Joseph Clark, Ph.D.
Dr. Joseph Clark is Branch Chief of the U.S. Geological Survey’s NOROCK 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.
Research Interests
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.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. (Zoology), 1991, University of Arkansas
M.S. (Wildlife Biology), 1982, University of Georgia
B.S. (Wildlife Biology), 1980, University of Georgia
Science and Products
Florida panther habitat use response to prescribed fire
Predicting red wolf release success in the southeastern United States
Predicting mountain lion activity using radiocollars equipped with mercury tip-sensors
Management of a large carnivore: Black bear
A demographic comparison of two black bear populations in the Interior Highlands of Arkansas
Black bear habitat use in relation to food availability in the Interior Highlands of Arkansas
Black bears in Arkansas: Characteristics of a successful translocation
Multivariate model of female black bear habitat use for a Geographic Information System
The reintroduction of black bears in Arkansas
Arkansas black bear hunter survey
Science and Products
- Science
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 70
Florida panther habitat use response to prescribed fire
The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) is one of the most endangered mammals in the world, with only 30-50 adults surviving in and around Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and the adjacent Big Cypress National Preserve. Managers at these areas conduct annual prescribed burns in pine (Pinus sp.) as a cost-effective method of managing wildlife habitat. Our objectives were to determine if tAuthorsCatherine S. Dees, Joseph D. Clark, Frank T. van ManenPredicting red wolf release success in the southeastern United States
Although the red wolf (Canis rufus) was once found throughout the southeastern United States, indiscriminate killing and habitat destruction reduced its range to a small section of coastal Texas and Louisiana. Wolves trapped from 1973 to 1980 were taken to establish a captive breeding program that was used to repatriate 2 mainland and 3 island red wolf populations. We collected data from 320 red wAuthorsFrank T. van Manen, Barron A. Crawford, Joseph D. ClarkPredicting mountain lion activity using radiocollars equipped with mercury tip-sensors
Radiotelemetry collars with tip-sensors have long been used to monitor wildlife activity. However, comparatively few researchers have tested the reliability of the technique on the species being studied. To evaluate the efficacy of using tip-sensors to assess mountain lion (Puma concolor) activity, we radiocollared 2 hand-reared mountain lions and simultaneously recorded their behavior and the assAuthorsMichael W. Janis, Joseph D. Clark, Craig JohnsonManagement of a large carnivore: Black bear
No abstract available.AuthorsJoseph D. Clark, Michael R. PeltonA demographic comparison of two black bear populations in the Interior Highlands of Arkansas
The Ozark and Ouachita mountain regions of western Arkansas, collectively known as the Interior Highlands, historically supported large numbers of black bears (Ursus americanus). Indiscriminate killing of bears by early settlers and subsequent habitat reductions due to extensive logging and changes in land use resulted in their decline (Smith et al. 1991). By the late 1940's, bears had been extirpAuthorsJoseph D. Clark, Kimberly G. SmithBlack bear habitat use in relation to food availability in the Interior Highlands of Arkansas
A black bear (Ursus americanus) food value index (FVI) was developed and calculated for forest cover type classifications on Ozark Mountain (White Rock) and Ouachita Mountain (Dry Creek) study areas in western Arkansas. FVIs are estimates of bear food production capabilities of the major forest cover types and were calculated using percent cover, mean fruit production scorings, and the dietary perAuthorsJoseph D. Clark, Daniel L. Clapp, Kimberly G. Smith, Belinda EderingtonBlack bears in Arkansas: Characteristics of a successful translocation
In 1958, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission began translocating black bears (Ursus americanus) from Minnesota to the Interior Highlands (Ozark and Ouachita mountains) of Arkansas where bears had been extirpated early in this century. This project continued for 11 years with little public imput, during which time an estimated 254 bears were released. We estimate there are now >2,500 bears in theAuthorsKimberly G. Smith, Joseph D. ClarkMultivariate model of female black bear habitat use for a Geographic Information System
Simple univariate statistical techniques may not adequately assess the multidimensional nature of habitats used by wildlife. Thus, we developed a multivariate method to model habitat-use potential using a set of female black bear (Ursus americanus) radio locations and habitat data consisting of forest cover type, elevation, slope, aspect, distance to roads, distance to streams, and forest cover tyAuthorsJoseph D. Clark, James E. Dunn, Kimberly G. SmithThe reintroduction of black bears in Arkansas
Abstract is unavailable.AuthorsKimberly G. Smith, Joseph D. Clark, Scott D. ShullArkansas black bear hunter survey
Questionnaires were mailed to black bear (Ursus americanus) hunters in Arkansas following the 1980-84 bear seasons to determine participation, hunter success, and number of bears observed by hunters. Man-days of hunting to harvest a bear ranged from 148 to 671 and hunter success ranged from 0.4% to 2.2%. With the exception of 1980, number of permits issued, man-days of bear hunting, and bears harvAuthorsLarry D. Pharris, Joseph D. Clark - News