Cameron L Aldridge, PhD
Dr. Cameron Aldridge is a research ecologist at the Fort Collins Science Center. Dr. Aldridge's work focuses on the conservation and management of sage-grouse and their habitats.
Dr. Cameron Aldridge is a Research Ecologist with the US Geological Survey, based at the Fort Collins Science Center, who works in collaboration with the Natural Resource Ecology Lab at Colorado State University. He is also an Affiliate Research Scientist at NREL and an Affiliate Professor with ESS and GDPE.
His research is diverse, but he is best recognized as one of the foremost sage-grouse ecologists in the world. He has a large research program focused on understanding the conservation and management of Greater and Gunnison Sage-grouse and their habitats. His research team includes both undergraduate and graduate students, research associates, post-doctoral fellows, and research scientists, all of which collaborate to understand why sage-grouse populations have declined, what major factors affect resource conditions and quality for sage-grouse, what drives population dynamics. The Aldridge Lab works closely on these issues with state and federal partners, as well as NGOs, conservation groups and industry.
More broadly, research in the Aldridge Lab involves understanding animal-habitat relationships, with an emphasis on conservation ecology and population demography. Researchers in the lab are addressing the effects of energy development, land-use change, and climate change on conserving wildlife populations, their habitats, and the ecosystems they inhabit. Species that we are currently studying include songbirds and small mammals, snakes and lizards, and grouse, such as white-tailed ptarmigan and sage-grouse. We also work with plant communities and exotic invasive plants, understanding how external drivers such as climate, grazing and energy development affect plant communities. We work across spatial scales, and use statistical and empirical modeling to answer these research and conservation questions, most of which have direct applications for conservation and management of the species and their habitats. Most of the research has direct applications for conservation and management of the species, most notably sage-grouse, and their habitats.
Professional Experience
August 2023-Present Branch Chief, and Research Supervisory Ecologist, Ecosystem and Landscape Dynamic Research Branch, US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado.
March 2022-Present Acting Branch Chief, Ecosystem and Landscape Dynamic Research Branch, US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado
Feb. 2020-Present Research Ecologist, US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado
Feb. 2020-Present Affiliate Research Scientist, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University
Feb. 2020-Present Affiliate Professor, Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability and Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University
Jan. 2017-20 Finance Committee Member for the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University
July 2015-20 Associate Professor with Tenure, Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Colorado State University
July 2015-Present Research Scientist III, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University & U.S. Geological Survey, FORT Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado
Aug. 2014-16 Executive Committee Member, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University
Jan. 2012-18 Graduate Program Advisor for the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University.
Aug. 2010 Assistant Professor, Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Colorado State University.
July 2009 Research Scientist II, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University & U.S. Geological Survey, FORT Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Feb. 2007-Present Faculty Member, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology (GDPE), Colorado State University
Feb. 2007-11 Joint Faculty Member, Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University
Oct. 2006 Research Scientist, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University & U.S. Geological Survey, FORT Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado.
Education and Certifications
2005 - 2006 Post Doctoral Research Fellow, Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University & U.S. Geological Survey, FORT Science Center, Fort Collins, CO.
2000 - 2005 Doctorate of Philosophy in Ecology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.
1998 - 2000 Master of Science in Biology, Department of Biology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan.
1991 - 1996 Bachelor of Science double major in Ecology and Zoology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.
Science and Products
Forecasting sagebrush ecosystem components and greater sage-grouse habitat for 2050: learning from past climate patterns and Landsat imagery to predict the future
Wyoming greater sage-grouse habitat prioritization: A collection of multi-scale seasonal models and geographic information systems land management tools
Daily nest survival rates of Gunnison Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus minimus): assessing local- and landscape-scale drivers
Habitat prioritization across large landscapes, multiple seasons, and novel areas: an example using greater sage-grouse in Wyoming
Estimates of annual survival, growth, and recruitment of a white-tailed ptarmigan population in Colorado over 43 years
U.S. Geological Survey Science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative: 2012 annual report
Large scale Wyoming transportation data: a resource planning tool
Human infrastructure and invasive plant occurrence across rangelands of southwestern Wyoming, U.S.A.
