A5000212531- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Marine animal studies overview
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Study of Mite Species
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Dermatological diseases and infestations
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Toxoplasma gondii Research Studies
University of California, Davis
2015-2024
Institute for Wildlife Studies
2012-2022
Arcadia
2018
University Pathologists
2013
United States Bureau of Reclamation
1999
Abstract Aim There is enormous interest in applying connectivity modelling to resistance surfaces for identifying corridors conservation action. However, the multiple analytical approaches used estimate and predict across have not been rigorously compared, it unclear what methods provide best inferences about population connectivity. Using a large empirical data set on puma ( Puma concolor ), we are first compare several of most common estimating validate them with dispersal data. Location...
Anthropogenic landscape change can lead to increased opportunities for pathogen transmission between domestic and non-domestic animals. Pumas, bobcats, cats are sympatric in many areas of North America share the same pathogens, some which zoonotic. We analyzed bobcat, puma, feral cat samples collected from targeted geographic areas. examined exposure three pathogens that taxonomically diverse (bacterial, protozoal, viral), incorporate multiple strategies (vector-borne, environmental...
The importance of examining multiple hierarchical levels when modeling resource use for wildlife has been acknowledged decades. Multi-level selection functions have recently promoted as a method to synthesize across nested organizational into single predictive surface. Analyzing scales within each level further strengthens multi-level functions. We extend this multi-level, multi-scale framework resistance by combining surfaces from two data types, genetic and movement. Resistance estimation...
Wide-ranging large carnivores pose myriad challenges for conservation, especially in highly fragmented landscapes. Over a 13-year period, we combined monitoring of radio collared pumas (Puma concolor) with complementary multi-generational genetic analyses to inform puma conservation southern California, USA. Our goals were generate survivorship estimates, determine causes mortality, identify barriers movement, and the demographic persistence among >20,000,000 people extensive urban,...
Abstract Extinction risk is elevated in small, isolated populations due to demographic and genetic interactions. Therefore, it critical model these processes realistically population viability analyses ( PVA ) inform local management contribute a greater understanding of mechanisms within the extinction vortex. We conducted 's for two small mountain lion by urbanization southern California predict growth, probability, loss diversity with empirical data. Specifically, we (1) provide first...
Mitigating human-caused mortality for large carnivores is a pressing global challenge wildlife conservation. However, almost exclusively studied at local (within-population) scales creating mismatch between our understanding of risk and the spatial extent most relevant to conservation management wide-ranging species. Here, we quantified 590 radio-collared mountain lions statewide across their distribution in California identify drivers investigate whether additive or compensatory....
Migration is essential for maintaining genetic diversity among populations, and pumas ( Puma concolor ) provide an excellent model studying the impacts of migrants on populations isolated by increasing human development. In densely populated southern California, USA, puma east west side interstate highway 15 (I-15) have become fragmented into a small inbred population (Santa Ana Mountains) relatively larger, more diverse (Eastern Peninsular Range). From 146 sampled pumas, analyses indicate...
Pumas (Puma concolor; also known as mountain lions and cougars) in southern California live among a burgeoning human population of roughly 20 million people. Yet little is the consequences attendant habitat loss fragmentation, human-caused puma mortality to viability genetic diversity. We examined status pumas coastal mountains within Peninsular Ranges south Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, Orange counties. The Santa Ana Mountains are bounded by urbanization west, north, east, separated...
Abstract Understanding how landscape, host, and pathogen traits contribute to disease exposure requires systematic evaluations of pathogens within among host species geographic regions. The relative importance these attributes is critical for management wildlife mitigating domestic animal human disease, particularly given rapid ecological changes, such as urbanization. We screened >1000 samples from sympatric populations puma ( P uma concolor ), bobcat L ynx rufus cat F elis catus )...
The impact of human land uses on ecological systems typically differ relative to how extensively natural conditions are modified. Exurban development is intermediate‐intensity residential that often occurs in landscapes. Most species‐habitat models do not evaluate the effects such intermediate levels and even fewer predict future patterns might affect amount configuration habitat. We addressed these deficiencies by interfacing a habitat model with spatially‐explicit housing‐density study...
ABSTRACT Gammaherpesviruses (GHVs) are a diverse and rapidly expanding group of viruses associated with variety disease conditions in humans animals. To identify felid GHVs, we screened domestic cat ( Felis catus ), bobcat Lynx rufus puma Puma concolor ) blood cell DNA samples from California, Colorado, Florida using degenerate pan-GHV PCR. Additional long-distance PCRs were used to sequence contiguous 3.4-kb region each putative virus species, including partial glycoprotein B polymerase...
ABSTRACT Owing to a complex history of host-parasite coevolution, lentiviruses exhibit high degree species specificity. Given the well-documented viral archeology human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) emergence following exposures simian (SIV), an understanding processes that promote successful cross-species lentiviral transmissions is highly relevant. We previously reported natural transmission subtype feline virus, puma lentivirus A (PLVA), between bobcats ( Lynx rufus ) and mountain lions...
Biodiversity conservation in an era of global change and scarce funding benefits from approaches that simultaneously solve multiple problems. Here, we discuss management the island scrub-jay (Aphelocoma insularis), only island-endemic passerine species continental United States, which is currently restricted to 250-square-kilometer Santa Cruz Island, California. Although not listed as threatened by state or federal agencies, its viability nonetheless on fronts. We actions could reduce...
In this study, we examined the prevalence, pathology, and epidemiology of tumors in free-ranging island foxes occurring on three islands California Channel Islands, USA. We found a remarkably high prevalence ceruminous gland endangered (Urocyon littoralis catalinae) Santa Catalina Island (SCA)—48.9% dead from 2001–2008 had their ears, were 52.2% randomly-selected mature (≥ 4 years) captured 2007–2008, representing one highest prevalences ever documented wildlife population. contrast, no...
ABSTRACT Mountain lions ( Puma concolor ) throughout North and South America are infected with puma lentivirus clade B (PLVB). A second, highly divergent lentiviral clade, PLVA, infects mountain in southern California Florida. Bobcats Lynx rufus these two geographic regions also to date, this is the only strain of identified bobcats. We sequenced full-length PLV genomes order characterize molecular evolution bobcats lions. Low sequence homology (88% average pairwise identity) frequent...
Abstract Context Resource selection functions are powerful tools for predicting habitat of animals. Recently, machine-learning methods such as random forest have gained popularity due to their flexibility and strong predictive performance. Objectives We tested two continental-scale, second-order a wide-ranging large carnivore, the mountain lion ( Puma concolor ), support continent-wide conservation management, including estimating abundance, predict suitability recolonizing or reintroduced...
Abstract Outbreaks of infectious disease represent serious threats to the viability many vertebrate populations, but few studies have included quantitative evaluations alternative approaches management disease. The most prevalent approach is monitoring for and rapid response an epizootic. An vaccination a subset free‐living population (i.e., “vaccinated core”) such that some individuals are partially or fully immune in event We developed simulation model describing epizootic dynamics, which...
ABSTRACT Wildlife agencies are generally tasked with managing and conserving species at state local levels simultaneously. Thus, it is necessary for wildlife to understand basic ecological processes of a given multiple scales aid decision making commensurately varied spatial behavioral scales. Mountain lions ( Puma concolor ) occur throughout California, USA, the center variety management conservation issues. For example, they genetically demographically risk in 1 region yet apparently...