Carnivore Ecology
I have been fortunate enough to work with several carnivore species during my career - black-footed ferrets, striped skunks, raccoons, and now bobcats - and feel very fortunate to study this special group of animals. Mesocarnivores (or mesopredators) are adaptable, exhibit complex social behaviors, and play an important role in the balance of our ecosystems. They face many threats worldwide and over half of mesopredator species are in decline. Despite this, they are often overshadowed by larger, more charismatic species.
Effective conservation of mesocarnivores requires an understanding of threats. The leading cause of carnivore decline is habitat loss or degradation due to human land-use change. In tandem with the direct impacts of anthropogenic pressure, there has been an increasing documentation of carnivores being exposed to toxins and toxicants across the urban–wildland interface.
My dissertation research was catalyzed by the detection of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (rat poison) in the bobcat population on Kiawah Island (Charleston County, SC). These bobcats have been monitored since the early 2000s, so biologists were able to identify a decline in the population and investigate. Documentation of mammalian carnivore exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides is global, however it is severely understudied in the Southeastern US.
The objective of my study is to quantify the affect of anticoagulant rodenticides on the Kiawah Island bobcats. To establish historic trends in space-use and vital rates, my first two chapters will utilize historic data collected from the early 2000s to the start of my field work. To firmly establish the significance of my findings on Kiawah, I added a second population of bobcats that inhabit an undeveloped barrier island in Georgetown County, SC, with which to compare spatial, temporal, and toxicological information. From 2022–2024, I deployed GPS collars on bobcats at both sites and collected biological samples from each individual. Throughout each calendar year, I collected bobcat scat samples for genetic, dietary, and toxicological analysis. Finally, I deployed trail cameras to quantify prey communities at my field sites to understand. By comparing these populations, I hope to pinpoint behavioral and dietary differences potentially influenced by anticoagulant rodenticides and human development.
Recent News:
Effective conservation of mesocarnivores requires an understanding of threats. The leading cause of carnivore decline is habitat loss or degradation due to human land-use change. In tandem with the direct impacts of anthropogenic pressure, there has been an increasing documentation of carnivores being exposed to toxins and toxicants across the urban–wildland interface.
My dissertation research was catalyzed by the detection of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (rat poison) in the bobcat population on Kiawah Island (Charleston County, SC). These bobcats have been monitored since the early 2000s, so biologists were able to identify a decline in the population and investigate. Documentation of mammalian carnivore exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides is global, however it is severely understudied in the Southeastern US.
The objective of my study is to quantify the affect of anticoagulant rodenticides on the Kiawah Island bobcats. To establish historic trends in space-use and vital rates, my first two chapters will utilize historic data collected from the early 2000s to the start of my field work. To firmly establish the significance of my findings on Kiawah, I added a second population of bobcats that inhabit an undeveloped barrier island in Georgetown County, SC, with which to compare spatial, temporal, and toxicological information. From 2022–2024, I deployed GPS collars on bobcats at both sites and collected biological samples from each individual. Throughout each calendar year, I collected bobcat scat samples for genetic, dietary, and toxicological analysis. Finally, I deployed trail cameras to quantify prey communities at my field sites to understand. By comparing these populations, I hope to pinpoint behavioral and dietary differences potentially influenced by anticoagulant rodenticides and human development.
- More information can be found on my project website, which further outlines the project goals, partners, and includes links to similar research: Island Bobcat Research
Recent News:
- Statewide rodenticide regulation update by Clemson News (Jan. 29, 2025)
- Article by Inside Climate News (Dec. 6, 2024)
- Article by The Conversation ES (Sep. 1, 2024)
- TV Special by South Carolina ETV (Aug. 15, 2024)
- Radio Interview by KCBS San Francisco (Aug. 10, 2024)
- Article by The Conversation US (Aug. 9, 2024)
- Graduate Student Highlight by the Clemson Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation (Mar. 4, 2024)
- Article by Decipher Creative Inquiry Magazine (Nov. 3, 2023)
- Newsletter Feature by the USGS Western Ecological Research Center (Apr. 20, 2023)
- Newsletter Feature by the Wildlife Society Southeastern Section (Feb. 20, 2023)
- News highlight by ABC 4 Charleston (Oct. 12, 2022)
- Quarterly Report by the Town of Kiawah Island (Aug. 24, 2022)
- Article by the Town of Kiawah Island (Feb. 1, 2022)
- Article by the Town of Kiawah Island (Aug. 6, 2021)
Movement Ecology
Animal movement is one of the most interesting aspects of ecology (my opinion). Understanding where they are and why is a great step in seeing inside the mind of an animal! For some, resource selection seems simple - but for others, it can answer complex questions about metabolic needs, temporal and seasonal behavior, and the cultural nature of some species.
While working on a long-term waterfowl project in Suisun Marsh in California, I was able to gain first-hand experience tagging and tracking ducklings. While ducklings themselves may not always make conscious choices about their movement and habitat selection, we can learn a lot about their metabolic limitations. As it turns out, they are able to adapt to changing landscapes - to a point. Understanding where these points occur gets us closer to understanding waterfowl breeding ecology and management needs. We also deployed transmitters on adult hens, Northern Harriers, and common nest predators (skunks and raccoons).
