Dr. Orning is an ecologist at the Fort Collins Science Center, where she works on applied research that supports the conservation and management of sage-grouse and their habitats.
Beth (she/her) is an ecologist at the Fort Collins Science Center and part of a large collaborative research team focused on developing science and technologies that address landscape-scale questions of wildlife, habitat, and energy and land use across the west. Her research interests focus on using field methodology and remote sensing to better understand the intersection of spatial ecology, population demography, interspecific relationships (predator-prey, competition), and applied research to facilitate management of endangered, threatened, and species of conservation concern. She currently works on quantitative and simulation modeling that supports the conservation and management of sage-grouse and their habitats across the sagebrush biome.
Professional Experience
U.S. Geological Survey – Fort Collins Science Center, Ecologist; 2021-present
SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, Postdoctoral Research Scientist ; 2019-2021
Oregon Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, Oregon State University, Graduate Research Assistant (PhD research); 2014-2019
Utah State University, Graduate Research Assistant (MS research); 2011-2013
Boise State University, Wildlife Technician; 2010-2011
Idaho Fish & Game, Wildlife Technician; 2010
Arizona Game & Fish, Natural Resource Wildlife Specialist; 2007-2009
Colorado Division of Wildlife, Field Crew Leader; 2007
U.S. Geological Survey – Minnesota Field Station, Wolf Capture Intern; 2006
Iowa State University & Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Technician; 2004-2005
U.S. Geological Survey – Minnesota Field Station, Deer Capture Intern; 2004
Virginia Polytech & State University, Wildlife Technician; 2002
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – Upper Souris NWR, Biological Science Intern; 2000
Education and Certifications
Ph.D Wildlife Science, Oregon State University, 2019
M.S. Wildlife Biology, Utah State University, 2014
B.S. Animal Ecology, Iowa State University, 2002
Affiliations and Memberships*
The Wildlife Society
Society for Mammalogy
Society for Conservation Biology
Wild Felid Research & Management Association
Science and Products
Using state-and-transition simulation models to scope post-fire success in restoring greater sage-grouse habitat
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.
Simulating the influence of sagebrush restoration on post-fire sage-grouse population recovery
Using simulation models to project and evaluate post-fire success in restoring sage-grouse habitat over large landscapes
Linking post-fire sagebrush restoration and sage-grouse habitat recovery
Economic assessment of addressing annual invasive grasses across the sagebrush biome
Field of Sagebrush Dreams: Planting and Restoring Functional Sagebrush in Burned Landscapes
Bibliography of hydrological and ecological research in the Great Basin terminal lakes, USA
State-and-Transition Simulation Models to explore post-fire habitat restoration in three greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Priority Areas for Conservation, USA (2018-2068)
Science and Products
- Publications
Using state-and-transition simulation models to scope post-fire success in restoring greater sage-grouse habitat
Wildfires are increasingly modifying wildlife habitat in the western United States and managers need ways to scope the pace and degree to which post-fire restoration actions can re-create habitat in dynamic landscapes. We developed a spatially explicit state-transition simulation model (STSM) to project post-fire revegetation and the potential for sage-grouse habitat restoration in sagebrush ecosyAuthorsElizabeth Kari Orning, Julie A. Heinrichs, David A. Pyke, Peter S. Coates, Cameron L. AldridgeNon-USGS Publications**
Sovie, A.D., M.C. Romanski, E.K. Orning, D.G. Marneweck, R. Nichols, S. Moore, and J.L. Belant. 2023. Temporal variation in translocated Isle Royale wolf diet. Ecology and Evolution 3(3):e9873. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9873Hill, J.E., H.M. Boone, M.G. Gantchoff, T.M. Kautz, K.F. Kellner, E.K. Orning, J. Parchizadeh, T.R. Petroelje, N.H. Wehr, S.P. Finnegan, N.L. Fowler, A.L. Lutto, A. Zubiria Perez, S.L. Schooler, M. van den Bosch, and J.L. Belant. 2022. Quantifying anthropogenic wolf mortality in relation to hunting regulations and landscape attributes across North America. Ecology and Evolution 12(5):e8875. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8875Petroelje, T.R., N.L. Fowler, E.K. Orning, M.C. Romanski, and J.L. Belant. 2022. Interspecific killing of Vulpes vulpes (red fox) kits at a den site by Canis lupus (gray wolf) in Isle Royale National Park, Michigan. Northeastern Naturalist 29(1):18-26. https://doi.org/10.1656/045.029.0113Orning, E.K., K.M. Dugger, and D.A. Clark. 2021. Gray wolf (Canis lupus) predation patterns following recent recolonization in a multi-predator, multi-prey system. Canadian Journal of Zoology 99(10):902-911. