Unit Leader - Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Bob is a Wildlife Biologist who moved to Iowa in January 2012 from the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. While at EROS, he worked in collaboration with faculty and students at South Dakota State University.
Previously, he was the regional GIS coordinator for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Portland, OR. He also served as a wildlife biologist on the Flathead Indian Reservation working with multiple species and coordinated wildlife activities with other resources like forestry and range management
Research Interests
Bob's research spans a wide variety of collaborative projects on multiple wildlife taxa, from birds to bears. Much of this work has integrated remote sensing data with population biology and habitat use and selection.
Teaching Interests
Bob will be teaching an analysis of habitat selection class Spring 2013. He has taught classes in the analysis of mark-recapture data.
Professional Experience
Unit Leader, Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 2012-
Education and Certifications
Ph D South Dakota State University 2001
MS University of Montana 1977
BS University of Montana 1974
BS Iowa State University 1971
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 80
Multi-species amphibian monitoring across a protected landscape: Critical reflections on 15 years of wetland monitoring in Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks
Widespread amphibian declines were well documented at the end of the 20th century, raising concerns about the need to identify individual and interactive contributors to this global trend. At the same time, there was growing interest in the use of amphibians as ecological indicators. In the United States, wetland and amphibian monitoring programs were launched in some national parks as a necessary
Evaluation of an elk detection probability model in the Black Hills, South Dakota
Since 1993, elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) abundance in the Black Hills of South Dakota has been estimated using a detection probability model previously developed in Idaho, though it is likely biased because of a failure to account for visibility biases under local conditions. To correct for this bias, we evaluated the current detection probability across the Black Hills during January and Febru
Canada goose survival and recovery rates in urban and rural areas of Iowa, USA
Once extirpated from much of their North American range, temperate-breeding Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) have reached high abundance. As a result, focus has shifted from restoration to managing harvest and addressing human-goose conflict. Conflict persists or is increasing in urban areas throughout the Mississippi Flyway. Managers need more information regarding demographic rates to det
Vegetation sampling and management
What is the utility of vegetation measurements for wildlife managers? In the prairie, savanna, tundra, forest, steppe, and wetland regions of the world, mixtures of plant species provide wildlife with food, cover and, in some circumstances, water; the 3 essential habitat elements necessary to sustain viable wildlife populations. We define habitat in reference to use of a vegetation type by an anim
Estimating density and detection of bobcats in fragmented Midwestern landscapes using spatial capture-recapture data from camera traps
Camera-trapping data analyzed with spatially explicit capture–recapture (SCR) models can provide a rigorous method for estimating density of small populations of elusive carnivore species. We sought to develop and evaluate the efficacy of SCR models for estimating density of a presumed low-density bobcat (Lynx rufus) population in fragmented landscapes of west-central Illinois, USA. We analyzed ca
Characterizing urban butterfly populations: The case for purposive point-count surveys
Developing effective butterfly monitoring strategies is key to understanding how butterflies interact with urban environments, and, in turn, to developing local conservation practices. We investigated two urban habitat types (public gardens and restored/reconstructed prairies) and compared three survey methods (Pollard transects, purposive point counts, and random point counts) to determine which
Quantifying thermal-imager effectiveness for detecting bird nests on farms
We conducted a designed experiment to test whether having a thermal-imaging camera available affected researchers' nest detection rates when searching for bird nests in cropland and grassland habitat in an agricultural landscape of Iowa, USA, in 2016. With known active nests present, naïve observers searched for nests with and without a thermal imager available. We did not find a difference in det
Chronic wasting disease detection and mortality sources in semi-protected deer population
Surveillance for wildlife diseases is essential for assessing population dynamics of ungulates, especially in free-ranging populations where infected animals are difficult to sample. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease of concern because of the potential for substantial negative effects on populations of cervids. Variability in the likelihood that CWD is detected could
Nest tree use by Southern flying squirrels in fragmented midwestern landscapes
Southern flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans; SFS) nest in naturally formed cavities in snags and hardwoods found in mature, oak (Quercus spp.)–hickory (Carya spp.) forests. Intensive forest fragmentation of the Midwest United States limits the number of available nesting trees. We quantified annual nest‐site selection patterns by southern flying squirrels across fragmented landscapes of west‐centr
Occupancy modeling of Parnassius clodius butterfly populations in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Estimating occupancy patterns and identifying vegetation characteristics that influence the presence of butterfly species are essential approaches needed for determining how habitat changes may affect butterfly populations in the future. The montane butterfly species, Parnassius clodius, was investigated to identify patterns of occupancy relating to habitat variables in Grand Teton National Park a
Respiratory disease, behavior, and survival of mountain goat kids
Bacterial pneumonia is a threat to bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) populations. Bighorn sheep in the East Humboldt Mountain Range (EHR), Nevada, USA, experienced a pneumonia epizootic in 2009–2010. Testing of mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) that were captured or found dead on this range during and after the epizootic detected bacteria commonly associated with bighorn sheep pneumonia die‐offs.
