Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology Team (FRESC)
Wildlife respond to changes in their environment, some of which are dramatic and others subtle. To fully understand the factors that drive changes in populations and communities, we need better information on wildlife ecology in natural and human-altered landscapes. We conduct research and provide technical assistance to address applied questions about the ecology and conservation of wildlife species, populations, communities, and habitats. We study a wide range of ecosystems, from streams and ponds to forests and shrublands, in the Intermountain West and Great Basin.
Our work is organized into several major themes, including restoration, monitoring and evaluation, habitat relationships, invasive species, species life histories, ecosystem processes, and wildfire.
Principal Investigator
David Pilliod - Supervisory Research Ecologist
Federal Staff
Robert Arkle - Supervisory Biologist
Michelle Jeffries - Biologist & Project Manager for Land Treatment Digital Library and Land Treatment Exploration Tool
University/Contractor/Volunteer/Other
Science Themes of the FRESC Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology Team are highlighted below.
Using Pollinator Environmental DNA to Assess the Ecological Resilience of America’s Grasslands
Dakota Skipper Surveillance, Monitoring, and Assessment
Using Artificial Flowers to Survey for Pollinators
Wildland Fire Trends Tool
READI-Net: Providing Tools for the Early Detection and Management of Aquatic Invasive Species
GIS Clipping and Summarization Tool for Points, Lines, Polygons, and Rasters
Environmental DNA qPCR detection results and covariates from Idaho, Missouri, Montana, and New York rivers sampled in 2023 Environmental DNA qPCR detection results and covariates from Idaho, Missouri, Montana, and New York rivers sampled in 2023
Fuel Break Treatments in the Sagebrush Biome of the Western United States, 1953 - 2018 Fuel Break Treatments in the Sagebrush Biome of the Western United States, 1953 - 2018
Western North America terrestrial reptile climate-niche rasters and summary data Western North America terrestrial reptile climate-niche rasters and summary data
Sagebrush recovery projections across the biome, 30 years after two seeding treatment applications, and associated model data (1986-2021) Sagebrush recovery projections across the biome, 30 years after two seeding treatment applications, and associated model data (1986-2021)
Microsatellite genotypes of Bombus occidentalis specimens (including Bombus mckayi) from 1960 to 2020 Microsatellite genotypes of Bombus occidentalis specimens (including Bombus mckayi) from 1960 to 2020
Characteristics, presence of erosional features, and cover of vegetation and bare ground on fields formerly enrolled in grassland, wetland, and wildlife practices of the Conservation Reserve Program in the central and western United States from 2017 to 20 Characteristics, presence of erosional features, and cover of vegetation and bare ground on fields formerly enrolled in grassland, wetland, and wildlife practices of the Conservation Reserve Program in the central and western United States from 2017 to 20
Costs of land treatments on public lands in the western United States Costs of land treatments on public lands in the western United States
Evaluation of the gap intercept method to measure rangeland connectivity Evaluation of the gap intercept method to measure rangeland connectivity
Field trials of an autonomous eDNA sampler in lotic waters Field trials of an autonomous eDNA sampler in lotic waters
Leveraging extensive soil, vegetation, fire, and land treatment data to inform restoration across the sagebrush biome Leveraging extensive soil, vegetation, fire, and land treatment data to inform restoration across the sagebrush biome
Closing the conservation gap in the sagebrush biome: Spatial targeting and coordination are needed for conservation to keep pace with sagebrush losses Closing the conservation gap in the sagebrush biome: Spatial targeting and coordination are needed for conservation to keep pace with sagebrush losses
Climate futures for lizards and snakes in western North America may result in new species management issues Climate futures for lizards and snakes in western North America may result in new species management issues
Below are news stories associated with this project.
Wildlife respond to changes in their environment, some of which are dramatic and others subtle. To fully understand the factors that drive changes in populations and communities, we need better information on wildlife ecology in natural and human-altered landscapes. We conduct research and provide technical assistance to address applied questions about the ecology and conservation of wildlife species, populations, communities, and habitats. We study a wide range of ecosystems, from streams and ponds to forests and shrublands, in the Intermountain West and Great Basin.
Our work is organized into several major themes, including restoration, monitoring and evaluation, habitat relationships, invasive species, species life histories, ecosystem processes, and wildfire.
Principal Investigator
David Pilliod - Supervisory Research Ecologist
Federal Staff
Robert Arkle - Supervisory Biologist
Michelle Jeffries - Biologist & Project Manager for Land Treatment Digital Library and Land Treatment Exploration Tool
University/Contractor/Volunteer/Other
Science Themes of the FRESC Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology Team are highlighted below.
Using Pollinator Environmental DNA to Assess the Ecological Resilience of America’s Grasslands
Dakota Skipper Surveillance, Monitoring, and Assessment
Using Artificial Flowers to Survey for Pollinators
Wildland Fire Trends Tool
READI-Net: Providing Tools for the Early Detection and Management of Aquatic Invasive Species
GIS Clipping and Summarization Tool for Points, Lines, Polygons, and Rasters
Environmental DNA qPCR detection results and covariates from Idaho, Missouri, Montana, and New York rivers sampled in 2023 Environmental DNA qPCR detection results and covariates from Idaho, Missouri, Montana, and New York rivers sampled in 2023
Fuel Break Treatments in the Sagebrush Biome of the Western United States, 1953 - 2018 Fuel Break Treatments in the Sagebrush Biome of the Western United States, 1953 - 2018
Western North America terrestrial reptile climate-niche rasters and summary data Western North America terrestrial reptile climate-niche rasters and summary data
Sagebrush recovery projections across the biome, 30 years after two seeding treatment applications, and associated model data (1986-2021) Sagebrush recovery projections across the biome, 30 years after two seeding treatment applications, and associated model data (1986-2021)
Microsatellite genotypes of Bombus occidentalis specimens (including Bombus mckayi) from 1960 to 2020 Microsatellite genotypes of Bombus occidentalis specimens (including Bombus mckayi) from 1960 to 2020
Characteristics, presence of erosional features, and cover of vegetation and bare ground on fields formerly enrolled in grassland, wetland, and wildlife practices of the Conservation Reserve Program in the central and western United States from 2017 to 20 Characteristics, presence of erosional features, and cover of vegetation and bare ground on fields formerly enrolled in grassland, wetland, and wildlife practices of the Conservation Reserve Program in the central and western United States from 2017 to 20
Costs of land treatments on public lands in the western United States Costs of land treatments on public lands in the western United States
Evaluation of the gap intercept method to measure rangeland connectivity Evaluation of the gap intercept method to measure rangeland connectivity
Field trials of an autonomous eDNA sampler in lotic waters Field trials of an autonomous eDNA sampler in lotic waters
Leveraging extensive soil, vegetation, fire, and land treatment data to inform restoration across the sagebrush biome Leveraging extensive soil, vegetation, fire, and land treatment data to inform restoration across the sagebrush biome
Closing the conservation gap in the sagebrush biome: Spatial targeting and coordination are needed for conservation to keep pace with sagebrush losses Closing the conservation gap in the sagebrush biome: Spatial targeting and coordination are needed for conservation to keep pace with sagebrush losses
Climate futures for lizards and snakes in western North America may result in new species management issues Climate futures for lizards and snakes in western North America may result in new species management issues
Below are news stories associated with this project.