Brett A. DeGregorio, PhD
Unit Leader - Michigan Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
My students and I study the movement ecology, habitat use, distribution, and behavioral responses to anthropogenic disturbance, community ecology, predator prey ecology of reptiles, birds, and mammals. Many of my current projects utilize wildlife game cameras to monitor community level changes and behavioral responses to human activity or development. My work is adaptable and flexible as my research program is tailored to work closely with the needs of our state cooperators, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. My students and I endeavor to study wildlife issues all over the state of Arkansas. I teach several courses at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville including Wildlife Management and Conservation in Arkansas and Conservation Biology.
Professional Experience
Unit Leader, Michigan Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 2023-
Unit Leader, Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, 2019-2023
Department of Defense
Education and Certifications
PhD, Natural Resources at University of Illinois, 2014
M.S., Biology at Purdue at Fort Wayne, 2008
B.S., University of Massachusetts in Amherst, 2004
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 26
Effects of landscape cover and yard features on feral and free-roaming cat (Felis catus) distribution, abundance and activity patterns in a suburban area Effects of landscape cover and yard features on feral and free-roaming cat (Felis catus) distribution, abundance and activity patterns in a suburban area
Feral and free-roaming domestic cats (Felis catus) are invasive predators throughout the world. In some areas, cats occur in higher densities than native mammalian predators and can have severe effects upon prey populations. We set 48 wildlife game cameras in residential yards in Arkansas, USA, to evaluate which landscape and yard features influenced cat abundance occurring in yards. In...
Authors
Emily Johansson, Brett Alexander DeGregorio
Movement ecology of adult and juvenile spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata) in a seasonally dynamic environment Movement ecology of adult and juvenile spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata) in a seasonally dynamic environment
Context Understanding the temporal and spatial scales at which wildlife move is vital for conservation and management. This is especially important for semi-aquatic species that make frequent inter-wetland movements to fulfil life-history requirements. Aims We aimed to investigate the drivers of movement and space-use of the imperilled spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata), a seasonal wetland...
Authors
Ellery Lassiter, Jinelle Sperry, Brett Alexander DeGregorio
Nocturnal basking in freshwater turtles: A global assessment Nocturnal basking in freshwater turtles: A global assessment
Diurnal basking (“sunning”) is common in many ectotherms and is generally thought to be a behavioural mechanism for thermoregulation. Recent studies have reported the occurrence of nocturnal basking in a few distantly-related species of freshwater turtles, but the true extent of this behaviour is unknown, and it may be underreported due to sampling biases (e.g., not surveying for turtles...
Authors
Donald T. McKnight, Kendall Ard, Renoir J. Auguste, Gaurav Barhadiya, Michael F. Benard, Paige Boban, Martin L. Dillon, Colleen T. Downs, Brett Alexander DeGregorio, Brad Glorioso, Rachel M. Goodman, Coen Hird, Ethan C. Hollender, Malcolm Kennedy, Rosie A. Kidman, Andrhea Massey, Pearson McGovern, Max Muhlenhaupt, Kayhan Ostovar, Danusia Podgorski, Cormac Price, Beth A. Reinke, Louise M. Streeting, Jane Venezia, Jeanne Young, Eric J. Nordberg
Body mass dynamics in wintering mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley Body mass dynamics in wintering mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley
Body mass in overwintering waterfowl is an important fitness attribute as it affects winter survival, timing of spring migration, and subsequent reproductive success. Recent research in Europe and the western United States indicates body mass of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) has increased from the late 1960s to early 2000s. The underlying mechanism is currently unknown; however...
Authors
John T. Veon, Brett Alexander DeGregorio, Luke W. Naylor, Kenneth J. Reinecke, Brad C. Dabbert, Dean W. Demarest, Kevin M. Hartke, David G. Krementz
Foraging habitat selection of shrubland bird community in tropical dry forest Foraging habitat selection of shrubland bird community in tropical dry forest
Habitat loss due to increasing anthropogenic disturbance is the major driver for bird population declines across the globe. Within the Eastern Ghats of India, shrubland bird communities are threatened by shrinking of suitable habitats due to increased anthropogenic disturbance and climate change. The development of an effective habitat management strategy is hampered by the absence of...
