My research program centers around wildlife movement ecology and its intersection with population ecology and landscape ecology. I am particularly interested in large mammal dispersal and migration and the connectivity that affords them to traverse the landscape. I'm also interested in studying the impacts anthropogenic effects and environmental change on animal movement, space-use, and habitat selection. I strive to have research outcomes that can inform conservation and management and potentially offer new suggestions for mitigating human-wildlife conflict.
I was a research scientist at the Natural Resources Institute at Texas A&M. We perform species monitoring on Department of Defense properties in New Mexico. I was exploring how changes in the environment over time affect species communities.
I did postdoctoral research in the carnivore research lab Under Dr. Patricia Moody Harveson at Borderlands Research Institute, Sul Ross State University, in Alpine, TX. We studied west Texas mountain lion movements, space-use, habitat selection, and population density. We also examined kit fox distribution in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas and their interaction with coyotes. Additionally, we modeled landscape connectivity for several species throughout the region as a part of the Respect Big Bend Coalition (RBB). Our models were used by RBB to help landowners plan for the potential energy development coming to the region.
For my PhD, I studied a recently established population of Florida black bears. These bears are in an area that has been unofficially designated as a wildlife corridor between Ocala National Forest and Osceola National Forest. Prior to my study, only male bears had been found in the area for at least the last 35 years. Now there is a resident population of males, females, and cubs. My collaborators at Florida Fish and Wildlife and I investigated the bears' home ranges and habitat selection. We also examined their movement patterns. Animal movement and behavior are linked to habitat selection, so we also investigated habitat selection using a framework that incorporated all three aspects. Lastly, we investigated microhabitat features and vegetative composition in areas of high bear-use versus areas of low bear-use. I collected the data for this chapter in spring/summer 2016, with the help of some great volunteers and many generous donors from my crowd sourcing campaign. This paper was published in Global Ecology and Conservation.
I have also collaborated on work on Gunnison's prairie dogs, Egyptian vultures, and Sooty falcons.
I was a research scientist at the Natural Resources Institute at Texas A&M. We perform species monitoring on Department of Defense properties in New Mexico. I was exploring how changes in the environment over time affect species communities.
I did postdoctoral research in the carnivore research lab Under Dr. Patricia Moody Harveson at Borderlands Research Institute, Sul Ross State University, in Alpine, TX. We studied west Texas mountain lion movements, space-use, habitat selection, and population density. We also examined kit fox distribution in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas and their interaction with coyotes. Additionally, we modeled landscape connectivity for several species throughout the region as a part of the Respect Big Bend Coalition (RBB). Our models were used by RBB to help landowners plan for the potential energy development coming to the region.
For my PhD, I studied a recently established population of Florida black bears. These bears are in an area that has been unofficially designated as a wildlife corridor between Ocala National Forest and Osceola National Forest. Prior to my study, only male bears had been found in the area for at least the last 35 years. Now there is a resident population of males, females, and cubs. My collaborators at Florida Fish and Wildlife and I investigated the bears' home ranges and habitat selection. We also examined their movement patterns. Animal movement and behavior are linked to habitat selection, so we also investigated habitat selection using a framework that incorporated all three aspects. Lastly, we investigated microhabitat features and vegetative composition in areas of high bear-use versus areas of low bear-use. I collected the data for this chapter in spring/summer 2016, with the help of some great volunteers and many generous donors from my crowd sourcing campaign. This paper was published in Global Ecology and Conservation.
I have also collaborated on work on Gunnison's prairie dogs, Egyptian vultures, and Sooty falcons.