About Keishla Almodovar

1. What You Don’t Know About

2. “The only thing new in the world is
the history you do not know”
Harry S. Truman

3. I am from a small community on the Southern
coast of Puerto Rico, where I grew up
surrounded by unique environments, plants,
animals, and more…
Guanica, Puerto Rico

4. The Guanica Dry Forest, an UNESCO
Biosphere Reserve, was my backyard
(literally!)

5. While living in a Biosphere Reserve, I
received a B.S. in Environmental Technology
w/ a minor in Biology
I graduated Magna Cum Laude
with a 3.50 GPA
Biology Building aka My 2nd
Home

6. Since graduation I have been involved with
several groups in conservation biology and
environmental efforts
Effects of Climate Change on Plants
Dr. Betsy von Holle
Asst. Professor & National Science Foundation Program
Director
&
Indian River Lagoon Plant
Restoration
Dr. Linda Walters
Biology Professor
Endangered Puerto Rican Crested
Toad Conservation
Identifying and Analyzing Central
Florida Invasive Plants
Debi Stone
Restoration Steward
Central Florida Bird Monitoring
Lake Watch Water Quality
Aquatic Plant Restoration
Eleanor Foerste
Natural Resources Extension Faculty

7. What EXACTLY did I do at the
Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico??

8. 1) Rescue the Puerto Rican Crested Toad
A Critically Endangered Species

9. Capture and Relocate the Cane Toad
(Bufo marinus)
 We caught the cane toads at night,
recorded their location with GPS
and also their biostatistics, such as
weight, length, sex, etc.
 Then we relocated them far away
from where we planned to release
Crested Toad tadpoles

10. A New, Predator-Free Pond for the
Crested Toad
 We made a man-made pond to release Crested Toad tadpoles
 We measured the water quality, including turbidity, temperature, oxygen, pH,
& salinity
 Also we measured the ambient temperature and weather using field
instrumentation
 Then we released 25, 434 (give or take one or two) tadpoles into the new
pond

11. 2) Map of Life
 The Map of Life is a huge project to determine the most ecologically valuable
areas of the islands of Puerto Rico. It has been on-going since 2010.
 I supervised and led several small groups performing surveys of plants, trees,
reptiles, birds, and insects.
 The data was analyzed and compiled into a massive database of all the known
plants, animals, and insects on the island.

12. What am I doing NOW at the University of
Florida-Institue of Food and Agriculture
Sciences?

13. LAKEWATCH
 Florida LAKEWATCH is a citizen volunteer lake monitoring program that
facilitates "hands-on" citizen participation in the management of Florida
lakes, rivers and coastal sites through monthly monitoring activities.
 I help collect water samples from Florida rivers, lakes, and ponds via kayak to
be used to test water chemistry, bacterial levels, clarity, and more.
 Along with collecting water samples, we also monitor invasive aquatic plants
and algal levels.

14. Bird Monitoring
 Many bird species are known to associate with Florida's lakes. As Florida's
wetlands continue to be altered or destroyed, the need to understand better
the value of these take systems to aquatic bird communities is of increasing
importance.
 As part of the aquatic bird survey project, I conduct surveys using transects to
identify and record bird species found at different Central Florida rivers,
lakes, and ponds.
 I have also translated a guide to surveying birds into Spanish for the University
of Florida.

15. Where I want to go…
 I want to work where I can have an
impact on the environment. It doesn’t
matter whether it’s in my community or
on a global scale!
 Where I’m not stuck inside all day. I
want to be able to work outside and get
my hands dirty, at least part of the
time.

16. Summary
 Experience
Environmental Restoration Conservation Biology
 Languages Used on the Job
English Spanish
 Certifications
 Wetland Conservation (Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico)
2
years
 Projects I’ve Worked on
48%
23%
17%
12%
Plant Restoration Wildlife Conservation
Flora & Fauna Surveys Water Quality
4
years

17. If you’re interested in working together
or just want to talk further:
 Email: Keishla.Almodovar@gmail.com
 Phone: (407) 489-7583
 Website: www.kalmodovar.com