Chouly Ou, PhD
Chouly Ou, PhD
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about
Faculty Profile
I am originally from Cambodia. I am a freshwater ecologist with expertise in community-based conservation, capacity development, and impact measurement. My Ph.D. research focused on the food web ecology of the Cambodia’s Mekong River and its tributaries, resulting in the discover of a new fish species, Schistura diminuta. Throughout my career, I have taught undergrade courses in conservation and ecology at institutions in Cambodia and the United States, including Royal University of Phnom Penh and Texas A&M. I have been actively involved in mentoring students and young conservation professionals in Cambodia. In addition to teaching and mentoring, I managed conservation projects and grants for non-profit organizations such as Birdlife International, and the World Wildlife Funds-US.
I joined the School for Field Studies-Cambodia program in 2014 as a faculty member during its inception. There I taught Conservation Science and led research on the ecology and conservation of the Tonle Sap Lake for a couple of years. Although, I left my official role as a faculty member, I have supported the Cambodian center by forging patronships with the Cambodian government and local communities, and serving as a founding board member for the center. I am excited to become a research fellow at SFS and continue to support the growth and enhance the impacts of the Cambodia program in the country and beyond.
Professional Activities
Cambodian Journal of Natural History (Editorial Board Member, 2018-present)
Virginia Tech (Associate Research Scientist, 2017-present)
Cambodian Journal of Natural History (Reviewer, 2015-present)
Society for Conservation Biology (Member, 2016-present)
Ecological Society of America (Member, 2013-present)
outputs
Publications
Montaña, C.G., C. Ou, F.W. Keppeler, & K.O. Winemiller. 2020. Functional and trophic diversity of fishes in the Mekong-3S river system: comparison of morphological and isotopic patterns. Environmental Biology of Fishes 103: 185-200.
Ou, C., C. G. Montaña., & K. O. Winemiller. 2017. Body size–trophic position relationships among fishes of the Lower Mekong Basin. Royal Society Open Science 4: 160645.
Ou, C. & K.O. Winemiller. 2016. Seasonal hydrology and shifts in production sources supporting fishes in the Lower Mekong River Basin. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science 73: 1-21.
Winemiller, K.O., P. B. McIntyre, L. Castello, E. Fluet-Chouinard, T. Giarrizzo, S. Nam, I. G. Baird, W. Darwall, N. K. Lujan, I. Harrison, M. L. J. Stiassny, R. A. M. Silvano, D. B. Fitzgerald, F. M. Pelicice, A. A. Agostinho, L. C. Gomes, J. S. Albert, E. Baran, M. Petrere Jr., C. Zarfl, M. Mulligan, J. P. Sullivan, C. C. Arantes, L. M. Sousa, A. A. Koning, D. J. Hoeinghaus, M. Sabaj, J. G. Lundberg, J. Armbruster, M. L. Thieme, P. Petry, J. Zuanon, G. Torrente Vilara, J. Snoeks, C. Ou, W. Rainboth, C. S. Pavanelli, A. Akama, A. van Soesbergen, and L. Sáenz. 2016. Balancing hydropower and biodiversity in the Amazon, Congo, and Mekong. Science 351 (6269): 128-129.
Cooperman, M. S., N. So, M. Arias, T. A. Cochrane, V. Elliott, T. Hand, L. Hannah, G. W. Holtgrieve, L. Kaufman, A. Koening, J. Koponen, V. Kum, K. S. McCann, P. B. McIntyre, B. Min, C. Ou, N. Rooney, K. Rose, J. L. Sabo & K. O. Winemiller. 2012. A watershed moment for the Mekong: newly announced community use and conservation areas for the Tonle Sap Lake may boost sustainability of the world’s largest inland fishery. Cambodian Journal of Natural History 2: 101-106.
Ou, C., C.G. Montana, K. O. Winemiller & K.W. Conway. 2011. Schistura diminuta, a new miniature loach from the Mekong River drainage of Cambodia (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 22 (3):193-200.
Grants and Awards
Professional Development Award
The School for Field Studies, 2015
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund
BirdLife International, 2012-2013
Future Conservationist Award
Conservation Leadership Program, 2011-2012
Presentations
“Floodplain river food web in the Lower Mekong Basin”. American Fisheries Society- Virginia Tech Chapter. Invited Speaker. Blacksburg, VA. March 2018.
“Body size and trophic position in tropical river food webs”. The Ecological Society of America, Baltimore, MD. August 2015.
“Fishes and food security in the Mekong River: a preview of life after the new dams”. Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Phnom Penh. April 2015.
“Seasonal hydrology drives shifts in production sources supporting fishes in the Lower Mekong.” The Ecological Society of America, Minneapolis, MN. August 2013.
“Trophic structure of fish assemblages in the Mekong River and its tributaries”. The Ecological Integration Symposium, College Station, TX. March 2012.
“Production sources and trophic positions of fish assemblages in the Mekong River and its tributaries”. The Ecological Integration Symposium, College Station, TX. March 2011.
“Using stable isotopes to reveal food web structure in the Mekong River and its tributaries”. The Texas Chapter of American Fisheries Society, San Marcos, TX. February 2011.
“Fish diversity in the Lower Mekong River Basin”. The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Providence, RI. July 2010.
“Prospects for community-based conservation in Cambodia”. The International Symposium on Society and Resource Management. Corpus Christi, TX. June 2010.
“Sustainability of the Tonle Sap community-based conservation”. Departmental seminar. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, TX. October 2008.
“Perception of local people on participation in biodiversity conservation in Cambodia”. USEPAM Regional Conference, Hanoi. March 2007.
“Factors influencing local participation in community-based conservation in Prek Toal”. National Conference Series, Phnom Penh. February 2007.