RESEARCH PROJECT LIST:  Select active links for additional information
Ecosystem effects of wild pigs
Predator-prey relations between wild pigs and mountain lions
Population genetics of wild pigs
Ecological effects and population biology of bison on Santa Catalina Island
Movements and population ecology of Rocky Mountain Elk
Population ecology of white-tailed deer
Terrestrial vertebrate diversity and abundance in tallgrass prairie reserves
Effects of fire and ungulate grazing on black-tailed prairie dogs
Abundance and diversity of small mammals of USFWS refuges, northern North Dakota
Small and medium-sized carnivores of USFWS refuges, northeastern North Dakota
Porcupines in the Great Basin Desert

ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF WILD PIGS IN OAK WOODLAND ECOSYSTEMS IN CALIFORNIA       A major thrust of my recent research is  directed at understanding the ecological effects of wild pigs on California's oak woodland ecosystems.  Wild pigs are an introduced nonnative species in California and their "rooting" activities when foraging may have pronounced effects on a variety of plants and animals in native ecosystems.  As part of a long term research project, I am using a variety of experimental approaches to assess multiple potential ecological effects of wild pigs coastal and near-coastal oak woodland ecosystems in the North and Central Coast regions of California.        Related research in association with several collaborators and graduate students is assessing (1) how the recent availability of wild pigs may be influencing mountain lion populations in California, and (2) population genetic structuring of wild pig populations in relation to introduction histories in different areas of California.  Oregon oak seedling that has regrown after being damaged by rooting

This study was initally funded by the California Department of  Fish & Game (1998-2000), and is now funded by the Integrated Hardwood and Range Management Program, Univiversity of California, Berkeley (2000-2004).          Ring-necked snake, Sonoma County, California

IMPLICATIONS OF WILD PIGS FOR PREDATOR-PREY RELATIONS AND MOUNTAIN LIONS IN CALIFORNIA      In a study related to the ecological effects of expanding wild pigs, MS student Eric Long, and several collaborators and I are using stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in bone collagen and muscle tissues to estimate the historical and current diets of mountain lions in California.  We predict that mountain lions altered their diets to include wild pigs as wild pigs expanded in California over the past 100 years, and that this functional shift may have resulted in a numerical response in mountain lion populations in some parts of the state.        A large component of this reasearch was  funded by the National Geographic Society.

"Sounder" group of wild pigs, Monterey County, California

Mountain lion at camera station baited for wild pigs in Mendocino County, California

POPULATION GENETICS OF WILD PIGS IN CALIFORNIA        Although the introduction of wild pigs has ceased in many regions, the distribution of these animals continues to expand in California, related in some way to a combination of deliberate introductions by humans (hunting-related and domestic swine releases), hybridization between different types of wild pigs (feral pigs and wild boar), and natural dispersal processes.         Research by Ph.D. Student Ron Loggins and I is examining this issue by relating inferences from molecular markers to known demographic histories and ecological conditions, and to study patterns of colonization/expansion of new habitats.        Results from this research will provide important new information on the factors contributing to range expansion by wild pigs in California as well as determining the genetic source of pigs to the state.  Further, the use of model systems, such as introduced species, can provide powerful insights into the effects of demographic history, migration patterns, and selection regime on molecular sequence variation   Feral pig

European wild boar Feral pig-wild boar hybrids

Partial funding for this study is through the Office of Research and Program Development (UND), Society of Sigma Xi, and Biology Department at UND

EFFECTS OF INTRODUCED BISON ON  SANTA CATALINA ISLAND, CALIFORNIA      In the early 1900's intensive efforts were underway to prevent the extinction of bison in North America.  Around this time (1924) a small number of bison were released on Santa Catalina Island, one of four relatively large islands of the Channel Islands Archipelago located about 20 miles offshore of Los Angeles, California.  Bison are not native to any part of California and are therefore an introduced exotic species on Santa Catalina Island.       This study is funded by the  Santa Catalina Island Conservancy Juanita (Field Project Coordinator) searching for bison

Bison bull with seeds of weedy plants in shedding winter coat     Bison & deer exclosure to protect island endemic shrubs

Although bison are considered a keystone species in their native range, on this isolated offshore island their activities may cause considerable ecological damage and potentially endanger island endemic plants and animals.  In this study, my collaborators and I are examining the population ecology of bison on Santa Catalina Island and how bison may negatively effect island plants and animals.

