
Lee Kats
Biography
Dr. Lee Kats' current research is focused on the ecology and conservation biology of stream animals. This includes examining possible causes of amphibian decline. He and his students focus their studies on the effects of ultraviolet radiation, wildfire, and the introduction of exotic species. He has a significant background in the areas of animal behavior, conservation, animal ecology, tropical biology, and stream ecology. Dr. Kats conducts most of his research in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California; however, he also leads classes and conducts research in Costa Rica and Argentina.
Dr. Kats has taught at Pepperdine for over 30 years. He currently serves as the Vice Provost of the University, as well as a professor of biology. Dr. Kats has published numerous research articles on amphibian ecology and conservation ecology, served on the Board of Editors for the scientific journal Conservation Biology since 1996, and the editorial board of Hydrobiologia, the European scientific journal on freshwater biology, since 2000. To learn more about Dr. Kats' current research with Pepperdine students, visit the Behavioral Ecology Research Laboratory website.
Education
- BA, Biology, Calvin College, 1984
- PhD, Biology, University of Kentucky, 1989
Areas of Expertise
- Amphibian ecology
- Conservation biology
- Stream ecology
- Tropical forest and stream ecology
Topics
- Amphibian ecology
- Conservation biology
- Stream ecology
- Tropical forest ecology
Courses
- Tropical Forest Ecology
- BIOL 109: Introduction to Animal Behavior
- BIOL 311: Introduction to Ecology
- BIOL 340: Natural History of Vertebrates
- BIOL 360: Environmental Politics and Policy
- MATH 317: Laboratory for Statistics and Experimental Design