Research

Wildlife movement, connectivity, human-wildlife interactions, and more!

In the Buchholtz Lab we study the spatial ecology of wildlife and their habitats, broadly investigating the causes and consequences of wildlife movement and connectivity. By studying these patterns and processes, we aim to support science-based decision making for wildlife conservation and management, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and landscape connectivity, in order to benefit both wildlife populations and human communities. A large component of this research program is carried out through graduate student training and interdisciplinary collaboration. As part of the lab, we aim uphold values of curiosity, respect, and kindness. 

​Please head to ORCID ​Google Scholar or ​ResearchGate to see up-to-date publications. 

Carter, N. H., Buchholtz, E. K., Glikman, J. A., Nanni, A. S., & Puri, M. (2026). Resilience thinking for human–wildlife coexistence: Bridging dynamic systems, archetypes, and transformations. Ambio, 55(5), 1003–1010. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-026-02359-1

Fitzgerald, L. A., Walkup, D., Chyn, K., Buchholtz, E., Angeli, N., & Parker, M. (2026). The future for reptiles: Advances and challenges in the Anthropocene. In Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences (p. B9780443140822001769). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-14082-2.00176-9

Nettles, J. M., Abramowitz, C. M., Boone, W. W., Harris, S. N., Horton, C. E., Keating, M. P., Nelson, D. L., Smith, S. N., Steen, K. N., Buchholtz, E. K., & Jachowski, D. S. (2026). The American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) as an Apex Predator: Investigating the Ecological Role of the World's Most Abundant Large Carnivore. Mammal Review, 56(1), e70014. https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.70014

Rooney, B., Kays, R., Cove, M. V., Jensen, A., Herrera, D. J., Price, C., Nguyen‐Nu, P., Adamczyk, K., Alexander, P. D., Allen, D., Alston, J. M., Alvarado‐Serrano, D. F., Anderson, T. L., Appel, C. L., Appleby, S. M., Axel, A. C., Ayers, C. R., Bakner, N. W., Bakner, D. L., … McShea, W. J. (2026). SNAPSHOT USA 2024: Year 6 of the Coordinated National Camera Trap Survey of the United States. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 35(4), e70229. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.70229

Buchholtz, E., Jamison, A., & Yarrow, G. (2025). Invasive wild pig movement and space use in a mixed-use forest landscape, South Carolina. The Stacks. https://doi.org/10.60102/stacks-25014

Rooney, B., Kays, R., Cove, M. V., Jensen, A., Goldstein, B. R., Pate, C., Castiblanco, P., Abell, M. E., Adley, J., Agenbroad, B., Ahlers, A. A., Alexander, P. D., Allen, D., Allen, M. L., Alston, J. M., Alyetama, M., Anderson, T. L., Andrade, R., Anhalt‐Depies, C., … McShea, W. J. (2025). SNAPSHOT USA 2019–2023: The First Five Years of Data From a Coordinated Camera Trap Survey of the United States. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 34(1), e13941. https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13941

Shyvers, J. E., Tarbox, B. C., Monroe, A. P., Van Lanen, N. J., Robb, B. S., Buchholtz, E. K., Duchardt, C. J., Edmunds, D. R., O'Donnell, M. S., Van Schmidt, N. D., Heinrichs, J. A., & Aldridge, C. L. (2025). Different Data for Different Goals: Exploring Trade-Offs and Synergies in the Use of Spatial Data Inputs to Optimize Conservation Action in Sagebrush Ecosystems. Ecology and Evolution, 15(10), e72214. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.72214

Buchholtz, E. (2024). People in a Biodiverse Region Experienced Varying Types and Timing of Conflict With Multiple Wildlife Species. Tropical Conservation Science, 17, 19400829241233479. https://doi.org/10.1177/19400829241233479

Roche, M. D., Saher, D. J., Buchholtz, E. K., Crist, M. R., Shinneman, D. J., Aldridge, C. L., Brussee, B. E., Coates, P. S., Weise, C. L., & Heinrichs, J. A. (2024). Ecological trade-offs associated with fuel breaks in sagebrush ecosystems. Fire Ecology, 20(1), 107. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42408-024-00334-3

