Melissa Songer is a Conservation Biologist leading international conservation projects at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, among them the Smithsonian Myanmar Biodiversity Initiative, the reintroduction of Scimitar-Horned Oryx in Chad, the Giant Panda Conservation & Capacity Building Program in China, and the restoration of Przewalski’s horse populations in China and Mongolia. Her research integrates ecological field work, remote sensing, and animal tracking with community-based conservation efforts to restore and maintain conservation-dependent species in the wild. She is also a leader in expanding Smithsonian’s conservation capacity-building programs through mentoring, training, and workshops in the U.S. and abroad, resulting in the training of over 1,000 conservation practitioners from over 40 countries. Melissa is a science lead for the Smithsonian's Conservation Commons, and a researcher with Working Land & Seascapes network and the Movement of Life initiative.
Melissa Songer is a Conservation Biologist at Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute's (SCBI) Conservation Ecology Center. She works primarily on the conservation and landscape ecology of endangered species in Asia and Chad. She uses advanced geospatial technologies to detect human transformation of landscapes and assess its impacts on endangered species and their habitats. Her research integrates extensive collection of ecological data in the field including surveys of endangered species, their movements, and assessments of human communities, with spatial models. She develops science-based strategies for sustaining and restoring species and ecosystems and works extensively with partners on the ground to implement conservation solutions. Songer's current projects include restoring Przewalski's horses to their native range in China and Mongolia, movements of Asian elephants, human-elephant conflict in changing landscapes in Asia, restoring and tracking scimitar-horned oryx in Chad, and restoring giant panda landscapes in China. She also leads the Smithsonian's Myanmar Initiative to study and sustain the biodiversity of this critical global hotspot. This is a pan-science Smithsonian initiative with the goal of leveraging existing resources and expertise to answer fundamental questions about biology of species, drivers of extinction, landscape function, and ecosystem health. Songer integrates capacity building with all her research and conservation programs through training and mentoring protected area staff, conservation professionals, and graduate students in conservation GIS and wildlife monitoring. She conducts courses and workshops in the U.S. and abroad and has trained more than 900 individuals representing over 40 countries.
Research And Grants
research overview
Melissa Songer is a Conservation Biologist leading international conservation projects at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, among them the Smithsonian Myanmar Biodiversity Initiative, the reintroduction of Scimitar-Horned Oryx in Chad, the Giant Panda Conservation & Capacity Building Program in China, and the restoration of Przewalski’s horse populations in China and Mongolia. Her research integrates ecological field work, remote sensing, and animal tracking with community-based conservation efforts to restore and maintain conservation-dependent species in the wild. She is also a leader in expanding Smithsonian’s conservation capacity-building programs through mentoring, training, and workshops in the U.S. and abroad, resulting in the training of over 1,000 conservation practitioners from over 40 countries.
Yang, Hongbo, Vina, Andres, Winkler, Julie Ann, Chung, Min Gon, Huang, Qiongyu, Dou, Yue, McShea, William J., Songer, Melissa, Zhang, Jindong, and Liu, Jianguo. 2021. "A global assessment of the impact of individual protected areas on preventing forest loss." Science of the Total Environment 777:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.1459952021