U.S. Geological Survey Science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative - 2013 Annual Report
Monitoring of livestock grazing effects on Bureau of Land Management land
Detecting annual and seasonal changes in a sagebrush ecosystem with remote sensing-derived continuous fields
Multiscale sagebrush rangeland habitat modeling in the Gunnison Basin of Colorado
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Forecasting sagebrush ecosystem components and greater sage-grouse habitat for 2050: learning from past climate patterns and Landsat imagery to predict the future
Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems constitute the largest single North American shrub ecosystem and provide vital ecological, hydrological, biological, agricultural, and recreational ecosystem services. Disturbances have altered and reduced this ecosystem historically, but climate change may ultimately represent the greatest future risk. Improved ways to quantify, monitor, and predict climate-dAuthorsCollin G. Homer, George Z. Xian, Cameron L. Aldridge, Debra K. Meyer, Thomas R. Loveland, Michael S. O'DonnellWyoming greater sage-grouse habitat prioritization: A collection of multi-scale seasonal models and geographic information systems land management tools
With rapidly changing landscape conditions within Wyoming and the potential effects of landscape changes on sage-grouse habitat, land managers and conservation planners, among others, need procedures to assess the location and juxtaposition of important habitats, land-cover, and land-use patterns to balance wildlife requirements with multiple human land uses. Biologists frequently develop habitat-AuthorsMichael S. O'Donnell, Cameron L. Aldridge, Kevin E. Doherty, Bradley C. FedyDaily nest survival rates of Gunnison Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus minimus): assessing local- and landscape-scale drivers
The Gunnison Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus minimus) is a species of conservation concern and is a candidate for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act because of substantial declines in populations from historic levels. It is thought that loss, fragmentation, and deterioration of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) habitat have contributed to the decline and isolation of this species into seven geographAuthorsThomas R. Stanley, Cameron L. Aldridge, Joanne Saher, Theresa ChildersHabitat prioritization across large landscapes, multiple seasons, and novel areas: an example using greater sage-grouse in Wyoming
Animal habitat selection is an important and expansive area of research in ecology. In particular, the study of habitat selection is critical in habitat prioritization efforts for species of conservation concern. Landscape planning for species is happening at ever-increasing extents because of the appreciation for the role of landscape-scale patterns in species persistence coupled to improved dataAuthorsBradley C. Fedy, Kevin E. Doherty, Cameron L. Aldridge, Michael S. O'Donnell, Jeffrey L. Beck, Bryan Bedrosian, David Gummer, Matthew J. Holloran, Gregory D. Johnson, Nicholas W. Kaczor, Christopher P. Kirol, Cheryl A. Mandich, David Marshall, Gwyn McKee, Chad Olson, Aaron C. Pratt, Christopher C. Swanson, Brett L. WalkerEstimates of annual survival, growth, and recruitment of a white-tailed ptarmigan population in Colorado over 43 years
Long-term datasets for high-elevation species are rare, and considerable uncertainty exists in understanding how high-elevation populations have responded to recent climate warming. We present estimates of demographic vital rates from a 43-year population study of white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura), a species endemic to alpine habitats in western North America. We used capture-recapture modeAuthorsGregory T. Wann, Cameron L. Aldridge, Clait E. BraunU.S. Geological Survey Science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative: 2012 annual report
Southwest Wyoming contains abundant energy resources, wildlife, habitat, open spaces, and outdoor recreational opportunities. Although energy exploration and development have been taking place in the region since the late 1800s, the pace of development for fossil fuels and renewable energy increased significantly in the early 2000s. This and the associated urban and exurban development are leadingAuthorsZachary H. Bowen, Cameron L. Aldridge, Patrick J. Anderson, Timothy J. Assal, Carleton R. Bern, Laura Biewick, Gregory K. Boughton, Natasha B. Carr, Anna D. Chalfoun, Geneva W. Chong, Melanie L. Clark, Bradford C. Fedy, Katharine Foster, Steven L. Garman, Steve Germaine, Matthew G. Hethcoat, Collin G. Homer, Matthew J. Kauffman, Douglas Keinath, Natalie Latysh, Daniel J. Manier, Robert R. McDougal, Cynthia P. Melcher, Kirk A. Miller, Jessica Montag, Christopher J. Potter, Spencer Schell, Sarah L. Shafer, David B. Smith, Michael J. Sweat, Anna B. WilsonLarge scale Wyoming transportation data: a resource planning tool
The U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins Science Center created statewide roads data for the Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office using 2009 aerial photography from the National Agriculture Imagery Program. The updated roads data resolves known concerns of omission, commission, and inconsistent representation of map scale, attribution, and ground reference dates which were present in theAuthorsMichael S. O'Donnell, Tammy S. Fancher, Aaron T. Freeman, Abra E. Ziegler, Zachary H. Bowen, Cameron L. AldridgeHuman infrastructure and invasive plant occurrence across rangelands of southwestern Wyoming, U.S.A.
