Topic: Dr. Frey is currently seeking a well prepared student to conduct research on natural history museum policy and specimen-based questions in wildlife biology.  See position announcement.

Join us!  Contact Dr. Frey if you are interested in joining the lab and are well prepared, hard-working, ethical, and have a vision to contribute to our knowledge of wildlife and their conservation. 

MS incoming

Topic: Behavioral response of terrestrial mammals to wind energy infrastructure (Co-advised with Theresa Laverty)

MS current

Topic: Diet of the Oscura and Organ mountains Colorado chipmunks

MS current (co-advised with Theresa Laverty)

Topic: Influence of wind energy on occupancy of terrestrial mammals in central New Mexico rangelands

MS current

Topic: Habitat selection of the imperiled Peñasco least chipmunk in a post-wildfire disclimax and influence of of the sympatric gray-footed chipmunk on occupancy

PhD current (co-advised with Michaela Buenemann) 

Topic: Predicting the thermal environment of pinyon woodlands: relevance for wildlife under climate change 

MS May 2024

Title: Extirpation, habitat selection, and niche reduction of an endemic sky island chipmunk

Winner: American Society of Mammalogists Anne Alexander Award

Publications:

• Jacobson, H.N. and J. K. Frey.  2022.  Salvadora grahamiae grahamiae (Mountain Patch-nosed Snake). Predation.  Herpetological Review, 53: 157-158.

• Jacobson, H.N. and J. K. Frey.  Submitted.  Extirpations drive niche reduction and habitat specialization of an endemic sky island chipmunk.  

MS May 2023

Title: The Oscura Mountains Colorado chipmunk: Evaluation of microhabitat selection and ecological drivers in pinyon-juniper woodland 

Publications:

• O’Connell, C.N., and J.K. Frey.  2023.  Drivers of twoneedle pinyon (Pinus edulis) cone productivity: implications for wildlife.  Journal of Forest Ecology and Management, 538:article 120982. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2023.120982

• O’Connell, C.N., and J.K. Frey.  2024. Microhabitat selection by the Oscura Mountains Colorado chipmunk: an old growth pinyon-juniper woodlands specialist.  Journal of Mammalogy. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyae029 

MS May 2022

Title: An investigation of niche breadth of the Peñasco least chipmunk: removing false positive detection error and modeling multiscale habitat selection 

Publications:

• McKibben, F.E., and J.K. Frey.  2021. Linking camera-trap data to taxonomy: Identifying photographs of morphologically similar chipmunks.  Ecology and Evolution, https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7801

• McKibben, F.A., F. A. Gebresselassie, J.K. Frey.  2023.  To model or not to model: False positive detection error in camera-trap surveys.  Journal of Wildlife Management. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22365 .

• McKibben, F.A. and J.K. Frey. 2025. Multiscale habitat selection of an imperiled subspecies of Least Chipmunk (Neotamias minimus): when a generalist is really a specialist. Journal of Mammalogy. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyae141 

MS May 2021

Title: Activity and habitat selection by the Organ Mountain chipmunk 

Publications:

• Brown, D.E., A.T. Smith, J.K. Frey, and B.R. Schweiger.  2020.  A review of the ongoing decline of the white-tailed jackrabbit.  Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, 11:341-352. https://doi.org/10.3996/042019-JFWM-026

• Schweiger, B.R., J.K. Frey, and J.W. Cain III. 2021. A case for multiscale habitat selection studies of small mammals.  Journal of Mammalogy.  102:1249-1265. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyab071

• Schweiger, B.R. and J.K. Frey.  2021.  Weather determines daily activity pattern of an endemic chipmunk with predictions for climate change.  Climate Change Ecology, 2: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecochg.2021.100027

MS Dec 2017

Title: Using occupancy and species distribution models to identify the distribution and key habitat features of the Oscura Mountains chipmunk and guide monitoring efforts. 

Publications:

• Perkins-Taylor, I. and J.K. Frey. 2018. Ecological factors associated with site occupancy of an endemic chipmunk.  Journal of Wildlife Management, 82:1466-1477.

