Wildlife and Conservation
Associate Professor of Biology
Phone: (701) 777-4676  Education:
B.S. 1985, Northern Arizona University
M.S. 1990, University of Nevada, Reno
Ph.D. 1995, University of Nevada, Reno
Experience:
Associate Professor of Biology, UND
Postdoctoral Research Associate, UC Davis
Research Focus:
My research area is conservation and population ecology of mammals with emphases in predator-prey systems, behavioral ecology, and the ecological effects of introduced species on native ecosystems. I am particularly interested in research that integrates population ecology with applied aspects of wildlife conservation.
Current Research
- Population biology and effects of mule deer on endemic oak woodlands on Santa Catalina Island, California
- Economic and ecological risk assessment of expanding wild pigs
- Ecological effects of wild pigs on oak woodland ecosystems
- Influence of fire and large mammal herbivory on the population ecology of black-tailed prairie dogs
- Predator-prey relations of mountain lions, wild pigs, and deer
- Movements and population ecology of Rocky Mountain Elk in western North Dakota
- Population ecology of white-tailed deer in the prairie-coteau of North Dakota
- Ecological implications and population ecology of bison on Santa Catalina Island, California
- Terrestrial vertebrate diversity in mixed- and tallgrass prairies of North Dakota (two different projects)
- Population and disease ecology of moose in the northern Great Plains
- Carrying capacity of bison, elk, and white-tailed deer at Sullys Hill National Game Preserve
- Climate change and land use effects on small mammal communities in the northern Great Plains
Selected Publications :
Milne-Laux, S., and R. A. Sweitzer. 2006. Experimentally-induced colony expansion by black-tailed prairie dogs ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) and implications for conservation. Journal of Mammalogy 87:296-303.
Long, E. S., R. A. Sweitzer, D. R. Diefenbach, and M. Ben-David. 2005. Controlling for anthropogenically induced atmospheric variation in stable carbon isotope studies. Oecologia 146:148-156.
Constible, J. M., R. A. Sweitzer, D. H. Van Vuren. P.T. Schuyler, and D.A. Knapp. 2005. Differential dispersal of non-native plants by introduced bison in an island ecosystem. Biological Invasions 7:699-709.
Sweitzer, R.A., J.M. Constible, D.H. Van Vuren, P.T. Schuyler, and F.R. Starkey. 2 005 . History, habitat use and management of bison on Catalina Island, California. Pp. 231-24 in Proceedings of the 6 th California Islands Symposium (peer-reviewed) (D. K Garcelon and C. A. Schwemm, editors), Ventura , California .
Long, E.S., D. M. Fecske, R. A. Sweitzer, J. A. Jenks, B. M. Pierce, and V. C. Bleich. 2003. Efficacy of photographic scent stations to detect mountain lions. Western North American Naturalist 63(4):529-532.
Sweitzer, R.A.. 2003. Breeding movements and reproductive activities of porcupines in the Great Basin Desert. Western North American Naturalist 63(1): 1-10.
Loggins, R.E., J. T. Wilcox, D. H. Van Vuren, and R.A. Sweitzer. 2002. Seasonal diets of wild pigs in oak woodlands of the central coast region of California. California Fish and Game Quarterly 88(1):28-34.
Sweitzer, R.A., and D. Van Vuren. 2002. Rooting and foraging effects of wild pigs on tree regeneration and acorn survival in California's oak woodland ecosystems. Proceedings of the 5 th symposium on oak woodlands: oaks in California 's changing landscape (peer-reviewed). General Technical Report PSW-GTR-184. Albany California: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pp. 218-231.
Long, E.S., and R.A. Sweitzer. 2001. Museum collection records of mountain lions in California. California Fish and Game Quarterly 87(4):153-167.
Sweitzer, R.A., I.A.Gardner, D. Van Vuren, W.M. Boyce, and J.D. Waithman. 2000. Estimating sizes of wild pig populations in the North and Central Coast regions of California. The Journal of Wildlife Management 64 (2):531-543.
Waithman, J.D., R.A. Sweitzer, A.J. Brinkhaus, I.A. Gardner, D. Van Vuren, and W.M. Boyce. 1999. Range expansion, population sizes, and management of wild pigs in California. Journal of Wildlife Management 63:298-308.
Sweitzer, R.A. 1998. Conservation implications of feral pigs in island and mainland ecosystems and a case study of feral pig expansion in California. Proceedings 18 th Vertebrate Pest Conference 18:26-34. (not peer-reviewed).
Sweitzer, R.A., and J. Berger. 1998. Evidence for female-biased dispersal in North American porcupines. Journal of Zoology, London 244:159-166.
Sweitzer, R.A., S.H. Jenkins, and J. Berger. 1997. The near-extinction of porcupines by mountain lions and consequences of ecosystem change in the Great Basin Desert. Conservation Biology 11:1407-1417.
Sweitzer, R.A., B.J. Gonzales, I.A. Gardner, D. Van Vuren, W.M. Boyce, and J.D. Waithman. 1997. A modified panel trap and immobilization technique for capturing multiple wild pigs. 25:699-705.
Sweitzer, R.A., and J. Berger. 1997. Sexual dimorphism & evidence for intrasexual selection from quill-impalements, injuries, & mate guarding associations in porcupines. Canadian Journal Zoology 75:847-854.
Atwill, E.R., R.A. Sweitzer, M.G. Pereira, I.A. Gardner, D. Van Vuren, and W.M. Boyce. 1997 Prevalence of and associated risk factors for shedding Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia cysts within feral pig populations in California . Applied and Environmental Microbiology 63:3946-3949.
Sweitzer, R.A., G.S. Ghneim, B.J. Gonzales, I.A. Gardner, D. Van Vuren, and W.M. Boyce. 1997. Immobilization and physiological parameters associated with chemical restraint of wild pigs with Telazol and xylazine hydrochloride. The Journal of Wildlife Diseases 33:198-205.
Sweitzer, R.A., B.J. Gonzales, I.A. Gardner, D. Van Vuren, and W.M. Boyce. 1996. Population densities and disease surveys of wild pigs in the coast mountains of western California. Proceedings of the 17 th Vertebrate Pest Conference 17:75-82.
Sweitzer, R.A. 1996. Predation or starvation: Consequences of foraging decisions by porcupines. Journal of Mammalogy 77:1068-1077.
Sweitzer, R.A., and D. Holcombe. 1993. Serum progesterone levels and pregnancy rates in Great Basin porcupines. Journal of Mammalogy 77:769-776.
Sweitzer, R.A., and J. Berger. 1993. Seasonal mass dynamics and body condition in Great Basin porcupines. Journal of Mammalogy 74:198-203.
Sweitzer, R.A., and J. Berger. 1992. Size-related effects of predation on habitat use and behavior in porcupines ( Erethizon dorsatum ). Ecology 73(3):867-875. |
