Lab 5, Ofc. 3B
135 Marine Lab Rd.
Beaufort, NC 28516
Phone: 252-504-7582
Fax: 919.668.0916
Email: cpc6@duke.edu

Research Interests:

• conservation biology
• demography
• population modeling
• sustainable wildlife harvest

Bio:
My research centers on Giant Amazon River Turtle (Podocnemis expansa) Conservation in Venezuela. I study both the impact of current management and implementation of broader scale conservation actions on this once critically endangered species. Currently, I am designing a sustainable harvest program based on the species' population dynamics, current subsistence harvest levels and the view and desires of local communities. In my research, I strive to merge scientific knowledge with real life solutions and action.

Publications:

• Peñaloza, C., L. Crowder, G. Barreto, S. Heppell, M. K. Orbach, O. Hernandez & R. Espín. In prep. Modeling growth and sustainable harvest of the Giant South American turtle (Podocnemis expansa) in the Middle Orinoco, Venezuela.
• Peñaloza, C., L. Crowder, G. R. Barreto, O. Hernández & R. Espín. Submitted. Harvest of South American river turtles (Podocnemis spp.) in the Middle Orinoco, Venezuela. Chelonian Conservation and Biology
  

• Jaffé, R., C. Peñaloza & G. Barreto. 2008. Monitoring an endangered freshwater turtle management program: effects of nest relocation over growth and locomotive performance of the giant South American turtle (Podocnemis expansa: Pelomedusidae). Chelonian Conservation and Biology 7 (2): 213-222.

• Martínez E. O. Hernández, E Boede, C. Peñaloza & A. Alberto. 2007. Inventario de la tortuga Arrau, Podocnemis expansa, en zoológicos de Venezuela. Valores referenciales de hepatograma y la bioquímica sérica. Revista Científica XVII (5): 433-440.

• Peñaloza, C. & A. G. Farji-Brener. 2003. The importance of treefall gaps as foraging sites for leaf-cutting ants depends on forest age. Journal of Tropical Ecology (2003) 19: 603-605.

• Penaloza, C. & G. R. Barreto. 2002. Aves Island: Results from a 19 year tagging study. Proceedings of the 20th Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC 477: 136.

• Peñaloza, C. & G. R. Barreto. 2001. Modelo Matricial para la población de tortuga verde, Chelonia mydas, de Isla de Aves, Venezuela. 4th National Ecology Congress. Mérida, Venezuela.

• Peñaloza, C. 2000. Demography and viability of the green turtle, Chelonia mydas, population at Aves Island. Undergraduate Thesis. Universidad Simón Bolívar, Sartenejas. 109 pp.

Hobbies:
Cycling, yoga, being Sophia's mother, salsa dancing... and I'm beginning to believe moving is one too.