Current Wildlife Projects
Effects of Large-Scale Disturbance on Sage- and Columbian Sharp-Tailed GrouseThis project is focused on understanding and predicting effects of disturbance events and habitat features on populations of sage- and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse in Idaho. We are developing models to understand the effects of loss of habitat provided by the Conservation Reserve Program and other disturbances (e.g., fire, forest encroachment) on Columbian sharp-tailed grouse populations. We are also studying the effects of a megafire event on space use and demography of greater sage-grouse, and using generalized functional response models to predict changes to resource selection as a consequence of changes to landscape structure induced by the fire. Results of this work will be used to inform habitat management and conservation planning efforts for these species.
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Population Assessment to Inform Adaptive Management of White-tailed DeerThis project is focused on developing a statistical population-assessment tools for white-tailed deer in North Dakota. We are developing hierarchical removal models to estimate abundance and assess spatio-temporal dynamics of deer populations. These models will be integrated with other monitoring data to inform ongoing development of an adaptive management program in North Dakota.
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Photo credit: North Dakota Game and Fish Dept
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Species Distribution Models to Inform Conservation Decision Making for Wetland BirdsThis project is developing models to predict breeding distributions and broad-scale habitat quality for secretive marsh birds across the continental United States, and using predictions to assist agencies with prioritizing habitat conservation and monitoring.
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Past Wildlife Projects
Population Ecology and Harvest-Policy Evaluation for Wild TurkeysThis project focused on understanding population dynamics and evaluating harvest management for wild turkey populations in southern Michigan. We developed models to assess past dynamics of turkey populations and used a stakeholder-integrated structured decision making framework to assess performance of harvest management in the face of uncertainty .
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Performance of Spatial Capture-Recapture Models with Repurposed Data
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Developing Robust Harvest Strategies for Data Limited Wildlife PopulationsThis project focused on developing target reference points to guide harvest management in the absence of rigorous population assessment programs. To accomplish this we used simulation and decision analyses to identify harvest strategies with robust performance in the presence of uncertainties common to decision making in natural resource management.
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Understanding and Mitigating Fence Collision Risk for Greater Sage-Grouse in IdahoThis project sought to estimate the frequency and understand the spatial ecology of fence collision for greater sage-grouse in breeding areas of southern Idaho. Collectively, this work has been used by management agencies to aide marking or removal of > 500 kilometers of fence in sage-grouse breeding habitats across the west since 2011.
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