Zahoor, Babar, Liu, Xuehua, Wu, Pengfen, Sun, Wanlong, Jia, Xiaodong, Lv, Zixin, Zhao, Xiangyu, He, Xiangbo, He, Baishuo, Cai, Qiong, and Songer, Melissa. 2021. "Activity pattern study of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in the Qinling Mountains, China, by using infrared camera traps." Environmental Science and Pollution Researchhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-12325-32021
Esmaeili, Saeideh, Jesmer, Brett R., Albeke, Shannon E., Aikens, Ellen O., Schoenecker, Kathryn A., King, Sarah R. B., Abrahms, Briana, Buuveibaatar, Bayarbaatar, Beck, Jeffrey L., Boone, Randall B., Cagnacci, Francesca, Chamaille-Jammes, Simon, Chimeddorj, Buyanaa, Cross, Paul C., Dejid, Nandintsetseg, Enkhbyar, Jagdag, Fischhoff, Ilya R., Ford, Adam T., Jenks, Kate, Hemami, Mahmoud-Reza, Hennig, Jacob D., Ito, Takehiko Y., Kaczensky, Petra, Kauffman, Matthew J., Linnell, John D. C. et al. 2021. "Body size and digestive system shape resource selection by ungulates: A cross-taxa test of the forage maturation hypothesis." Ecology Lettershttps://doi.org/10.1111/ele.138482021
Leimgruber, Peter and Songer, Melissa A. 2021. "Conservation: Where can elephants roam in the Anthropocene?." Current Biology 31 (11):R714-R716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2021.04.0372021
Tripathy, Bismay Ranjan, Liu, Xuehua, Songer, Melissa, Kumar, Lalit, Kaliraj, Senipandi, Das Chatterjee, Nilanjana, Wickramasinghe, W. M. S., and Mahanta, Kirti Kumar. 2021. "Descriptive Spatial Analysis of Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) Distribution and Mapping HEC Hotspots in Keonjhar Forest Division, India." Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 9:https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.6406242021
Paraskevopoulou, Zoe, Shamon, Hila, Songer, Melissa, Ruxton, Graeme, and McShea, William J. 2021. "Field surveys can improve predictions of habitat suitability for reintroductions: a swift fox case study." Oryx, 1–10. New York: Cambridge University Press, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605320000964.
2021
Zhang, Yuke, He, Xiangbo, Liu, Xuehua, Songer, Melissa, Dang, Haishan, and Zhang, Quanfa. 2021. "Fine-scale activity patterns of large- and medium-sized mammals in a deciduous broadleaf forest in the Qinling Mountains, China." Journal of Forestry Researchhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-021-01291-22021
Zahoor, Babar, Liu, Xuehua, Ahmad, Basharat, Kumar, Lalit, and Songer, Melissa. 2021. "Impact of climate change on Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and its autumn diet in the northern highlands of Pakistan." Global Change Biologyhttps://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.157432021
Liu, Xuehua, Liu, Lanmei, Liu, Linna, Jin, Xuelin, and Songer, Melissa. 2021. "Modeling Potential Dispersal Routes for Giant Pandas in Their Key Distribution Area of the Qinling Mountains, China." Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 9:https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.6369372021
Zahoor, Babar, Liu, Xuehua, Kumar, Lalit, Dai, Yunchuan, Tripathy, Bismay Ranjan, and Songer, Melissa. 2021. "Projected shifts in the distribution range of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in the Hindu Kush Himalaya due to climate change." Ecological Informatics 63:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2021.1013122021
Noonan, Michael J., Fleming, Christen H., Tucker, Marlee A., Kays, Roland, Harrison, Autumn-Lynn, Crofoot, Margaret C., Abrahms, Briana, Alberts, Susan C., Ali, Abdullahi H., Altmann, Jeanne, Antunes, Pamela Castro, Attias, Nina, Belant, Jerrold L., Beyer, Dean E., Jr., Bidner, Laura R., Blaum, Niels, Boone, Randall B., Caillaud, Damien, de Paula, Rogerio Cunha, De la Torre, J. Antonio, Dekker, Jasja, DePerno, Christopher S., Farhadinia, Mohammad, Fennessy, Julian, Fichtel, Claudia et al. 2020. "Effects of body size on estimation of mammalian area requirements." Conservation Biology 34 (4):1017-1028. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.134952020
Leimgruber, Peter, Campana, Michael G., Maldonado, Jesús E., Harris, Tara R., Dejid, Nandintsetseg, Cao, Qing, and Songer, Melissa A. 2018. "As wild as they come: Study confirms that Przewalski's horses are the best of the rest." , http://science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6384/111/tab-e-letters.
