Graduate researcher
Abby Guthmann is a PhD candidate at the University of Minnesota’s Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior. She earned her bachelor's degree in biology from Lawrence University, gaining research experience with captive monkeys at the Minnesota Zoo and wild African elephants in Tanzania’s national parks. Following graduation, Abby acquired diverse research experience, including camera trapping, collaring, and radio telemetry across projects involving felids in Belize, mesocarnivores in Los Angeles, and urban black bears in North Carolina.
Her current research focuses on the impact of cattle on ecosystem health and human-wildlife conflict mitigation in the Maasai Mara conservancies in Kenya. By exploring the spatial, temporal, and dietary interactions between domestic livestock and wild herbivores, Abby's work aims to better understand community dynamics in this critical biodiversity hotspot. Her research, which involves collaboration with local Maasai communities, has implications for both conservation practices and sustainable land management.
Abby has actively collaborated with Maasai landowners, trained conservancy staff, and led initiatives to promote sustainable land management practices. Her research is not only rooted in scientific inquiry but also in fostering community engagement and long-term conservation solutions.
