Jesse S Lewis: Applied Ecology Lab at ASU

Wildfires are increasing in extent, intensity, and frequency in the western US with substantial impacts to people and the environment. Across the gradient of fire severity, we are evaluating how wildfire affects wildlife populations and community interactions. Specifically, we want to understand how herbivores (e.g., elk and deer) respond to areas experiencing fire, and the associated response of carnivores to their prey. This is a long term research project.  

Landscape connectivity is critical to the long-term persistence of populations, species, and communities and integrating connectivity conservation across a hierarchy of scales (e.g., continental, regional, local) can provide important information to prioritize on-the-ground conservation and management actions. We are modeling connectivity using GIS across multiple scales using multiple approaches. 

Invasive wild pigs (also known as feral swine, feral hogs, wild boar) are a growing concern in the United States, as well as globally. Their populations have expanded significantly over the last several decades, which has led to wide-spread ecological, social, and economic damage. We are evaluating population dynamics and habitat relationships of wild pigs, impacts of this invasive species on the environment, and how best to manage this growing issue. 

A theme in many of our research projects is evaluating the trade-offs in how animals use habitat in relation to human activities. For example, in urbanized areas there are potential benefits, such as food, water, and cover for some species. But, there are also potential costs, such as human disturbance, habitat loss, and animal mortality. Do the benefits outweigh the costs for wildlife species? Or do costs outweight benefits? 

Several of the projects in my lab use VHF and GPS telemetry data to estimate animal space use and home range. In addition, we use space use overlap to evaluate interactions within and among species. 

Using data from GPS telemetry, wildlife cameras, and other data sources, we evaluate habitat use and selection for a diversity of species across multiple spatial and temporal scales. This information is critical for the management and conservation of wildlife populations and landscapes.

Using results from multiple data sources (e.g., density, occurrence, occupancy, habitat selection, etc), we evaluate the distribution of species, population density, and habitat quality across multiple scales. In addition, this information can inform the management and conservation of wildlife, especially in landscapes experiencing human development and activities.

Canals provide critical water resources to people, agriculture, and municipalities. However, they also can reduce landscape connectivity for some species. In addition, canals create unique environments where terrestrial and aquatic systems interface across arid environments, which can influence landscape pattern and processes, habitat selection, and gene flow of wildlife. We are collaborating with the Bureau of Reclamation to better understand how a variety of small- to large-sized wildlife use landscapes experiencing canals. 

Daily activity patterns of animals are influenced by their natural circadian rhythms, as well as environmental factors, such as other species, human disturbance, climate, seasonal life history considerations, etc. We use GPS telemetry and wildlife cameras to evaluate daily activity patterns of animals to better understand how they respond to changing landscape characteristics. 

Each vegetation communities exhibits its own historic fire regime, with some systems more fire adapted than others (e.g., montane aspen forest versus Sonoran desert). Human activities are altering fire regimes, which have important implications for wildlife, plants, landscapes, and people.  

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