Authors
A. Deshwall, S.L. Stephenson, P. Panwar, Brett Alexander DeGregorio, R. Kannan, J.D. Willson
Wildlife associates of nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) burrows in Arkansas Wildlife associates of nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) burrows in Arkansas
The Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is a widespread burrowing species with an expanding geographic range across the southeastern and midwestern United States. Armadillos dig numerous, large burrows within their home ranges and these burrows are likely used by a diverse suite of wildlife species as has been reported for other burrowing ecosystem engineers such as Gopher...
Authors
Brett Alexander DeGregorio, John T. Veon, Andrhea Massey
You can go your own way: No evidence for social behavior based on kinship or familiarity in captive juvenile box turtles You can go your own way: No evidence for social behavior based on kinship or familiarity in captive juvenile box turtles
Behavioral interactions between conspecific animals can be influenced by relatedness and familiarity. Compared to other vertebrate taxa, considering such aspects of social behavior when housing captive reptiles has received less attention, despite the implications this could have for informing husbandry practices, enhancing welfare, and influencing outcomes of conservation translocations...
Authors
Sasha J. Tetzlaff, Jinelle H. Sperry, Brett Alexander DeGregorio
Evaluating hydrophones for detecting underwater-calling frogs Evaluating hydrophones for detecting underwater-calling frogs
Amphibians are declining and disappearing worldwide at an alarming rate, emphasizing the need for accurate surveys to document the distribution and abundance of this imperiled taxon. Automated recorders are a powerful tool for surveyors to continuously monitor for calling amphibians. However, we are discovering that many species of frog call when submerged underwater making it...
Authors
Brett Alexander DeGregorio, Patrick J. Wolff, Aaron N. Rice
Nine-banded armadillo (Dasyrus novemcinctus) activity patterns are influenced by human activity Nine-banded armadillo (Dasyrus novemcinctus) activity patterns are influenced by human activity
As the human footprint upon the landscape expands, wildlife seeking to avoid human contact are losing the option of altering their spatial distribution and instead are shifting their daily activity patterns to be active at different times than humans. In this study, we used game cameras to evaluate how human development and activity were related to the daily activity patterns of the nine...
Authors
Brett Alexander DeGregorio, C. Gale, E. V. Lassiter, A. Massey, Caleb Powell Roberts, J. Veon
Northern bobwhite occupancy patterns on multiple spatial scales across Arkansas Northern bobwhite occupancy patterns on multiple spatial scales across Arkansas
Northern bobwhite Colinus virginianus populations have been rapidly declining in the eastern, central, and southern United States for decades. Land use change and an incompatibility between northern bobwhite resource needs and human land use practices have driven declines. Here, we applied occupancy analyses on two spatial scales (state level and ecoregion level) to more than 5,000...
Authors
E. V. Lassiter, M. Asher, G. Christie, C. Gale, A. Massey, C. Massery, C. R. MIddaugh, J. Veon, Brett Alexander DeGregorio
Factors influencing the use of water-filled tree cavities by eastern ratsnakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) Factors influencing the use of water-filled tree cavities by eastern ratsnakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis)
For some animals, specific microhabitats may be particularly important for certain behaviors and/or age or sex classes. Here we explore the use of previously unrecognized retreat sites (water-filled tree cavities) by Eastern Ratsnakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis). During 4 y of radio telemetry, approximately half of the 45 ratsnakes monitored used water-filled cavities. Typically, water...
