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Sam Chambers

Sam Chambers is a Geographer with the Western Geographic Science Center and is located in Tucson, AZ.

Sam uses geospatial and biological modeling and analyses to inform land managers on how human infrastructure may affect habitat connectivity, wildlife movement, and the energy expenditure of animals. Sam is currently studying habitat fragmentation as it relates to the physiological requirements of wildlife in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas and Tamaulipas. He is also continuing his work measuring the socio-ecological impacts of oil, gas, and solar developments in the Western U.S. In his previous studies, Sam developed predictive models to better map the caloric cost of mule deer and jaguar traversing heterogenous terrain, in Utah and Arizona respectively.

Professional Experience

  • 2020 - Current: Geographer, Western Geographic Science Center (WGSC), U.S. Geological Survey

  • 2018 - 2020: Research Associate, Geography and Regional Development, University of Arizona

  • 2016 - 2018: Research Assistant Professor, Planning, University of Arizona

  • 2015 - 2016: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute of the Environment, University of Arizona

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. - 2015 – Arid Lands Resource Sciences – University of Arizona

  • M.S. - 2011 – Forest Resources - Clemson University

  • B.S. - 2006 - Forestry - University of Idaho

Science and Products

Spatial models of jaguar energy expenditure in response to border wall construction and remediation

The construction of a wall at the United States-Mexico border is known to impede and deter movement of terrestrial wildlife between the two countries. One such species is the jaguar, in its northernmost range in the borderlands of Arizona and Sonora. We developed an anisotropic cost distance model for jaguar in a binational crossing area of the Madrean Sky Islands at the United States-Mexico borde
Authors
Samuel Norton Chambers, Miguel L. Villarreal, Laura M. Norman, Juan Carlos Bravo, Myles B. Traphagen
By
Western Geographic Science Center

Conflict of energies: Spatially modeling mule deer caloric expenditure in response to oil and gas development

ContextWildlife avoid human disturbances, including roads and development. Avoidance and displacement of wildlife into less suitable habitat due to human development can affect their energy expenditures and fitness. The heart rate and oxygen uptake of large mammals varies with both natural aspects of their habitat (terrain, climate, predators, etc.) and anthropogenic influence (noise, light, fragm
Authors
Samuel Norton Chambers, Miguel L. Villarreal, Olivia Jane Marie Duane, Seth M. Munson, Erica Francis Stuber, Gayle L Tyree, Eric K Waller, Michael C. Duniway
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Southwest Biological Science Center, Western Geographic Science Center

Maps of cumulative energy expenditure models for jaguar in southern Arizona

Raster data depicting estimated jaguar energy expenditure required to move north from the US-Mexico border to reach important water sources. The data were generated for five scenarios: walled, un-walled crossing and three remediation scenarios: a border crossing through the wall in rugged terrain towards the west end of the wall, a crossing in a dry wash centrally located, one in less rugged terra
By
Western Geographic Science Center

Maps of mule deer avoidance areas based on density of oil and gas developments, Book Cliffs, Utah

Vector data showing areas of dense oil and gas development that mule deer are expected to avoid, for twelve study sites in the Book Cliffs region in Utah.
By
Western Geographic Science Center
link
A series of figures depicting the Colorado Plateau ecoregion with photos of depicting the footprints oil and gas wells

Impacts of Anthropogenic Land Cover Changes on Wildlife Bioenergetics and Landscape Connectivity

In order to maintain viable populations, wildlife require not only contiguous habitat but also the bodily ability to move through the landscape. The spatial expansion of human development can block or slow the movement of wildlife.
By
Western Geographic Science Center
link

Impacts of Anthropogenic Land Cover Changes on Wildlife Bioenergetics and Landscape Connectivity

In order to maintain viable populations, wildlife require not only contiguous habitat but also the bodily ability to move through the landscape. The spatial expansion of human development can block or slow the movement of wildlife.
Learn More
link
Drill rig in the distance off a dirt road in a semi-aid system

Southwest Energy Exploration, Development, and Reclamation (SWEDR)

Approximately 35% of the US and approximately 82% of DOI lands are “drylands” found throughout the western US. These lands contain oil, gas, oil shale, shale oil, and tar sand deposits and the exploration for and extraction of these resources has resulted in hundreds of thousands of operating and abandoned wells across the West. These arid and semi-arid lands have unique soil and plant communities...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Western Geographic Science Center
link

Southwest Energy Exploration, Development, and Reclamation (SWEDR)

Approximately 35% of the US and approximately 82% of DOI lands are “drylands” found throughout the western US. These lands contain oil, gas, oil shale, shale oil, and tar sand deposits and the exploration for and extraction of these resources has resulted in hundreds of thousands of operating and abandoned wells across the West. These arid and semi-arid lands have unique soil and plant communities...
Learn More
link
Photo of an abandoned well pad site

