Contact Information
Rebecca@coastalplains.org
(850) 544-5660
EDUCATION
M.S. Forestry. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX. May 2000. Drs. R. N. Coulson and R. F. Fisher, co-advisors. Major emphasis on landscape ecology, forest entomology, GIS/GPS applications. Thesis title: The distribution and interaction of red imported fire ants and native ants across ecotones in a Post Oak Savanna.
B.S. Forestry and Wildlife Resources, and Biology. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA. May 1996. Research projects: Population dynamics of the canvasback, Habitat management for the Wood Thrush on the Jefferson National Forest, Water quality assessment using macroinvertebrates as biological indicators: A comparison of urban, forested, and agricultural watersheds.
RESEARCH/WORK EXPERIENCE
Director (August 2001-Present) Coastal Plains Institute
Ecologist and science educator on multiple research projects and environmental educational outreach. Recent projects, principal or co-principal investigator on: Building Communities that Conserve Wetlands – combining state standards-aligned activities and citizen scientist training to conserve the biodiversity of temporary wetlands of Northern Florida, striped newt repatriation project, updating occupancy and habitat information for reticulated flatwoods salamander Critical Habitat Units, 2-year project assessing restoration potential of ephemeral wetlands on Florida Wildlife Management Areas, 3-year project designing conservation strategies and management plans for ephemeral pond breeding amphibians, 5-year study assessing amphibian response of wetlands augmentation, contract with the St. Johns River Water Management District. Other duties include social media, budget administration, acquiring grant monies to support research projects, GIS analysis for various research projects, environmental education including field trips and presentations, compiling technical project reports and publications.
Adjunct Faculty (May 2021 – Present) Unity Environmental University
Develop, and serve as an instructor for, graduate and undergraduate level courses including Landscape Ecology, Conservation Ecology, and Wildlife Ecology and Management.
Co-Founder (April 2010 – Present) Project Remote
Project Remote is an endeavor to define remoteness scientifically, identify the remotest location in each of the 50 United States, and mount documentary expeditions into each state’s ‘Remote Spot.’ to generate new knowledge about ecological and physical conditions in these special, previously unknown, places. Duties include using GIS to calculate the remotest location of each state, planning and conducting expeditions to state Remote Spots, social media coordinator, developing and maintaining website, communicating with members through newsletters and social media, database management, fundraising.
Researcher (January 2013 – Present) Florida State University, Learning Systems Institute
Facilitate middle and high school teacher professional development during FCR-STEMLearn Summer Institutes. Assist K-12 educators in the development of lesson plans and other resources for submission to the CPALMS database. Resources are analyzed and improved based on State of Florida Standards and Common Core State Standards alignment, content accuracy, and pedagogy. My involvement with CPALMS is project-based; the amount and timing is dependent on program needs. The position involves working independently and individually, as well as collaborative efforts during statewide institutes.
Adjunct Faculty (August 2010 – May 2012) Grand Canyon University
Instructor for undergraduate biology on-line courses including Biological Concepts, Biological Concepts Lab, and Environmental Science.
Biological Scientist (September 2001-April 2005) Florida Geological Survey
Project: Investigating Florida springs as part of the Florida Springs Initiative. Duties includes quarterly water quality monitoring of select springs throughout Florida, preparation of technical reports, leading to the revision of the 1977 FGS publication “Springs of Florida” (Bulletin 31 revised), employing GIS to generate maps and as an analyzing tool, water quality sampling of 125 Florida springs, researching, visiting, and describing the State’s springs planning, scheduling, and researching access for extended field excursions, training and supervising field crew, measuring spring discharge, and public outreach (e.g. science fair judging, springs education).
Wildlife Biologist (July 2000-September 2001) University of Kentucky
Project: Designing Florida panther habitat suitability and dispersal maps and models. Contracted through a grant from Lee County. Duties include using GIS technology to identify potential panther habitat and dispersal corridors, involves extensive use of ArcView and associated extensions, field verification of GIS data, serving as invited participant on USFWS Multi-species Ecological Recovery Implementation Team (MERIT), Florida panther sub-team, presenting research at national and local meetings, and preparing final report and peer-reviewed manuscript.
