Dan James Pantone facts for kids

Dan James Pantone is an American scientist who studies nature and works to protect it. He is an ecologist and a conservationist. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis. Dr. Pantone used to be a professor at Texas A&M University. He is a researcher who has written many articles about how to farm in a way that is good for the environment, called sustainable agriculture. He also uses special computer maps, called Geographical Information Systems (GIS), to help save endangered species. Dr. Pantone has worked on many different science topics, from controlling pests naturally to protecting rare animals and plants.

Helping Nature with Science

Controlling Pests Naturally

Dr. Pantone's main research at UC Davis was about using biological control. This is a way to control farm pests without using harmful chemicals. He found new ways to identify helpful natural enemies, like good insects or tiny worms, that can stop pests.

He also helped the science of biological control by being one of the first to use tiny worms called nematodes to control weeds. This was a new and important discovery.

Protecting Water from Pesticides

Besides using natural pest control, Dr. Pantone also looked into farming methods that use less pesticide. He studied "no-till" farming, where farmers don't plow the soil. This helps reduce how much pesticide washes into rivers and lakes when it rains.

He also helped create a special computer model. This model can predict how pesticides move in water runoff from farms. It helps scientists and farmers figure out the best ways to farm to keep pesticides out of our environment.

Discovering a New Plant Type

Dr. Pantone made an important discovery in Texas. He found a new type of common cocklebur plant. He called it the multiple-seeded cocklebur (MSC).

Normal cocklebur plants usually have only two seeds per fruit. But this new MSC plant can have up to 25 seeds! Even with more seeds, experiments showed that MSC can be controlled more easily than the normal cocklebur.

Saving Rare Plants

Dr. Pantone was part of a special team that worked to save one of North America's rarest plants. This plant is called Amsinckia grandiflora.

He did experiments to understand how this rare plant grows and competes with other common weeds. His work helped answer why some plants are very rare, while others grow everywhere.

Mapping Habitats for Endangered Plants

Another important project involved using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). This is a computer mapping tool. He used GIS to find the homes of endangered plants.

For example, he studied the Lane Mountain Milk Vetch (Astragalus jaegerianus). This rare plant lives only in the Mojave Desert in California. Dr. Pantone used GIS to map its habitat based on things like how high up it grows, the slope of the land, and the type of soil.

Helping People and Cultures

Besides his work with nature, Dr. Pantone also helps protect human cultures. He helped start a group that supports the rights of native people.

He has also made five documentary films about indigenous (native) people in South America. These films help share their stories and cultures with the world.

Today, Dr. Pantone is the editor of a website called Amazon-Indians.org. He is also the Vice President of an organization called the Movement in the Amazon for Tribal Subsistence and Economic Sustainability (MATSES). This group helps native people in the Amazon rainforest. They work to help these communities keep their culture and lands safe in a way that is good for them and the environment.