Research in our lab provides information that contributes to the conservation or management of wildlife species and influences the way species and landscapes are managed. We study the spatial ecology of species, investigating how spatial landscape patterns influence the distribution, density, or dynamics of animal populations. We employ methods for population estimation that incorporate spatial or landscape processes, linking population ecology and landscape ecology. Much of our focus is on understanding how spatial variation in the environment influences resource use, movements, and population ecology of species. One focal area of our work is in human-dominated landscapes, where we seek to understand the challenges associated with human coexistence with carnivores.

A distinctive aspect of our work is in decision science, allowing us to contribute to informed conservation and management decision making. This work integrates quantitative modeling to help predict outcomes of alternative management strategies that were developed to achieve specific objectives. Through this interdisciplinary approach, we strive to make meaningful contributions that shape the future of wildlife conservation and management.