Remote Sensing of Energy Development

Oil and gas development across the western United States has increased substantially in recent decades, including within the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado Plateau is a high desert region of grasslands, shrublands, and woodlands and is home to a large number of world-renowned national and tribal parks and monuments (e.g., Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, and Mesa...
By
Western Geographic Science Center
link

Remote Sensing of Energy Development

Oil and gas development across the western United States has increased substantially in recent decades, including within the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado Plateau is a high desert region of grasslands, shrublands, and woodlands and is home to a large number of world-renowned national and tribal parks and monuments (e.g., Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, and Mesa...
Learn More

Science and Products

Spatial models of jaguar energy expenditure in response to border wall construction and remediation

The construction of a wall at the United States-Mexico border is known to impede and deter movement of terrestrial wildlife between the two countries. One such species is the jaguar, in its northernmost range in the borderlands of Arizona and Sonora. We developed an anisotropic cost distance model for jaguar in a binational crossing area of the Madrean Sky Islands at the United States-Mexico borde
Authors
Samuel Norton Chambers, Miguel L. Villarreal, Laura M. Norman, Juan Carlos Bravo, Myles B. Traphagen
By
Western Geographic Science Center

Conflict of energies: Spatially modeling mule deer caloric expenditure in response to oil and gas development

ContextWildlife avoid human disturbances, including roads and development. Avoidance and displacement of wildlife into less suitable habitat due to human development can affect their energy expenditures and fitness. The heart rate and oxygen uptake of large mammals varies with both natural aspects of their habitat (terrain, climate, predators, etc.) and anthropogenic influence (noise, light, fragm
Authors
Samuel Norton Chambers, Miguel L. Villarreal, Olivia Jane Marie Duane, Seth M. Munson, Erica Francis Stuber, Gayle L Tyree, Eric K Waller, Michael C. Duniway
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Southwest Biological Science Center, Western Geographic Science Center

Maps of cumulative energy expenditure models for jaguar in southern Arizona

Raster data depicting estimated jaguar energy expenditure required to move north from the US-Mexico border to reach important water sources. The data were generated for five scenarios: walled, un-walled crossing and three remediation scenarios: a border crossing through the wall in rugged terrain towards the west end of the wall, a crossing in a dry wash centrally located, one in less rugged terra
By
Western Geographic Science Center

Maps of mule deer avoidance areas based on density of oil and gas developments, Book Cliffs, Utah

Vector data showing areas of dense oil and gas development that mule deer are expected to avoid, for twelve study sites in the Book Cliffs region in Utah.
By
Western Geographic Science Center
link
A series of figures depicting the Colorado Plateau ecoregion with photos of depicting the footprints oil and gas wells

Impacts of Anthropogenic Land Cover Changes on Wildlife Bioenergetics and Landscape Connectivity

In order to maintain viable populations, wildlife require not only contiguous habitat but also the bodily ability to move through the landscape. The spatial expansion of human development can block or slow the movement of wildlife.
By
Western Geographic Science Center
link

Impacts of Anthropogenic Land Cover Changes on Wildlife Bioenergetics and Landscape Connectivity

In order to maintain viable populations, wildlife require not only contiguous habitat but also the bodily ability to move through the landscape. The spatial expansion of human development can block or slow the movement of wildlife.
Learn More
link
Drill rig in the distance off a dirt road in a semi-aid system

Southwest Energy Exploration, Development, and Reclamation (SWEDR)

Approximately 35% of the US and approximately 82% of DOI lands are “drylands” found throughout the western US. These lands contain oil, gas, oil shale, shale oil, and tar sand deposits and the exploration for and extraction of these resources has resulted in hundreds of thousands of operating and abandoned wells across the West. These arid and semi-arid lands have unique soil and plant communities...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Western Geographic Science Center
link

Southwest Energy Exploration, Development, and Reclamation (SWEDR)

Approximately 35% of the US and approximately 82% of DOI lands are “drylands” found throughout the western US. These lands contain oil, gas, oil shale, shale oil, and tar sand deposits and the exploration for and extraction of these resources has resulted in hundreds of thousands of operating and abandoned wells across the West. These arid and semi-arid lands have unique soil and plant communities...
Learn More
link
Photo of an abandoned well pad site

Remote Sensing of Energy Development

Oil and gas development across the western United States has increased substantially in recent decades, including within the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado Plateau is a high desert region of grasslands, shrublands, and woodlands and is home to a large number of world-renowned national and tribal parks and monuments (e.g., Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, and Mesa...
By
Western Geographic Science Center
link

Remote Sensing of Energy Development

Oil and gas development across the western United States has increased substantially in recent decades, including within the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado Plateau is a high desert region of grasslands, shrublands, and woodlands and is home to a large number of world-renowned national and tribal parks and monuments (e.g., Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands, Monument Valley, and Mesa...
Learn More
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