Kate Schoenecker, PhD
Kate Schoenecker is a Supervisory Research Wildlife Biologist at the Fort Collins Science Center.
Dr. Kate Schoenecker has been studying the ecology of ungulates for 26 years as a Research Wildlife Biologist at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Fort Collins Science Center, Colorado. She received a Master’s degree from the University of Arizona, Tucson studying desert bighorn sheep and a PhD from Colorado State University on bison and elk grazing ecology in the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Baca National Wildlife Refuge ecosystem. She currently leads the Ungulate Ecology Research team, focusing on science to support bison conservation and wild horse and burro research across the west. She’s been studying the ecology of wild horses and burros since 1999, when she was first hired as a USGS field technician recording group composition of horse harems in the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, Montana. Her current work includes investigating free-roaming horse competition with mule deer, and assessing mountain lion predation on free roaming horses in Nevada, as well as assessing fine scale foraging behavior of bison on the North rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, and the Great Sand Dunes National Park ecosystem of southern Colorado.
Professional Experience
Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Fort Collins Science Center
Education and Certifications
PhD, Colorado State University
MS, University of Arizona
Science and Products
Ecology of bison, elk, and vegetation in an arid ecosystem
Ungulate herbivory on alpine willow in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Colorado
Demography of the Pryor Mountain wild horses, 1993-2007
Revisions of rump fat and body scoring indices for deer, elk, and moose
Survey of ungulate abundance on Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands National Park, California, March 2009
2005 annual progress report: Elk and bison grazing ecology in the Great Sand Dunes complex of lands
2004 annual progress report: Stratton Sagebrush Hydrology Study Area: Establishment of a long-term research site in a high-elevation sagebrush steppe
Bighorn sheep habitat studies, population dynamics, and population modeling in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Wyoming and Montana, 2000-2003
Effects of elk herbivory on vegetation and nitrogen processes
A comparison of three fecal steroid metabolites for pregnancy detection used with single sampling in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis)
Stratton Sagebrush Hydrology Study Area: An annotated bibliography of research conducted 1968-1990
Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) survivorship and habitat studies in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area and surrounding lands, Wyoming and Montana, 2000–2003
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.
Science and Products
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Ecology of bison, elk, and vegetation in an arid ecosystem
Herbivory has profound effects on vegetation production and structure in many different plant communities. The influence of herbivory on plants and ultimately ecosystem processes is shaped by the types of plants consumed, the intensity of herbivory, the evolutionary history of grazing, and the availability of water and nutrients to plants. The effect of ungulate herbivores on vegetation is of greaAuthorsKathryn A. SchoeneckerUngulate herbivory on alpine willow in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Colorado
In many areas of the Rocky Mountains, elk (Cervus elaphus) migrate from low-elevation mountain valleys during spring to high-elevation subalpine and alpine areas for the summer. Research has focused on the impacts of elk herbivory on winter-range plant communities, particularly on woody species such as willow and aspen; however, little information is available on the effects of elk herbivory on alAuthorsLinda Zeigenfuss, Kathryn A. Schoenecker, L.K.V. AmburgDemography of the Pryor Mountain wild horses, 1993-2007
Wild horses (Equus caballus) at Pryor Mountain were studied by direct observation from 1993 through 2007. All horses present were individually identifiable on the basis of coat coloration, head and leg markings, gender, and band associations. Of the 609 horses either present prior to foaling in 1993 or born since, ages were precisely known for 491 (observed as a foal). Ages for 52 horses were estiAuthorsJames E. Roelle, Francis J. Singer, Linda Zeigenfuss, Jason I. Ransom, Linda Coates-Markle, Kathryn A. SchoeneckerRevisions of rump fat and body scoring indices for deer, elk, and moose
Because they do not require sacrificing animals, body condition scores (BCS), thickness of rump fat (MAXFAT), and other similar predictors of body fat have advanced estimating nutritional condition of ungulates and their use has proliferated in North America in the last decade. However, initial testing of these predictors was too limited to assess their reliability among diverse habitats, ecotypesAuthorsRachel C. Cook, John G. Cook, Thomas R. Stephenson, Woodrow L. Myers, Scott M. Mccorquodale, David J. Vales, Larry L. Irwin, P. Briggs Hall, Rocky D. Spencer, Shannon L. Murphie, Kathryn A. Schoenecker, Patrick J. MillerSurvey of ungulate abundance on Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands National Park, California, March 2009
