Dan James Pantone
Encyclopedia
Dan James Pantone is an American
ecologist and conservationist
with a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis. A former professor at Texas A&M University
, Dr. Pantone is a researcher who has published numerous refereed articles on agroecology
and sustainable agriculture
. In addition, he is a specialist in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) which he has used to help conserve endangered species
. Dr. Pantone has established his broad experience in numerous scientific disciplines by publishing diverse articles ranging from the biological control of pests to the conservation biology
of endangered species.
Pantone completed his doctoral research at UC Davis on the use of biological control agents which is a non-chemical means of controlling agricultural pests. Basically, he innovated an important new method of identifying effective biocontrol agents by developing new techniques of plant population biology and multivariate statistics
(i.e. path analysis
). Furthermore, he contributed to the science of the biological control of weeds by pioneering the use of nematode
s as biocontrol agents).
In addition to using biological control agents as a non-chemical means of pest control, Pantone researched methods of no-till cropping systems and crop cultural techniques to reduce pesticides in surface runoff
water. Moreover, he developed a pesticide transport submodel for the soil erosion model AGNPS (Agricultural NonPoint Source Pollution), which is one of the most important models used in soil conservation
. The AGNPS submodel simulates pesticide transport and allows the evaluation of various soil conservation techniques to help reduce pesticides in the environment.
A significant contribution to botany and weed science was his discovery of a new biotype of common cocklebur
(Xanthium strumarium) in Texas. This newly discovered plant variety is referred to as multiple-seeded cocklebur (MSC). MSC and has up to 25 seeds per fruit, usually producing as many as nine seedlings. Normal common cocklebur has only two seeds per fruit that usually produces only one seedling. Although MSC appears to have enhanced seed production, experiments show that MSC can be controlled with biological control agents and the herbicides more easily than normal common cocklebur.
Pantone served as a member of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service endangered species recovery team involving the biological conservation of one of the rarest plants in North America, Amsinckia grandiflora
. In addition, he completed plant population biology field experiments that measured the reproduction and competitive ability of A. grandiflora in comparison to closely related weedy species in the same genus. Essentially, he used quantitative field experiments to help answer the question why some plants are rare, while others are weedy.
Another important scientific contribution was his work using methods of GIS to identify the habitat of an endangered plant species based solely on characteristics of its physical environment. Lane Mountain Milk Vetch (Astralagus jaegerianus) is an endangered plant species endemic to the Mojave Desert in California. Pantone innovated GIS methods to identify the habitat of this rare and endangered species based on elevation, slope, aspect and soil type.
In addition to his ecological and environmental research, Pantone has been involved in the preservation of human cultures, being the cofounder of an indigenous rights organization. Furthermore, he has independently filmed and produced five different documentary films on indigenous people of South America.
Presently, Pantone is the editor of the Amazon-Indians.org website http://www.amazon-indians.org and the Vice President of the Movement in the Amazon for Tribal Subsistence and Economic Sustainability (MATSES)
http://www.matses.org, a non-governmental organization that is providing aid to indigenous people in the Amazon so that they can preserve their culture and lands in a sustainable and independent manner.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ecologist and conservationist
Conservationist
Conservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment...
with a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis. A former professor at Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, Dr. Pantone is a researcher who has published numerous refereed articles on agroecology
Agroecology
Agroecology is the application of ecological principles to the production of food, fuel, fiber, and pharmaceuticals. The term encompasses a broad range of approaches, and is considered "a science, a movement, [and] a practice."...
and sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment...
. In addition, he is a specialist in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) which he has used to help conserve endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
. Dr. Pantone has established his broad experience in numerous scientific disciplines by publishing diverse articles ranging from the biological control of pests to the conservation biology
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
of endangered species.
Pantone completed his doctoral research at UC Davis on the use of biological control agents which is a non-chemical means of controlling agricultural pests. Basically, he innovated an important new method of identifying effective biocontrol agents by developing new techniques of plant population biology and multivariate statistics
Multivariate statistics
Multivariate statistics is a form of statistics encompassing the simultaneous observation and analysis of more than one statistical variable. The application of multivariate statistics is multivariate analysis...
(i.e. path analysis
Path analysis
In statistics, path analysis is used to describe the directed dependencies among a set of variables. This includes models equivalent to any form of multiple regression analysis, factor analysis, canonical correlation analysis, discriminant analysis, as well as more general families of models in the...
). Furthermore, he contributed to the science of the biological control of weeds by pioneering the use of nematode
Nematode
The nematodes or roundworms are the most diverse phylum of pseudocoelomates, and one of the most diverse of all animals. Nematode species are very difficult to distinguish; over 28,000 have been described, of which over 16,000 are parasitic. It has been estimated that the total number of nematode...
s as biocontrol agents).
