Oluwatobi Olaniyi

Doctoral Student and Graduate Research Assistant
James C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center, Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science
Forestry and Environmental Conservation Department

Office: G12H
Phone:

Email: oolaniy@clemson.edu

Educational Background

M.Tech. Wildlife Management
Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria 2012

B.Agric.Tech Fisheries and Wildlife
Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria 2008

Profile

Olaniyi Oluwatobi is a motivated researcher pursuing his doctorate at Clemson University in the United States. He is developing a Decision Support Tool (DST) for sustaining Antebellum Rice Fields on South Carolina's Atlantic Coast. His study combines modern geospatial technology with machine learning, deep learning, and optimization techniques. This unique strategy attempts to establish a balance between farming operations and the conservation of vulnerable coastal habitats.

Olaniyi has an extensive educational background, having received a Master's degree in Wildlife Management from the Federal University of Technology in Akure, Nigeria. He expanded his knowledge with postgraduate certifications in remote sensing and GIS from the University of Twente (Netherlands) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. His academic journey has been enriched by diverse international experiences and prestigious scholarships, including the Third World Academy of Science/Universiti Putra Malaysia Research Fellowship and scholarships from WWF Prince Bernhard and A.G. Leventis Foundation.

His professional trajectory includes significant contributions to wildlife conservation and ecological resilience across Africa, Asia, and Europe. As a Researcher and Senior Lecturer at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, he has led various projects focusing on wetland assessments, terrestrial bird populations, and the application of machine learning in climate impact studies. His tenure as a research fellow in Peninsular Malaysia further honed his skills in using geospatial technologies for avian conservation and wetland management.

Beyond academia, Olaniyi is deeply committed to mentoring and knowledge exchange. He regularly participates in international organizations such as the American Society of Primatologists, the Society for Conservation Biology, and the Environment Science without Borders at the University of California, Los Angeles, displaying his commitment to furthering the profession and promoting variety in scientific study.

Olaniyi's current PhD study at Clemson University marks a turning point in his career, perfectly matching with his love for waterfowl conservation and wetland management. His project aims not only to develop a robust DST for Antebellum Rice Fields but also to integrate socio-environmental systems modeling to address complex ecological challenges. This work promises to contribute significantly to historical ecology, wetland management, and waterfowl conservation, bridging past agricultural practices with modern conservation efforts.

Looking ahead, Olaniyi envisions continuing his advocacy for sustainable environmental practices and expanding his leadership role in global conservation initiatives. Clemson University's distinguished academic environment and collaborative research opportunities provide an ideal platform for realizing these ambitions.

Research Interests

My research interests center on advancing wetland conservation and environmental management through ecological modeling and geospatial technologies. I specialize in integrating historical agricultural practices with modern conservation efforts, particularly in developing Decision Support Tools (DSTs) for managing Antebellum Rice Fields along South Carolina's Atlantic Coast. Using analytical hierarchical processes, machine learning, and optimization techniques, I aim to evaluate the ecological and societal impacts of maintaining or abandoning rice field impoundments. My goal is to inform sustainable management strategies that enhance wildlife and ecological resilience in coastal regions.

Extension and Outreach

Over the past years, I've been fortunate to engage in impactful extension and outreach efforts that align closely with my passion for conservation and ecological management. I served as an Early Career Fellow and Nigerian Ambassador for Environment Science without Borders at UCLA's Center for Diverse Leadership in Science. This role allowed me to lead local chapter meetings, recruit new members, and conduct workshops on grant writing and manuscript preparation. I also participated in global membership meetings, ensuring our local chapter's activities were well-documented through detailed reports.

In 2023, I had the privilege of mentoring aspiring conservation biologists through the Society for Conservation Biology Africa Section E-Mentoring Programme, based in Washington DC. It was immensely rewarding to guide and support these mentees as they developed their skills and forged their paths in conservation biology.

