Spatial Distribution and Habitat Use

A fundamental question in the management of wildlife and natural resources is where they are and why they are there. I use various models to answer these questions and identify patterns in the spatial distribution of wildlife and associations with the habitat they use. In conjunction with CPW researchers, biologists, and Area Wildlife Managers, I have evaluated nesting patterns in raptors of conservation priority throughout the Western US, habitat use by bats in Colorado in advance of potential White-nose syndrome incursion (caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans), and grouse (Gunnison sage and Columbian sharp-tailed) habitat use in the face of anthropogenic land use change.

To identify habitat use using radio-tagged individuals it is necessary to partition movement dynamics of subgroups. For populations of species of conservation concern like some sage-grouse there are often mixtures of resident birds (those with an evolutionary history in the geographic location) and translocated birds (individuals which otherwise would not have immigrated to the location on their own). Translocated birds often demonstrate periods of more pronounced and long-distance movement as they settle in their new location. This can bias habitat use models and should be accounted for.

Habitat use and distribution models are useful as comparative tools before and after the introduction of wildlife diseases, like White-nose syndrome (WNS) in bats. There are currently no records of WNS in Colorado, but the state supports large populations of species known to be susceptible to the disease. Evaluating the spatial patterns of their habitat use can help identify potential hot spots of concern to target management efforts should WNS be detected within Colorado borders.