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
Conflict of energies: Spatially modeling mule deer caloric expenditure in response to oil and gas development
Maps of cumulative energy expenditure models for jaguar in southern Arizona
Maps of mule deer avoidance areas based on density of oil and gas developments, Book Cliffs, Utah
Science and Products
- Publications
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 bordeAuthorsSamuel Norton Chambers, Miguel L. Villarreal, Laura M. Norman, Juan Carlos Bravo, Myles B. TraphagenConflict 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, fragmAuthorsSamuel Norton Chambers, Miguel L. Villarreal, Olivia Jane Marie Duane, Seth M. Munson, Erica Francis Stuber, Gayle L Tyree, Eric K Waller, Michael C. Duniway - Data
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 terraMaps 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.