Graduate Research Assistant (August 1998-June 2000) Texas A&M University
Project leader and spatial database manager for red imported fire ant landscape ecology projects. Duties include designing and implementing master’s research on the distribution and interaction of red imported fire ants and native ants diversity across ecotones, supervising field technicians for 2 landscape ecology projects, designing sampling techniques, responsible for field work, creating maps, and data management, and preparing annual reports and presentations.
Graduate Teaching Assistant (December 1999-May 2000) Texas A&M University
Laboratory class instructor for Insect Ecology (ENT 424). Duties included creating computer simulations of various ecological concepts using Ecobeaker software, re-writing laboratory manual, preparing lectures and assisting students during exercises, and editing and grading lab reports.
Wildlife Research Technician (May 1996-August 1996) Virginia Tech
Project: The effects of different timber harvest methods on salamander diversity and density. This position involved extensive, unsupervised fieldwork in the remote mountains of West Virginia. Duties include navigating through rough terrain to establish sampling transects, sampling for salamanders during or following nocturnal rain events, identifying and processing captured specimens, opportunistic searches for salamanders throughout study sites, and entering data using Microsoft Excel.
Plant Pest Inspector Assistant (May 1995-August 1995) Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Blacksburg
Distributed and monitored gypsy moth traps for Statewide Gypsy Moth Population Monitoring Project. Duties include constructing and distributing gypsy moth traps on private lands, compass and topographic map orientation, periodic check and removal of gypsy moth traps, educating local landowners about monitoring program, and unsupervised fieldwork in remote areas.
PUBLICATIONS
2019
Means, R.P.M. Let’s Go Dipnetting. An interactive online lesson created specifically for educational standards. Published on Florida State University’s CPALMS.org.
Means, R.P.M. Let’s Classify Plants, Part 1: Vascular and Non-vascular Plants. An interactive online lesson created specifically for educational standards. Published on Florida State University’s CPALMS.org.
Means, R.P.M. Let’s Classify Plants, Part 2: Seeds and Spores. An interactive online lesson created specifically for educational standards. Published on Florida State University’s CPALMS.org.
2018
Means, R. C. and Rebecca P.M. Means. Altering Hydrology in Breeding Ponds to Benefit Imperiled Amphibians During Drought. Second Annual Report to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Coastal Plains Institute, Tallahassee, FL.
2017
Means, R. C., R.P.M. Means, M. Beshel, R. Mendyk, P. Hill, M. Hoffman, S. Reichling, and B. Summerford. A Conservation Strategy for the Imperiled Striped Newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus) in the Apalachicola National Forest, Florida. Seventh Annual Report, Coastal Plains Institute,Tallahassee, FL.
Means, R. C. and Rebecca P.M. Means. Altering Hydrology in Breeding Ponds to Benefit Imperiled Amphibians During Drought. First Annual Report to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Coastal Plains Institute, Tallahassee, FL.
2016
Means, R. C., R.P.M. Means, M. Beshel, R. Mendyk, P. Hill, S. Reichling, B. Summerford, A. Elkert, M.J. Gray, and D.L. Miller. A Conservation Strategy for the Imperiled Striped Newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus) in the Apalachicola National Forest, Florida. Sixth Annual Report, Coastal Plains Institute,Tallahassee, FL.
2015
Means, R. C., R.P.M. Means, M. Beshel, R. Mendyk, S. Reichling, and B. Summerford. A Conservation Strategy for the Imperiled Striped Newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus) in the Apalachicola National Forest, Florida. Fifth Annual Report, Coastal Plains Institute,Tallahassee, FL.
2014
Means, R.P.M. Describing Populations of Frogs and Salamanders. A lesson plan created specifically for Florida educational standards. Published on Florida State University’s CPALMS.org.
Means, R.P.M. Who’s in My Burrow? A lesson plan created specifically for Florida educational standards. Published on Florida State University’s CPALMS.org.
