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I am a professor in the Department of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution at the University of California, San Diego. I direct the Udawalawe Elephant Research Project and am the President and Founder of Trunks & Leaves Inc., focused on evidence-based conservation and education outreach in Asia. I am a member of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission.
My research interests span ecology, behavior, and social science, with an increasing focus on how people and wildlife can safely coexist. My family moved to the US from Sri Lanka. As a first-generation immigrant, I feel especially strongly about the power of education, the need to motivate change through inspiration, and that a sustainable society can only be achieved if the means to doing so are also just and equitable. I am available as a consultant for conservation research, policy, and media. I may also be available as an instructor for field courses and workshops focused on topics ranging from animal behavior and conservation to scientific communication and public speaking. |
Current Projects:
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Skills
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Management
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Communication
Creative / Other
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Technical
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Selected Publications
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de Silva, S., P. Leimgruber (2019). “Demographic tipping points as early indicators of vulnerability for slow-breeding megafaunal populations.” Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution, 7, 171. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00171
King, L., J. Soltis, M. Pardo, U.S. Weerathunga, T.V. Pushpakumara, N. Jayasena, J. Soltis, S. de Silva (2018). “Wild Sri Lankan Elephants retreat from the sound of disturbed Asian honey bees.” Current Biology, 28(2), R64-R65.
de Silva, S., V. Schmid, G. Wittemyer (2017). “Fission-fusion processes weaken dominance networks of female Asian elephants in a productive habitat.” Behavioral Ecology, 28(1), 243-252.
Greggor, A.L, O. Berger-Tal, D.T. Blumstein, L. Angeloni, C. Bessa-Gomes, B.F. Blackwell, C. Cassady St. Clair, K. Crooks, S. de Silva, E. Fernández-Juricic, S. Z. Goldenberg, S.L. Mesnick, M. Owen, C.J. Price, D. Saltz, C.J. Schell, A.V. Suarez, R.R. Swaisgood, C.S. Winchell, W.J. Sutherland (2016). “Research Priorities from Animal Behaviour for Maximising Conservation Progress.” Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 31(12), 953-964.
de Silva, S. (2016). “Need for longitudinal studies of Asian wildlife in the face of crises.” Global Ecology and Conservation, 6, 276-285. DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2016.03.010
Goldenberg, S., S. de Silva, H.B. Rasmussen, G. Wittemyer, I. Douglas-Hamilton (2014). “Controlling for behavioural state reveals social dynamics among male African elephants, Loxodonta africana.” Animal Behaviour, 95, 111-119.
de Silva, S., L. Webber, U.S. Weerathunga, T.V. Kumara, D.K. Weerakoon, G. Wittemyer (2013). “Demographic variables for wild Asian elephants using longitudinal observations.” PLoS One, 8(12): e82788. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0082788).
Stoeger A.S., S. de Silva (2013). “African and Asian elephant vocal communication: A cross-species comparison.” In: Biocommunication in Animals. Ed. G. Witzany. Springer, www.springer.com/life+sciences/ecology/book/978-94-007-7413-1
Stoeger, A.S., D. Mietchen, S. Oh, S. de Silva, C. Herbst, S. Kwon, W. T. Fitch (2012). “An Asian elephant imitates human speech.” Current Biology, 22(22), 2144-2148. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.09.022.
de Silva, S., & G. Wittemyer (2012). “A Comparison of Social Organization in Asian Elephants and African Savannah Elephants.” International Journal of Primatology, 33(5), 1125-1141. DOI: 10.1007/s10764-011-9564-1
de Silva, S., A.D.G. Ranjeewa, & D.K. Weerakoon (2011). “Demography of Asian elephants from identified individuals at Uda Walawe National Park, Sri Lanka.” Biological Conservation, 144, 1742-1752. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6785-11-17.
