People

Dr. Neil H Carter, Assistant Professor, PI of the Conservation & Coexistence Group
I am an assistant professor in the Human-Environment Systems Research Center at Boise State University. My research is highly interdisciplinary and utilizes field-based, quantitative, and conceptual approaches to understand complex feedbacks among people, wildlife, and ecosystems. I strive to conduct actionable research that advances science and informs decision makers on ways to conserve biodiversity while also sustain (and improve) human well-being. Research interests include: Complexity of socio-environmental systems, sustainability science, wildlife ecology, landscape ecology, conservation ecology, and human dimensions of wildlife management.

E-mail: neilcarter@boisestate.edu

Education:
Postdoctoral Fellow – National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (2013 - 2015)
Ph.D. – Fisheries & Wildlife; Michigan State University (2013)
M.S. – Terrestrial Ecology; University of Michigan (2007)
B.S. – Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution; University of California, San Diego (2003)

Current Conservation & Coexistence Group Members

Mark Ditmer, Postdoctoral Researcher, Human Environment Systems
I am an applied wildlife ecologist who is passionate about understanding how human decisions alter animal movement, behavior, resource use, and demography while utilizing emerging quantitative research approaches. I seek to develop new methodological approaches, often leveraging cutting-edge technologies, such as biologgers and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and combine data in unique ways to illuminate the mechanisms behind observed patterns in wildlife science. My current project focuses on utilizing novel anthropogenic light and noise data as a new lens to investigate how species space use patterns are influenced by these expanding sources of environmental disturbance.

Email: markditmer@boisestate.edu

Education:
Postdoctoral Fellow – University of Minnesota & Minnesota Zoo (2015-2018)
Ph.D – Conservation Biology; University of Minnesota (2014)
B.S. – Economics; Villanova University (2005)
B.A. – Finance; Villanova University (2005)

Alexander Killion, PhD Student, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior
I am interested in how humans make decisions when confronted with conflict with large carnivores, and how those decisions affect wildlife conservation. I strive to better understand feedbacks in human-environment systems, such as how actors are influenced by policy and in return how actors are able to shape policy. My work focuses on quantifying such relationships and integrating social information with fine-scale spatiotemporal wildlife data to identify the mechanisms driving human-wildlife conflict.

E-mail: alexanderkillion@boisestate.edu

Education:
M.S. – Fisheries & Wildlife; Michigan State University (2016)
B.S. – Biology and Pre-Medicine; Augustana College (2013)

Kate Markham, PhD Student, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior
My interests lie in biodiversity conservation, land-use change, and the use of remote sensing to complement conservation and ecological field work. I utilize an interdisciplinary approach in my research, drawing from the fields of ecology, geography, particularly remote sensing, and anthropology. For my dissertation, I am investigating how wildlife in the conterminous US are affected by widespread anthropogenic nightlight and noise. This research is funded through NASA and is in partnership with the National Parks Service. To learn more about my research and interests, see here.

Email: katemarkham@u.boisestate.edu

Education:
M.S. – Environmental Sciences and Policy; Clark University (2017)
M.A. – Anthropology; University of Victoria (2014)
B.S. – Biological Anthropology; The George Washington University (2011)

Tara Easter, PhD Student, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior
For my thesis, I am conducting research on carnivore recovery with a focus on leopards in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. Most of this park’s megafauna was lost during an almost 20 year long civil war, and the wildlife is starting to return. Some species have returned in mass, while others, including leopard, have yet to re-establish populations in the park. We are aiming to understand: what kind of anthropogenic activities may be preventing leopards from crossing into the park from neighboring areas, and how will land management policies and local community attitudes influence carnivore recovery.

E-mail: taraeaster@u.boisestate.edu

Education:
M.S. – Biology; Boise State University (Expected-2018)
B.S. – Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation; North Carolina State University (2012)

Abigail Sage, MSc Student, Biology
For my thesis, I will be integrating social data into ecological suitability maps for a high conflict species, the grizzly bear, in the High Divide region of Idaho and Montana. Since the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) population was recently delisted, the attitudes and behaviors of landowners in this region will be a major factor in establishing connectivity between the GYE and the still threatened Northern Continental Divide population. I am also interested in applying discrete choice sampling in social surveys to predict landowners’ behaviors and assess their preferred carnivore management policies that will promote coexistence.

