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Francisco Dallmeier: 1953—: Biologist

Trained In Wildlife Biology




Francisco Gómez-Dallmeier was born February 15, 1953, in Caracas, Venezuela. At the age of 18, while still a student, he became curator of mammals at the LaSalle Museum of Natural History in Caracas. Two years later, in 1973, Dallmeier became the museum's director, a post he held until 1977.



Dallmeier's lifelong interest in tropical birds flourished as he began studying the science of ecology and issues of biological diversity. While serving as museum director, Dallmeier also worked as a research assistant at the Institute of Tropical Zoology of the Central University of Venezuela. His fieldwork with the institute resulted in the banding of more than 3,000 birds. As a member of the ecology team, he studied the flora and fauna of southern Venezuela, collaborating with Polish scientists Kazimierz Dobrolowski and Jan Pinowski on a number of ecological projects.

In 1977 Dallmeier earned his licentiate in biology from the Central University and left his museum position. Over the next four years, he worked as a biologist and directed the ecology program at the Venezuelan environmental engineering company INELMECA. He also worked on Venezuela's first environmental impact statement, for the Morón Power Plant.

Moving to the United States in 1981 to further his studies, Dallmeier held a Fundacion Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho scholarship between 1981 and 1983 and an Organization of American States Scholarship between 1984 and 1986. Colorado State University in Fort Collins awarded him a master's degree in 1984 and a doctorate in 1986 in wildlife ecology. Dallmeier's Ph.D. research focused on the waterfowl of South America. On August 24, 1985, he married Nancy Joy Parton. The couple have two children, Alina Joy and Julian Dieter.

At a Glance . . .


Born Francisco Gómez-Dallmeier on February 15, 1953, in Caracas, Venezuela; married Nancy Joy Parton, 1985; children: Alina Joy, Julian Dieter. Education: Central University of Venezuela, licentiate, biology, 1977; Colorado State University, MS, wildlife ecology, PhD, 1986.


Career: LaSalle Museum of Natural History, Caracas, Venezuela, curator of mammals, 1971-73, director, 1973-77; Institute of Tropical Zoology of the Central University of Venezuela, research assistant, 1975-77; INELMECA, biologist/ecology department coordinator, 1977-81; Smithsonian Institution/Man and the Biosphere Biological Diversity Program (Monitoring and Assessment of Biodiversity Program), program manager/assistant director, 1986-88, acting director, 1988-89, director, 1989–.


Memberships: American Ornithologists' Union; Audubon Society of Venezuela; Cooper Ornithological Society; Latin American Association for Transactional Analysis; National Association of Neurolinguistic Programming; Sociedad Latinoamericana de Primatologia; Society of Conservation Biology; Venezuelan Association for the Advancement of Science; Venezuelan Association for the Study of Mammals; Venezeulan Science Graduate Association; Wildfowl Trust.


Awards: Fundacion Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho Scholarship, 1981-83; Organization of American States Scholarship, 1984-86.


Additional topics

Brief BiographiesBiographies: Ciara Biography - Wrote Out Goals to Elizabeth David (1913–1992) BiographyFrancisco Dallmeier: 1953—: Biologist Biography - Trained In Wildlife Biology, Joined The Smithsonian Institution, Initiated New Approaches To Biodiversity Conservation, Headed The Camisea Project