For my master's research, we had nearly a decade of animal location data - enough to draw conclusions about trends in movement, resource selection, and behavior. Linking behavior requires more data and uses different methods - it's really cool! If you have an interest in animal movement, either practically or on an analytical level, feel free to reach out!
Recent News:
While working on a long-term waterfowl project in Suisun Marsh in California, I was able to gain first-hand experience tagging and tracking ducklings. While ducklings themselves may not always make conscious choices about their movement and habitat selection, we can learn a lot about their metabolic limitations. As it turns out, they are able to adapt to changing landscapes - to a point. Understanding where these points occur gets us closer to understanding waterfowl breeding ecology and management needs. We also deployed transmitters on adult hens, Northern Harriers, and common nest predators (skunks and raccoons).
For my master's research, we had nearly a decade of animal location data - enough to draw conclusions about trends in movement, resource selection, and behavior. Linking behavior requires more data and uses different methods - it's really cool! If you have an interest in animal movement, either practically or on an analytical level, feel free to reach out!
Recent News:
- Newsletter Feature by the USGS Western Ecological Research Center (Apr. 20, 2023)
Avian Ecology
I started my career as a waterfowl technician in southern Colorado, and then spent the few years prior to graduate school as a waterfowl technician in the San Francisco Delta region of California. As a casual birder and lover of long-term datasets, the waterfowl field has always been of interest to me. My research background has also expanded into songbirds and scavengers.
Birds are unique in that they can span multiple continents within their lifetime or even their annual movements. They unite governments and interest groups, and, for many people, are often the earliest introduction to wildlife. I find their conservation to be of the utmost importance as indicators of ecosystem health and a valued natural resource. They also reveal areas of conservation need through their long-distance movements!
I am primarily interested in breeding ecology and habitat use, as well as inter-species interactions with predators and competitors. I have made use of historic datasets, novel datasets, and eBird data to look into avian response to predators, climate change, habitat degradation, and spatial ecology.
Recent News:
Birds are unique in that they can span multiple continents within their lifetime or even their annual movements. They unite governments and interest groups, and, for many people, are often the earliest introduction to wildlife. I find their conservation to be of the utmost importance as indicators of ecosystem health and a valued natural resource. They also reveal areas of conservation need through their long-distance movements!
I am primarily interested in breeding ecology and habitat use, as well as inter-species interactions with predators and competitors. I have made use of historic datasets, novel datasets, and eBird data to look into avian response to predators, climate change, habitat degradation, and spatial ecology.
Recent News:
- Guest Blog through The Wilson Ornithological Society (Dec. 19, 2023)
- Newsletter Feature by the USGS Western Ecological Research Center (Apr. 20, 2023)
Quantitative Ecology
I developed an interest in quantitative ecology during my undergrad studies at Colorado State University. After several field seasons post-graduation, my interest was strengthened as I learned about the many large datasets gathered over the years within various agencies and among different study areas. These datasets often sit idle due to a lack of expertise and/or time to commit to learning new methods, so I decided to take a crack at one myself. One can also argue that the quick publication turnaround to justify grant funding can inhibit researchers' ability to contribute to long-term studies, but that's another discussion.
After several years of technician work, I joined Dr. William's quantitative ecology lab at the University of Nevada, Reno. While there, I was able to work with a mule deer GPS collar dataset gathered over eight years in Mojave National Preserve in southern California. These data consisted of about 200 animals and just under one million locations. Despite being analyzed in chunks as it was collected, there were, and always will be, unanswered questions. Over the span of my master's degree, my time was spent developing a Bayesian hierarchical model to describe animal movement in relation to landscape features, with the goal of increasing resource managers' understanding of the importance of these landscape features while also adding to the movement ecology literature through model development.
Despite primarily working in a Bayesian framework, my curriculum was dominated by courses in the Mathematics and Statistics department so I am able to interpret and implement frequentist analyses as well. If you are in interested in quantitative ecology, or any type of data science, please feel free to reach out to me!
After several years of technician work, I joined Dr. William's quantitative ecology lab at the University of Nevada, Reno. While there, I was able to work with a mule deer GPS collar dataset gathered over eight years in Mojave National Preserve in southern California. These data consisted of about 200 animals and just under one million locations. Despite being analyzed in chunks as it was collected, there were, and always will be, unanswered questions. Over the span of my master's degree, my time was spent developing a Bayesian hierarchical model to describe animal movement in relation to landscape features, with the goal of increasing resource managers' understanding of the importance of these landscape features while also adding to the movement ecology literature through model development.
Despite primarily working in a Bayesian framework, my curriculum was dominated by courses in the Mathematics and Statistics department so I am able to interpret and implement frequentist analyses as well. If you are in interested in quantitative ecology, or any type of data science, please feel free to reach out to me!