Mountain lions, desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, and a variety of other wildlife live on and pass through the Nevada National Security Site each day. It’s a highly restricted area that is free of hunting and has surprisingly pristine areas.This 22-minute program highlights an extraordinary study on how mountain lions interact with their prey.
Kathleen Longshore
Dr. Kathy Longshore is a Scientist Emeritus with the Western Ecological Research Center.
Her 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.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Behavioral Ecology
- Habitat Modeling
- Effects of Anthropogenic Disturbance
- Telemetry (radio and/or satellite)
- Wildlife Biology
- Conservation Biology
Education and Certifications
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
Science and Products
Ecology and Conservation of Desert Bighorn Sheep
Ecology and Conservation of Golden Eagles in the Mojave Desert
Boulder City Field Station
Golden Eagle Food Habits in the Mojave Desert: Regional information for a changing landscape.
Variable Terrestrial GPS Telemetry Detection Rates: Parts 1 - 7Data
Mountain lions, desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, and a variety of other wildlife live on and pass through the Nevada National Security Site each day. It’s a highly restricted area that is free of hunting and has surprisingly pristine areas.This 22-minute program highlights an extraordinary study on how mountain lions interact with their prey.
This short video features incredible and graphic images and video of golden eagle prey. These birds are eating machines. USGS biologist-rock climbers install nest cameras to study the eating habits of golden eagles and their young in the Mojave Desert.
This short video features incredible and graphic images and video of golden eagle prey. These birds are eating machines. USGS biologist-rock climbers install nest cameras to study the eating habits of golden eagles and their young in the Mojave Desert.
Linking behavioral states to landscape features for improved conservation management
Artificial nightlight alters the predator-prey dynamics of an apex carnivore
Genetic and environmental indicators of climate change vulnerability for desert bighorn sheep
Gene transcript profiling in desert bighorn sheep
Ecological effects of fear: How spatiotemporal heterogeneity in predation risk influences mule deer access to forage in a sky‐island system
Repatriated desert bighorn sheep population on the Nevada National Security Site
Bighorn sheep habitat and model extrapolation across remote landscapes
Development and utility of a gene transcription panel for desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni)
Climatically driven changes in primary production propagate through trophic levels
Cougar dispersal and natal homing in a desert environment
Wildlife on the Nevada National Security Site
An assessment of food habits, prey availability, and nesting success of golden eagles within the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan Area
Science and Products
- Science
Ecology and Conservation of Desert Bighorn Sheep
Dr. Kathleen Longshore’s goal is to understand how predator/prey relationships, disease and human-caused disturbance work separately and synergistically to impact bighorn sheep populations under variable ecological stress. Information from this project will provide managers with an understanding of specific and regional impacting factors that contribute to impact variation in population trends.Ecology and Conservation of Golden Eagles in the Mojave Desert
Dr. Kathleen Longshore, in collaboration with Dr. Todd Esque, provides information to project the possible conflict between losses of habitat for foraging involved in the proposed development of alternative energy installations in the Mojave Desert and help develop advanced conservation efforts for the golden eagle. Information from this project will also inform California’s Desert Renewable...Boulder City Field Station
The Boulder City Field Station supports research scientists leading projects in desert ecosystem restoration, genetics of iconic trees of the Mojave Desert, predator-prey studies on protected lands, and more. Select the next tab for a comprehensive summary of studies at this site. - Data
Golden Eagle Food Habits in the Mojave Desert: Regional information for a changing landscape.
