Antonio Mignucci

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Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, PhD (1964, San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a biological oceanographer specializing in the biology, management and conservation of marine mammals. He is the founder of the international conservation organization Red Caribeña de Varamientos (Caribbean Stranding Network) dedicated to the care, treatment, and rehabilitation of injured or stranded marine mammals, sea turtle and sea birds. As a scientist, Mignucci is an expert in endangered tropical marine mammals and a specialist in the West Indian manatee.

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[edit] Education

Antonio Mignucci was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1964[1]. Dr. Mignucci studied zoology at Colorado State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology in 1986[2]. Subsequently, he specialized in marine biology and conservation at the University of Rhode Island receiving a Master of Arts in Marine Affairs in 1989. In 1996 Mignucci received a PhD in Biological Oceanography from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez[3]. He is a Post-Doctoral Fellow from the Sirenia Project affiliated with the Florida Caribbean Science Center. His doctorate research centers in marine sciences with emphasis in aquatic animal health. During his doctoral studies, he founded the international conservation organization Red Caribeña de Varamientos (Caribbean Stranding Network). Academic positions include Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico (1996-1998), and Professor of Oceanography and Environmental Sciences at the Universidad Metropolitana (1998-2005).

[edit] Research

As a scientist, Dr. Mignucci researches the biogeography, stranding and mortality of marine mammals, and studies their ecology through boat and aerial surveys, and the use of satellite transmitters. He also researches marine populations with the use of genetic tools. He is internationally recognized for his work on whales, dolphins, manatees and seals throughout the Caribbean. He has also lectured extensively in schools, universities and community-based non-profit organizations both in Puerto Rico and abroad. Dr. Mignucci serves as consultant to different public and private organizations on the development of holding facilities and on husbandry techniques for marine species, particularly manatees. He has also been scientific advisor to aquaria and research laboratories throughout the West Indies, Central and South America on medical treatment and husbandry techniques for captive manatees. In doing so, he has traveled extensively in the US, Caribbean, South America, Europe and Japan. He actively serves as environmental consultant to government agencies and private corporations throughout the world, on marine wildlife studies and recovery efforts of endangered species.

[edit] Publications

Dr. Mignucci has published extensively authoring with colleagues over 40 peer-reviewed publications[4] in scientific journals such as Aquatic Mammals, Avian Pathology, Biological Conservation, Bulletin of Marine Science, Caribbean Journal of Science, Environmental Management, Environmental Pollution, Journal of Aquatic Animal Health, Journal of Aquatic Animal Health, Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, Journal of Fish Biology, Journal of Neotropical Mammalogy, Journal of Parasitology, Journal of the Helminthological Society of Washington, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, Mammalia, Marine Mammal Science, Molecular Ecology, NOAA Technical Memorandum, Report of the International Whaling Commission, Revista Academia Colombiana de Ciencias, Science, The Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals, Veterinary Parasitology and the IUCN The World Conservation Union's Red List of Threatened Species[5].

[edit] Community Education and Outreach

Through the Caribbean Stranding Network, Dr. Mignucci has applied his scientific and research experience on oceans and marine wildlife to outreach and community educational programs in Puerto Rico[6]. He is the author of didactic materials, both in video, multimedia and printed formats, on information and conservation awareness about our seas and endangered marine wildlife. In 1994, he co-authored with the late singer Tony Croatto the song and video "Moisés llego del Mar"[7] about manatees and their protection. The song became a symbol for wildlife conservation in Puerto Rico.

[edit] Honors and Awards

His expertise and commitment to marine conservation has granted him local, national and international recognition[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]. Since 1994, he is an executive member of the Sirenian Specialist Group of the IUCN—The World Conservation Union in Gland, Switzerland. His work was featured in the Earthpulse II television series of the National Geographic Channel, broadcast in 2002 and 2003 throughout the globe[16]. In 2004, he was awarded the Citizen of the Year Award by the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board, and the Environmental Quality Award by the US Environmental Protection Agency in New York City[17][18].

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gomez-Colon YM, Gomez-Colon IM, Ortiz-Padua ML. 2007. Un amigo de los animales del mar. En Español 4: Proyecto Mundo Para Todos, Ediciones SM, pp. 218-223.
  2. ^ Olsen R. 1986. Student trails elusive seal to learn if it exists. The San Juan Star, 20 January 1986, p. 2.
  3. ^ Olsen M. 1990. UPR-Mayaguez student saves the whales: Island network helping beached sea mammals. The San Juan Star, 8 January 1990, p. 4.
  4. ^ Puerto Rico Manatee Hospital & Research Center
  5. ^ 2007 IUCN Red List – Search
  6. ^ Santiago IE. 1992. A mission to save the souls of the sea: Antonio Mignucci has the oceans as his laboratory. The San Juan Star, On the Job, 23 November 1992, p. F3
  7. ^ Moisés
  8. ^ Santiago IE. 1992. A mission to save the souls of the sea: Antonio Mignucci has the oceans as his laboratory. The San Juan Star, On the Job, 23 November 1992, p. F3.
  9. ^ M.I. 1993. Antonio Mignucci: trabajando por las especies amenazadas. Caras como tú, Caras de Puerto Rico, p. 24.
  10. ^ Rivera, D. 1994. Habitante de un "mundo" en peligro de extinción. Estilo de vida, Revista Imagen, September 1994, pp. 174-177.
  11. ^ Lasanta, M. 1994. Antonio Mignucci: Un biólogo al rescate de los animales. Juventud (Oficina de Asuntos de la Juventud), May 1994, pp. 5-7.
  12. ^ Escribano R. 2002. Estudio de la vida bajo el mar. En Educación y Crecimiento Profesional, Primera Hora, 26 November 2002, pp. 8-9.
  13. ^ http://www.woso.com/vip/vip.asp?id_vi=1349
  14. ^ García-Matos MS. 2003. Amor eterno por la vida animal. Sueños—Suplementos, El Nuevo Día, 14 August 2003, p. 2.
  15. ^ Anonymous. 2004. Antonio Mignucci-Figura del Momento. El Nuevo Día, 24 April 2004, p. 2
  16. ^ National-Geographic-Documenta-Logros-Red-Caribeña-Varamientos-Umet
  17. ^ EPA Region 2 Administrator Honors Environmental Achievers in Puerto Rico | Newsroom | US EPA
  18. ^ Degado JA. 2004. Reconocimeinto al impacto positivo sobre el Ambiente. El Nuevo Día, 24 April 2004

[edit] External links

• http://www.mignucciambiental.com
• http://www.manatipr.org
• http://www.universia.pr/portada/actualidad/noticia_actualidad.jsp?noticia=13955
• http://omacha.org/noticias/transferencia-de-conocimientos-frente-al-trafico-ilegal-y-tenencia-de-manaties-en-el-peru
• http://www.primerahora.com/XStatic/primerahora/template/supnota.aspx?n=114031&ms=travesias
• http://www.universia.pr/portada/actualidad/noticia_actualidad.jsp?noticia=19610
• http://www.cienciapr.org/news_view.php?id=223
• http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle_identification_Content.asp?ContentID=160745
• http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/22103/summ
• http://www.universia.pr/portada/actualidad/noticia_actualidad.jsp?noticia=1297