Wildlife and Urbanization
In my lab, we are conducting several research projects, which are led by graduate students and myself, evaluating the effects of urbanization on wildlife populations. In particular, we are evaluating wildlife populations, species interactions, and communities in relation to seasonal resource availability and the trade-offs associated with persisting in urbanized landscapes. Please see below for more information. Check in for more updates as studies progress!
Research Highlights
Phoenix Valley Wildlife Project
To better understand the effects of urbanization on the wildlife community, we have sampled locations across the gradient of urbanization across the Phoenix Valley, AZ using wildlife cameras, acoustic bat monitors, and walking night-time surveys with UV lights. Partners on this project include the Central-Arizona-Phoenix Long Term Ecological Research (CAP LTER) project, Urban Wildlife Information Network (UWIN), and Arizona State University.
The study area where 50 sampling sites (yellow dots) were deployed across the gradient of urbanization, from low (green) to high (red) urban intensity, in the Phoenix Valley, Arizona.
Preliminary results (please see below) -- based on results from field data, wildlife species can be grouped into three general categories, including urban avoiders (e.g., bobcats and mule deer; exhibit their highest population size in areas of wildland and low density urbanization), urban adapters (e.g., bark scorpions and canyon bat; exhibit their highest population size at intermediate levels of urbanization), and urban exploiters (e.g., Mexican free tailed bat and domestic cat; exhibit their highest population size at high levels of urbanization).
Salt River Valley and Corridor for Wildlife Movement
We are evaluating wildlife populations in relation to urbanization, vegetation, and other landscape factors along the Salt River Valley, Arizona. River systems provide important habitat for a diversity of wildlife species and facilitate animal movement and habitat connectivity, especially in arid environments in the southwestern United Stated. However, many of our river systems have been dramatically transformed through human activities, water diversion, river channel modification, and degradation of riparian systems, especially in areas with varying levels of urbanization. It is poorly understood how small to large sized mammals within river systems impacted by anthropogenic factors respond to altered vegetation and landscape characteristics. Understanding how wildlife populations respond to heterogeneous river systems is critical for their long term persistence, maintaining habitat connectivity, and managing human-wildlife interactions.
To study wildlife populations, we are maintaining a series of wildlife cameras along approximately 70 km of the Salt River, ranging from the Tonto National Forest to the lower Salt River through Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix. Results from this research project can help inform wildlife management and conservation, as well as restoration efforts along the Salt River system. We look forward to working with a diversity of collaborators and partners on this project.
