Research

Click here for a list of my peer-reviewed publications
Click here for a list of select other works
Click here for my complete CV
Note: If there are any works for which a PDF is not available but you would like a copy, please email me.

Current Work

My current work is broadly focused on using statistical and and GIS tools to inform conservation efforts. Working for the Cities program with The Nature Conservancy in New York, I use available remote sensing data and GIS datasets to characterize dynamics of open space and green space (e.g., tree canopy, green roofs). I primarily work to understand how these assets are distributed across NYC (e.g., are they equitably distributed), how they are changing through time, what types of benefits they are providing (and to whom), and how they can be better distributed or increased to improve the environment in NY for both people and biodiversity. I also work with partners and colleagues to communicate this work to various audiences.

Of note, I collaborated with partners to develop a dataset representing green roofs in NYC as of 2016. A peer reviewed manuscript is underway, describing methods and some conclusions, though the data are available here. An update for this dataset is also underway. I am also working on a large body of collaborative research and analysis about the state of the urban forest of New York City.

Postdoc Research

My main research at the University of Tulsa was focused on understanding how life history traits of amphibians may play into effects of climate change. I also worked with a student on understanding the potential changes of Juniper trees across the continental U.S., and was involved in processing LiDAR data for researchers across the state.

Dissertation Research

My dissertation research focused on the endagered arroyo toad (Anaxyrus californicus), endemic to southern California, USA, and northern Baja California, MX. I studied how the species' distribution may have changed in a portion of its range, and how alterations to land cover patterns are influencing such changes. In this research I used a combination of presence-only and presence/absence species distribution modeling approaches, remote sensing and landscape analysis techniques, and path analysis to understand how watershed-scale changes are influencing habitat critical for arroyo toads, in and along streams.

Click Here to view my full dissertation as a PDF and see below for relevant publications.

Masters Research

My Masters research was focused on the St. Croix Ground Lizard (Ameiva polops), an endangered lizard that is endemic to St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. The species is extirpated from the main island of St. Croix due to predation by invasive mongooses, and remains on small islands off the coast of St. Croix. With the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service we translocated the species from Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge to Buck Island Reef National Monument. The St. Croix Ground Lizard was presumably present there until the arrival of mongooses, which were eradicated there by the mid 1990s.

We translocated 57 lizards and housed them on Buck Island in a series of 10m x 10m open enclosures (at a density of 700/hectare). The lizards were released to the rest of the island after 9 weeks. The period during which they were enclosed was used to determine detection probability of the species, and to assess the impact of their presence on their invertebrate prey base.

Click Here to view my full thesis as a PDF and see below for relevant publications.

Earlier work

Invasion of Anolis sagrei on St. Vincent, West Indies

During a Research Experience for Undergraduates with Dr. Robert Powell at Avila University, I studied the invasion of the Cuban Brown Anole Anolis sagrei on St. Vincent. This species has been dispersed throughout much of the tropical world by accidental transport with building materials. Our study focused on the
potential impacts that the species has on native Anoles in St. Vincent. We did not see any definitive effects, though our data suggest that in the presence of Anolis sagrei, the native Anolis trinitatis may increase its perch height.

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Clay, T.A., M.A. Steffen, M.L. Treglia, C.D. Torres, A.L. Trujano-Alvarez, and R.M. Bonett. 2019. Multiple stressors produce differential transcriptomic patterns in a stream-dwelling salamander. BMC Genomics 20(1):482. DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5814-y PDF | Journal Website

Treglia, M.L., A.C. Landon, R.N. Fisher, G. Kyle, L.A. Fitzgerald. 2018. Multi-scale effects of land cover and urbanization on the habitat suitability of an endangered toad. Biological Conservation 228, 310–318. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2018.10.032. Journal Website

Wang, H.-H., C.L. Wonkka, M.L. Treglia, W.E. Grant, F.E. Smeins, and W.E. Rogers. 2018. Incorporating local-scale variables into distribution models enhances predictability for rare plant species with biological dependencies. Biodiversity and Conservation:1–12. DOI: 10.1007/s10531-018-1645-4 Journal Website