Buchholtz, E. K., Heinrichs, J., & Crist, M. (2023). Landscape and connectivity metrics as a spatial tool to support invasive annual grass management decisions. Biological Invasions, 25(3), 637–644. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-022-02945-w

Buchholtz, E. K., Kreitler, J., Shinneman, D. J., Crist, M., & Heinrichs, J. (2023). Assessing large landscape patterns of potential fire connectivity using circuit methods. Landscape Ecology, 38(7), 1663–1676. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-022-01581-y

Buchholtz, E. K., McDaniels, M., McCulloch, G., Songhurst, A., & Stronza, A. (2023). A mixed‐methods assessment of human‐elephant conflict in the Western Okavango Panhandle, Botswana. People and Nature, 5(2), 557–571. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10443

Buchholtz, E. K., O'Donnell, M. S., Heinrichs, J. A., & Aldridge, C. L. (2023). Temporal Patterns of Structural Sagebrush Connectivity from 1985 to 2020. Land, 12(6), 1176. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12061176

Rogan, J. E., Parker, M. R., Hancock, Z. B., Earl, A. D., Buchholtz, E. K., Chyn, K., Martina, J., & Fitzgerald, L. A. (2023). Genetic and demographic consequences of range contraction patterns during biological annihilation. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 1691. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28927-z

He, H., Buchholtz, E., Chen, F., Vogel, S., & Yu, C. A. (Alex). (2022). An agent-based model of elephant crop consumption walks using combinatorial optimization. Ecological Modelling, 464, 109852. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2021.109852

Sofaer, H. R., Jarnevich, C. S., Buchholtz, E. K., Cade, B. S., Abatzoglou, J. T., Aldridge, C. L., Comer, P. J., Manier, D., Parker, L. E., & Heinrichs, J. A. (2022). Potential cheatgrass abundance within lightly invaded areas of the Great Basin. Landscape Ecology, 37(10), 2607–2618. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-022-01487-9

Buchholtz, E. K., Spragg, S., Songhurst, A., Stronza, A., McCulloch, G., & Fitzgerald, L. A. (2021). Anthropogenic impact on wildlife resource use: Spatial and temporal shifts in elephants' access to water. African Journal of Ecology, 59(3), 614–623. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.12860

Ghoddousi, A., Buchholtz, E. K., Dietsch, A. M., Williamson, M. A., Sharma, S., Balkenhol, N., Kuemmerle, T., & Dutta, T. (2021). Anthropogenic resistance: Accounting for human behavior in wildlife connectivity planning. One Earth, 4(1), 39–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2020.12.003

Buchholtz, E. K., Fitzgerald, L. A., Songhurst, A., McCulloch, G. P., & Stronza, A. L. (2020). Experts and elephants: Local ecological knowledge predicts landscape use for a species involved in human-wildlife conflict. Ecology and Society, 25(4), art26. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-11979-250426

Buchholtz, E. K., Stronza, A., Songhurst, A., McCulloch, G., & Fitzgerald, L. A. (2020). Using landscape connectivity to predict human-wildlife conflict. Biological Conservation, 248, 108677. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108677

Buchholtz, E., Fitzgerald, L., Songhurst, A., McCulloch, G., & Stronza, A. (2019). Overlapping landscape utilization by elephants and people in the Western Okavango Panhandle: Implications for conflict and conservation. Landscape Ecology, 34(6), 1411–1423. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-019-00856-1

Buchholtz, E. K., Redmore, L., Fitzgerald, L. A., Stronza, A., Songhurst, A., & McCulloch, G. (2019). Temporal Partitioning and Overlapping Use of a Shared Natural Resource by People and Elephants. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 7, 117. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2019.00117

Kapsar, K. E., Hovis, C. L., Bicudo Da Silva, R. F., Buchholtz, E. K., Carlson, A. K., Dou, Y., Du, Y., Furumo, P. R., Li, Y., Torres, A., Yang, D., Wan, H. Y., Zaehringer, J. G., & Liu, J. (2019). Telecoupling Research: The First Five Years. Sustainability, 11(4), 1033. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11041033

Fitzgerald, L. (2018). Trends in Biodiversity: Reptiles. In Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences (p. B978012409548910291X). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.10291-X