Expansion of renewable energy development is rapidly transforming the Mojave Desert landscape and has the potential to impact Golden Eagles through loss of foraging habitat and reduced prey base. Regional information on Golden Eagle food habits is limited and little is known of how dietary variability influences eagle productivity. We examined diet using motion activated trail cameras and collectiVariable Terrestrial GPS Telemetry Detection Rates: Parts 1 - 7Data
These data were used to explore environmental effects on fix success rates (FSR) across a wide range of environmental conditions, desert to alpine biomes, and cover the full range of potential data loss (0-100% FSR) for global positioning system (GPS) bias correction of terrestrial GPS-derived, large mammal habitat use. Also, these data were subsequently used to evaluate patterns in missing data t - Multimedia
Wildlife on the Nevada National Security Site
Mountain lions, desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, and a variety of other wildlife live on and pass through the Nevada National Security Site each day. It’s a highly restricted area that is free of hunting and has surprisingly pristine areas.This 22-minute program highlights an extraordinary study on how mountain lions interact with their prey.
Mountain lions, desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, and a variety of other wildlife live on and pass through the Nevada National Security Site each day. It’s a highly restricted area that is free of hunting and has surprisingly pristine areas.This 22-minute program highlights an extraordinary study on how mountain lions interact with their prey.
Mojave Golden EaglesThis short video features incredible and graphic images and video of golden eagle prey. These birds are eating machines. USGS biologist-rock climbers install nest cameras to study the eating habits of golden eagles and their young in the Mojave Desert.
This short video features incredible and graphic images and video of golden eagle prey. These birds are eating machines. USGS biologist-rock climbers install nest cameras to study the eating habits of golden eagles and their young in the Mojave Desert.
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 32
Linking behavioral states to landscape features for improved conservation management
A central theme for conservation is understanding how animals differentially use, and are affected by change in, the landscapes they inhabit. However, it has been challenging to develop conservation schemes for habitat-specific behaviors.Here we use behavioral change point analysis to identify behavioral states of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts of the southwestAuthorsMaitreyi Sur, Brian Woodbridge, Todd C. Esque, Jim R Belthoff, Peter H. Bloom, Robert N. Fisher, Kathleen Longshore, Kenneth E. Nussear, Jeff A. Tracey, Melissa A. Braham, Todd E. KatznerArtificial nightlight alters the predator-prey dynamics of an apex carnivore
Artificial nightlight is increasingly recognized as an important environmental disturbance that influences the habitats and fitness of numerous species. However, its effects on wide‐ranging vertebrates and their interactions remain unclear. Light pollution has the potential to amplify land‐use change, and as such, answering the question of how this sensory stimulant affects behavior and habitat usAuthorsMark A. Ditmer, David C. Stoner, Clinton D. Francis, Jesse R. Barber, James D. Forester, David M. Choate, Kristen E. Ironside, Kathleen Longshore, Kent R. Hersey, Randy T. Larson, Brock R. McMillan, Daniel Olson, Alyson M. Andreasen, Jon P. Beckmann, Brandon P. Holton, Neil H. Carter, Terry A. MessmerGenetic and environmental indicators of climate change vulnerability for desert bighorn sheep
Assessments of organisms’ vulnerability to potential climatic shifts are increasingly common. Such assessments are often conducted at the species level and focused primarily on the magnitude of anticipated climate change (i.e., climate exposure). However, wildlife management would benefit from population-level assessments that also incorporate measures of local or regional potential for organismalAuthorsTyler G. Creech, Clinton W. Epps, John D. Wehausen, Rachel S. Crowhurst, Jef R. Jaeger, Kathleen Longshore, Brandon Holton, William B. Sloan, Ryan J. MonelloGene transcript profiling in desert bighorn sheep
Respiratory disease is a key factor affecting the conservation and recovery of bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis ) populations. Innovative, minimally invasive tools such as gene transcription–based diagnostics have the potential to improve our understanding of the broad range of factors that can affect the health of wild sheep. Evaluation of transcript levels for genes representative of multiple inteAuthorsLizabeth Bowen, Kathleen Longshore, Peregrine Wolff, Robert C. Klinger, Mike Cox, Sarah Bullock, Shannon C. Waters, A. Keith MilesEcological effects of fear: How spatiotemporal heterogeneity in predation risk influences mule deer access to forage in a sky‐island system
