Bob Klaver, PhD
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
Confounded winter and spring phenoclimatology on large herbivore ranges
Effects of plant phenology and vertical height on accuracy of radio-telemetry locations
Habitat, wildlife and one health: Arcanobacterium pyogenes in Maryland and Upper Eastern Shore white-tailed deer populations
A vectorial capacity product to monitor changing malaria transmission potential in epidemic regions of Africa
Timing and synchrony of births in bighorn sheep: implications for reintroduction and conservation
Spatial ecology of white-tailed deer fawns in the northern Great Plains: implications of loss of conservation reserve program grasslands
Spatial analysis of Northern Goshawk Territories in the Black Hills, South Dakota
Microhabitat selection by bobcats in the badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota, USA: a comparison of Prairie and forested habitats
Factors influencing geographic patterns in diversity of forest bird communities of eastern Connecticut, USA
Predator evasion by white-tailed deer fawns
Nesting success and resource selection of greater sage grouse in South Dakota: Chapter 8
Influence of landscape characteristics on migration strategies of white-tailed deer
Non-USGS Publications**
**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.
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 80
Confounded winter and spring phenoclimatology on large herbivore ranges
Annual variation in winter severity and growing season vegetation dynamics appear to influence the demography of temperate herbivores but parsing winter from spring effects requires independent metrics of environmental conditions specific to each season. We tested for independence in annual variation amongst four common metrics used to describe winter severity and early growing season vegetation dAuthorsDavid Christianson, Robert W. Klaver, Arthur Middleton, Matthew KauffmanEffects of plant phenology and vertical height on accuracy of radio-telemetry locations
The use of very high frequency (VHF) radio-telemetry remains wide-spread in studies of wildlife ecology and management. However, few studies have evaluated the influence of vegetative obstruction on accuracy in differing habitats with varying transmitter types and heights. Using adult and fawn collars at varying heights above the ground (0, 33, 66 and 100 cm) to simulate activities (bedded, feedinAuthorsTroy W. Grovenburg, Christopher N. Jacques, Robert W. Klaver, Christopher S. DePerno, Chad P. Lehman, Todd J. Brinkman, Kevin A. Robling, Susan P. Rupp, Jonathan A. JenksHabitat, wildlife and one health: Arcanobacterium pyogenes in Maryland and Upper Eastern Shore white-tailed deer populations
Background: Understanding the distribution of disease in wildlife is key to predicting the impact of emerging zoonotic one health concerns, especially for wildlife species with extensive human and livestock interfaces. The widespread distribution and complex interactions of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) with humans suggest deer population health and management may have implications beAuthorsMelissa M. Turner, Christopher S. DePerno, Mark C. Conner, T. Brian Eyler, Richard A. Lancia, Robert W. Klaver, Michael K. StoskopfA vectorial capacity product to monitor changing malaria transmission potential in epidemic regions of Africa
Rainfall and temperature are two of the major factors triggering malaria epidemics in warm semi-arid (desert-fringe) and high altitude (highland-fringe) epidemic risk areas. The ability of the mosquitoes to transmit Plasmodium spp. is dependent upon a series of biological features generally referred to as vectorial capacity. In this study, the vectorial capacity model (VCAP) was expanded to includAuthorsPietro Ceccato, Christelle Vancutsem, Robert Klaver, James Rowland, Stephen J. ConnorTiming and synchrony of births in bighorn sheep: implications for reintroduction and conservation
Context: Timing (mean birthdate) and synchrony (variance around that date) of births can influence survival of young and growth in ungulate populations. Some restored populations of ungulates may not adjust these life-history characteristics to environments of release sites until several years after release, which may influence success of reintroductions. Aims: We quantified timing and synchrony oAuthorsJericho C. Whiting, Daniel Olson, Justin M. Shannon, R. Terry Bowyer, Robert W. Klaver, Jerran T. FlindersSpatial ecology of white-tailed deer fawns in the northern Great Plains: implications of loss of conservation reserve program grasslands
Few studies have evaluated how wildlife, and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in particular, respond to Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grasslands. We conducted a 3-year study (2007–2009) to determine the influence of CRP on fawn ecology during a time of declining CRP enrollment. We captured and radiocollared 81 fawn white-tailed deer during 15 May to 15 June 2007–2009 in north-centraAuthorsTroy W. Grovenburg, Robert W. Klaver, Jonathan A. JenksSpatial analysis of Northern Goshawk Territories in the Black Hills, South Dakota
The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) is the largest of the three North American species ofAccipiter and is more closely associated with older forests than are the other species. Its reliance on older forests has resulted in concerns about its status, extensive research into its habitat relationships, and litigation. Our objective was to model the spatial patterns of goshawk territories in theAuthorsRobert W. Klaver, Douglas Backlund, Paul E. Bartelt, Michael G. Erickson, Craig J. Knowles, Pamela R. Knowles, Michael WimberlyMicrohabitat selection by bobcats in the badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota, USA: a comparison of Prairie and forested habitats
An understanding of habitat selection is important for management of wildlife species. Although bobcat (Lynx rufus) resource selection has been addressed in many regions of the United States, little work has been conducted in the Northern Great Plains. From 2006–2008 we captured and radiocollared 20 bobcats in the Badlands (n = 10) and Black Hills (n = 10) regions of South Dakota. During the summAuthorsCory E. Mosby, Troy W. Grovenburg, Robert W. Klaver, Greg M. Schroeder, Lowell E. Schmitz, Jonathan A. JenksFactors influencing geographic patterns in diversity of forest bird communities of eastern Connecticut, USA
At regional scales, the most important variables associated with diversity are latitudinally-based temperature and net primary productivity, although diversity is also influenced by habitat. We examined bird species richness, community density and community evenness in forests of eastern Connecticut to determine whether: 1) spatial and seasonal patterns exist in diversity, 2) energy explains the gAuthorsRobert J. Craig, Robert W. KlaverPredator evasion by white-tailed deer fawns
Despite their importance for understanding predator–prey interactions, factors that affect predator evasion behaviours of offspring of large ungulates are poorly understood. Our objective was to characterize the influence of selection and availability of escape cover and maternal presence on predator evasion by white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, fawns in the northern Great Plains, U.S.A. WAuthorsTroy W. Grovenburg, Kevin L. Monteith, Robert W. Klaver, Jonathan A. JenksNesting success and resource selection of greater sage grouse in South Dakota: Chapter 8
Declines of Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in South Dakota are a concern because further population declines may lead to isolation from populations in Wyoming and Montana. Furthermore, little information exists about reproductive ecology and resource selection of sage grouse on the eastern edge of their distribution. We investigated Greater Sage-Grouse nesting success and resourceAuthorsNicholas W. Kaczor, Kent C. Jensen, Robert W. Klaver, Mark A. Rumble, Katie M. Herman-Brunson, Christopher C. SwansonInfluence of landscape characteristics on migration strategies of white-tailed deer
A trade-off exists for migrating animals as to whether to migrate or remain residents. Few studies have documented relationships between landscape variables and deer migration strategies. From 2000 to 2007 we captured 267 adult female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at 7 study sites in Minnesota and South Dakota and monitored 149 individuals through ≥3 seasonal migration periods (585 deAuthorsT.W. Grovenburg, C.N. Jacques, R. W. Klaver, C.S. Deperno, T.J. Brinkman, C. C. Swanson, J.A. JenksNon-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