CURRENT RESEARCH
Shifting Coyote-Fox Interactions During COVID Lockdowns.
In the second chapter of my PhD dissertation, I examined shifts in coyote and red fox space use, temporal activity, and site-level activity to understand how changes in human recreation during lockdown impacted interactions between these urban carnivores.
Carnivore Interactions at a Shared Urban Den Site.
I mentored University of New Hampshire undergraduate student Caroline Savage on an independent research project investigating wildlife interactions at a shared urban den site in the Cleveland Metroparks (OH, USA). Caroline observed at least 11 mammal species utilizing the den site and documented interactions between competing carnivores (coyotes and red foxes).
Using Drones (Unpiloted Aerial Vehicles) to Estimate Moose Densities.
I collaborated with University of New Hampshire M.S. student Lily Hall on her work using UAVs (drones) to estimate moose densities in northern New Hampshire. Lily's work focused on the feasibility of collecting infrared imagery with drones to estimate moose density across a large landscape, and integrated rigorous field surveys with Bayesian modeling approaches to provide moose population densities for managers.
Urban Deer Fecundity in an Actively Managed Population.
In the first chapter of my PhD dissertation, I used Structural Equation Models of 20-years of data from an actively managed deer population to investigate drivers of fecundity in an urban population.
U.S. Terrestrial Mammal Research.
The Wildlife Modeling and Monitoring Lab (WMML) at the University of New Hampshire recently published an investigation into the status and trends of U.S. terrestrial mammal research since 1900. Andrew Butler and I are co-first authors of this study.
Large Carnivores in the Anthropocene.
The Wildlife Modeling and Monitoring Lab (WMML) at the University of New Hampshire recently contributed a chapter to a forthcoming book "Apex predators in the Anthropocene: How humans shape large carnivore populations" from Oxford University Press. Our chapter focuses on the lethal effects of roads on large carnivores.
Zoo-housed Bull Asian Elephant Social Behaviors.
Behavioral Research Associate investigating the introduction of two young bull Asian elephants into the existing bachelor herd at Denver Zoo. This research is ongoing.
Thevarajah, S. J., Readyhough, T. S., Davis, M., Moresco, A., Joseph, S., & Schreier, A. L. (2021). Nighttime behavior and the length of social relationships in male Asian elephants. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 26(3), 447-462.
Zoo Lights Impacts on Great Indian Hornbills.
The focus of my MS capstone project was a short research project investigating the impacts of Zoo Lights on the behaviors of a potential breeding pair of Great Indian Hornbills at Denver Zoo under the supervision of Dr. Amy Schreier from Regis University.
Edge Effects on Mantled Howler Monkeys.
I assisted Dr. Amy Schreier and her collaborators on a paper examining edge effects on activity budgets and social cohesion of mantled howler monkeys at La Suerte Biological Station in Costa Rica.
Stable Isotope Analysis of Urban Coyote Diets.
Undergraduate research with Dr. Seth Newsome, from the University of New Mexico, investigating anthropogenic resource use by urban coyotes in the Chicago area.