A5074855279- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Reproductive Physiology in Livestock
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research
- Veterinary Equine Medical Research
- Marine animal studies overview
- Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Gut microbiota and health
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
Brigham Young University
2015-2024
Minnesota State University, Mankato
2002-2010
Kansas State University
2000-2010
Biotic resistance and disturbance are fundamental processes influencing plant invasion outcomes; however, the role of consumers in regulating establishment spread invaders how modifies biotic by is unclear. We document that fire combination with experimental exclusion rodent shifted a native desert shrubland to low-diversity, invasive annual grassland dominated Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass). In contrast, burned plots rodents present suppressed cheatgrass developed into more diverse forb...
Artificial nightlight is increasingly recognized as an important environmental disturbance that influences the habitats and fitness of numerous species. However, its effects on wide‐ranging vertebrates their interactions remain unclear. Light pollution has potential to amplify land‐use change, such, answering question how this sensory stimulant affects behavior habitat use species valued for ecological roles economic impacts critical conservation planning. Here, we combined satellite‐derived...
Introduced species can impact native communities by altering competition dynamics. Large exotic species, such as the horse (Equus caballus), may have a competitive advantage over smaller and could exclude them from access to limited resources. Our objective was determine influence of on use water in semi-arid environment where availability is limited. From July 2010 August 2011, we used remote cameras monitor sources Great Basin Desert horses had drinking were excluded (with fencing) compare...
Exotic invasive species can directly and indirectly influence natural ecological communities. Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is non-native to the western United States has invaded large areas of Great Basin. Changes structure composition plant communities by cheatgrass likely have effects at higher trophic levels. As a keystone guild in North American deserts, granivorous small mammals drive maintain diversity. Our objective was assess potential invasion on small-mammal We sampled 70 sites...
Feral horses (Equus callabus) occur throughout the world on all continents except Antarctica. In North America, feral occupy 31.6 million acres western America. Throughout their range, often share habitat with American pronghorn (Antilocapra americana). Since are larger and more aggressive than pronghorn, they considered socially dominant. Great Basin of access water sources where since preferences similar. If excluded is used by both species, fitness may be impaired, especially during dry...
Abstract The horse ( Equus caballus ) is a feral ungulate that currently exceeds target population sizes in many areas of western North America. Horses are behaviorally dominant over native ungulates and outcompete the latter for access to water sources. However, better understanding broader spatial temporal implications horse‐induced competition on by will enable conservation management species. Our objective was determine whether pronghorn Antilocapra americana mule deer Odocoileus...
Maternal effects are the influence of maternal phenotype and maternally-provided environment on (i.e., expression traits) offspring. Frequently, manifest both before after parturition. Pre-parturition primarily direct allocation energy to offspring that is in utero . Post-parturition can include (e.g., nursing defending offspring) indirect selection habitat relatively safe or has high nutritional value) influences. While often discussed, there a paucity information relative importance each...
The river otter (Lontra canadensis) has a complex social system, which varies widely across its range. We examined patterns of space use and interactions for native population otters in southeastern Minnesota. radiomarked 28 monitored annual home ranges core areas, static dynamic interactions, site fidelity. compared these characteristics between sexes age classes. Annual male were 3.2 times greater than those females (P = 0.042), areas males 2.9 0.083). among extensive, with 69% the...
Bison (Bos bison) were a keystone species in the tallgrass prairie region of Great Plains North America. Cattle taurus) have been described as functional equivalent to bison and replaced most grassland that remains intact. However, non-grazing behaviors influence dynamics are dissimilar between cattle. Wallowing behavior (a by bison, but not cattle) creates disturbances (wallows) common feature (may numbered more than 100 million) prior extirpation conversion land row-crop agriculture. We...
Diet of the northern river otter (Lontra canadensis (Schreber, 1777)) has been examined throughout much its range and across many habitat types. Few studies have prey selection based on abundance estimates, however, results inconsistent. We determined composition, seasonal variation, diet in Utah comprising multiple types communities. evaluated hypothesis that otters take according to availability inverse proportion swimming ability. Fish was primary class taken by (96.5%), followed...
Abstract Background Conservation and management of migratory animals has gained attention in recent years, but the majority research focused on stereotypical ‘migrant’ ‘resident’ behaviors, often failing to incorporate any atypical behaviors or characterize beyond distance timing migration. With migration threatened by anthropogenic development climate change, it is crucial that we understand full range behaviors. Our objective was demonstrate variation strategies, including typical for mule...
Anthropogenic modifications to landscapes intended benefit wildlife may negatively influence communities. provisioning of free water (water developments) enhance abundance and distribution is a common management practice in arid regions where limiting. Despite the long-term widespread use developments, little known about how they native species. Water developments arid-adapted species (e.g., kit fox, Vulpes macrotis) by enabling water-dependent competitors coyote, Canis latrans) expand...
Invasive plants have tremendous potential to enrich native food webs by subsidizing net primary productivity. Here, we explored how a subsidy, seeds produced the aggressive invader cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), is utilized an important guild of consumers – granivorous small mammals in Great Basin Desert, USA. In series field experiments examined 1) invasion affects density and biomass seed rain at ecosystem-level; 2) resources from numerically affect mammals; 3) preferences granivores might...
Predator–prey interactions are influenced by the ability of parties to visually perceive each other. Changes in moonlight across lunar cycle may influence visibility predator and prey how they interact with other access shared resources (e.g. water sources desert). We tested three competing hypotheses explaining nocturnal activity mammalian at desert (i.e. predation risk allocation hypothesis, visual acuity physiological need for hypothesis). used camera traps Great Basin Desert monitor...
Cumulative costs of reproduction are predicted by life-history theories aging, but empirical support for cumulative in ungulates is limited. Examinations the relationship between previous reproductive effort and future output often limited to successive years. We analyzed pregnancy status, lactation duration, age class Elk (
We used reported commercial catch data and historical information regarding unreported catches to estimate the abundance of winter steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss , in Puget Sound rivers 1895, year which peak steelhead occurred. employed a Bayesian analysis address uncertainties associated with estimation process report estimates for four large northern remaining aggregate streams Sound. The central 90% posterior distribution total ranged from 485 000 930 000, mode 622 000. Compared 25-year...
As invasive grasses and fire increase in frequency extent North American deserts, they have the potential to affect animal communities through bottom-up forces. We experimentally tested effects of on rodent Great Basin Mojave Deserts. Fire decreased abundance, richness, diversity rodents after fire. In Mojave, abundance was unaffected species richness were greater burned than unburned plots 4 months The tended decrease over time. differences between deserts may be due foraging preferences...
Characteristics of the travel paths white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) were examined by tracking animals marked with fluorescent pigment in a wooded site northeastern Kansas. Based on 84 trails made 49 individuals, it was concluded that tops structural features (rocks, branches, logs, or rock fence) selectively used for nighttime travel. Trails averaged 41.7% (SE = 6.0%), whereas sample points 20 cm away from 18.0% 1.8%). This pattern use did not differ between male and female mice....