Authors
Brett Alexander DeGregorio, J. H. Sperry, P. J. Weatherhead
Soft Release Translocation of Texas Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum) on an Urban Military Installation in Oklahoma, United States Soft Release Translocation of Texas Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum) on an Urban Military Installation in Oklahoma, United States
Wildlife translocation is an often-used technique to augment populations or remove animals from harm’s way. Unfortunately, many translocation efforts fail to meet their goals for myriad reasons, particularly because translocated animals make large, erratic movements after release, which can result in high mortality rates. Soft release, holding animals in acclimation pens for some period...
Authors
Brett Alexander DeGregorio, H. Myers, R. Moody
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
Filter Total Items: 26
Effects of landscape cover and yard features on feral and free-roaming cat (Felis catus) distribution, abundance and activity patterns in a suburban area Effects of landscape cover and yard features on feral and free-roaming cat (Felis catus) distribution, abundance and activity patterns in a suburban area
Feral and free-roaming domestic cats (Felis catus) are invasive predators throughout the world. In some areas, cats occur in higher densities than native mammalian predators and can have severe effects upon prey populations. We set 48 wildlife game cameras in residential yards in Arkansas, USA, to evaluate which landscape and yard features influenced cat abundance occurring in yards. In...
Authors
Emily Johansson, Brett Alexander DeGregorio
Movement ecology of adult and juvenile spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata) in a seasonally dynamic environment Movement ecology of adult and juvenile spotted turtles (Clemmys guttata) in a seasonally dynamic environment
Context Understanding the temporal and spatial scales at which wildlife move is vital for conservation and management. This is especially important for semi-aquatic species that make frequent inter-wetland movements to fulfil life-history requirements. Aims We aimed to investigate the drivers of movement and space-use of the imperilled spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata), a seasonal wetland...
Authors
Ellery Lassiter, Jinelle Sperry, Brett Alexander DeGregorio
Nocturnal basking in freshwater turtles: A global assessment Nocturnal basking in freshwater turtles: A global assessment
Diurnal basking (“sunning”) is common in many ectotherms and is generally thought to be a behavioural mechanism for thermoregulation. Recent studies have reported the occurrence of nocturnal basking in a few distantly-related species of freshwater turtles, but the true extent of this behaviour is unknown, and it may be underreported due to sampling biases (e.g., not surveying for turtles...
Authors
Donald T. McKnight, Kendall Ard, Renoir J. Auguste, Gaurav Barhadiya, Michael F. Benard, Paige Boban, Martin L. Dillon, Colleen T. Downs, Brett Alexander DeGregorio, Brad Glorioso, Rachel M. Goodman, Coen Hird, Ethan C. Hollender, Malcolm Kennedy, Rosie A. Kidman, Andrhea Massey, Pearson McGovern, Max Muhlenhaupt, Kayhan Ostovar, Danusia Podgorski, Cormac Price, Beth A. Reinke, Louise M. Streeting, Jane Venezia, Jeanne Young, Eric J. Nordberg
Body mass dynamics in wintering mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley Body mass dynamics in wintering mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley
Body mass in overwintering waterfowl is an important fitness attribute as it affects winter survival, timing of spring migration, and subsequent reproductive success. Recent research in Europe and the western United States indicates body mass of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) has increased from the late 1960s to early 2000s. The underlying mechanism is currently unknown; however...
Authors
John T. Veon, Brett Alexander DeGregorio, Luke W. Naylor, Kenneth J. Reinecke, Brad C. Dabbert, Dean W. Demarest, Kevin M. Hartke, David G. Krementz
Foraging habitat selection of shrubland bird community in tropical dry forest Foraging habitat selection of shrubland bird community in tropical dry forest
Habitat loss due to increasing anthropogenic disturbance is the major driver for bird population declines across the globe. Within the Eastern Ghats of India, shrubland bird communities are threatened by shrinking of suitable habitats due to increased anthropogenic disturbance and climate change. The development of an effective habitat management strategy is hampered by the absence of...