In addition to using biological control agents as a non-chemical means of pest control, Pantone researched methods of no-till cropping systems and crop cultural techniques to reduce pesticides in surface runoff
Surface runoff
Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source...
water. Moreover, he developed a pesticide transport submodel for the soil erosion model AGNPS (Agricultural NonPoint Source Pollution), which is one of the most important models used in soil conservation
Soil conservation
Soil conservation is a set of management strategies for prevention of soil being eroded from the Earth’s surface or becoming chemically altered by overuse, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination...
. The AGNPS submodel simulates pesticide transport and allows the evaluation of various soil conservation techniques to help reduce pesticides in the environment.
A significant contribution to botany and weed science was his discovery of a new biotype of common cocklebur
Cocklebur
Cockleburs are a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to the Americas and eastern Asia.-Growth:They are coarse, herbaceous annual plants growing to 19.69-47.24 in tall. The leaves are spirally arranged, with a deeply toothed margin. Some species, notably X...
(Xanthium strumarium) in Texas. This newly discovered plant variety is referred to as multiple-seeded cocklebur (MSC). MSC and has up to 25 seeds per fruit, usually producing as many as nine seedlings. Normal common cocklebur has only two seeds per fruit that usually produces only one seedling. Although MSC appears to have enhanced seed production, experiments show that MSC can be controlled with biological control agents and the herbicides more easily than normal common cocklebur.
Pantone served as a member of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service endangered species recovery team involving the biological conservation of one of the rarest plants in North America, Amsinckia grandiflora
Amsinckia grandiflora
Amsinckia grandiflora is a species of fiddleneck known by the common name large-flowered fiddleneck. This is a wildflower endemic to California and considered a Critically endangered species on the state and national level.-Distribution:...
. In addition, he completed plant population biology field experiments that measured the reproduction and competitive ability of A. grandiflora in comparison to closely related weedy species in the same genus. Essentially, he used quantitative field experiments to help answer the question why some plants are rare, while others are weedy.
Another important scientific contribution was his work using methods of GIS to identify the habitat of an endangered plant species based solely on characteristics of its physical environment. Lane Mountain Milk Vetch (Astralagus jaegerianus) is an endangered plant species endemic to the Mojave Desert in California. Pantone innovated GIS methods to identify the habitat of this rare and endangered species based on elevation, slope, aspect and soil type.
In addition to his ecological and environmental research, Pantone has been involved in the preservation of human cultures, being the cofounder of an indigenous rights organization. Furthermore, he has independently filmed and produced five different documentary films on indigenous people of South America.
Presently, Pantone is the editor of the Amazon-Indians.org website http://www.amazon-indians.org and the Vice President of the Movement in the Amazon for Tribal Subsistence and Economic Sustainability (MATSES)
Matsés
The Matsés or Mayoruna are an indigenous tribe of the Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon. The tribe's ancestral lands are currently threatened by illegal logging practices and poaching. These homelands are located between the Javari and Galvez rivers...
http://www.matses.org, a non-governmental organization that is providing aid to indigenous people in the Amazon so that they can preserve their culture and lands in a sustainable and independent manner.
Selected publications by Dan James Pantone available on the Internet
- Pantone, D. J. 2006. A forest of their own, the Matsés people on the border of Peru. Cultural Survival 30(4):32-39. http://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/csq/csq-article.cfm?id=1943
- Pantone, D. J., and R. A. Young. 1996. AGNPS (AGricultural NonPoint Source Pollution): A software program for assessing nonpoint source pesticide pollution. HortTechnology 6:344-350. http://web.archive.org/web/20091027120338/http://geocities.com/agro_ecologia/publications/agnps.doc
- Pantone, D. J., B. M. Pavlik, and R. B. Kelley. 1995. The reproductive attributes of an endangered plant as compared to a weedy congener. Biological Conservation 71:305-311. http://web.archive.org/web/20091027120354/http://geocities.com/agro_ecologia/pubs/biological-conservation.doc
- Pantone, D. J., J. B. Baker, and P. W. Jordan. 1992. Path analysis of red rice (Oryza sativa) competition with cultivated rice. Weed Science 40: 313-319. http://web.archive.org/web/20091027084212/http://www.geocities.com/agro_ecologia/pubs/WeedSci40_313-319.doc
- Pantone, D. J., and J. B. Baker. 1991. Weed-crop competition models and response-surface analysis of red rice competition in cultivated rice: A review. Crop Science 31:1105-1110. http://web.archive.org/web/20091027084239/http://www.geocities.com/agro_ecologia/pubs/CropSci31_1105-1110.doc
- Pantone, D. J., W. A. Williams, and A. R. Maggenti. 1989. An alternative approach for evaluating the efficacy of potential biocontrol agents for weeds. 1. Inverse linear models. Weed Science 37:771-776. http://web.archive.org/web/20091027084120/http://www.geocities.com/agro_ecologia/pubs/WeedSci37_771-776.doc
- Pantone, D. J., S. M. Brown, and C. Womersley. 1985. Biological control of fiddleneck. California Agriculture 39:4-5. http://web.archive.org/web/20091027084100/http://www.geocities.com/agro_ecologia/pubs/CaAg1985.doc