Bison present area of Catalina, Island

Bison free area of Catalina Island

POPULATION BIOLOGY & MOVMENTS OF ELK IN THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK        Manitoban elk were extirpated throughout most of the Northern Great Plains by the early 1900's.  As part of active management to restore National Park ecosystems, a small herd of Rocky Mountain elk were introduced to Theodore Roosevelt NP in the 1980's. The introduced elk herd has fared well and increased such that periodic roundups are now required to reduce herd size and avoid overutilization of available forage.  Theodore Roosevelt NP elk roundup and collaring effort, Winter 2000

Little Missouri grasslands        Elk from Theodore Roosevelt National Park are now regularly moving across the parks fenced boundary onto the adjacent Little Missouri National Grassland and private ranches. Along with a collaborating scientist from Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center (Dr. Glen Sargeant), we are developing survey protocols, population models, and detailed information on elk movements and habitat use for guiding management.

This study is funded by the National Park Service, Northern Prairie National Wildlife Research Center (USGS), and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

POPULATION ECOLOGY OF WHITE-TAILED DEER IN THE PRAIRIE-COTEAU, NORTH DAKOTA       Populations of white-tailed deer have significantly increased and expanded in the Northern Great Plains and North Dakota associated with agricultural development and other types of habitat change during the last approximately 100 years. Although burgeoning white-tailed deer numbers are very popular among sport hunters, deer in many areas of North Dakota are increasingly using agricultural fields and shelter belts around farmsteads for forage and cover, and depredation damage to crops is a growing concern among farmers and ranchers.  Consequently, current management of white-tailed deer in North Dakota involves balancing the popularity of the species as a big game mammal with the concerns of private landowners over increasing depredation damage.        Effective management to balance these issues will require quantitative data on habitat use, diets, movements, and basic population parameters for white-tailed deer, especially in and around Wildlife Management Areas where deer numbers are high due to food supplementation. White-tailed deer fawn

White-tailed deer at Lone Tree Wildlife Management Area, ND (below)      This study is being conducted at Lone Tree Wildlife Management area in central North Dakota as part of the MS degree program of MS student Jason Smith.  The research includes quantative analyes of habitat use, monitoring daily and seasonal movements by radiotelemetry, developing a habitat suitability model, and estimating age-specific survival and reproduction.        The study is funded by the U.S.Bureau of Reclamation and is being conducted in coordination with the North Dakota Game and Fish and ND Game and Fish Biologist Bill Jensen

Winter 2001 deer trapping crew: Mike Symanski, Eric Long, Patrick Isaackson, Mike Bryant, Neil Kadrmas

Deer wrestling in a clover trap: Rick Sweitzer, Mike Bryant, Neil Kadrmas

TERRESTRIAL VERTEBRATE DIVERSITY IN TALLGRASS PRAIRIE RESERVES IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS       Tallgrass prairies have been reduced by over 95% of their historic range in North America associated with agriculture and urban development. Nearly all remaining tallgrass prairie in the Northern Great Plains region (eastern North Dakota, western Minnesota and southern Manitoba) is made up of small patches of prairie surrounded by agriculture. The fragmentation and isolation of tallgrass prairie habitat is an important concern because small, isolated patches of habitat may gradually lose species over time, ultimately resulting in reduced diversity of plants and animals in the Northern Great Plains region.       This project is assessing the extent to which prairie fragment size, degree of isolation, and management of surrounding lands influence terrestrial vertebrate diversity in remnant tallgrass prairie reserves in eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota.  Research was initiated by myself and undergraduate wildlife student Neil Kadrmas at the Sheyenne National Grasslands and Oakville Prairie, North Dakota in summer 2001.  Beginning in summer 2002, the project will expand into several additional tallgrass prairie reserve areas located in northwestern Minnesota.       This study is funded by Dakota Prairie Grasslands (USDA, Forest Service) and the University of North Dakota Rolling prairie habitat at Sheyenne National Grasslands, North  Dakota

