records essential for captive management.  Zoo Biology, 14: 493-508.  

Earnhardt, J.M., Thompson, S.D. and Willis, K.  1995.  Reply to Flesness et al.  Zoo Biology, 14: 519-522.