A5067085106- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Statistical Methods and Bayesian Inference
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Helminth infection and control
- Satellite Image Processing and Photogrammetry
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
Michigan State University
2022-2024
Mississippi State University
2024
Fond du Lac Reservation
2023-2024
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
2019-2023
State University of New York
2019-2023
York University
2019-2023
Global Wildlife Conservation
2020-2022
COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2020 reduced human mobility, providing an opportunity to disentangle its effects on animals from those of landscape modifications. Using GPS data, we compared movements and road avoidance 2300 terrestrial mammals (43 species) during the same period 2019. Individual responses were variable with no change average or behavior, likely due lockdown conditions. However, under strict 10-day 95th percentile displacements increased by 73%, suggesting permeability. Animals'...
Abstract Obtaining unbiased estimates of wildlife distribution and abundance is an important objective in research management. Occupancy N‐mixture models, which correct for imperfect detection, are commonly used this purpose. Fitting these models a Bayesian framework has advantages but doing so can be challenging time‐consuming many researchers. We developed R package, ubms , provides easy‐to‐use, formula‐based interface fitting occupancy, other using Stan. The package also tools visualizing...
Abstract With the accelerating pace of global change, it is imperative that we obtain rapid inventories status and distribution wildlife for ecological inferences conservation planning. To address this challenge, launched SNAPSHOT USA project, a collaborative survey terrestrial populations using camera traps across United States. For our first annual survey, compiled data all 50 states during 14‐week period (17 August–24 November 2019). We sampled at 1,509 trap sites from 110 arrays covering...
Abstract A relationship between winter weather and survival of northern ungulates has long been established, yet the possible roles biological (e.g., nutritional status) environmental weather) conditions make it important to determine which potential limiting factors are most influential. Our objective was examine effects individual (body mass age) extrinsic (winter severity snowmelt conditions) on magnitude timing mortality for adult (>2.5 years old) female white‐tailed deer ( Odocoileus...
Coexistence between humans and large carnivores may depend on carnivore adaptations to use developed landscapes while reducing human encounters. Roads are a widespread form of development that perceive as efficient travel routes or centers activity associated risk. We compared the spatio-temporal responses road with high-resolution tracking guild including American black bears (Ursus americanus), bobcats (Lynx rufus), coyotes (Canis latrans), wolves (C. lupus) in Michigan, USA. All selected...
ABSTRACT Predation is the dominant source of mortality for white‐tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) <6 months old throughout North America. Yet, few fawn survival studies have occurred in areas with 4 predator species or considered concurrent densities and species. We monitored cause‐specific from birth to 6 100 neonatal fawns during 2013–2015 Upper Peninsula Michigan, USA, while simultaneously estimating population deer, American black bear Ursus americanus ), coyote Canis latrans...
Abstract Interference competition occurs when two species have similar resource requirements and one is dominant can suppress or exclude the subordinate species. Wolves ( Canis lupus ) coyotes C. latrans are sympatric across much of their range in North America where white‐tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus be an important prey We assessed extent niche overlap between wolves using activity, diet, space use as evidence for interference during three periods related to availability fawns Upper...
Abstract Degree of reproductive synchronization in prey is hypothesized as a predator defense strategy reducing risk via satiation or avoidance. Species with precocial young, especially those exposed to specialist predators, should be highly synchronous satiate predators (predator hypothesis), while nonprecocial (i.e. altricial) generalist become relatively asynchronous avoid detection avoidance hypothesis). The white‐tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus North America an example ungulate that...
Understanding the types and magnitude of human-caused mortality is essential for maintaining viable large carnivore populations. We used a database cause-specific to examine how hunting regulations landscape configurations influenced North American gray wolves (Canis lupus). Our dataset included 21 studies that monitored fates 3564 reported 1442 mortalities. Human-caused accounted 61% overall, with 23% due illegal harvest, 16% legal 12% result management removal. The overall proportion...