Weather and landscape factors affect white-tailed deer neonate survival at ecologically important life stages in the Northern Great Plains
Offspring survival is generally more variable than adult survival and may limit population growth. Although white-tailed deer neonate survival has been intensively investigated, recent work has emphasized how specific cover types influence neonate survival at local scales (single study area). These localized investigations have often led to inconsistences within the literature. Developing specific
Non-USGS Publications**
Smith, J.B., S.K. Windels, T. Wolf, R.W. Klaver, J.L. Belant. 2016. Do transmitters affect survival and body condition of American beavers (Castor canadensis)? Wildlife Biology 22:117 - 123
Sasmal, I., R.W. Klaver, J.A. Jenks, and G.M. Schroeder. Age-specific survival of reintroduced swift fox in Badlands National Park and surrounding lands. Wildlife Society Bulletin
Jacques, C.N., J.A. Jenks, T.W. Grovenburg, and R.W. Klaver. 2015. Influence of habitat and intrinsic characteristics on survival of neonatal pronghorn. PLoS ONE 10: e0144026
Datta, S., J. A. Jenks, K. C. Jensen, C. C. Swanson, R. W. Klaver, I. Sasmal, and T. W. Grovenburg. 2015. Mate Replacement and Alloparental Care in Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis). The Prairie Naturalist 47:36–37
Jacques, C.N., J.A. Jenks, T.W. Grovenburg, R.W. Klaver, and S.A. Dubay. 2015. Influence of ecological factors on prevalence of meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis) infection in South Dakota, USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 51: 332-340
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Northern Yellowstone Mule Deer Movements and Demographics
This data product includes two datasets acquired for the study of northern Yellowstone mule deer seasonal movement and survival patterns. One data set "Point Locations of Radio-collared female northern Yellowstone mule deer" provides details about the date and time of relocations of radio-collared female northern Yellowstone mule deer along with location coordinates. Habitat type
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 80
Multi-species amphibian monitoring across a protected landscape: Critical reflections on 15 years of wetland monitoring in Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks
Widespread amphibian declines were well documented at the end of the 20th century, raising concerns about the need to identify individual and interactive contributors to this global trend. At the same time, there was growing interest in the use of amphibians as ecological indicators. In the United States, wetland and amphibian monitoring programs were launched in some national parks as a necessaryEvaluation of an elk detection probability model in the Black Hills, South Dakota
Since 1993, elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) abundance in the Black Hills of South Dakota has been estimated using a detection probability model previously developed in Idaho, though it is likely biased because of a failure to account for visibility biases under local conditions. To correct for this bias, we evaluated the current detection probability across the Black Hills during January and FebruCanada goose survival and recovery rates in urban and rural areas of Iowa, USA
Once extirpated from much of their North American range, temperate-breeding Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) have reached high abundance. As a result, focus has shifted from restoration to managing harvest and addressing human-goose conflict. Conflict persists or is increasing in urban areas throughout the Mississippi Flyway. Managers need more information regarding demographic rates to detVegetation sampling and management
What is the utility of vegetation measurements for wildlife managers? In the prairie, savanna, tundra, forest, steppe, and wetland regions of the world, mixtures of plant species provide wildlife with food, cover and, in some circumstances, water; the 3 essential habitat elements necessary to sustain viable wildlife populations. We define habitat in reference to use of a vegetation type by an animEstimating density and detection of bobcats in fragmented Midwestern landscapes using spatial capture-recapture data from camera traps
Camera-trapping data analyzed with spatially explicit capture–recapture (SCR) models can provide a rigorous method for estimating density of small populations of elusive carnivore species. We sought to develop and evaluate the efficacy of SCR models for estimating density of a presumed low-density bobcat (Lynx rufus) population in fragmented landscapes of west-central Illinois, USA. We analyzed caCharacterizing urban butterfly populations: The case for purposive point-count surveys
