Hiking up to the next plot…
Behavior and Ecology of Burying Beetles and their Small Mammal resource. Studies of the impacts of human recreation on wildlife. I have a long-term research project on the behaviors and population dynamics of the burying beetle Nicrophorus investigator and their required reproductive resource of small mammal carcasses. These studies increase our understanding of reproductive behaviors, including parental care and communication and the factors that influence population dynamics, species interactions, and ecosystem function. The long-term data is being shared with other RMBL scientists to understand the role of environmental variables on species and population dynamics. A new research study proposes to determine the effects of human recreation on wildlife activity on the trails near RMBL. The results of these projects are used in management decisions and for science education resources for K-12 and college-level students. I use a variety of research techniques including behavioral observations, population censuses, molecular genetic techniques, GIS models, and isotopic and chemical analyses to study trophic interactions and nutrient cycling.