A5019368984- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Geographies of human-animal interactions
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Plant and animal studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Animal Diversity and Health Studies
- Dengue and Mosquito Control Research
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Land Rights and Reforms
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Forest Management and Policy
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
Macalester College
2022-2024
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
2020-2024
University of Minnesota
2020-2024
Wildlife Institute of India
2016-2024
A thorough understanding of mechanisms prey consumption by carnivores and the constraints on predation help us in evaluating role an ecosystem. This is crucial developing appropriate management strategies for their conservation mitigating human-carnivore conflict. Current models optimal foraging suggest that mammalian would profit most from killing largest they can subdue with minimal risk injury to themselves. Wild carnivore diets are primarily estimated through analysis scats. Using...
Asiatic lions typify most challenges faced by large carnivores: single population, historical bottlenecks, habitat loss, poaching, and conflict with humans. Their recovery from 500 occupying 13,000 km2 of agro-pastoral Saurashtra landscape, Gujarat, India is an enigma. We review evaluate the multidisciplinary aspects lion conservation-strategy that covers ecology, conflict, community perceptions, economics, management, politics. The history modern in dates back to ~4-6,000 BP, but evidence...
Behavioral plasticity within species is adaptive which directs survival traits to take multiple pathways under varying conditions. Male–male cooperation an evolutionary strategy often exhibiting array of alternatives between and species. African male lions coalesce safeguard territories mate acquisition. Unique these coalitions lack strict hierarchies partners, who have similar resource securities possibly because many mating opportunities large female groups. Skewed feeding rights only been...
Abstract In species exhibiting infanticide by males, females lose out with high stakes and should adopt preemptive mechanisms, pitching the genders in an evolutionary arms race for maximizing fitness. African lions remain a quintessential model of this gender war, coalition males gaining temporary but exclusive breeding rights over female group after killing all cubs former males. However Asiatic lions, now found as single population Gir forests, India, adults live same-sex groups that...
The influence of kinship on animal cooperation is often unclear. Cooperating Asiatic lion coalitions are linearly hierarchical; male partners appropriate resources disproportionately. To investigate how affect coalitionary dynamics, we combined microsatellite based genetic inferences with long-term genealogical records to measure relatedness between coalition free-ranging lions in Gir, India. Large had higher likelihood having sibling partners, while pairs were primarily unrelated. Fitness...
Abstract Human–wildlife conflict (HWC) is a critical challenge to human development and well‐being threatens biodiversity conservation. Ideally, HWC mitigation should benefit both wildlife communities limit the costs associated with living alongside wildlife. However, place‐ context‐dependent realizations of are often overlooked in mitigation. Social systemic dimensions human–wildlife relationships receive limited consideration as concept strategies implemented globally. In recognizing our...
Survival is a key determinant of population growth and persistence; computation understanding this metric to successful management, especially for recovering populations large carnivores such as wolves. Using Bayesian frailty analytical approach, we evaluated information from 150 radio-tagged wolves over 16-year time period determine temporal trends age- sex-specific survival rates in Minnesota, United States. Based on our analyses, overall annual during the study was 0.67, with no clear...
Abstract Predation by mammalian carnivores can have cascading, regulatory effects across ecological communities. An understanding of predator diet therefore provide crucial information regarding their ecology and conservation, as well impacts on prey populations. Using scats collected between 2019 2023, coupled with estimates abundance from aerial surveys, we characterized lion prey-consumption preference in Tsavo, Kenya. A lion-specific biomass model applied to frequencies revealed that...
Mesocarnivores must balance the negative (competition) and positive (carrion provisioning) effects of dominant apex carnivores to coexist in shared landscapes. How mesocarnivores navigate such top-down have typically been examined through a risk-reward lens. However, risks accrued by might not be even across all apex-mesocarnivore pairings multi-carnivore systems, instead can mediated species-specific interactions. Using remote-camera surveys from 2021-2023, we estimated (wolf, cougar)...
Abstract Predation can have cascading, regulatory effects across ecological communities. Knowledge of the diet predators therefore provide important information regarding their ecology and conservation, as well impacts on prey populations. Using scats collected during 2019–2023 estimates abundance from aerial surveys, we characterized consumption preferences Vulnerable African lion Panthera leo population in Tsavo, Kenya. Biomass models applied to frequencies revealed that > 85% comprised...
Abstract Asiatic lions ( Panthera leo ) have increased in range and abundance densely populated India, a rare example of coexistence between humans large carnivores. We sought to determine the underlying mechanisms this infer lessons that could help conserve carnivores multiuse landscapes, globally. Using data collected from 2012 2017 conflict‐compensation records, we studied spatiotemporal trends human−lion conflict across lion's India. also surveyed 1434 people 277 villages gradient better...
Abstract Resource specific competition between predators has typically been studied from their interactions at meso-herbivore carcasses, because such carcasses are abundant. Mega-carcasses like those of elephants rare but unparalleled in the extent carrion biomass they offer and long durations can persist. These resource bonanzas thus provide unique opportunities to understand sympatric species within likely relaxed competitive scenarios. Using remote cameras that were operational 24-h a...
Recolonization of predators to their former ranges is becoming increasingly prevalent. Such recolonization places among prey once again; the latter having lived without predation (from such predators) for a considerable time. This renewed coexistence creates opportunities explore ecology at both fundamental and applied levels. We used paired experimental design investigate white-tailed deer risk allocation in Upper Lower Peninsulas (UP LP) Michigan, USA. Wolves are functionally absent LP,...
Understanding sexual segregation is crucial to comprehend sociality. A comparative analysis of long-term lion data from Serengeti and Ngorongoro in Tanzania, Gir India, reveals that male-female associations are contingent upon male female group size, prey-size availability, the number prides each coalition currently resides. Males maintain proximity with females, whereas females responsible for except at large kills. Lions feed on largest prey smallest Gir, spend most time males least Gir....
Abstract Biodiversity conservation and human well-being are tightly interlinked; yet mismatches in the scale at which both priorities planned implemented have exacerbated biodiversity loss, erosion of ecosystem services, declining quality life. India houses second largest population on planet, while <5% country’s land area is effectively protected for conservation. This warrants landscape-level planning through a judicious mix land-sharing land-sparing approaches, co-production services....