Dean Biggins, PhD
Dr. Biggins is a scientist emeritus at the Fort Collins Science Center.
Dr. Biggins has been interested in grassland ecology since 1981. Within that broad topic his research has involved varied themes, including aspects of behavioral ecology, predator-prey relationships, and ecology of wildlife diseases. Most of his investigations have been motivated by their application to conservation and recovery of federally listed species. In that context, Dr. Biggins has worked at field study sites from Montana to Chihuahua, Mexico, as well as in Inner Mongolia and the Tibetan Plateau. Research has involved students at various universities (in CA, CO, ID, NM, MI, MO, TX, WY, France, and China). Taxa of interest have been carnivores (e.g., black-footed ferrets, Siberian polecats, badgers, weasels, coyotes, foxes), rodents, arthropods (fleas, ticks), and bacteria (Yersinia pestis). His present research emphasis is on ecology of plague, including its hosts and vectors, concentrating on maintenance of plague and its chronic effects on wildlife populations and ecosystems during inter-epizootic periods.
Professional Experience
Scientist Emeritus, U.S. Geological Survey, 2019 - Present
Adjunct Faculty, Department of Biology, Colorado State University, 2002-present
Research Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, 1996-2019
Research Wildlife Biologist, National Biological Service, 1993-1996
Research Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1976-1993
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Zoology, Colorado State University, 2000
M.S., Wildlife Biology, University of Montana, 1975
B.S., Wildlife Management, Humboldt State University, 1968
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Society of Mammalogists, 1989 to present
Honors and Awards
2012—Aldo Leopold Award, American Society of Mammalogists
2005—Science Excellence Award of the Year, USGS, Biolo
2004—Conservationist of the Year, Denver Zoological Foundation
1998—Special Recognition Award, Black-footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team
Science and Products
Interactions among American badgers, black-footed ferrets, and prairie dogs in the grasslands of western North America
Spatial and temporal use of a prairie dog colony by coyotes and rabbits: Potential indirect effects on endangered black-footed ferrets
Plague bacterium as a transformer species in prairie dogs and the grasslands of western North America
American badgers selectively excavate burrows in areas used by black-footed ferrets: implications for predator avoidance
Using occupancy models to investigate the prevalence of ectoparasitic vectors on hosts: an example with fleas on prairie dogs
Resource selection models are useful in predicting fine-scale distributions of black-footed ferrets in prairie dog colonies
Fine-scale habitat use of reintroduced black-footed ferrets on prairie dog colonies in New Mexico
Information on black-footed ferret biology collected within the framework of ferret conservation
Use of multi-opening burrow systems by black-footed ferrets
Importance of lunar and temporal conditions for spotlight surveys of adult black-footed ferrets
Patterns of surface burrow plugging in a colony of black-tailed prairie dogs occupied by black-footed ferrets
Digging behaviors of radio-tagged black-footed ferrets near Meeteetse, Wyoming, 1981-1984
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 120
Interactions among American badgers, black-footed ferrets, and prairie dogs in the grasslands of western North America
American badgers (Taxidea taxus) and black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) sometimes occur sympatrically within colonies of prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) in the grasslands of western North America. From the perspective of a simplified food web, badgers are consumers of ferrets and, to a greater extent, prairie dogs; ferrets are specialized consumers of prairie dogs; and prairie dogs are consumersAuthorsDavid A. Eads, Dean E. Biggins, Shaun M. Grassel, Travis M. Livieri, Daniel S. LichtSpatial and temporal use of a prairie dog colony by coyotes and rabbits: Potential indirect effects on endangered black-footed ferrets
In western North America, endangered black-footed ferrets Mustela nigripes are conserved via reintroduction to colonies of prairie dogs Cynomys spp., their primary prey. Predation is an important source of mortality; coyotes Canis latrans appear to be the most problematic predator, accounting for 67% of known predation events on radio-tagged ferrets. Little is known about what factors affect spatiAuthorsDavid A. Eads, Dean E. Biggins, Travis M. LivieriPlague bacterium as a transformer species in prairie dogs and the grasslands of western North America
Invasive transformer species change the character, condition, form, or nature of ecosystems and deserve considerable attention from conservation scientists. We applied the transformer species concept to the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis in western North America, where the pathogen was introduced around 1900. Y. pestis transforms grassland ecosystems by severely depleting the abundance of prairiAuthorsDavid A. Eads, Dean E. BigginsAmerican badgers selectively excavate burrows in areas used by black-footed ferrets: implications for predator avoidance