Forage availability and predation risk interact to affect habitat use of ungulates across many biomes. Within sky‐island habitats of the Mojave Desert, increased availability of diverse forage and cover may provide ungulates with unique opportunities to extend nutrient uptake and/or to mitigate predation risk. We addressed whether habitat use and foraging patterns of female mule deer (Odocoileus hAuthorsChris Lowrey, Kathleen Longshore, David M. Choate, Jyoteshwar R Nagol, Joseph O. Sexton, Daniel B. ThompsonRepatriated desert bighorn sheep population on the Nevada National Security Site
Ecological studies have been conducted on the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) since the 1960s. Desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) were considered rare visitors on the NNSS, with only 9 recorded observations between 1963 and 2009, all of which were males. Females and young were not documented definitively until winter 2011, when several were killed by a radiomarked female mountainAuthorsDerek Hall, Kathleen Longshore, Chris Lowrey, John D. Wehausen, Grete WIlson-Henjum, Patrick CummingsBighorn sheep habitat and model extrapolation across remote landscapes
Determining a species’ habitat use is an essential first step in any wildlife conservation action. We described habitat use, animal movements and probable lambing areas in a remote, restricted-access region of the Mojave Desert. Differences in habitat use between sexes was apparent, supporting the often-reported concept of risk-aversion by females. Animals exhibited low variability in distances trAuthorsChris Lowrey, Sara Schuster, Kathleen Longshore, Patrick Cummings, Amy Sprunger, Anna Johnson, Grete Elyse Wilson-HenjumDevelopment and utility of a gene transcription panel for desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni)
Respiratory disease is a key factor impacting the success of the ongoing conservation and recovery of wild sheep populations (WAFWA 2017). Although the primary pathogens involved in the bighorn sheep pneumonia complex have been identified, the wide variability in herd response following infection is not well understood (Cassirer et al. 2018). The response of populations infected with Mycoplasma oAuthorsLizabeth Bowen, Kathleen Longshore, Peregrine Wolff, Shannon C. Waters, A. Keith Miles, Mike Cox, Sarah BullockClimatically driven changes in primary production propagate through trophic levels
Climate and land‐use change are the major drivers of global biodiversity loss. Their effects are particularly acute for wide‐ranging consumers, but little is known about how these factors interact to affect the abundance of large carnivores and their herbivore prey. We analyzed population densities of a primary and secondary consumer (mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, and mountain lion, Puma concoloAuthorsDavid C. Stoner, Joseph O. Sexton, David M. Choate, Jyothy Nagol, Heather H. Bernales, Steven A. Sims, Kirsten E. Ironside, Kathleen M. Longshore, Thomas C. EdwardsCougar dispersal and natal homing in a desert environment
We present a review of cougar dispersal literature and the first evidence of natural (i.e., unmanipulated) homing behavior by a dispersing male cougar (Puma concolor) that sustained severe injuries crossing the northern Mojave Desert. Based on Global Positioning System and ground tracking data, the male traveled a total distance of 981.1 km at 5.03 km/d, including 170.31 km from the Desert NationaAuthorsDavid Choate, Kathleen M. Longshore, Daniel B. ThompsonWildlife on the Nevada National Security Site
Mountain lions, desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, and a variety of other wildlife live on and pass through the Nevada National Security Site each day. It is a highly restricted area that is free of hunting and has surprisingly pristine areas. This 22-minute program highlights an extraordinary study on how mountain lions interact with their prey. It shows how the scientists use helicopters and classAuthorsKathleen M. Longshore, Stephen M. WessellsAn assessment of food habits, prey availability, and nesting success of golden eagles within the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan Area
Within the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan area, which encompasses California’s Mojave Desert, development and operation of renewable energy facilities has the potential to impact golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) populations through loss of habitat and prey base. Developing an effective conservation strategy that aims to mitigate for such operations is necessary to lessen these impacts;AuthorsKathleen M. Longshore, Todd C. Esque, Kenneth E. Nussear, Diego R. Johnson, Matthew Simes, Rich Inman - News