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2021-0027Orning, E.K., M.C. Romanski, S. Moore, Y. Chenaux-Ibrahim, B.R. Patterson, S. McLaren, and J.L. Belant. 2020. Emigration and first-year movement of four wolves reintroduced to Isle Royale. Northeastern Naturalist 27(4):701-708. https://doi.org/10.1656/045.027.0410Orning, E.K. 2019. Carnivore competition: spatial and dietary implications of gray wolf recolonization for cougars in northeast Oregon [Dissertation]. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University. 242p.Orning, E.K., and J.K. Young. 2017. Coyote removal: can the short-term application of a controversial management tool improve female greater sage-grouse survival or nest success? Wildlife Biology 2017(1). https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00345Taylor, J.D., R.D. Holt, E.K. Orning, and J.K. Young. 2017. Greater sage-grouse nest survival and causes of nest failure in Northwestern Wyoming. Journal of Wildlife Management 81:1219-1227. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.21296Orning, E.K., and J.K. Young. 2016. Impacts of coyote removal on greater sage-grouse space use. Human-Wildlife Interactions 10(2):3. https://doi.org/10.26077/6v8r-q289Hopken, M.W., E.K. Orning, J.K. Young, and A.J. Piaggio. 2016. Molecular forensics in avian conservation: a DNA-based approach for identifying mammalian predators of ground-nesting birds and eggs. BMC Research Notes, 9:14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-015-1797-1**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
Simulating the influence of sagebrush restoration on post-fire sage-grouse population recovery
Increased wildfire-induced loss of sagebrush in North American shrublands are outpacing natural recovery and leading to substantial habitat loss for sagebrush-obligate species like sage-grouse. Transplanting sagebrush (Artemisia species) is a possible strategy for revegetating burned areas, but little is known about sage-grouse or other wildlife responses to restoration strategies.Using simulation models to project and evaluate post-fire success in restoring sage-grouse habitat over large landscapes
Wildfires are increasingly destroying wildlife habitat in sagebrush (Artemisia species) ecosystems, and managers need approaches to scope the pace and degree to which post-fire restoration actions can re-create habitat in dynamic landscapes. Sagebrush recovery takes a long time, and it can be difficult to anticipate restoration outcomes over large, diverse landscapes that have experienced decades...Linking post-fire sagebrush restoration and sage-grouse habitat recovery
Many revegetation projects are intended to benefit focal wildlife species. Yet, few scope the ability of revegetation efforts to yield habitat. To investigate the ability of alternative sagebrush (Artemisia species) planting strategies to recover habitat conditions for the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), USGS and Colorado State University scientists developed a spatial vegetation...Economic assessment of addressing annual invasive grasses across the sagebrush biome
This interdisciplinary project combines expert judgment on treatment costs with spatially explicit ecological modeling to estimate the financial resources needed to address the threat of invasive annual grass across the entire sagebrush biome. Results of the assessment will provide economic insights that can inform cost-effective resource allocation to efficiently achieve sagebrush conservation...Field of Sagebrush Dreams: Planting and Restoring Functional Sagebrush in Burned Landscapes
Increased wildfire-induced loss of sagebrush in North American shrublands are outpacing natural recovery and leading to substantial habitat loss for sagebrush-obligate species like sage-grouse. The products and information developed for this project will help restoration practitioners, biologists, and land managers evaluate the efficacy of sagebrush restoration approaches as well as their ability... - Data
Bibliography of hydrological and ecological research in the Great Basin terminal lakes, USA
This database contains literature citations and associated abstracts pertaining to the ecology and hydrology of terminal lakes in the Great Basin region of the western United States. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, nor did we perform a systematic meta-analysis; rather, literature records were included based on topical relevance.State-and-Transition Simulation Models to explore post-fire habitat restoration in three greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Priority Areas for Conservation, USA (2018-2068)
Wildfires are increasingly modifying wildlife habitat in the western United States and managers need ways to scope the pace and degree to which post-fire restoration actions can re-create habitat in dynamic landscapes. We simulated post-fire revegetation and greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat restoration using a spatially explicit state-transition simulation model (STSM) devel - News
*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