de Silva, S., A. Ranjeewa, & S. Kryazhimskiy (2011). “The dynamics of social networks among female Asian elephants.” BMC Ecology, 11, 17. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6785-11-17
de Silva, S. (2010). “Acoustic communication in Elephas maximus maximus, the Asian elephant.” Behaviour, 147(7) 825-852.
de Silva, S. (2010). “Socioecology, Acoustic Communication and Demography of Asian elephants in Sri Lanka.” Doctoral dissertation, University of Pennsylvania. Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations, Paper 213. http://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/213
King, L., J. Soltis, M. Pardo, U.S. Weerathunga, T.V. Pushpakumara, N. Jayasena, J. Soltis, S. de Silva (2018). “Wild Sri Lankan Elephants retreat from the sound of disturbed Asian honey bees.” Current Biology, 28(2), R64-R65.
de Silva, S., V. Schmid, G. Wittemyer (2017). “Fission-fusion processes weaken dominance networks of female Asian elephants in a productive habitat.” Behavioral Ecology, 28(1), 243-252.
Greggor, A.L, O. Berger-Tal, D.T. Blumstein, L. Angeloni, C. Bessa-Gomes, B.F. Blackwell, C. Cassady St. Clair, K. Crooks, S. de Silva, E. Fernández-Juricic, S. Z. Goldenberg, S.L. Mesnick, M. Owen, C.J. Price, D. Saltz, C.J. Schell, A.V. Suarez, R.R. Swaisgood, C.S. Winchell, W.J. Sutherland (2016). “Research Priorities from Animal Behaviour for Maximising Conservation Progress.” Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 31(12), 953-964.
de Silva, S. (2016). “Need for longitudinal studies of Asian wildlife in the face of crises.” Global Ecology and Conservation, 6, 276-285. DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2016.03.010
Goldenberg, S., S. de Silva, H.B. Rasmussen, G. Wittemyer, I. Douglas-Hamilton (2014). “Controlling for behavioural state reveals social dynamics among male African elephants, Loxodonta africana.” Animal Behaviour, 95, 111-119.
de Silva, S., L. Webber, U.S. Weerathunga, T.V. Kumara, D.K. Weerakoon, G. Wittemyer (2013). “Demographic variables for wild Asian elephants using longitudinal observations.” PLoS One, 8(12): e82788. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0082788).
Stoeger A.S., S. de Silva (2013). “African and Asian elephant vocal communication: A cross-species comparison.” In: Biocommunication in Animals. Ed. G. Witzany. Springer, www.springer.com/life+sciences/ecology/book/978-94-007-7413-1
Stoeger, A.S., D. Mietchen, S. Oh, S. de Silva, C. Herbst, S. Kwon, W. T. Fitch (2012). “An Asian elephant imitates human speech.” Current Biology, 22(22), 2144-2148. DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.09.022.
de Silva, S., & G. Wittemyer (2012). “A Comparison of Social Organization in Asian Elephants and African Savannah Elephants.” International Journal of Primatology, 33(5), 1125-1141. DOI: 10.1007/s10764-011-9564-1
de Silva, S., A.D.G. Ranjeewa, & D.K. Weerakoon (2011). “Demography of Asian elephants from identified individuals at Uda Walawe National Park, Sri Lanka.” Biological Conservation, 144, 1742-1752. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6785-11-17.
de Silva, S., A. Ranjeewa, & S. Kryazhimskiy (2011). “The dynamics of social networks among female Asian elephants.” BMC Ecology, 11, 17. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6785-11-17
de Silva, S. (2010). “Acoustic communication in Elephas maximus maximus, the Asian elephant.” Behaviour, 147(7) 825-852.
de Silva, S. (2010). “Socioecology, Acoustic Communication and Demography of Asian elephants in Sri Lanka.” Doctoral dissertation, University of Pennsylvania. Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations, Paper 213. http://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/213
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Not peer-reviewed “The Elephant In The Room.” Fair Observer (24 February 2012). “Climate in Context.” Fair Observer (16 April 2012). "Supporting the Scientific Diaspora." Science, vol. 343 (21 March 2014). |
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