Paul Cross, Ph.D.
My research focuses on applied wildlife disease, conservation and management issues around the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Research Interests
I try to integrate multiple different scientific fields, but my specific background is in field ecology, behavior and mathematical modeling. There are two central themes in my research: (1) the integration of empirical data and mathematical modeling, and (2) the effects of host behavior on disease dynamics. Currently, my research focuses on brucellosis, chronic wasting disease, canine distemper and sarcoptic mange.
Professional Experience
Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, 2005-present.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Environmental Science, Policy, and Management. 2005. University of California, Berkeley
B.A. Environmental Science. 1998. University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Science and Products
Assessment of a strain 19 brucellosis vaccination program in elk
Inferring infection hazard in wildlife populations by linking data across individual and population scales
Disease introduction is associated with a phase transition in bighorn sheep demographics
Infectious diseases of wolves in Yellowstone
Genomics reveals historic and contemporary transmission dynamics of a bacterial disease among wildlife and livestock
“One Health” or three? Publication silos among the One Health disciplines
Energetic costs of mange in wolves estimated from infrared thermography
When environmentally persistent pathogens transform good habitat into ecological traps
Detecting grizzly bear use of ungulate carcasses using global positioning system telemetry and activity data
Managing more than the mean: Using quantile regression to identify factors related to large elk groups
Changing migratory patterns in the Jackson elk herd
Fine-scale movements of rural free-ranging dogs in conservation areas in the temperate rainforest of the coastal range of southern Chile
Science and Products
- Science
- Data
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 110
Assessment of a strain 19 brucellosis vaccination program in elk
Zoonotic diseases in wildlife present substantial challenges and risks to host populations, susceptible domestic livestock populations, and affected stakeholders. Brucellosis, a disease caused by the bacterium Brucella abortus, is endemic among elk (Cervus canadensis) attending winter feedgrounds and adjacent areas of western Wyoming, USA. To minimize transmission of brucellosis from elk to elk anAuthorsEric Maichak, Brandon M. Scurlock, Paul C. Cross, Jared D. Rogerson, William H. Edwards, Benjamin Wise, Scott G. Smith, Terry J. KreegerInferring infection hazard in wildlife populations by linking data across individual and population scales
Our ability to infer unobservable disease-dynamic processes such as force of infection (infection hazard for susceptible hosts) has transformed our understanding of disease transmission mechanisms and capacity to predict disease dynamics. Conventional methods for inferring FOI estimate a time-averaged value and are based on population-level processes. Because many pathogens exhibit epidemic cyclinAuthorsKim M. Pepin, Shannon L. Kay, Ben D. Golas, Susan A. Shriner, Amy T. Gilbert, Ryan S. Miller, Andrea L. Graham, Steven Riley, Paul C. Cross, Michael D. Samuel, Mevin Hooten, Jennifer A. Hoeting, James O. Lloyd-Smith, Colleen T. Webb, Michael G. BuhnerkempeDisease introduction is associated with a phase transition in bighorn sheep demographics
Ecological theory suggests that pathogens are capable of regulating or limiting host population dynamics, and this relationship has been empirically established in several settings. However, although studies of childhood diseases were integral to the development of disease ecology, few studies show population limitation by a disease affecting juveniles. Here, we present empirical evidence that disAuthorsKezia Manlove, E. Frances Cassirer, Paul C. Cross, Raina K. Plowright, Peter J. HudsonInfectious diseases of wolves in Yellowstone
The summer of 2005 began with such promise for wolves in Yellowstone. The population had been at an all-time high the last few years, and the wolves appeared to be in good condition. Several packs had been particularly busy during the breeding season, and early summer pup counts suggested another healthy crop of new wolves rising through the ranks.AuthorsEmily S. Almberg, Paul C. Cross, Peter J. Hudson, Andrew P. Dobson, Douglas W. Smith, Daniel R. StahlerGenomics reveals historic and contemporary transmission dynamics of a bacterial disease among wildlife and livestock
