General Research Interests
I am broadly interested in the human dimensions of wildlife ecology. More specifically, I study the effects of recreation on wildlife populations and community ecology.
PhD Research
PhD Research, 2018 - 2023
A coupled human and natural systems approach to studying recreation on public lands
Outdoor recreation is increasing on public lands in the western United States, which presents challenges for the management of social & ecological systems. I study the interactions between the social system (recreationists, management agecies) and the ecological system (prey species, scavengers, and ground-nesting birds).
Past Research
Presented in chronological order
Bison Mating Behaviors, 2016-2017
Predicting the effect of various management strategies on inbreeding frequency in American bison (Bison bison)
At the beginning of my research career, I focused on applied behavioral ecology. During my time as an undergraduate, I worked as a research technician with Dr. Jon Grinnell, an Associate Professor at Gustavus Adolphus College, in his study of bison mating behaviors at the Samuel H. Ordway, Jr. Memorial Preserve in South Dakota.
I designed an undergraduate thesis that built on my work as a research technician and addressed the likelihood of inbreeding, which is a management concern for American bison (Bison bison). Current management keeps bulls and their offspring on the same preserve and is thought to put the species at risk of increased inbreeding. Using an experimental field study, long-term behavioral data, and statistical modeling, I predicted how the frequency of inbreeding in a managed bison herd would be affected by various management plans.
Ecology-related Work Experiences
Science Communication
Two formative work experiences increased my interest in the role of humans in conservation. As an intern at the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota, I gave science-based public presentations and interacted with visitors. This experience opened my eyes to how extensively human attitudes can impact the success of conservation initiatives. While working at the IWC, I saw that many people outside of academia hold a deep mistrust or misunderstanding about science.
As an interpretive intern at Rocky Mountain National Park, I began to recognize the importance of human recreation as a way to get people to care about the environment and support conservation initiatives. At the same time, I saw first-hand the extent of the impact that humans have on the places where we recreate. Protected areas, and national parks in particular, experience heavy use. I saw extreme recreational use result in visitors disrupting wildlife, creating off-trail paths, trampling delicate tundra vegetation, and leaving garbage along the road. I began to think more about how to understand the impact that humans have on the places we enjoy and how we can mitigate the negative effects of our activities.
These experiences motivated me to study human behaviors and the attitudes that drive them in conjunction with the ecological questions that have interested me since the beginning of my career. ​
Winter Visitation Study at Denali National Park & Preserve
Combing social science & biology to improve recreational users' experiences
I explored these interests as a biological and social science technician at Denali National Park and Preserve through Geoscientists-in-the-Parks. There I investigated the demographics, recreation expectations, and attitudes towards conservation of winter visitors. I also collected data on the effect of vehicle traffic on wildlife behavior. This gave me experience evaluating the tradeoffs of providing recreational visitors with opportunities that allow them to connect with the environment while also preserving an intact and relatively undisturbed ecosystem. I analyzed and reported my data in an interagency report that helped to inform management decisions as the Park developed a plan for winter visitor services and restrictions.