Pitfall trap amphibian captures; wood frog, tiger salamander, chorus frog, Canadian toad   Western jumping mouse, Sheyenne Grasslands, North Dakota Marshy prairie habitat at Sheyenne Grasslands, North  Dakota

Field-based research on this study involves periodically surveying for small mammals and other terrestrial vertebrates using live-traps, pitfall traps and snap traps placed throughout each prairie reserve in all major habitat types.  Tiger salamander and masked shrew in pitfall trap

Closeup of tiger salamander Prairie skink

EFFECTS OF FIRE AND UNGULATE GRAZING ON THE POPULATION ECOLOGY OF BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE DOGS, THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK, NORTH DAKOTA       Prairie ecosystems have a long history of association with prairie dogs, large grazing mammals (bison, elk, pronghorn, deer) and periodic wildfire.  Among native North American herbivores, bison and black-tailed prairie dogs had some of the greatest impacts on the structure and composition of grassland plant communities.       Corresponding with the arrival of Europeans, the spread of domestic livestock, and the conversion of tall and mixed-grass prairie for agriculture, black-tailed prairie dogs and bison were seriously reduced in range or altogether removed from much of the mixed-grass prairie region of western North America. Further, the suppression of fire to protect settlements, crops and livestock removed this important source of natural disturbance from most remaining continuous tracts of native prairie. Thus, at present very little is known of how wildfire in association with shifting grazing patterns by bison in response to wildfire influence the population ecology of prairie dogs in prairie ecosystems.        This developing study will be conducted at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota as part of the MS degree program of Sara Milne.  The study will include (1) analyses of historical records to assess how previous fires potentially influenced the distribution of prairie dogs at TRNP, (2) development of an experimental approach with controlled burns to determine how prairie dogs respond to burn areas in their foraging and burrowing behaviors, and (3) assess whether fire-induced grazing shifts by bison may facilitate prairie dog use of burn areas for foraging, burrowing, and colony-level dispersal.

A proposal to fund to this study is in consideration by the National Park Service.

SPECIES VERIFICATION, ABUNDANCE, AND DIVERSITY OF SMALL MAMMALS AT LOSTWOOD, DES LACS AND J. CLARK SALYER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES, NORTH DAKOTA      A variety of methods (pitfall traps, snap traps, some live trapping) were used to survey terrestrial vertebrates during different and sometimes overlapping periods at Lostwood, Des Lacs, and J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuges in northern North Dakota.  In this study I am working with Robert Murphy ("Murph") and Todd Grant of the USFWS to verify species identifications and detect potential trends in changes in small mammal abundances and diversities among the three different wildlife refuges.  Study skins representing each identified species are being prepared for future research at the refuges and musuem voucher specimens (skins and skulls) will be stored in the Vertebrate Museum at the University of North Dakota.

Funding for this study is through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Robert Murphy, Lonetree Wildlife Refuge).

Mixed-grass prairie habitat at Lostwood NWR, northwestern North Dakota	Robert Murphy at Des Lacs NWR, North Dakota
Uplant mixed woodland habitat at Des Lacs NWR, northwestern North Dakota	Todd Grant showing the design of pitfall traps at J. Clark Salyer NWR, north central North Dakota

LONG TERM DYNAMICS IN CARNIVORE POPULATIONS AT KELLY'S SLOUGH AND LAKE ALICE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES IN NORTHEASTERN,  NORTH DAKOTA      Predator trapping has been ongoing at Kelly's Slough and Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuges since the early to mid 1990's as part of efforts to improve waterfowl nesting success.  In this study I am analyzing temporal trends in carnivore trapping success to assess temporal variation in species abundance in carnivore communities in northeastern, North Dakota.  Data from this study will used to evaluate the efficacy of carnivore trapping programs at these two refuges while providing insight into carnivore community ecology in eastern North Dakota

Funding for this study is through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Kurt Tompkins, Devil's Lake Region, USFWS, North Dakota)

     Representative carnivores found in wildlife refuges in northeastern North Dakota

Badger	Red fox
Raccoon	Striped skunk