Whole-genome sequencing has provided fundamental insights into infectious disease epidemiology, but has rarely been used for examining transmission dynamics of a bacterial pathogen in wildlife. In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), outbreaks of brucellosis have increased in cattle along with rising seroprevalence in elk. Here we use a genomic approach to examine Brucella abortus evolution, cAuthorsPauline L. Kamath, Jeffrey T. Foster, Kevin P. Drees, Gordon Luikart, Christine Quance, Neil J. Anderson, P. Ryan Clarke, Eric Cole, Mark L. Drew, William H. Edwards, Jack C. Rhyan, John J. Treanor, Rick L. Wallen, Patrick J. White, Suelee Robbe-Austerman, Paul C. Cross“One Health” or three? Publication silos among the One Health disciplines
The One Health initiative is a global effort fostering interdisciplinary collaborations to address challenges in human, animal, and environmental health. While One Health has received considerable press, its benefits remain unclear because its effects have not been quantitatively described. We systematically surveyed the published literature and used social network analysis to measure interdisciplAuthorsKezia Manlove, Josephine G Walker, Meggan E. Craft, Kathryn P. Huyvaert, Maxwell B. Joseph, Ryan S. Miller, Pauline Nol, Kelly A. Patyk, Daniel O'Brian, Daniel P. Walsh, Paul C. CrossEnergetic costs of mange in wolves estimated from infrared thermography
Parasites, by definition, extract energy from their hosts and thus affect trophic and food web dynamics even when the parasite may have limited effects on host population size. We studied the energetic costs of mange (Sarcoptes scabiei) in wolves (Canis lupus) using thermal cameras to estimate heat losses associated with compromised insulation during the winter. We combined the field data of knownAuthorsPaul C. Cross, Emily S. Almberg, Catherine G Haase, Peter J. Hudson, Shane K Maloney, Matthew C Metz, Adam J Munn, Paul Nugent, Olivier Putzeys, Daniel R. Stahler, Anya C Stewart, Doug W. SmithWhen environmentally persistent pathogens transform good habitat into ecological traps
Habitat quality plays an important role in the dynamics and stability of wildlife metapopulations. However, the benefits of high-quality habitat may be modulated by the presence of an environmentally persistent pathogen. In some cases, the presence of environmental pathogen reservoirs on high-quality habitat may lead to the creation of ecological traps, wherein host individuals preferentially coloAuthorsClint Leach, Colleen T. Webb, Paul C. CrossDetecting grizzly bear use of ungulate carcasses using global positioning system telemetry and activity data
Global positioning system (GPS) wildlife collars have revolutionized wildlife research. Studies of predation by free-ranging carnivores have particularly benefited from the application of location clustering algorithms to determine when and where predation events occur. These studies have changed our understanding of large carnivore behavior, but the gains have concentrated on obligate carnivores.AuthorsMichael R. Ebinger, Mark A. Haroldson, Frank T. van Manen, Cecily M. Costello, Daniel D. Bjornlie, Daniel J. Thompson, Kerry A. Gunther, Jennifer K. Fortin, Justin E. Teisberg, Shannon R Pils, P J White, Steven L. Cain, Paul C. CrossManaging more than the mean: Using quantile regression to identify factors related to large elk groups
Summary Animal group size distributions are often right-skewed, whereby most groups are small, but most individuals occur in larger groups that may also disproportionately affect ecology and policy. In this case, examining covariates associated with upper quantiles of the group size distribution could facilitate better understanding and management of large animal groups. We studied wintering elkAuthorsAngela K. Brennan, Paul C. Cross, Scott CreelyChanging migratory patterns in the Jackson elk herd
Migratory behavior in ungulates has declined globally and understanding the causative factors (environmental change vs. human mediated) is needed to formulate effective management strategies. In the Jackson elk herd of northwest Wyoming, demographic differences between summer elk (Cervus elaphus) population segments have led to changes in migratory patterns over a 35-year time period. The proportiAuthorsEric Cole, Aaron M. Foley, Jeffrey M. Warren, Bruce L. Smith, Sarah Dewey, Douglas G. Brimeyer, W. Sue Fairbanks, Hall Sawyer, Paul C. CrossFine-scale movements of rural free-ranging dogs in conservation areas in the temperate rainforest of the coastal range of southern Chile
Domestic dogs can play a variety of important roles for farmers. However, when in proximity to conservation areas, the presence of rural free-ranging dogs can be problematic due to the potential for predation of, competition with, or transmission of infectious disease to local threatened fauna. We used a frequent location radio tracking technology to study rural free-ranging dog movements and habiAuthorsMaximiliano Sepulveda, Katherine Pelican, Paul C. Cross, Antonieta Eguren, Randall S. Singer - Web Tools
- Software
- News