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Research
My research involves applied, rather than esoteric, areas of wildlife science. A major focus of my work is understanding the population and community responses of herpetofauna to both natural and anthropogenic disturbance regimes. For example, my students and I currently are investigating 1) multi-scale habitat relationships of the federally-listed Cheat Mountain salamander and 2) responses of woodland salamanders to Appalachian silvopasture systems in West Virginia. Recently I explored the relative influences of biotic and abiotic factors on torrent salamanders in managed headwater streams of western Oregon. I also have ongoing and previous research examining effects of timber harvest and prescribed burning on aquatic and terrestrial herpetofauna in the southeastern United States.
Although much of my work involves amphibians and reptiles, I have broad interests in wildlife ecology and management. For example, I have ongoing research examining mortality and survival of American marten in forests of northern Wisconsin. I also have conducted research on small mammals, birds, and invertebrates. Overall, my research addresses questions that serve the needs of both public agencies (e.g., United States Forest Service, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources) and commercial forest landowners, with the ultimate goal of successfully integrating wildlife and resource management objectives.
Current Research Projects Graduate student Tim White
tracking marten
Graduate student Lindsey Becker at MVNWR
Current Research Projects
Home range and habitat selection of timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) within natural and human-influenced habitats of southwestern Wisconsin.
Habitat relationships of passerine bird communities in Wisconsin peatlands.
Modeling the distribution and habitat of Cheat Mountain Salamanders at multiple spatial scales in West Virginia. The project is funded by the U. S. Forest Service (Monongahela National Forest, Northeastern Research Station) and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge to investigate habitat relationships of the Cheat Mountain salamander (CMS; Plethodon nettingi). This species has a restricted range within high-elevation forests of the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia and has been federally listed as threatened since 1989. However, despite its threatened status, continuing concerns about timber harvest effects, and importance as an indictor species, relatively little has been published regarding CMS habitat relationships. Lester O. Dillard is the graduate student working on this project. Les will incorporate previous and new field data to develop quantitative models that can reliably 1) identify occupied and potential CMS habitat, 2) predict CMS distribution and abundance, 3) evaluate impacts of management activities (e.g., road and trail construction), and 4) be linked to existing GIS platforms for more efficient planning. The project is funded for three years, from 1 September 2005 to 31 August 2007.
Mortality, survival, and dispersal of juvenile American marten (Martes americana) in forests of northern Wisconsin. The project is funded by McIntire-Stennis, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Plum Creek Timber Company, U. S. Forest Service, and the Wisconsin Trappers Association to determine sources and rates of mortality, weekly survivorship, and investigate linkages between mortality and habitat parameters for the state-endangered American marten in northeastern Wisconsin. American marten were extirpated in Wisconsin by the late 1920's, but reintroductions between 1975-1990 reestablished two core populations in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (CNNF). Although the reintroduction efforts initially appeared successful, recent surveys indicate that the populations have not expanded much beyond the original core areas and in fact be contracting. The factors limiting population expansion are unknown, but significant mortality of juveniles, in conjunction with limited dispersal habitat, has been suggested as a cause. Timothy S. White is the graduate student working on this project. Tim is using radio-telemetry to monitor the locations and status of juvenile marten on the CNNF and adjacent private forests, and to characterize the quality of habitats used by dispersing juveniles. The project is funded for three and a half years, from 1 January 2004 to 31 August 2006.