• Perkins-Taylor, I.E., and J.K. Frey. 2020.  Predicting the distribution of a rare chipmunk (Neotamias quadrivittatus oscuraensis): comparing MaxEnt and occupancy models.  Journal of Mammalogy, 101:1035-1048. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyaa057

• Perkins-Taylor, I.E., and J.K. Frey. 2020. Remote cameras versus visual and auditory methods for surveying the Colorado chipmunk (Neotamias quadrivittatus).  Western North American Naturalist, 80:351-358. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2591&context=wnan

MS Dec 2017

Title: Predicting spatial factors associated with cattle depredations by the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) with recommendations for depredation risk modeling. 

Publications:

•  Goljani, R., J.K. Frey, J. W. Cain III, S. W. Breck, D. L. Bergman.  2018.  Predicting spatial factors associated with cattle depredations by the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) with recommendations for depredation risk modeling.  Biological Conservation, 224:327-335. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320718300235?via%3Dihub

MS Aug 2015

Title: Identification of Limiting Factors for the Restoration of Beavers in Northern New Mexico 

Publications:

• Small, B.A., J.K. Frey, C.C. Gard.  2016.  Livestock grazing limits beaver restoration in northern New Mexico.  Journal of Restoration Ecology, 24: 646-655.

MS Dec 2012

Title: Effect of forest insect outbreak on the red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) in the Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico 

MS May 2012

Title: Multiple scale habitat selection by a small mammal habitat specialist (Zapus hudsonius luteus) in a managed floodplain landscape. 

Publications:

• Wright, G. D. and J.K. Frey.  2014.  Herbeal feeding behavior of the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus).  Western North American Naturalist, 74:231-235. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1430&context=wnan

• Wright, G. D. and J.K. Frey.  2015.  Habitat Selection by the Endangered Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus) on an Irrigated floodplain.  Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, 6:112-129. https://meridian.allenpress.com/jfwm/article/6/1/112/203686/Habitat-Selection-by-the-Endangered-New-Mexico

MS May 2010 (co-advised G Roemer)

Title:  Elevated surface temperature negatively affects survival of banner-tailed kangaroo rats in the Chihuahuan Desert. 

Publications:

• Moses, M.R., J.K. Frey, and G. W. Roemer.  2012.  Elevated surface temperature depresses survival of banner-tailed kangaroo rats: will climate change cook a desert icon?  Oecologia, 168: 257-268. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00442-011-2073-2

MS May 2009

Title:  Morphologic variation in the gray-footed chipmunk (Tamias canipes). 

MS May 2008

Title:  Mammalian zoogeography of Padre Island National Seashore, Texas. 

Publications:

• Jones, G.D., and J.K. Frey.  2008 (2009).  First records of gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) on Texas barrier islands.  Texas Journal of Science, 60:225-227. https://www.thefreelibrary.com/First+record+of+the+gray+fox+(Urocyon+cinereoargenteus)+on+Texas...-a0194982785

• Jones, G.D., and J.K. Frey.  2013.  Mammals of Padre Island National Seashore, Texas.  Special Publications, Museum of Texas Tech University, 61: 1-63.https://www.depts.ttu.edu/nsrl/publications/downloads/SP61.pdf

MS May 2007 (co-advised Jon Boren)

Title:  Effects of fuels reduction treatments on mammals in a southwestern mixed coniferous forest. 

Publications:

• Wampler, C.R., J.K. Frey, D.M. VanLeeuwen, J.C. Boren, T.T. Baker.  2008.  Mammals in mechanically thinned and non-thinned mixed-coniferous forest in the Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico.  The Southwestern Naturalist, 53:431-443. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20424955

MS Dec 2003 

Title:  Distribution, habitat characteristics, and population demographics of snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) at the extreme southern edge of its geographic range. 

Publications:

• Malaney, J.A. and. J.K. Frey.  2006.  Summer habitat use by snowshoe hare and mountain cottontail at their southern zone of sympatry.  Journal of Wildlife Management, 70:877-883. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3803445

• Frey, J.K., and J.A. Malaney.  2006.  Snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) and mountain cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii) biogeography at their southern range limit.  Journal of Mammalogy, 87:1175-1182. https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/article/87/6/1175/886536

MS May 2002 

Title:  Island biogeography:  Focal species models and their implications for system level relationships.

MS Environmental Education, May 2002