Means, R.C., Means, R.P.M., Miller, D. L., Gray, M. J., Johnson, S. A., Means, D. B., Brenes, R. A Conservation Strategy for the Imperiled Striped Newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus) in the Apalachicola National Forest, Florida. Fourth Annual Report submitted to the U.S. Forest Service, Tallahassee, FL.
2013
Means, R.P.M. Ambystoma bishopi: Survey and Status of Designated Critical Habitat. Coastal Plains Institute Final Report to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Means, R.C., Means, R.P.M., Miller, D. L., Gray, M. J., Johnson, S. A., Means, D. B., Brenes, R. A Conservation Strategy for the Imperiled Striped Newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus) in the Apalachicola National Forest, Florida. Third Annual Report submitted to the U.S. Forest Service, Tallahassee, FL.
2012
Means, R.C., Means, R.P.M., Miller, D. L., Gray, M. J., Johnson, S. A., Means, D. B., Brenes, R. A Conservation Strategy for the Imperiled Striped Newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus) in the Apalachicola National Forest, Florida. Second Annual Report submitted to the U.S. Forest Service, Tallahassee, FL.
2011
Means, R.C., Means, R.P.M., Miller, D. L., Gray, M. J., Johnson, S. A., Means, D. B., Brenes, R. A Conservation Strategy for the Imperiled Striped Newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus) in the Apalachicola National Forest, Florida. First Annual Report submitted to the U.S. Forest Service, Tallahassee, FL.
2010
Means, R.P.M. and R.C. Means. Inventory, assessment, and restoration potential of ephemeral wetlands on the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area, Florida. Final contract report submitted to the Chassahowitzka WMA, Chassahowitzka, FL.
Means, R.P.M. and R.C. Means. Inventory, assessment, and restoration potential of ephemeral wetlands on the Half Moon Wildlife Management Area, Florida. Final contract report submitted to the Half Moon WMA, FL.
Means, R.P.M. and R.C. Means. Inventory, assessment, and restoration potential of ephemeral wetlands on the Triple N Ranch Wildlife Management Area, Florida. Final contract report submitted to the Triple N Ranch WMA, FL.
Means, R.P.M. and R.C. Means. Inventory, assessment, and restoration potential of ephemeral wetlands on the Guana River Wildlife Management Area, Florida. Final contract report submitted to the Guana River WMA, FL.
Means, R.P.M. and R.C. Means. Inventory, assessment, and restoration potential of ephemeral wetlands on the Big Bend Wildlife Management Area, Florida. Final contract report submitted to the Big Bend WMA, FL.
Means, R.P.M. and R.C. Means. Inventory, assessment, and restoration potential of ephemeral wetlands on the Aucilla Wildlife Management Area, Florida. Final contract report submitted to the Aucilla WMA, FL.
Means, R.P.M. and R.C. Means. Inventory, assessment, and restoration potential of ephemeral wetlands on the Caravelle Ranch Wildlife Management Area, Florida. Final contract report submitted to the Caravelle Ranch WMA, FL.
2008
R.P.M. Means. Management Strategies for Florida’s Ephemeral Ponds and Pond-Breeding Amphibians. Final report to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Coastal Plains Institute, Tallahassee, FL.
Means, D.B., R.C. Means, and R.P.M. Means. Petition to List the Striped Newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus) as a Federally Threatened Species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by Coastal Plains Institute.
Means, R.C. and R.P.M. Means. Assessment of Amphibian Response to Wetlands Augmentation. Final report to the St. Johns River Water Management District. Coastal Plains Institute, Tallahassee, FL.
Means, D.B., R.C. Means, and R.P.M. Means. Distribution: Anolis (=Norops) sagrei (Brown Anole). Herpetological Review 39(3): 366.
2007
R.P. Meegan (editor). Management Strategies for Ephemeral Ponds. Proceedings from a one-day workshop at Tall Timbers Research Station, October 23, 2007. Coastal Plains Institute, Tallahassee, FL.
