Anthropogenic stressors (e.g., climate change, habitat fragmentation, and pollution) are causing the first human-caused mass extinction event and widespread destruction of ecosystems across the globe. But we can reverse the damage caused by anthropogenic stressors by taking action through research and conservation management. Therefore, our research focuses on understanding the effects of anthropogenic stressors on adaptive life history and behavioral strategies on individual and population level fitness to develop conservation management strategies that mitigate the impacts of these anthropogenic stressors on endangered wildlife and habitats.
climate change and invasive species
Understanding population declines of a keystone ecosystem engineer and building management solutions for conservation
Prairie dogs are a keystone ecosystem engineer and the habitat that they create, through their herbivorous and burrowing activities, provides habitat for a number of associated species. But prairie dog populations have plummeted across the Great Plains, resulting in the listing of burrowing owls as threatened and black-footed ferrets as endangered. Therefore, our research seeks to understand the loss of prairie dogs, use translocations to rebuild prairie dog populations, and develop methods using applied ecology and conservation behavior to make translocations more effective. In addition, our research will use translocations of prairie dogs to rehabilitate desertified grassland habitat and support reintroductions of associated species.
Peer-reviewed publications (*student co-authors):
We are currently working on writing several publications in support of this research. Stay tuned!
Prairie dogs are a keystone ecosystem engineer and the habitat that they create, through their herbivorous and burrowing activities, provides habitat for a number of associated species. But prairie dog populations have plummeted across the Great Plains, resulting in the listing of burrowing owls as threatened and black-footed ferrets as endangered. Therefore, our research seeks to understand the loss of prairie dogs, use translocations to rebuild prairie dog populations, and develop methods using applied ecology and conservation behavior to make translocations more effective. In addition, our research will use translocations of prairie dogs to rehabilitate desertified grassland habitat and support reintroductions of associated species.
Peer-reviewed publications (*student co-authors):
We are currently working on writing several publications in support of this research. Stay tuned!
- Peterson EK, Jones CD, Sandmeier FC, *Arellano Rivas AP, *Back CA, *Canney A, *Fender J, *Gomez M, *Gorski J, *Heintzelman N, *Healey K, *Kester M, *Klinger D, *Liao A, Varian-Ramos CW, Vanden Heuvel B. (2021) Drought influences biodiversity in a semi-arid shortgrass prairie in southeastern Colorado. Journal of Arid Environments, 195: 104633. [pdf]
- *Back C, *Healey K, *Staples SK, Peterson EK, Vanden Heuvel B. (2020) Natural history of plant species at the Pueblo Chemical Depot. El Rio, 1(1):43-50. [pdf]
POLLUTION
Understanding the impacts of pollutants on behavioral and reproductive strategies
Pb pollution is ubiquitous in the environment and is a risk factor for both humans and wildlife. But we know very little about the implications of Pb exposure on reproductive and behavioral strategies that are directly and indirectly linked to fitness in wild populations, because these research questions are challenging to study in wildlife. Therefore, our research uses model systems to understand the impacts, and their mechanisms, of developmental Pb exposure on adaptive reproductive and behavioral strategies important for fitness. We are also using this research to direct research in wild populations and inform conservation actions for wild populations exposed to toxins.
Peer-reviewed publications (*student co-authors):
We are currently working on writing several publications in support of this research. Stay tuned!
Pb pollution is ubiquitous in the environment and is a risk factor for both humans and wildlife. But we know very little about the implications of Pb exposure on reproductive and behavioral strategies that are directly and indirectly linked to fitness in wild populations, because these research questions are challenging to study in wildlife. Therefore, our research uses model systems to understand the impacts, and their mechanisms, of developmental Pb exposure on adaptive reproductive and behavioral strategies important for fitness. We are also using this research to direct research in wild populations and inform conservation actions for wild populations exposed to toxins.
Peer-reviewed publications (*student co-authors):
We are currently working on writing several publications in support of this research. Stay tuned!
- Peterson EK, Carsella J, Varian-Ramos CW, *Schiffer SK, *Staples SK, Diawara M. (in review) Concentrations of lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) in a terrestrial food chain at a Colorado Superfund site. Chemosphere.
