Scholarly Work - Ecology
Recent Submissions
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Simulating cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) invasion decreases access to food resources for small mammals in sagebrush steppe
(2018-03)Invasions by nonnative plants can alter the abundance of native animals, yet we know little about the mechanisms driving these changes. Shifts in vegetation characteristics resulting from nonnative plants can alter ... -
How do we ensure the future of our discipline is vibrant? Student reflections on careers and culture of ecology
(2018-02)Ecology must attract and retain diverse talented people to produce innovative research and relevant solutions to 21st-century environmental problems. Careers and culture form the foundation of scientific advancement, and ... -
Land use change and El Niño-Southern Oscillation drive decadal carbon balance shifts in Southeast Asia
(2018-03)An integrated understanding of the biogeochemical consequences of climate extremes and land use changes is needed to constrain land-surface feedbacks to atmospheric CO2 from associated climate change. Past assessments of ... -
Niche similarities among introduced and native mountain ungulates
(2018-07)The niche concept provides a strong foundation for theoretical and applied research among a broad range of disciplines. When two ecologically similar species are sympatric, theory predicts they will occupy distinct ecological ... -
Hillslope Topography Mediates Spatial Patterns of Ecosystem Sensitivity to Climate
(2018-02)Understanding how hillslope topography modulates ecosystem dynamics across topoclimatic gradients is critical for predicting future climate change impacts on vegetation function. We examined the influence of hillslope ... -
Putting Climate Adaptation on the Map: Developing Spatial Management Strategies for Whitebark Pine in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
(2018-06)Natural resource managers face the need to develop strategies to adapt to projected future climates. Few existing climate adaptation frameworks prescribe where to place management actions to be most effective under anticipated ... -
Nitrate is an important nitrogen source for Arctic tundra plants
(2018-03)Plant nitrogen (N) use is a key component of the N cycle in terrestrial ecosystems. The supply of N to plants affects community species composition and ecosystem processes such as photosynthesis and carbon (C) accumulation. ... -
Habitat characteristics of the hoary marmot: Assessing distribution limitations in Montana
(2017-10)Species that live in ecosystems with extremely different seasonal conditions must balance the constraints of each season to survive. Alpine species that do not migrate seasonally are especially adept at balancing the ... -
Opportunities and Trade-offs among BECCS and the Food, Water, Energy, Biodiversity, and Social Systems Nexus at Regional Scales
(2018-01)Carbon dioxide must be removed from the atmosphere to limit climate change to 2°C or less. The integrated assessment models used to develop climate policy acknowledge the need to implement net negative carbon emission ... -
Evaluating the predictability of distance race performance in NCAA cross country and track and field from high school race times in the United States
(2017-12)Successful recruiting for collegiate track & field athletes has become a more competitive and essential component of coaching. This study aims to determine the relationship between race performances of distance runners at ... -
Swimming performance of sauger (Sander canadensis) in relation to fish passage
(2017-12)A lack of information on the swimming abilities of sauger (Sander canadensis), a highly migratory species particularly sensitive to habitat fragmentation, may inhibit the design of effective passage structures for this ... -
Opposing effects of group size on reproduction and survival
(2015-07)For cooperative breeders, we hypothesize that the effects of group size on reproduction and survival might run in opposition if the benefits of grouping cannot be shared without cost. We tested this hypothesis by examining ... -
Inconsistent outcomes of heterogeneity-based management underscore importance of matching evaluation to conservation objectives
(2013-08)Conservation policy often incentivizes managers of human-impacted areas to create landscape heterogeneity to maximize biodiversity. In rangeland, patchy disturbance regimes create landscape heterogeneity (patch contrast), ... -
Effects of grassland management practices on ant functional groups in central North America
(2013-08)Tallgrass prairies of central North America have experienced disturbances including fire and grazing for millennia. Little is known about the effects of these disturbances on prairie ants, even though ants are thought to ... -
Gradient-based habitat affinities predict species vulnerability to drought
(2013-05)Ecological fingerprints of climate change are becoming increasingly evident at broad geographical scales as measured by species range shifts and changes in phenology. However, finer-scale species-level responses to ... -
Land-use history and an invasive grass affect tallgrass prairie sedge community composition
(2014-09)Questions How abundant and diverse are sedges in upland tallgrass prairie? Are sedge communities associated with historical land use, abundance of an invasive species or different fire and grazing management regimes? How ... -
Wind Tunnel Studies of Temperature Dependence and Behavior of Butterflies in the Context of Habitat Edges
(2015-06)Wind tunnel studies provide a valuable experimental approach that can be used to investigate the influence of specific environmental parameters and to make generalizations about insect behavior. In this study, we designed ... -
Effects of Tall Fescue and Its Fungal Endophyte on the Development and Survival of Tawny-Edged Skippers (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)
(2016-02)Invasive, exotic grasses are increasing in tallgrass prairie and their dominance may be contributing to the decline of grassland butterflies through alterations in forage quality. Tall fescue ( Schedonorus arundinaceus ... -
An Unexpected Journey: Greater Prairie-chicken Travels Nearly 4000 km after Translocation to Iowa
(2015-10)After translocation a female greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus) traveled over 3988 km between 5 April 2013 and 20 June 2014. The bird traveled a mean distance of 21.5 km per day during the spring (median ... -
Multivariate Analysis of Rangeland Vegetation and Soil Organic Carbon Describes Degradation, Informs Restoration and Conservation
(2015-07)Agricultural expansion has eliminated a high proportion of native land cover and severely degraded remaining native vegetation. Managers must determine where degradation is severe enough to merit restoration action, and ...
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