R.P. Meegan. Management Plans and Conservation Strategies for Ephemeral Ponds and Ephemeral Pond Breeding Amphibians. Second annual report to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Coastal Plains Institute, Tallahassee, FL.
2006
R.P. Meegan. Management Plans and Conservation Strategies for Ephemeral Ponds and Ephemeral Pond Breeding Amphibians. First annual report to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Coastal Plains Institute, Tallahassee, FL.
2005
Means, R. C. and R. P. Meegan. Assessment of Amphibian Response to Wetlands Augmentation. Third annual report to the St. Johns River Water Management District. Coastal Plains Institute, Tallahassee, FL. 53 pp.
2004
Means, R. C. and R. P. Meegan. Assessment of Amphibian Response to Wetlands Augmentation. Second annual report to the St. Johns River Water Management District. Coastal Plains Institute, Tallahassee, FL. 43 pp.
Scott, Thomas M., G.H. Means, R. P. Meegan, R. C. Means, S. B. Upchurch, R. E. Copeland, J. Jones, T. Roberts, A. Willet. Bulletin 66: Springs of Florida. Published for the Florida Geological Survey, Tallahassee, FL.
2003
Means, R. C. and R. P. Meegan. Assessment of Amphibian Response to Wetlands Augmentation. First annual report to the St. Johns River Water Management District. Coastal Plain Institute, Tallahassee, FL. 49 pp.
R.P. Meegan. A survey for the southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus) in the Munson Sandhills of the Apalachicola National Forest. Final report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 16 pp.
2002
Means, R.C. and R.P. Meegan. Human History of the Apalachicola River. In Southeastern Geological Society Field Trip Guidebook 42. Southeastern Geological Society, Tallahassee, Fl. 39 pp.
R. P. Meegan and D. S. Maehr. A Landscape Approach to conservation planning for the Florida panther in Southwest Florida. Southeastern Naturalist 1(3): 217-232.
R. P. Meegan, R. C. Means, G. H. Means, and T. M. Scott. Water quality sampling of Florida’s first magnitude springs: FGS bulletin 31 update. Florida Scientist: 65 (Supplement 1).
Scott, T. M, G. H. Means, R. C. Means, and R. P. Meegan. First Magnitude Springs of Florida. FGS Open File Report No. 85. Florida Geological Survey, Tallahassee, FL.
2001
Maehr, D. S. and R. P. Meegan. Corridors, Landscape Linkages, and Conservation Planning for the Florida Panther: Enhancing Expansion Potential for an Endangered Species in Southwest Florida. Final Report to Lee County.
Harris, L. D., L. C. Duever, R. P. Meegan, T. S. Hoctor, J. L. Schortemeyer, and D. S. Maehr. The biotic province: Minimum unit for conserving biodiversity. In Large Mammal Restoration: Ecological and Sociological Challenges in the 21st Century (Eds. D. Maehr, R. Noss, and J. Larkin), pp.321-343. Island Press, Washington, D.C.
2000
R. P. Meegan. The distribution and interaction of red imported fire ants and native ants across ecotones in a post oak savanna. M.S. Thesis, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
O’Keefe, S. T., R. P. Meegan, D. F. Wunneburger, A. Men, R. N. Coulson, and S. B. Vinson. A landscape perspective of fire ants (Solenopsis invicta Buren) and implications towards their management: an initial assessment. Proceedings of the 2000 Imported Fire Ant Conference, Chattanooga, TN. Pgs. 13-14.
1999
Meegan, R. P., S. T. O’Keefe, R. N. Coulson, S. B. Vinson. The distribution and interaction of red imported fire ants and native ants across ecotones in a post oak savanna. Proceedings of the 1999 National Society of American Foresters Conference, Portland, OR.
Coulson, R. N., S. T. O’Keefe, D. F. Wunneburger, R. P. Meegan, S. B. Vinson. Landscape ecology of the red imported fire ant in a post oak savanna. Proceedings of 1999 Imported Fire Ant Conference, Charleston, SC. Pgs. 37-45.