Tetons

About our work

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Current research in the lab spans the disciplines of ecology, evolution, behavior and conservation biology, and diverse taxa including birds, small mammals, and herpetofauna.

Our main focus is understanding the processes and factors that influence wildlife-habitat relationships.  We are particularly interested in understanding why organisms select particular habitats and under what contexts such choices are adaptive. Our philosophy is that effective conservation and management strategies require careful study about what constitutes actual habitat quality for species of interest at relevant spatial scales.

Most graduate research projects in the lab are developed in close cooperation with the Wyoming Game & Fish Department and/or other agencies in order to address critical research needs of non-game wildlife species within the state. All graduate student projects in my lab therefore have both applied and conceptual components that are well-suited for students interested in learning to conduct rigorous scientific research that simultaneously addresses real-world wildlife conservation issues. Examples of ecological issues of focus in the lab include energy development, the mountain pine beetle epidemic, and climate variability.

Projects

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