One of the highlights of my career was in 2020 when I served as a Resource Person for Research Capacity Building and Training at Old Oyo National Park. Here, I trained 40 park rangers in advanced techniques such as vegetation assessment, GPS usage, and GIS applications for ecological assessments. This experience was particularly fulfilling as it directly contributed to enhancing the park's conservation strategies and sustainable management practices.

Publications

Akala V.T., Ejidike B.N., Olaniyi O.E. (2023). Habitat Suitability Modeling of African Forest Elephant (Loxodonta Cyclotis) in Omo Forest Reserve, Ogun State, Nigeria. Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, 15(2), 158-168.

Olaniyi, O.E., Okerinu, P., Oduniyi, O.S., Hlengwa, D.C. and Akinsorotan, O.A. (2023). Understanding the mountainscape dynamics and its drivers using geospatial technology and indigenous knowledge in Ado-Awaye Mountains and Suspended Lake, Nigeria. Eco.mont. 15(1): 22-35. https://doi.org/10.1553/eco.mont-15-1s22.

Olaniyi, O.E., Hlengwa, D.C. and Anderson, J.T. (2022). Assessing the driving forces of Guinea savanna transition using geospatial technology and machine learning in Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria. Geocarto International. https://doi.org/10.1080/10106049.2022.2127922.

Olaniyi, O.E., Martins C.O. and Zakaria, M. (2022). Assessing the suitability of habitats for Porphyrio porphyrio indicus and Amaurornis phoenicurus in the urban wetlands of Peninsular Malaysia. Tropical Life Sciences Research. 33(2): 33-56. https://doi.org/10.21315/tlsr2022.33.2.3

Olaniyi, O.E., Zakaria, M., Akinsorotan, O.A. and Martins C.O. (2022). Assessing the influence of touristification’s infrastructural element on the phytosociological structure of a protected tropical ecosystem in Benin Republic. Journal of Ecotourism. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2022.2066110.

Olaniyi, O.E. and Omowale, H. (2022). Evaluating the dynamics and eco- climatic predictors of forest conversion and restoration in Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria using geospatial and machine learning techniques. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment. 8: 227-244. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808- 021-01100-z.

Ayoola, A.O., Nneji, L.M., Odewumi, O.S., Olaniyi, O.E., Emmanuel, S.S. and Ogunjemite, B.G. (2022). Preliminary survey of non-human Primates in four forest areas of Yewa River Basin at the Nigeria-Benin Republic transboundary. Biologia. 77: 181-186. http://doi:10.1007/s11756-021-00891-x

Akinsorotan O.A., Olaniyi, O.E., Adeyemi, A.A. and Olasunkanmi, A.H. (2021). Corona Virus Pandemic: Implication on Biodiversity Conservation. Special Edition on “Assessment of the Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Water, Environment and Related Ecological and Human Systems”. Frontiers in Water. 3:635529. http://doi:10.3389/frwa.2021.635529.

Olaniyi, O.E., Martins, C.O. and Zakaria, M. (2021). Population estimates and site occupancy modelling of Purple Swamphen and White-breasted Waterhen in the natural and artificial wetlands of Peninsular Malaysia. Punjab University Journal of Zoology. 36(1): 1-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pujz/2021.36.1.1.8

Martins C.O., Olaniyi, O.E. and Zakaria, M. (2021). Environmental factors and spatial heterogeneity affect occupancy estimates of waterbirds in Peninsular Malaysia. Ornithological Science. 20: 39-55.

Zakaria, M., Martins, C.O., Rajpar, M.N. and Olaniyi, O.E. (2020). Comparison of interrelationship with site occupancy, population structure and foraging ecology of lesser whistling Duck (Dendrocygna javanica) among 10 wetland habitats of Paya Indah Wetlands, Peninsular Malaysia. Edelweiss Applied Sciences and Technology. 4: 79-84. https://doi.org/10.33805/2576-8484.186.