Where two sympatric species compete for the same resource and one is dominant, there potential subordinate to be affected through interference competition or energetic costs of avoiding predation. Fishers (Pekania pennanti) American martens (Martes americana) often have high niche overlap, but fishers are considered dominant potentially limiting martens. We observed presence vigilance at winter carcass sites using remote cameras in Michigan, USA, test hypothesis that from creates a landscape...
Although most prey have multiple predator species, few studies quantified how respond to the temporal niches of predators which pose different levels danger. For example, intraspecific variation in diel activity allows white-tailed deer (
Discrete landscape features can concentrate animals in time and space, leading to non-random interspecific encounters. These encounters have implications for predator-prey interactions, habitat selection, intraspecific competition, transmission of parasites other pathogens. The lifecycle the parasitic nematode Parelaphostrongylus tenuis requires an intermediate host a terrestrial gastropod. Natural hosts P. are white-tailed deer, aberrant conservation concern is moose, which susceptible high...
Trophic cascades reportedly structure ecological communities through indirect species interactions. Though the predator-herbivore-autotroph relationship has received much attention, mechanistic evidence supporting intraguild trophic is rare. We established 348 remote camera sites (1 August-5 September 2019) across seven study areas of varying wolf (Canis lupus) density including one area where wolves were absent in northern Michigan, USA. Using multi-species occupancy modeling at...
ABSTRACT Combining carnivore movements with site visits to investigate predation events can inform investigators of diets, kill rates, and risk factors for prey. However, detecting remains prey be challenging when is small or vegetation conceals Conservation detection dogs (CDDs) have assisted wildlife surveys locate objects conservation interest, often improving over human counterparts. We hypothesized that CDDs would improve efficacy at locations compared searchers. the CDD teams (1 dog, 1...
The parallel niche release hypothesis (PNR) indicates that reduced competition with dominant competitors results in greater density and breadth of subordinate which may support an adaptive advantage.We assessed for the PNR by evaluating relationships between variation intra- interspecific (an index competition) wolves (Canis lupus) coyotes (C. latrans), bobcats (Lynx rufus).We estimated population (wolf track surveys, coyote howl bobcat hair snare surveys) variability space use (50% core...
<title>Abstract</title> Wildlife tagging provides critical insights into animal movement ecology, physiology, and behavior amid global ecosystem changes. However, the stress induced by capture, handling, can impact post-release locomotion activity and, consequently, interpretation of study results. We analyzed post-tagging effects on 1585 individuals 42 terrestrial mammal species using collar-collected GPS accelerometer data. Species-specific displacements overall dynamic body acceleration,...
We investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in free-ranging wildlife populations Northeastern Minnesota on Grand Portage Indian Reservation and Isle Royale National Park.
Abstract Protected areas that restrict human activities can enhance wildlife habitat quality. Efficacy of protected be improved with increased protection from illegal and presence buffer surround a core area. Habitat value also affected by seasonal variation in anthropogenic pressures. We examined space use African lions ( Panthera leo ) within area, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, surrounding varying strengths. used lion locations logistic regression models during wet dry seasons to...
Abstract We investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in free-ranging wildlife populations Northeastern Minnesota on Grand Portage Indian Reservation and Isle Royale National Park. 120 nasal samples were collected from white-tailed deer, moose, gray wolves, black bears monitored for conservation efforts during 2022-2023. Samples tested viral RNA by RT-qPCR using CDC N1/N2 primer set. Our data indicate that no positive RNA. Continued surveillance is therefore crucial to better understand...
Neonatal mortality is a primary determinant of ungulate population dynamics and occurs from multiple proximal causes, but few studies have compared relationships between risk factors cause-specific mortality. We evaluated how landscape physiological characteristics influenced white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawn predators (American black bears [Ursus americanus], bobcats [Lynx rufus], coyotes [Canis latrans], wolves lupus]), anthropogenic non-predation natural causes (i.e.,...