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Wildlife Ecology and Habitat Restoration Team

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By Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center March 31, 2026

Our team conducts research on wildlife species ecology, threats to species, causes of population dynamics, and ways to mitigate threats for species recovery. For example, we conduct research on ecological restoration in terrestrial and aquatic environments, and investigate wildlife responses to restoration. We also evaluate standardized methods used to monitor post-restoration outcomes and develop science-based decision support and adaptative management tools to aid natural resource management. 

Our work spans several major areas, including restoration, monitoring and evaluation, habitat relationships, invasive species, species life histories, ecosystem processes, and wildfire.

Research Areas

Click to explore science webpages, publications, web tools, and more for each of our research topics.

 

Species Conservation

Species Conservation

Restoration Effectiveness

Restoration Effectiveness

Decision Support Tools

Decision Support Tools

Principal Investigator

David Pilliod - Supervisory Research Ecologist

 

Federal Staff

Robert Arkle - Supervisory Biologist

Tyler Castilleja - Biological Science Technician

Morgan Cheyney - Biological Science Technician

Matthew Clark - Biological Science Technician

Michaela Grossklaus - Biologist

Michelle Jeffries - Biologist & Project Manager for Land Treatment Digital Library and Land Treatment Exploration Tool

Kristina Parker - Biologist

John (Gordon) Ross - Ecologist

Katherine (Katie) Rupp - Biological Science Technician

Science Themes of the FRESC Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology Team are highlighted below.

Filter Total Items: 23
Filter Total Items: 25
No Result Found
No results found.
Filter Total Items: 19

Below are news stories associated with this project.

Filter Total Items: 44
Reptile Diversity and Abundance at the Idaho National Guard Orchard Combat Training Center and Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area

Reptile Diversity and Abundance at the Idaho National Guard Orchard Combat Training Center and Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area

Forty years of snake and lizard surveys help scientists understand the consequences of invasive species, wildfires, and other environmental stressors...

Read Article
Sampling Strategies for Monitoring Post-Disturbance Treatments on Rangelands

Sampling Strategies for Monitoring Post-Disturbance Treatments on Rangelands

Methodological guidelines are needed to rapidly determine vegetation responses to wildfire and post-disturbance treatments, such as seeding and...

Read Article
Pollinator Use of Forbs in the Soda Fire Area

Pollinator Use of Forbs in the Soda Fire Area

Pollinating insects are in serious decline across the United States, which not only impacts agricultural plants, but native plants as well.

Read Article
eDNA Consultation

eDNA Consultation

Environmental DNA – or eDNA - analytical methods are effective for estimating site occupancy and species distribution of aquatic organisms.

Read Article
Altering Sagebrush Landscapes with Fuel Breaks to Save Them from Wildfire

Altering Sagebrush Landscapes with Fuel Breaks to Save Them from Wildfire

Linear fuel breaks have long been used to help suppress fire in the Great Basin, and thousands of miles of new fuel breaks may be constructed in...

Read Article
Estimating Aquatic Species Density From Environmental DNA

Estimating Aquatic Species Density From Environmental DNA

Environmental DNA – or eDNA - analytical methods are effective for estimating site occupancy and species distribution of aquatic organisms.

Read Article
Annotated Bibliography: Research on Greater Sage-grouse since January 2015

Annotated Bibliography: Research on Greater Sage-grouse since January 2015

The sheer number of scientific publications related to greater sage-grouse research can be a challenge for managers to navigate when updating plans...

Read Article
Post-Fire Stabilization Seedings Have Not Developed Into Sage-grouse Habitat

Post-Fire Stabilization Seedings Have Not Developed Into Sage-grouse Habitat

The practice of emergency post-fire seeding in sagebrush landscapes of the Great Basin, which was meant to stabilize soils, has not resulted in...

Read Article

Our team conducts research on wildlife species ecology, threats to species, causes of population dynamics, and ways to mitigate threats for species recovery. For example, we conduct research on ecological restoration in terrestrial and aquatic environments, and investigate wildlife responses to restoration. We also evaluate standardized methods used to monitor post-restoration outcomes and develop science-based decision support and adaptative management tools to aid natural resource management. 

Our work spans several major areas, including restoration, monitoring and evaluation, habitat relationships, invasive species, species life histories, ecosystem processes, and wildfire.

Research Areas

Click to explore science webpages, publications, web tools, and more for each of our research topics.

 

Species Conservation

Species Conservation

Restoration Effectiveness

Restoration Effectiveness

Decision Support Tools

Decision Support Tools

Principal Investigator

David Pilliod - Supervisory Research Ecologist

 

Federal Staff

Robert Arkle - Supervisory Biologist

Tyler Castilleja - Biological Science Technician

Morgan Cheyney - Biological Science Technician

Matthew Clark - Biological Science Technician

Michaela Grossklaus - Biologist

Michelle Jeffries - Biologist & Project Manager for Land Treatment Digital Library and Land Treatment Exploration Tool

Kristina Parker - Biologist

John (Gordon) Ross - Ecologist

Katherine (Katie) Rupp - Biological Science Technician

Science Themes of the FRESC Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology Team are highlighted below.

Filter Total Items: 23
Filter Total Items: 25
No Result Found
No results found.
Filter Total Items: 19

Below are news stories associated with this project.

Filter Total Items: 44
Reptile Diversity and Abundance at the Idaho National Guard Orchard Combat Training Center and Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area

Reptile Diversity and Abundance at the Idaho National Guard Orchard Combat Training Center and Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area

Forty years of snake and lizard surveys help scientists understand the consequences of invasive species, wildfires, and other environmental stressors...

Read Article
Sampling Strategies for Monitoring Post-Disturbance Treatments on Rangelands

Sampling Strategies for Monitoring Post-Disturbance Treatments on Rangelands

Methodological guidelines are needed to rapidly determine vegetation responses to wildfire and post-disturbance treatments, such as seeding and...

Read Article
Pollinator Use of Forbs in the Soda Fire Area

Pollinator Use of Forbs in the Soda Fire Area

Pollinating insects are in serious decline across the United States, which not only impacts agricultural plants, but native plants as well.

Read Article
eDNA Consultation

eDNA Consultation

Environmental DNA – or eDNA - analytical methods are effective for estimating site occupancy and species distribution of aquatic organisms.

Read Article
Altering Sagebrush Landscapes with Fuel Breaks to Save Them from Wildfire

Altering Sagebrush Landscapes with Fuel Breaks to Save Them from Wildfire

Linear fuel breaks have long been used to help suppress fire in the Great Basin, and thousands of miles of new fuel breaks may be constructed in...

Read Article
Estimating Aquatic Species Density From Environmental DNA

Estimating Aquatic Species Density From Environmental DNA

Environmental DNA – or eDNA - analytical methods are effective for estimating site occupancy and species distribution of aquatic organisms.

Read Article
Annotated Bibliography: Research on Greater Sage-grouse since January 2015

Annotated Bibliography: Research on Greater Sage-grouse since January 2015

The sheer number of scientific publications related to greater sage-grouse research can be a challenge for managers to navigate when updating plans...

Read Article
Post-Fire Stabilization Seedings Have Not Developed Into Sage-grouse Habitat

Post-Fire Stabilization Seedings Have Not Developed Into Sage-grouse Habitat

The practice of emergency post-fire seeding in sagebrush landscapes of the Great Basin, which was meant to stabilize soils, has not resulted in...

Read Article
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