Authors
A. Deshwall, S.L. Stephenson, P. Panwar, Brett Alexander DeGregorio, R. Kannan, J.D. Willson
Wildlife associates of nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) burrows in Arkansas Wildlife associates of nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) burrows in Arkansas
The Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is a widespread burrowing species with an expanding geographic range across the southeastern and midwestern United States. Armadillos dig numerous, large burrows within their home ranges and these burrows are likely used by a diverse suite of wildlife species as has been reported for other burrowing ecosystem engineers such as Gopher...
Authors
Brett Alexander DeGregorio, John T. Veon, Andrhea Massey
You can go your own way: No evidence for social behavior based on kinship or familiarity in captive juvenile box turtles You can go your own way: No evidence for social behavior based on kinship or familiarity in captive juvenile box turtles
Behavioral interactions between conspecific animals can be influenced by relatedness and familiarity. Compared to other vertebrate taxa, considering such aspects of social behavior when housing captive reptiles has received less attention, despite the implications this could have for informing husbandry practices, enhancing welfare, and influencing outcomes of conservation translocations...
Authors
Sasha J. Tetzlaff, Jinelle H. Sperry, Brett Alexander DeGregorio
Evaluating hydrophones for detecting underwater-calling frogs Evaluating hydrophones for detecting underwater-calling frogs
Amphibians are declining and disappearing worldwide at an alarming rate, emphasizing the need for accurate surveys to document the distribution and abundance of this imperiled taxon. Automated recorders are a powerful tool for surveyors to continuously monitor for calling amphibians. However, we are discovering that many species of frog call when submerged underwater making it...
Authors
Brett Alexander DeGregorio, Patrick J. Wolff, Aaron N. Rice
Nine-banded armadillo (Dasyrus novemcinctus) activity patterns are influenced by human activity Nine-banded armadillo (Dasyrus novemcinctus) activity patterns are influenced by human activity
As the human footprint upon the landscape expands, wildlife seeking to avoid human contact are losing the option of altering their spatial distribution and instead are shifting their daily activity patterns to be active at different times than humans. In this study, we used game cameras to evaluate how human development and activity were related to the daily activity patterns of the nine...
Authors
Brett Alexander DeGregorio, C. Gale, E. V. Lassiter, A. Massey, Caleb Powell Roberts, J. Veon
Northern bobwhite occupancy patterns on multiple spatial scales across Arkansas Northern bobwhite occupancy patterns on multiple spatial scales across Arkansas
Northern bobwhite Colinus virginianus populations have been rapidly declining in the eastern, central, and southern United States for decades. Land use change and an incompatibility between northern bobwhite resource needs and human land use practices have driven declines. Here, we applied occupancy analyses on two spatial scales (state level and ecoregion level) to more than 5,000...
Authors
E. V. Lassiter, M. Asher, G. Christie, C. Gale, A. Massey, C. Massery, C. R. MIddaugh, J. Veon, Brett Alexander DeGregorio
Factors influencing the use of water-filled tree cavities by eastern ratsnakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) Factors influencing the use of water-filled tree cavities by eastern ratsnakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis)
For some animals, specific microhabitats may be particularly important for certain behaviors and/or age or sex classes. Here we explore the use of previously unrecognized retreat sites (water-filled tree cavities) by Eastern Ratsnakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis). During 4 y of radio telemetry, approximately half of the 45 ratsnakes monitored used water-filled cavities. Typically, water...
Authors
Brett Alexander DeGregorio, J. H. Sperry, P. J. Weatherhead
Soft Release Translocation of Texas Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum) on an Urban Military Installation in Oklahoma, United States Soft Release Translocation of Texas Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum) on an Urban Military Installation in Oklahoma, United States
Wildlife translocation is an often-used technique to augment populations or remove animals from harm’s way. Unfortunately, many translocation efforts fail to meet their goals for myriad reasons, particularly because translocated animals make large, erratic movements after release, which can result in high mortality rates. Soft release, holding animals in acclimation pens for some period...
Authors
Brett Alexander DeGregorio, H. Myers, R. Moody
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.