Rachel Taylor

Rachel Taylor joined the Great Lakes Center in 2022 and is the Community Science and Engagement Program Manager for Western New York Partnership for Invasive Species Management (WNY PRISM). Rachel works to engage community members and partners in efforts to monitor and manage invasive species by leading education and outreach programs for WNY PRISM. This involves implementing community science programs and coordinating volunteer efforts, communication with the public and partners, event planning and coordination, development of outreach, instructional materials, and online content, coordination of social media, and maintenance of the WNY PRISM website.

Prior to this, Rachel worked nearly nine years with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as an administrator and wildlife biologist at the Everglades Complex of Wildlife Management Areas. Her work focused on planning and implementing wildlife and habitat management programs, including prescribed burning, invasive species management, native plant restoration, and wildlife surveys, as well as coordinating with landowners, area cooperators, and internal stakeholders regarding public recreational opportunities, management activities, and infrastructure construction. Rachel also worked three years with the USDA/ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, where she assisted with biological control research, primarily for controlling the invasive plant, old world climbing fern.

Rachel’s pronouns are she/her.

Education

M. Sc., Environmental Sciences, University of Zurich, 2013. Thesis title: Habitat restoration effectiveness in restoring plant-seed disperser interactions using Seychelles’ inselbergs as model systems.

B.A. Social Science-Interdisciplinary, Major: Environmental Studies, University at Buffalo, 2005

B.S. Psychology, University at Buffalo, 2005

Published Papers

Buckman, K.M., L.E. D’Acunto, S. S Romañach, R.M. Taylor, and N.J. Dorn. 2024. Bobcat occupancy, tree islands, and invasive Burmese pythons in an Everglades conservation area. Journal of Wildlife Management, 88:e22529.