Research |
My research has focused on understanding the links of land management practices (development, prescribed fire), land use (agriculture), and other impacts on wildlife and wildlife communities. I hope to provide information that can be used to make evidence-based land management decisions to conserve biodiversity.
Desert Tortoise Movement Ecology
Mojave desert shrublands are under increasing pressure as human populations continue to rise in the area. Increased renewable development within BLM lands potentially exerts pressure on desert tortoise population connectivity. In collaboration with USGS, we are investigating how old (mountain ranges, dry lakes) and new (highways, development) barriers shape desert tortoise connectivity.
To understand how desert tortoise movements play a role in landscape connectivity, we have attached GPS loggers to tortoises located in plots near corridors that connect suitable habitat. From this fine-scale information, we can make inferences about resource use, social networks and how those play into landscape connectivity.
Prescribed Fire and Herpetofauna
As prescribed fire is becoming more commonly applied as a restoration tool in the Southeastern United States, it is important to understand how vegetation structural changes impact faunal communities. To help elucidate the impacts of oak-savanna restoration efforts, we studied long-term (6 years) herpetofaunal community responses to prescribed fire in Western Kentucky. Full published text available: www.researchgate.net/publication/325999004_Response_of_reptile_and_amphibian_communities_to_the_reintroduction_of_fire_in_an_oakhickory_forest
Herpetofauna in an agricultural setting.Much of the landscape in Western Tennessee is dominated by agriculture--row crops and cattle farming. We investigated how cattle access and land cover influence herpetofaunal communities in and around isolated man-made ponds on DoD property. Although still under investigation, our preliminary analyses indicate that these isolated wetlands can serve as important habitats within an agricultural matrix, though surrounding land cover can influence community composition.
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