2018
Liu, Xiaofei, Liu, Xuehua, Shao, Xiaoming, Songer, Melissa A., He, Baisuo, He, Xiangbo, and Zhu, Yun. 2018. "Plant diversity patterns of temperate forests with logging and restoration practices in northwest China." Ecological Engineering 124:116-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.09.0172018
McShea, William J., Aung, Myint, Songer, Melissa A., and Connette, Grant. 2018. "The Challenges of Protecting an Endangered Species in the Developing World: A Case History of Eld’s Deer Conservation in Myanmar." Case Studies in the Environment 2 (1):1-9. https://doi.org/10.1525/cse.2017.0007602018
Liu, Xuehua, Wu, Pengfeng, Shao, Xiaoming, Songer, Melissa A., Cai, Qiong, He, Xiangbo, and Zhu, Yun. 2017. "Diversity and activity patterns of sympatric animals among four types of forest habitat in Guanyinshan Nature Reserve in the Qinling Mountains, China." Environmental Science and Pollution Research 24 (19):16465-16477. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-9232-x2017
Allendorf, Teri D., Aung, Myint, Swe, Khine Khine, and Songer, Melissa A. 2017. "Pathways to improve park-people relationships: Gendered attitude changes in Chatthin Wildlife Sanctuary, Myanmar." Biological Conservation 216:78-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.10.0052017
Connette, Grant M., Oswald, Patrick, Thura, Myint Kyaw, LaJeunesse Connette, Katherine J., Grindley, Mark E., Songer, Melissa A., Zug, George R., and Mulcahy, Daniel G. 2017. "Rapid forest clearing in a Myanmar proposed national park threatens two newly discovered species of geckos (Gekkonidae: Cyrtodactylus)." PLOS ONE 12 (4):1-18. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.01744322017
Liu, Xuehua, Wu, Pengfeng, Shao, Xiaoming, Songer, Melissa A., Cai, Qiong, Zhu, Yun, and He, Xiangbo. 2017. "Spatiotemporally monitoring forest landscape for giant panda habitat through a high learning-sensitive neural network in Guanyinshan Nature Reserve in the Qinling Mountains, China." Environmental Earth Sciences 76 (17):589. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6926-92017
LaJeunesse Connette, Katherine J., Connette, Grant, Bernd, Asja, Phyo, Paing, Aung, Kyaw Htet, Tun, Ye Lin, Thein, Zaw Min, Horning, Ned, Leimgruber, Peter, and Songer, Melissa A. 2016. "Assessment of Mining Extent and Expansion in Myanmar Based on Freely-Available Satellite Imagery." Remote Sensing 8 (11):912. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs81109122016
Connette, Grant, Oswald, Patrick, Songer, Melissa A., and Leimgruber, Peter. 2016. "Mapping Distinct Forest Types Improves Overall Forest Identification Based on Multi-Spectral Landsat Imagery for Myanmar’s Tanintharyi Region." Remote Sensing 8 (11):882. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs81108822016
Jenks, Kate E., Aikens, Ellen O., Songsasen, Nucharin, Calabrese, Justin, Fleming, Chris, Bhumpakphan, Naris, Wanghongsa, Sawai, Kanchanasaka, Budsabong, Songer, Melissa A., and Leimgruber, Peter. 2015. "Comparative movement analysis for a sympatric dhole and golden jackal in a human-dominated landscape." Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 63:546-554.
2015
Liu, Xuehua, Wang, Tiejun, Wang, Ting, Skidmore, Andrew K., and Songer, Melissa A. 2015. "How do two giant panda populations adapt to their habitats in the Qinling and Qionglai Mountains, China." Environmental Science and Pollution Research 22 (2):1175-1185. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3412-82015
Zhang, Yongjun, Cao, Qing S., Rubenstein, Daniel I., Zang, Sen, Songer, Melissa A., Leimgruber, Peter, Chu, Hongjun, Cao, Jie, Li, Kai, and Hu, Defu. 2015. "Water Use Patterns of Sympatric Przewalski's Horse and Khulan: Interspecific Comparison Reveals Niche Differences." PloS One 10 (7):1-17. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.01320942015
Liu, Gang, Xu, Chao-Qun, Cao, Qing, Zimmermann, Waltraut, Songer, Melissa A., Zhao, Sha-Sha, Li, Kai, and Hu, De-Fu. 2014. "Mitochondrial and pedigree analysis in Przewalski's horse populations: implications for genetic management and reintroductions." Mitochondrial DNA 25 (4):313-318. https://doi.org/10.3109/19401736.2013.8004872014
Liu, Xuehua, Wu, Pengfeng, Songer, Melissa A., Cai, Qiong, He, Xiangbo, Zhu, Yun, and Shao, Xiaoming. 2013. "Monitoring wildlife abundance and diversity with infra-red camera traps in Guanyinshan Nature Reserve of Shaanxi Province, China." Ecological Indicators 33:121-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2012.09.0222013
Songer, Melissa A., Delion, Melanie, Biggs, Alex, and Huang, Qiongyu. 2012. "Modeling Impacts of Climate Change on Giant Panda Habitat." International Journal of Ecology 2012:1-12. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/1087522012
Allendorf, Teri D., Aung, Myint, and Songer, Melissa A. 2012. "Using residents' perceptions to improve park-people relationships in Chatthin Wildlife Sanctuary, Myanmar." Journal of environmental management 99:36-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.01.0042012
Leimgruber, Peter, Delion, Melanie, and Songer, Melissa A. 2011. "The Uncertainty in Mapping Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests in Asia." in The Ecology and Conservation of Seasonally Dry Forests in Asia, edited by McShea, William J., Davies, Stuart James, and Bhumpakphan, Naris., 59-74. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.
