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
Response of anurans to wetland restoration on a midwestern agriculture landscape
Home range use and survival of southern flying squirrels in fragmented forest landscapes
Book review: Serendipity: An ecologist’s quest to understand nature
Influence of trap modifications and environmental predictors on capture success of southern flying squirrels
Associations among habitat characteristics and meningeal worm prevalence in eastern South Dakota, USA
Long-term changes in Canade Goose nest success and nest densities at an Iowa wetland complex
Canada goose nest survival at rural wetlands in north-central Iowa
Book review: Large carnivore conservation: Integrating science and policy in the North American West
Age-specific survival of reintroduced swift fox in Badlands National Park and surrounding lands
Do transmitters affect survival and body condition of American beavers Castor canadensis?
Restored agricultural wetlands in Central Iowa: habitat quality and amphibian response
Influence of ecological factors on prevalence of meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis infection in South Dakota, USA
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
Response of anurans to wetland restoration on a midwestern agriculture landscape
Since the early 1990s, >5,000 ha of historic wetlands (and adjacent prairie) have been restored on the row-crop agricultural landscape of Winnebago County, Iowa, USA. From 2008–2011, we surveyed 22 of these sites for probabilities of occupancy and colonization by Boreal Chorus Frogs (BCF; Pseudacris maculata), Northern Leopard Frogs (NLF; Lithobates pipiens), and American Toads (AT; Anaxyrus ameriAuthorsPaul E. Bartelt, Robert W. KlaverHome range use and survival of southern flying squirrels in fragmented forest landscapes
We studied home range use, spatial activity patterns, and annual survival of southern flying squirrels (SFS; Glaucomys volans) across fragmented landscapes of west-central Illinois. We calculated seasonal home range sizes and annual survival from 67 animals (36 males, 31 females) captured during 2014–2016. Home range and core area sizes were similar (P ≥ 0.46) among males and females across summerAuthorsChristopher N. Jacques, James S. Zweep, Sean E. Jenkins, Robert W. KlaverBook review: Serendipity: An ecologist’s quest to understand nature
A common thought among graduate students is: “how do established scientists get where they are today?” In Serendipity: An Ecologist’s Quest to Understand Nature, James Estes offers a personal reflection on research experiences spanning his 50-year career, beginning as a Ph.D. student in 1970 and concluding with recognition as a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2014. Estes chronologicaAuthorsE. E. Ball, D. M. Adams, J. N. Dupuie, M. M. Jones, P. G. McGovern, R. M. Ruden, S.R. Schmidt, G. J. Vaziri, J. S. Eeling, B. D. Kirk, A. L. McCombs, A. B. Rabinowitz, K. M. Thompson, Z. J. Hudson, Robert W. KlaverInfluence of trap modifications and environmental predictors on capture success of southern flying squirrels
Sherman traps are the most commonly used live traps in studies of small mammals and have been successfully used in the capture of arboreal species such as the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans). However, southern flying squirrels spend proportionately less time foraging on the ground, which necessitates above-ground trapping methods and modifications of capture protocols. Further, quantitAuthorsChristopher N. Jacques, James S. Zweep, Mary E. Scheihing, Will T. Rechkemmer, Sean E. Jenkins, Robert W. Klaver, Shelli A. DubayAssociations among habitat characteristics and meningeal worm prevalence in eastern South Dakota, USA
Few studies have evaluated how wetland and forest characteristics influence the prevalence of meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis) infection of deer throughout the grassland biome of central North America. We used previously collected, county-level prevalence data to evaluate associations between habitat characteristics and probability of meningeal worm infection in white-tailed deer (OdocoAuthorsChristopher N. Jacques, Jonathan A. Jenks, Robert W. Klaver, Shelli A. DubayLong-term changes in Canade Goose nest success and nest densities at an Iowa wetland complex
Giant Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) were extirpated from Iowa by the early 1900s due to unregulated hunting, egg gathering, and wetland drainage in the nineteenth century (Bishop 1978). Ef- forts to reintroduce Canada geese in Iowa began in 1964 (Bishop and Howing 1972) and involved releasing flightless adults and goslings at nearly 30 sites across the state (Zenner and LaGrange 1998a).AuthorsBrenna N. Ness, Robert W. Klaver, G. G. ZennerCanada goose nest survival at rural wetlands in north-central Iowa
The last comprehensive nest survival study of the breeding giant Canada goose (Branta canadensis maxima) population in Iowa, USA, was conducted >30 years ago during a period of population recovery, during which available nesting habitat consisted primarily of artificial nest structures. Currently, Iowa's resident goose population is stable and nests in a variety of habitats. We analyzed the effectAuthorsBrenna N. Ness, Robert W. KlaverBook review: Large carnivore conservation: Integrating science and policy in the North American West
Dr. Klaver reviewed Large Carnivore Conservation as part of a graduate seminar and seminar participants represented the full range of readers who might be interested in the book: natural resource managers, citizen advocates, researchers, and students. Although we encountered a variety of opinions based on our different backgrounds and orientations, we discovered a surprising amount of consensus boAuthorsA. J. Albertsen, M. M. Cox, E. E. Ernst, H. J. Haley, Robert W. Klaver, D. A. Loney, M. M. Mackert, A. L. McCombs, F. Piatscheck, V. M. Pocius, D. S. SteinAge-specific survival of reintroduced swift fox in Badlands National Park and surrounding lands
In 2003, a reintroduction program was initiated at Badlands National Park (BNP), South Dakota, USA, with swift foxes (Vulpes velox) translocated from Colorado and Wyoming, USA, as part of a restoration effort to recover declining swift fox populations throughout its historical range. Estimates of age-specific survival are necessary to evaluate the potential for population growth of reintroduced poAuthorsIndrani Sasmal, Robert W. Klaver, Jonathan A. Jenks, Greg M. SchroederDo transmitters affect survival and body condition of American beavers Castor canadensis?
One key assumption often inferred with using radio-equipped individuals is that the transmitter has no effect on the metric of interest. To evaluate this assumption, we used a known fate model to assess the effect of transmitter type (i.e. tail-mounted or peritoneal implant) on short-term (one year) survival and a joint live—dead recovery model and results from a mark—recapture study to compare loAuthorsJoshua B. Smith, Steve K. Windels, Tiffany Wolf, Robert W. Klaver, Jerrold L. BelantRestored agricultural wetlands in Central Iowa: habitat quality and amphibian response
Amphibians are declining throughout the United States and worldwide due, partly, to habitat loss. Conservation practices on the landscape restore wetlands to denitrify tile drainage effluent and restore ecosystem services. Understanding how water quality, hydroperiod, predation, and disease affect amphibians in restored wetlands is central to maintaining healthy amphibian populations in the regionAuthorsRebecca A. Reeves, Clay Pierce, Kelly L. Smalling, Robert W. Klaver, Mark W. Vandever, William A. Battaglin, Erin L. MuthsInfluence of ecological factors on prevalence of meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis infection in South Dakota, USA
The meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis) is a nematode parasite that commonly infects white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; WTD) throughout the deciduous forest biome and deciduous-coniferous ecotone of eastern and central North America; the species is not known to occur west of the grassland biome of central North America. We used county-specific prevalence data to evaluate potentialAuthorsChristopher N. Jacques, Jonathan A. Jenks, Troy W. Grovenburg, Robert W. Klaver, Shelli A. DubayNon-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.
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