RESEARCH
Our research focuses broadly on relationships between mammals and their environments. We are interested in how individuals choose habitats, tradeoff resources, and respond to changes in the environment. A related line of research asks how can we characterize habitat properties in ways that are functionally meaningful to animals.
Current and recent research addressing these topics:
Current and recent research addressing these topics:
1) Habitat relationships and distribution of a sagebrush-dependent species across scales:
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Our team has been developing habitat information about pygmy rabbits to help land managers plan for sagebrush habitat conservation and restoration. Our team completed the first range-wide assessment of occurrence and habitat distribution for pygmy rabbits (Smith et al. 2019). That work also included regional models exploring seasonal overlap between pygmy rabbits and sage-grouse (Smith et al. 2021). A recent publication details variation in habitat relationships for pygmy rabbits among ecoregions in Idaho (Rush et al. 2023). Other research has explored habitat selection by pygmy rabbits at finer spatial and temporal scales (e.g., McMahon et al. 2017) -- see publications page for other papers on related research.
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Rush, L.M., L.K. Svancara, I.T. Smith, S.J. Knetter, J.W. Karl, and J.L. Rachlow. 2023. Intraspecific variation in habitat relationships for pygmy rabbits: implications for conservation of habitat specialists. Ecosphere. 14(7), e4625. [link]
Smith, I.T., S.J. Knetter, L.K. Svancara, J.W. Karl, T.R. Johnson, and J.L. Rachlow. 2021. Overlap between sagebrush habitat specialists differs among seasons: implications for umbrella species conservation. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 78:142-154. [link]
Smith, I.T., J.L. Rachlow, L.K. Svancara, L.A. McMahon, and S.J. Knetter. 2019. Habitat specialists as conservation umbrellas: do areas managed for greater sage-grouse also protect pygmy rabbits? Ecosphere. 10(8): e02827. [link]
McMahon, L.A., J.L. Rachlow, L.A. Shipley, J.S. Forbey, and T.R. Johnson. 2017. Habitat selection differs across hierarchical behaviors: selection of patches and intensity of patch use. Ecosphere. 8(11):e01993. [link]
Smith, I.T., S.J. Knetter, L.K. Svancara, J.W. Karl, T.R. Johnson, and J.L. Rachlow. 2021. Overlap between sagebrush habitat specialists differs among seasons: implications for umbrella species conservation. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 78:142-154. [link]
Smith, I.T., J.L. Rachlow, L.K. Svancara, L.A. McMahon, and S.J. Knetter. 2019. Habitat specialists as conservation umbrellas: do areas managed for greater sage-grouse also protect pygmy rabbits? Ecosphere. 10(8): e02827. [link]
McMahon, L.A., J.L. Rachlow, L.A. Shipley, J.S. Forbey, and T.R. Johnson. 2017. Habitat selection differs across hierarchical behaviors: selection of patches and intensity of patch use. Ecosphere. 8(11):e01993. [link]
2) Characterizing visibility and tradeoffs between detection and concealment:
Animals, especially prey species, often choose habitats that provide opportunities to remain concealed, however, the ability to detect animals (potentially predators) in the surrounding environment also is important. The balance between concealment and detection is likely managed through habitat selection. We have explored these tradeoffs using photographic methods (Camp et al. 2012, 2013). With collaborators Bastien Lecigne from Université du Québec à Montréal and Jan Eitel from the University of Idaho, we are currently developing tools to quantify the properties of visual concealment and detection using lidar data and Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) technology (Lecigne and Eitel 2020; Lecigne et al. 2020).
Stein, R.M., B. Lecigne, J.U.H. Eitel, T.R. Johnson, C. McGowan, and J.L. Rachlow. 2022. Structure and perspective: Quantifying how vegetation and vantage point influence visibility in diverse habitats. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. [link]
Lecigne, B. J.U.H. Eitel, and J.L. Rachlow. 2020. viewshed3d: an R package for quantifying 3D visibility in the environment using terrestrial lidar data. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. [link]
Lecigne, B. & Eitel, J.U.H. (2020) viewshed3d: Compute Viewshed in 3D Terrestrial Laser Scanner Scenes of Ecosystems. R package version 3.0.0. [link]
Camp, M.J., J.L. Rachlow, B.A. Woods, T.R. Johnson, and L.A. Shipley. 2013. Examining the functional components of cover: the relationship between concealment and visibility in shrub-steppe habitat. Ecosphere. 4(2):19. [link]
Lecigne, B. J.U.H. Eitel, and J.L. Rachlow. 2020. viewshed3d: an R package for quantifying 3D visibility in the environment using terrestrial lidar data. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. [link]
Lecigne, B. & Eitel, J.U.H. (2020) viewshed3d: Compute Viewshed in 3D Terrestrial Laser Scanner Scenes of Ecosystems. R package version 3.0.0. [link]
Camp, M.J., J.L. Rachlow, B.A. Woods, T.R. Johnson, and L.A. Shipley. 2013. Examining the functional components of cover: the relationship between concealment and visibility in shrub-steppe habitat. Ecosphere. 4(2):19. [link]
Rachel Stein created a web-site exploring this research: The Wildlife Viewshed Project
3) Habitat change, climate and disease: interacting effects on moose in Idaho:
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Moose population are declining across much of their southern distribution in North America. Multiple factors potentially interact to influence dynamics of Shiras moose populations in Idaho and neighboring Western States. Changes in forest management in northern Idaho have resulted in variation in abundance of high and moderate-quality forage shrubs that is correlated with indices of population performance (Schrempp et al. 2019). The influence of interactions between habitat, climate, disease, and parasites (specifically winter ticks) is the focus of current research in collaboration with the Idaho Department of Fish & Game.
Haake,C.J.E, K.R. Taylor, L.K. Weyand, E.T. Van Beek, C.D. Eckstrand, L.B. Williams, S. Dauwalter, N.L. Waltrath, H.M. Miyasaki, S.B. Roberts, M.A. Hurley, and J.L. Rachlow. (in press) Geographic distribution and neuropathology of natural Elaeophora schneideri infection in Moose (Alces alces shirasi) in Idaho, USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. Schrempp, T.V., J.L. Rachlow, T.R. Johnson, L.A. Shipley, R.A. Long, J.L Aycrigg, and M.A. Hurley. 2019. Variation in the nutritional landscape links forest management to population performance of moose. PLOS One. 14(7) :e0219128. [link] |