Reliable estimates of elk (Cervus elaphus) and deer (Odocoileus hemionus) abundance on Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands National Park, California, are required to assess the success of management actions directed at these species. We conducted a double-observer aerial survey of elk on a large portion of Santa Rosa Island on March 19, 2009. All four persons on the helicopter were treated as obserAuthorsPaul C. Griffin, Kate A. Schoenecker, Peter J. Gogan, Bruce C. Lubow2005 annual progress report: Elk and bison grazing ecology in the Great Sand Dunes complex of lands
In 2000 the U.S. Congress authorized the expansion of the former Great Sand Dunes National Monument by establishing a new Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in its place, and establishing the Baca National Wildlife Refuge. The establishment of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve and the new Baca National Wildlife Refuge in the San Luis Valley (SLV), Colorado was one of the most siAuthorsKate A. Schoenecker, Bruce C. Lubow, Linda Zeigenfuss, Julie Mao2004 annual progress report: Stratton Sagebrush Hydrology Study Area: Establishment of a long-term research site in a high-elevation sagebrush steppe
In 2004 the U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center (FORT) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Rawlins Field Office (RFO), began a cooperative effort to reestablish the Stratton Sagebrush Hydrology Study Area (Stratton) as a research location, with the goal of making it a site for long-term research on sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecology. No other long-term research sites in high-eAuthorsKate Schoenecker, Bob Lange, Mike CaltonBighorn sheep habitat studies, population dynamics, and population modeling in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Wyoming and Montana, 2000-2003
At the request of National Park Service resource managers, we began a study in 2000 to evaluate causes for the decline of the bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) population inhabiting Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (BICA), the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, and surrounding state and U.S. Forest Service lands in Montana and Wyoming. Our study consisted of radio-collaring adult rams and ewesAuthorsFrancis J. Singer, Kathryn A. SchoeneckerEffects of elk herbivory on vegetation and nitrogen processes
We used 35-year and 4-year ungulate exclosures to determine the effects of elk (Cervus elaphus) herbivory on above-ground and below-ground production and soil fertility on the elk winter range in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), Colorado, USA. We used paired grazed and ungrazed plots to evaluate ungulate herbivory effects in short and tall willow (Salix spp.), aspen (Populus spp.), and uplandAuthorsKathryn A. Schoenecker, Francis J. Singer, Linda Zeigenfuss, Dan Binkley, Romulo S.C. MenezesA comparison of three fecal steroid metabolites for pregnancy detection used with single sampling in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis)
We compared three fecal steroid metabolite assays for their usefulness in detecting pregnancy among free-ranging Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) from Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Wyoming and Montana (USA) and captive bighorn ewes at ZooMontana in Billings, Montana. Fecal samples were collected from 11 free-ranging, radio-collared bighorn ewes in late January–MAuthorsK.A. Schoenecker, R.O. Lyda, J. KirkpatrickStratton Sagebrush Hydrology Study Area: An annotated bibliography of research conducted 1968-1990
This annotated bibliography provides an overview of research projects conducted on the Stratton Sagebrush Hydrology Study Area (Stratton) since its designation as such in 1967. Sources include the Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station records storage room, Laramie, Wyoming, the USGS and USFS online reference libraries, and scientific journal databases at the University of Wyoming andAuthorsLeah M. Burgess, Kathryn A. SchoeneckerBighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) survivorship and habitat studies in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area and surrounding lands, Wyoming and Montana, 2000–2003
In the 1850s, bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) were numerous and distributed throughout the Bighorn and Pryor Mountains of Montana and Wyoming. After European settlement, bighorn sheep populations declined, and local extinctions occurred in much of their historic range in the western United States. The current bighorn sheep population of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (BICA) is the productAuthorsKathryn A. Schoenecker, Francis J. Singer, Kayla A. Grams, James E. RoelleNon-USGS Publications**
Schoenecker, K.A., and W.W. Shaw. 2008. Attitudes toward a proposed reintroduction of Mexican gray wolves in Arizona. Human Dimensions of Wildlife. 2(3): 42-55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10871209709359101Schoenecker, K.A., and P.R. Krausman. 2002. Human Disturbance in Bighorn Sheep Habitat, Pusch Ridge Wilderness, Arizona. Arizona-Nevada Academy of Sciences. 34(1) 63-68.Schoenecker, K.A., and P.R. Krausman. 2002. Human disturbance in bighorn sheep habitat, Pusch Ridge Wilderness, Arizona. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science. 34(1): 63-68.**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.
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