We evaluated how American badgers (Taxidea taxus) might exert selective pressure on black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) to develop antipredator defenses. In a colony of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in South Dakota, badgers concentrated their activities where burrow openings and prairie dogs were abundant, a selective behavior that was exhibited by ferrets in the same colonyAuthorsDavid A. Eads, Dean E. Biggins, Travis M. Livieri, Joshua J. MillspaughUsing occupancy models to investigate the prevalence of ectoparasitic vectors on hosts: an example with fleas on prairie dogs
Ectoparasites are often difficult to detect in the field. We developed a method that can be used with occupancy models to estimate the prevalence of ectoparasites on hosts, and to investigate factors that influence rates of ectoparasite occupancy while accounting for imperfect detection. We describe the approach using a study of fleas (Siphonaptera) on black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianAuthorsDavid A. Eads, Dean E. Biggins, Paul F. Doherty, Kenneth L. Gage, Kathryn P. Huyvaert, Dustin H. Long, Michael F. AntolinResource selection models are useful in predicting fine-scale distributions of black-footed ferrets in prairie dog colonies
Wildlife-habitat relationships are often conceptualized as resource selection functions (RSFs)—models increasingly used to estimate species distributions and prioritize habitat conservation. We evaluated the predictive capabilities of 2 black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) RSFs developed on a 452-ha colony of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in the Conata Basin, South Dakota. WeAuthorsDavid A. Eads, David S. Jachowski, Dean E. Biggins, Travis M. Livieri, Marc R. Matchett, Joshua J. MillspaughFine-scale habitat use of reintroduced black-footed ferrets on prairie dog colonies in New Mexico
Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) are among the most endangered animals in North America. Reintroductions of captive-born ferrets onto prairie dog (Cynomys spp.) colonies are crucial to the conservation of the species. In September 2007, captive-born ferrets were released on a black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colony at the Vermejo Park Ranch, New Mexico. Ferret kits experimentAuthorsJennifer G. Chipault, Dean E. Biggins, James K. Detling, Dustin H. Long, Robin M. ReichInformation on black-footed ferret biology collected within the framework of ferret conservation
Once feared to be extinct, black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) were rediscovered near Meeteetse, Wyoming, in 1981, resulting in renewed conservation and research efforts for this highly endangered species. A need for information directly useful to recovery has motivated much monitoring of ferrets since that time, but field activities have enabled collection of data relevant to broader biologicAuthorsDean E. BigginsUse of multi-opening burrow systems by black-footed ferrets
Multi-opening burrow systems constructed by prairie dogs (Cynomys) ostensibly provide escape routes when prairie dogs are pursued by predators capable of entering the burrows, such as black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes), or by predators that can rapidly dig into the tunnels, such as American badgers (Taxidea taxus). Because badgers also prey on ferrets, ferrets might similarly benefit from mulAuthorsDean E. BigginsImportance of lunar and temporal conditions for spotlight surveys of adult black-footed ferrets
Black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) spend most daylight hours underground in prairie dog (Cynomys) burrows and exhibit aboveground movements primarily at night. Moonlight can influence the activity patterns of ferrets and, consequently, might influence the efficiency of spotlight surveys used by biologists to monitor ferret populations. We related detection of adult ferrets during postbreedingAuthorsDavid A. Eads, David S. Jachowski, Joshua J. Millspaugh, Dean E. BigginsPatterns of surface burrow plugging in a colony of black-tailed prairie dogs occupied by black-footed ferrets
Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) can surface-plug openings to a burrow occupied by a black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). At a coarse scale, surface plugs are more common in colonies of prairie dogs occupied by ferrets than in colonies without ferrets. However, little is known about spatial and temporal patterns of surface plugging in a colony occupied by ferrets. In a 452-ha coAuthorsDavid E. Eads, Dean E. BigginsDigging behaviors of radio-tagged black-footed ferrets near Meeteetse, Wyoming, 1981-1984
Intensive radio-tracking during August–December enabled us to collect detailed information on digging behaviors of a small sample of black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) occupying colonies of white-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys leucurus). A sample of 33 prairie dogs, also radio-tagged, progressively ceased aboveground activity during late summer and fall, presumably as they descended into burrowAuthorsDean E. Biggins, Louis R. Hanebury, Kathleen A. Fagerstone
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government