Education
Ph.D. (Zoology), 1991, University of Arkansas
M.S. (Wildlife Biology), 1982, University of Georgia
B.S. (Wildlife Biology), 1980, University of Georgia
Research Interst
Dr. Joseph D. Clark is Branch Chief of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Southern Appalachian Field Branch, located at the University of Tennessee, where he conducts hypothesis-driven environmental research focusing on Department of Interior issues in the southern Appalachians and elsewhere. Dr. Clark holds an Adjunct Professor appointment in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries. Dr. Clark is a wildlife biologist and specializes in carnivore ecology, population dynamics, and habitat modeling. Dr. Clark served for 9 years as a Research Biologist and Assistant Chief with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. As such, Dr. Clark has a unique perspective of wildlife resource management from both the practical as well as academic side. Dr. Clark has studied population dynamics of black bears in the Interior Highlands of Arkansas, at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, in the Mobile Basin of Alabama, White River National Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas, and throughout Louisiana; has evaluated the effects of public use (i.e., deer hunting) on Florida panthers ecology and management in south Florida; has developed methods for black bear reintroduction in Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Arkansas; has performed a demographic analysis of a reintroduced elk herd at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina; and has studied muskrat and river otter ecology at Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. Current projects include a population viability assessment for the threatened Louisiana black bear, a nuisance bear study and a feral hog study in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and a statewide mark-recapture bear population estimate for Florida.
Science and Products
The Effects of Climate Variability and Change on Human-Bear Conflict in North America
A generic web application to visualize and understand movements of tagged animals
NOROCK Large Carnivore Research Program
Seasonal Movement of Wild Hogs in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Joe Clark's Research
Science and Products
- Publications
- Science
The Effects of Climate Variability and Change on Human-Bear Conflict in North America
Human-bear conflicts are a common problem and management priority for many wildlife agencies in North America. Bears are adaptable to anthropogenic activity and food sources which creates opportunities for conflict including property damage, livestock depredation, and human injury. Acute climate events and long-term directional climate change can exacerbate human-wildlife conflict by changing resoA generic web application to visualize and understand movements of tagged animals
The goal of this project was to maximize the value of expensive animal tagging data. We developed an interactive web application to help scientists understand patterns in their own tagging datasets and to help scientists, funders and agencies communicate tagging data to decision-makers and to the general public. Interactive visualizations have emerged recently as a valuable tool for identifying paNOROCK Large Carnivore Research Program
NOROCK has substantial expertise in large carnivore research, primarily involving species listed as Threatened or Endangered. NOROCK’s Large Carnivore Research Program includes scientists from NOROCK’s Headquarters, West Glacier Field Station, and the Southern Appalachian Field Station. Studies are conducted in a wide variety of landscapes throughout the U.S., as well as international research...Seasonal Movement of Wild Hogs in Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The wild hog (Sus scrofa) is an exotic invasive species that significantly impacts native resources and their populations are expanding significantly throughout the United States. In addition, wild hogs are likely contributing to the spread of disease such as pseudorabies. National Park Service units in the Southeast that have populations of exotic wild hogs include Big South Fork National River...Joe Clark's Research
This is a summary of the research focus for Dr. Joe Clark. - News