Email: abbysage@boisestate.edu

Education:
B.S. – Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences; Oregon State University (2014)

Julie Ramirez, B.S. Student, Research Assistant
My research is focused on the idea of coexistence between humans and wildlife on shared landscapes. I aim to understand how humans and wildlife adapt to each other, as well as, what methods are best to achieve coexistence. I am also assisting in a night light project that aims at understanding anthropogenic light impacts on elk and deer populations in the Boise Foothills area.

Email: julieramirez@u.boisestate.edu

Education:
B.S. - Environmental Biology; Boise State University (Expected Graduation- May 2020)

Jessica Mueller, B.S. Student, Research Assistant
My love and passion for animals is a guiding light in my life. I am determined to help conserve wildlife by contributing towards scientific and methodological advancement. The research that I am assisting with centers around human behavior when interacting with large carnivores. The goal of this study is to better understand the decision-making processes that lead to wildlife mortality. Hopefully the findings of this research can be used when developing ideas for conflict prevention.

Email: jessicamueller@u.boisestate.edu

Education:
B.S. - Biology, Boise State University (Expected Graduation- May 2021)

Former Group Members

Dr. Michael J Poulos, Postdoctoral Researcher, Geosciences
My research in the conservation & coexistence group focuses on visualizing spatial data, and applying geospatial and statistical analyses to quantify patterns and explore relationships with environmental factors. Specifically, I am currently focusing on analyzing GPS tracking collar data for lions in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, and performing space-time analyses to map lion home ranges. Mapping lion habitat facilitates studying relationships with wet-dry seasonality, changes in forest cover, herbivore types and abundance, and other factors. Other research foci include studying landforms, erosion, soils, vegetation, and hydrologic processes.

Email: mikepoulos@boisestate.edu

Education:
Ph.D. - Geosciences; Boise State University (2016)
M.S. - Hydrologic Sciences; Boise State University (2012)
B.S. - Geosciences; Boise State University (2009)

Udaya Jayawardhana, MSc, Research Assistant
My research examines the effects of artificial nightlight on the space use and habitat of deer and elk around the Boise area. Rapidly expanding Boise city and its suburbs keep increasing the light pollution, but its impact on wildlife in surrounding natural areas is still unknown. In my research, I am seeking to uncover the effect of artificial nightlight using geospatial and geostatistical methods, and the final results will be used to construct spatiotemporal models showing the impact of artificial nightlight on elk and deer habitats.

E-mail: udaya.jayawardhana@gmail.com

Education:
M.S. – Applied Geospatial Science; Bowling Green State University (2016)
M.S. – Computer Science; University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (2012)
B.S. – Computer Science; University of Colombo, Sri Lanka (2009)

Anna Roser, Postbaccalaureate Student, Research Assistant
My overarching research interests are focused on understanding how large scale patterns of vegetation change affect the movements and behavior of wildlife, and in turn how these changes affect interactions and conflicts between wildlife and humans. Currently, I'm investigating if the implementation of Food Storage Orders in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem in Montana, have had an effect on grizzly bear moralities and/or incidences of conflict with humans via spatial and temporal comparison. I'm also working in an internship with Agricultural Research Services, in which I assist with vegetation monitoring, biomass processing, and data analysis within the sagebrush steppe ecosystem of Southwest Idaho.

Email: annaroser@u.boisestate.edu

Education:
B.S. - Honors in Spanish and Rhetoric; Knox College (2014)
Current-Biology; Boise State University

Javier Luna, B.A. Student, Research Assistant
I am an undergraduate research assistant at Boise State University pursuing a B.A. in Environmental Studies. My research is focused on the concept of coexistence and understanding how humans and wildlife species can peacefully coexist on shared landscapes. I am also assisting with a night light project utilizing a Unihedron Sky Quality Meter-L (SQM-L) to measure night sky brightness from predetermined GPS points and understand how anthropogenic light affects local elk and deer populations.

Email: javierluna@u.boisestate.edu

Education:
B.A. - Environmental Studies; Boise State University (Expected Graduation - May 2019)