Kathleen Longshore
Biography
Dr. Kathy Longshore is a wildlife biologist whose research interests are in animal ecology with emphasis in the application of behavioral ecology to wildlife management and conservation in arid ecosystems. Behavioral indicators can provide an early warning to population declines or habitat degradation before numerical or ecosystem-level responses are evident. As such, they can be used to monitor the effectiveness of management programs. Dr. Longshore's work encompasses both basic and applied aspects of animal behavior with a specific focus on direct and indirect anthropogenic impacts on animal behavior that may in turn, may impact biodiversity.
EDUCATION
- Ph.D. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Biology. 2004
- M.S. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Biology. 1982
- B.S. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Zoology. 1978
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Behavioral Ecology
- Habitat Modeling
- Effects of Anthropogenic Disturbance
- Telemetry (radio and/or satellite)
- Wildlife Biology
- Conservation Biology
Science and Products
Ecology, distribution, and predictive occurrence modeling of Palmers chipmunk (Tamias palmeri): a high-elevation small mammal endemic to the Spring Mountains in southern Nevada, USA
Although montane sky islands surrounded by desert scrub and shrub steppe comprise a large part of the biological diversity of the Basin and Range Province of southwestern North America, comprehensive ecological and population demographic studies for high-elevation small mammals within these areas are rare. Here, we examine the ecology and...
Lowrey, Chris E.; Longshore, Kathleen M.; Riddle, Brett R.; Mantooth, Stacy Habitat selection and survival of pronghorn fawns at the Carrizo Plain National Monument, California
On the Carrizo Plain National Monument (CPNM), California, little is known about survival rates and habitat characteristics of pronghorn fawns (Antilocapra americana). A marked decline in pronghorn numbers on the CPNM (from approximately 200 to <30 individuals from 1989 to 2011) prompted a study of fawn habitat use and fawn survival from 2009...
Johnson, Diego R.; Longshore, Kathleen M.; Lowrey, Chris E.; Thompson, Daniel B. Black-tailed and white-tailed jackrabbits in the American West: History, ecology, ecological significance, and survey methods
Across the western United States, Leporidae are the most important prey item in the diet of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos). Leporids inhabiting the western United States include black-tailed (Lepus californicus) and white-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus townsendii) and various species of cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus spp.). Jackrabbits (Lepus spp.)...
Simes, Matthew; Longshore, Kathleen M.; Nussear, Kenneth E.; Beatty, Greg L.; Brown, David E.; Esque, Todd C. Fifty years after Welles and Welles: Distribution and genetic structure of Desert Bighorn Sheep in Death Valley National Park
The status of desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) populations in the mountains around Death Valley was first evaluated in 1938, shortly after designation of Death Valley National Monument. However, the most comprehensive evaluation of bighorn sheep in the region was conducted by Ralph and Florence Welles during 1955-1961. They...
Epps, Clinton W.; Wehausen, John D.; Sloan, William B.; Holt, Stacy; Creech, Tyler G.; Crowhurst, Rachel S.; Jaeger, Jef R.; Longshore, Kathleen M.; Monello, Ryan J. Detecting short-term responses to weekend recreation activity: desert bighorn sheep avoidance of hiking trails
To study potential effects of recreation activity on habitat use of desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni), we placed Global Positioning System collars on 10 female bighorn sheep within the Wonderland of Rocks–Queen Mountain region of Joshua Tree National Park (JOTR), California, USA, from 2002 to 2004. Recreation use was highest from...
Longshore, Kathleen M.; Lowrey, Chris; Thompson, Daniel B. Nest site characteristics and nesting success of the Western Burrowing Owl in the eastern Mojave Desert
We evaluated nest site selection at two spatial scales (microsite, territory) and reproductive success of Western Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) at three spatial scales (microsite, territory, landscape) in the eastern Mojave Desert. We used binary logistic regression within an information-theoretic approach to assess factors...
Longshore, Kathleen M.; Crowe, Dorothy E. Habitat interaction between two species of chipmunk in the Basin and Range Province of Nevada
Interspecies interactions can affect how species are distributed, put constraints on habitat expansion, and reduce the fundamental niche of the affected species. Using logistic regression, we analyzed and compared 174 Tamias palmeri and 94 Tamias panamintinus within an isolated mountain range of the Basin and Range Province of southern Nevada....
Lowrey, Christopher; Longshore, Kathleen M. Estimates of density, detection probability, and factors influencing detection of burrowing owls in the Mojave Desert
We estimated relative abundance and density of Western Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) at two sites in the Mojave Desert (200304). We made modifications to previously established Burrowing Owl survey techniques for use in desert shrublands and evaluated several factors that might influence the detection of owls. We tested the...
Crowe, D.E.; Longshore, K.M. Nocturnal movements of desert bighorn sheep in the Muddy Mountains, Nevada
Adequate management of a species requires complete knowledge of its ecology, including both nocturnal and diurnal behavior. Knowledge of the movement behavior of bighorn sheep can provide insight for understanding spatial population processes as the combined result of individual behavior, physiological constraints, and fine-scale environmental...
Longshore, Kathleen M.; Lowrey, Chris E.; Jeffress, Matthew; Thompson, Daniel B. Compensating for diminishing natural water: Predicting the impacts of water development on summer habitat of desert bighorn sheep
Artificial water sources have been used for decades to enhance and restore wildlife habitat but the benefits of their use have been subject to debate. During the past century, the number of natural springs in Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA, has declined. In response to concerns about the viability of the bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis...
Longshore, K.M.; Lowrey, C.; Thompson, D.B. Quantifying landscape ruggedness for animal habitat analysis: A case study using bighorn sheep in the Mojave Desert
Terrain ruggedness is often an important variable in wildlife habitat models. Most methods used to quantify ruggedness are indices derived from measures of slope and, as a result, are strongly correlated with slope. Using a Geographic Information System, we developed a vector ruggedness measure (VRM) of terrain based on a geomorphological method...
Sappington, J.M.; Longshore, K.M.; Thompson, D.B. Desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) survival at two eastern Mojave Desert sites: Death by short-term drought?
Survival of adult Desert Tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) appears related to site-specific variation in precipitation and productivity of annual plants. We studied adult tortoise survival rates at two closely situated, but physiographically different, sites in the eastern Mojave Desert over a nine-year period (spring 1992 to spring 2001). Survival...
Longshore, Kathleen M.; Jaeger, Jef R.; Sappington, J. Mark