Schaffer-Smith, D., S. Tomasha, K. Jarvis, D. Maguire, M.L. Treglia, J. Liu. 2018. Network analysis as a tool for quantifying the dynamics of metacoupled systems: an example using global soybean trade. Ecology and Society: 23(4):3 DOI: 10.5751/ES-10460-230403 PDF | Journal Website

Liu, J., Y. Dou, M. Batistella, E. Challies, T. Connor, C. Friis, J.D.A. Millington, E. Parish, C.L. Romulo, R.F.B. Silva, H. Triezenberg, H. Yang, Z. Zhao, K.S. Zimmerer, F. Huettmann, M.L. Treglia, et al. 2018. Spillover systems in a telecoupled Anthropocene: typology, methods, and governance for global sustainability. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. DOI: 10.1016/j.cosust.2018.04.009. Journal Website

Treglia, M.L., R.N. Fisher, and L.A. Fitzgerald. 2015. Integrating Multiple Distribution Models to Guide Conservation Efforts of an Endangered Toad. PLoS ONE DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131628. PDF | Journal Website

Fitzgerald, L.A., M.L. Treglia, N. Angeli, T.J. Hibbitts, D.J. Leavitt, A.L. Subalusky, I. Lundgren, I. and Z. Hillis-Starr. 2015. Determinants of successful establishment and post-translocation dispersal of a new population of the critically endangered St. Croix ground lizard (Ameiva polops). Restoration Ecology DOI: 10.1111/rec.12248. Journal Website

Wang, H.-H., C.L. Wonkka, M.L. Treglia, W.E. Grant, F.E. Smeins, W.E. Rogers. 2015. Species distribution modeling for conservation of an endangered and endemic orchid. AoB Plants DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plv039. PDF | Journal Website

Treglia, M.L., J. Valiulis, D. J. Leavitt, and L.A. Fitzgerald. 2013. Establishment of the Puerto Rican Ground Lizard (Ameiva exsul: Teiidae), on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands: a threat to native fauna. Caribbean Journal of Science 47(2-3). PDF | Journal Website

Treglia M.L. and L.A. Fitzgerald. 2011. Translocation of the St. Croix ground lizard to Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Pp. 109-115. In. Soorae P.S. (ed.) (2011). Global Re-introduction Perspectives: 2011. More case studies from around the globe. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group and Abu Dhabi, UAE: Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi. Xiv +250 pp. PDF | Click Here for a Link to the Full Book

Treglia, M.L., O. Ramirez. 2009. Nerodia rhombifer. Geographic distribution. Herpetological Review 40(2):238. Journal Website

Treglia, M.L., A.J. Muensch, R. Powell, and J.S. Parmerlee, Jr. 2008. An invasive anole: Anolis sagrei on St. Vincent and its potential impact on native anoles. Caribbean Journal of Science 44(2):251-256. PDF

Henderson,R.W., M.L. Treglia, and S.D. Powell. 2007. Corallus cookii. Foraging. Herpetological Review 38(4):466

Powell, S. D., M. L. Treglia, R. W. Henderson, and R. Powell. 2007. Treeboas in the West Indies: Responses of Corallus cookii and C. grenadensis to disturbed habitats. In: R. W. Henderson and R.Powell (eds.). Biology of the Boas and Pythons. Eagle Mountain Publ., Eagle Mountain, Utah.

Select Other Works

Treglia, M.L. and A. Van Slooten. 2020. Identifying opportunities to increase green roofs in NYC: where they are most needed. Living Architecture Monitor: Summer 2020 (28-31). PDF | Publication Website

Daut, E. F., K. Dennis, E. Gómez-Ruiz, Z. Hurst, K. A. Roach, A. N. Santos, D. Toledo, M. L. Treglia, C. J. van Riper, and M. A. Wood. 2013. Reaching toward outward accountability of environmental non-governmental organizations. Applied Biodiversity Sciences Perspectives Series 3:1-6.PDF | Publication Website

Treglia, M.L. 2008. Kraig Adler: A lifetime promoting herpetology. Iguana 15(4):234–237. PDF

Treglia, M.L. 2006. An annotated checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of St. Vincent, West Indies. Iguana 13(4):252–263. PDF