- Peterson EK, *Stark A, Hollocher KT, Varian-Ramos CW, Possidente B. (2020) Exposure to lead (Pb2+) eliminates avoidance of Pb-treated oviposition substrates in a dose-dependent manner in female vinegar flies. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 104(5):588-594. [pdf]
- Peterson EK, Possidente B, *Stark A, Hollocher KT, Carrico P. (2019) Intraspecific genetic variation in reproductive strategies in susceptibility to developmental lead (Pb2+) exposure in a model system, Drosophila melanogaster. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 103(2): 233-239. [pdf]
- Peterson EK, *Long HE. (2019) Experimental protocol for using Drosophila as an invertebrate model system for toxicity testing in the laboratory. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 137: e57450. [pdf]
- Peterson EK (2017) Accumulation, elimination, sequestration, and genetic variation of lead (Pb2+) loads within and between generations in a model system, Drosophila melanogaster. Chemosphere, 181: 368-375. [pdf]
- Peterson EK, Yukilevich R, Kehlbeck J, LaRue KM, *Ferraiolo K, Hollocher K, Hirsch HVB, Possidente B. (2017) Asymmetrical positive assortative mating induced by developmental lead (Pb2+) exposure in a model system, Drosophila melanogaster. Current Zoology, 63(2): 195-203. [pdf]
- Peterson EK, Buchwalter DB, Kerby JL, Lefauve MK, Varian-Ramos CW, Swaddle JP. (2017) Integrative behavioral eco-toxicology (IBET): Bringing together fields to establish new insight to behavioral ecology, toxicology, and conservation. Current Zoology, 63(2): 185-194. [pdf]
- Peterson EK, Schulte BA. (2016) Impacts of anthropogenic pollutants on beavers and otters with implications for ecosystem ramifications. Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education, 157:33-45. [pdf]
habitat fragmentation
Understanding Wildlife Vehicle Collisions along Interstate-25 in Southern Colorado
Colorado is home to several migratory large mammal species and southern Colorado, in particular, is an important migration corridor for several large mammal species. But some of the highest rates of wildlife vehicle collisions occur along Interstate 25 because it intersects the migration corridor and acts as a barrier for wildlife movement. Therefore, our research seeks to understand wildlife vehicle collisions in southern Colorado and will provide the Colorado Department of Transportation with recommendations of the best places to install infrastructure to mitigate the loss of wildlife.
Peer-Reviewed Publications:
We are currently writing several publications in support of this research. Stay tuned!
Colorado is home to several migratory large mammal species and southern Colorado, in particular, is an important migration corridor for several large mammal species. But some of the highest rates of wildlife vehicle collisions occur along Interstate 25 because it intersects the migration corridor and acts as a barrier for wildlife movement. Therefore, our research seeks to understand wildlife vehicle collisions in southern Colorado and will provide the Colorado Department of Transportation with recommendations of the best places to install infrastructure to mitigate the loss of wildlife.
Peer-Reviewed Publications:
We are currently writing several publications in support of this research. Stay tuned!
other research
Peer-reviewed publications:
- Chock RY, Clucas B, Peterson EK, Blackwell BF, Blumstein DT, Church K, Fernandez-Juricic E, Francescoli G, Greggor A, Kemp P, Pinho G, Sanzenbacher P, Schulte BA, Toni P. (2021) Potential impacts of solar power facilities on wildlife from an animal behavior perspective. Conservation Science and Practice Journal, e319. [pdf]
- Seymour B, Peterson EK, Chock RY. (2021) Conservation behavior: The effects of light pollution on insects. Exploring Animal Behavior in Laboratory and Field. Eds. Zimbler-DeLorenzo H, Margulis SW, 2nd edition, Elsevier Academic Press, San Diego CA. [pdf]
- Bickford N, Peterson EK, Jensen PA, Thomas DA. (2020) Undergraduates who are merely interested in research are better students than their peers. Education Sciences, 10(6): 150. [pdf]
- Yukilevich R, Peterson EK. (2019) The evolution of male and female mating preferences in Drosophila speciation. Evolution, 73(9): 1759-1773. [pdf]
- Peterson EK, Carrico P. (2015) Laboratory exercise in behavioral genetics using team-based learning. Journal of College Biology Teaching, 41(2): 33-40. [pdf]