Developing effective butterfly monitoring strategies is key to understanding how butterflies interact with urban environments, and, in turn, to developing local conservation practices. We investigated two urban habitat types (public gardens and restored/reconstructed prairies) and compared three survey methods (Pollard transects, purposive point counts, and random point counts) to determine whichQuantifying thermal-imager effectiveness for detecting bird nests on farms
We conducted a designed experiment to test whether having a thermal-imaging camera available affected researchers' nest detection rates when searching for bird nests in cropland and grassland habitat in an agricultural landscape of Iowa, USA, in 2016. With known active nests present, naïve observers searched for nests with and without a thermal imager available. We did not find a difference in detChronic wasting disease detection and mortality sources in semi-protected deer population
Surveillance for wildlife diseases is essential for assessing population dynamics of ungulates, especially in free-ranging populations where infected animals are difficult to sample. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an emerging infectious disease of concern because of the potential for substantial negative effects on populations of cervids. Variability in the likelihood that CWD is detected couldNest tree use by Southern flying squirrels in fragmented midwestern landscapes
Southern flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans; SFS) nest in naturally formed cavities in snags and hardwoods found in mature, oak (Quercus spp.)–hickory (Carya spp.) forests. Intensive forest fragmentation of the Midwest United States limits the number of available nesting trees. We quantified annual nest‐site selection patterns by southern flying squirrels across fragmented landscapes of west‐centrOccupancy modeling of Parnassius clodius butterfly populations in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Estimating occupancy patterns and identifying vegetation characteristics that influence the presence of butterfly species are essential approaches needed for determining how habitat changes may affect butterfly populations in the future. The montane butterfly species, Parnassius clodius, was investigated to identify patterns of occupancy relating to habitat variables in Grand Teton National Park aRespiratory disease, behavior, and survival of mountain goat kids
Bacterial pneumonia is a threat to bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) populations. Bighorn sheep in the East Humboldt Mountain Range (EHR), Nevada, USA, experienced a pneumonia epizootic in 2009–2010. Testing of mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) that were captured or found dead on this range during and after the epizootic detected bacteria commonly associated with bighorn sheep pneumonia die‐offs.Weather and landscape factors affect white-tailed deer neonate survival at ecologically important life stages in the Northern Great Plains
Offspring survival is generally more variable than adult survival and may limit population growth. Although white-tailed deer neonate survival has been intensively investigated, recent work has emphasized how specific cover types influence neonate survival at local scales (single study area). These localized investigations have often led to inconsistences within the literature. Developing specificNon-USGS Publications**
Smith, J.B., S.K. Windels, T. Wolf, R.W. Klaver, J.L. Belant. 2016. Do transmitters affect survival and body condition of American beavers (Castor canadensis)? Wildlife Biology 22:117 - 123Sasmal, I., R.W. Klaver, J.A. Jenks, and G.M. Schroeder. Age-specific survival of reintroduced swift fox in Badlands National Park and surrounding lands. Wildlife Society Bulletin
Jacques, C.N., J.A. Jenks, T.W. Grovenburg, and R.W. Klaver. 2015. Influence of habitat and intrinsic characteristics on survival of neonatal pronghorn. PLoS ONE 10: e0144026Datta, S., J. A. Jenks, K. C. Jensen, C. C. Swanson, R. W. Klaver, I. Sasmal, and T. W. Grovenburg. 2015. Mate Replacement and Alloparental Care in Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis). The Prairie Naturalist 47:36–37Jacques, C.N., J.A. Jenks, T.W. Grovenburg, R.W. Klaver, and S.A. Dubay. 2015. Influence of ecological factors on prevalence of meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis) infection in South Dakota, USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 51: 332-340**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
- Data
Northern Yellowstone Mule Deer Movements and Demographics
This data product includes two datasets acquired for the study of northern Yellowstone mule deer seasonal movement and survival patterns. One data set "Point Locations of Radio-collared female northern Yellowstone mule deer" provides details about the date and time of relocations of radio-collared female northern Yellowstone mule deer along with location coordinates. Habitat type