2011
Doyle, S., Groo, M., Sampson, C., Songer, Melissa A., Jones, M., and Leimgruber, Peter. 2010. "Human-Elephant Conflict - What Can We Learn from the News?." Gajah 32:22-25.
2010
Songer, Melissa A., Aung, Myint, Senior, Briony, DeFries, Ruth, and Leimgruber, Peter. 2009. "Spatial and temporal deforestation dynamics in protected and unprotected dry forests: a case study from Myanmar (Burma)." Biodiversity and Conservation 18:1001-1018.
2009
Leimgruber, Peter, Senior, Briony, Uga, Aung, M., Songer, Melissa A., Mueller, Thomas, Wemmer, Christen M., and Ballou, Jonathan D. 2008. "Modeling Population Viability of Captive Elephants in Myanmar (Burma): Implications for Wild Populations." Animal Conservation 11 (3):198-205. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-1795.2008.00172.x2008
Songer, Melissa A., Aung, Myint, Swe, Khaing Khaing, Oo, Thida, Wemmer, Christen M., DeFries, Ruth, and Leimgruber, Peter. 2011. "The Impact of Local Communities on a Dry Tropical Forest Sanctuary: A Case Study from Upper Myanmar (Burma)." in The Ecology and Conservation of Seasonally Dry Forests in Asia, edited by McShea, William J., Davies, Stuart James, and Bhumpakphan, Naris., 305-320. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press.
2011
Wikramanayake, E., Dinerstein, Eric, Forrest, J., Loucks, C., Seidensticker, John, Klenzendorf, S., Sanderson, E., Simons, R., Heydlauff, A., Ginsberg, J., O'Brien, T., Leimgruber, Peter, Songer, Melissa A., and Bryja, G. 2010. "Roads to recovery or catastrophic loss: How will the next decade end for wild tigers?." in Tigers of the world: the science, politics, and conservation of Panthera tigris, edited by Tilson, Ronald Lewis and Nyhus, Philip J., Second ed. 493-506. Elsevier/Academic Press.
2010
Sanderson, E., Forrest, J., Loucks, C., Ginsberg, J., Dinerstein, Eric, Seidensticker, John, Leimgruber, Peter, Songer, Melissa A., Heydlauff, A., O'Brien, T., Bryja, G., Klenzendorf, S., and Wikramanayake, E. 2010. "Setting priorities for conservation and recovery of wild tigers: 2005-2015. The technical assessment." in Tigers of the world: the science, politics, and conservation of Panthera tigris, edited by Tilson, Ronald Lewis and Nyhus, Philip J., Second ed. 143-161. Elsevier/Academic Press.
2010
Tripathy, Bismay Ranjan, Liu, Xuehua, Songer, Melissa, Zahoor, Babar, Wickramasinghe, W. M. S., and Mahanta, Kirti Kumar. 2021. "Analysis of Landscape Connectivity among the Habitats of Asian Elephants in Keonjhar Forest Division, India." Remote Sensing, 13, (22). https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13224661.
2021