Although human influence across rural landscapes is often discussed, interactions between the native, natural systems and human activities are challenging to measure explicitly. We assessed the distribution of introduced, invasive species as related to anthropogenic infrastructure and environmental conditions across southwestern Wyoming. to discern direct correlations as well as covariate influencAuthorsDaniel J. Manier, Cameron L. Aldridge, Michael S. O'Donnell, Spencer SchellU.S. Geological Survey Science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative - 2013 Annual Report
This is the sixth report produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) to detail annual activities conducted by USGS for addressing specific management needs identified by WLCI partners. In FY2013, there were 25 ongoing and new projects conducted by the USGS. These projects fall into 8 major categories: (1) synthesizing and analyzing existinAuthorsZachary H. Bowen, Cameron L. Aldridge, Patrick J. Anderson, Timothy J. Assal, Carleton R. Bern, Laura R Biewick, Gregory K. Boughton, Anna D. Chalfoun, Geneva W. Chong, Marie K. Dematatis, Bradley C. Fedy, Steven L. Garman, Steve Germaine, Matthew G. Hethcoat, Collin G. Homer, Christopher Huber, Matthew J. Kauffman, Natalie Latysh, Daniel J. Manier, Cynthia P. Melcher, Kirk A. Miller, Christopher J. Potter, Spencer Schell, Michael J. Sweat, Annika W. Walters, Anna B. WilsonMonitoring of livestock grazing effects on Bureau of Land Management land
Public land management agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), are charged with managing rangelands throughout the western United States for multiple uses, such as livestock grazing and conservation of sensitive species and their habitats. Monitoring of condition and trends of these rangelands, particularly with respect to effects of livestock grazing, provides critical informationAuthorsKari E. Veblen, David A. Pyke, Cameron L. Aldridge, Michael L. Casazza, Timothy J. Assal, Melissa A. FarinhaDetecting annual and seasonal changes in a sagebrush ecosystem with remote sensing-derived continuous fields
Climate change may represent the greatest future risk to the sagebrush ecosystem. Improved ways to quantify and monitor gradual change resulting from climate influences in this ecosystem are vital to its future management. For this research, the change over time of five continuous field cover components including bare ground, herbaceous, litter, sagebrush, and shrub were measured on the ground andAuthorsCollin G. Homer, Debra K. Meyer, Cameron L. Aldridge, Spencer SchellMultiscale sagebrush rangeland habitat modeling in the Gunnison Basin of Colorado
North American sagebrush-steppe ecosystems have decreased by about 50 percent since European settlement. As a result, sagebrush-steppe dependent species, such as the Gunnison sage-grouse, have experienced drastic range contractions and population declines. Coordinated ecosystem-wide research, integrated with monitoring and management activities, is needed to help maintain existing sagebrush habitaAuthorsCollin G. Homer, Cameron L. Aldridge, Debra K. Meyer, Spencer J. Schell - Software
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