Amanda Long

As the Spatial Ecologist for Climate Science at the National Audubon Society, Amanda collaborates across Audubon's internal and external network to support landscape-scale conservation initiatives. Her research investigates how climate and land-use changes impact birds and ecosystems throughout the Americas. Amanda conducts spatial and statistical analysis to create cartographic and data-driven science products that inform conservation decision-making and management actions on-the-ground. She also provides support for Audubon's community science program, Climate Watch.

Prior to joining Audubon in July 2023, Amanda obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology from Central Michigan University, while she researched landscape fragmentation and metapopulation dynamics. She then obtained a Master’s degree in Biology and certification in Geographic Information Systems from the University of North Texas, where she specialized in landscape connectivity while researching corridor efficacy and gene flow across forest and rangeland patches. After graduating, she spent time in the Chilean Sub-Antarctic as a Research Fellow using field, genetic, and spatial data analysis to investigate the influence climate change has on the prevalence of avian malaria. Amanda has collaborated with researchers around the world to support local communities and landscape-scale conservation. She has conducted field research internationally in Chile, Italy, Kenya, and Nicaragua, and domestically in Hawaii, Kansas, and Texas. Her research has focused on species ranging from birds, bats, other small mammals, trees, big cats, and mosquitoes.

She enjoys integrating her background in ecology and conservation with her geospatial skills to communicate science and connect people with the environment. Visit her website here.