Alex Garretson

About

Alex (he/him) joined the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Population Management Center (PMC) in 2022. His master’s research at The City College of New York focused on identifying drivers of intraspecific genetic variation within a lizard species (Ecpleopus gaudichaudii) endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest using species distribution modeling and bioinformatic approaches. While pursuing his degree, Alex also worked at the American Museum of Natural History, overseeing and conducting husbandry for around 60 ambassador animals and facilitating their participation in educational programming.

Prior to graduate school, Alex received a B.S. in Wildlife Science from Virginia Tech and has participated in a variety of wildlife field research initiatives over the years, spanning diverse taxa (amphibians, birds, sea turtles, primates, bats) in a variety of biomes (such as salt marsh, forests, tropics, grasslands). Alex is devoted to the conservation of species through the responsible management of genetically diverse and demographically stable wildlife populations.