Jocelyn Aycrigg

Jocelyn’s research interests include conservation biology, spatial ecology, large landscape conservation, and wildlife population ecology.  She received her Ph.D. from the University of Idaho in Natural Resources with an emphasis in wildlife population ecology.  Her Ph.D. research took a genetic, demographic, and environmental perspective on the metapopulation dynamics of Rocky Mountain elk in Idaho. She has an M.S. degree from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, New York.  She examined the socio-spatial behavior of white-tailed deer to inform deer management.  Her B.A. is in Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology from the University of Colorado.  With a background in wildlife population ecology and landscape level conservation, I have designed and conducted research on multiple species of mammals and birds.  My research projects include wildlife habitat selection with regards to climate change at the landscape-scale, species distribution modeling of plants and terrestrial vertebrates, metapopulation dynamics, and population viability analysis.  To advance research in wildlife and landscape ecology, I formulate hypotheses, compile and analyze data, conduct spatial analysis using my GIS skills and knowledge of remote-sensing theory, and draw appropriate conclusions.  All my research seeks to advance ecological knowledge by informing species and landscape conservation and management. 

I am currently working on a project evaluating land-use and climate changes occurring around and in wilderness areas nationwide. My colleagues and I are focusing on the changes in population, housing, and vegetation surrounding wilderness areas.  We are also examining the frequency of extreme weather events in and around wilderness areas.  We use past patterns of extreme weather events, such as drought and extreme heat to project those patterns into the future.  Because wildlife is also influenced by land-use and climate change, we are also evaluating the changes in bird distributions in and around wilderness areas.  We intend our results to inform wilderness area managers and researchers about those wilderness areas undergoing the most land-use change in their surrounding area and most vulnerable to future climate changes.

Recent publications:

Aycrigg, J., C. Groves, J. A. Hilty, J. M. Scott, P. Beier, D. A. Boyce, D. Figg, J. Hall, H. Hamilton, G. Machlis, K. Muller, K. V. Rosenberg, M. Shaffer, and R. Wentworth.  2016.  Completing the system: opportunities and challenges for a National Habitat Conservation System.  BioScience 66:774-784.

Aycrigg, J. L., J. Tricker, R. T. Belote, M. S. Dietz, L. Duarte, and G. H. Aplet.  2016.  The next 50 years: opportunities for diversifying the ecological representation of the National Wilderness Preservation System.  Journal of Forestry, Special Wilderness Issue 114:396-404.

Aycrigg, J., G. Beauvais, T. Gotthardt, F. Huettmann, S. Pyare, M. Andersen, D. Keinath, J. Lonneker, M. Spathelf, and K. Walton.  2015.  Novel approaches to modeling and mapping terrestrial vertebrate occurrence in the Northwest and Alaska: an evaluation.  Northwest Science 89:355-381.

Aycrigg, J. L., R. T. Belote, M. S. Dietz, G. H. Aplet, and R. A. Fischer.  2015. Bombing for biodiversity in the United States: response to Zentelis and Lindenmayer 2015.  Conservation Letters 8:306-307.

Dietz, M. S., R. T. Belote, G. H. Aplet, and J. L. Aycrigg. The world’s largest wilderness preservation system after 50 years: An assessment of ecological system representation in the U.S. National Wilderness Preservation System. Biological Conservation 184:431-438.

Fremier, A. K., M. Kiparsky, S. Gmur, J. Aycrigg, R. K. Craig, L. K. Svancara, D. D. Goble, B. Cosens, F. W. Davis, and J. M. Scott.  2015.  A riparian conservation network for ecological resilience.  Biological Conservation 191:29-37.

La Sorte, F. A., D. Fink, W. M. Hochachka, J. L. Aycrigg, K. V. Rosenberg, A. D. Rodewald, N. E. Bruns, A. Farnsworth, B. L. Sullivan, C. Wood, and S. Kelling. 2015. Documenting stewardship responsibilities across the annual cycle for birds on U.S. public lands.  Ecological Applications 25:39-51.

Lorenz, T.J., K. T. Vierling, J. Vogeler, J. Lonneker, and J. Aycrigg.  2015.  Incorporating shrub and snag specific LiDAR data into GAP wildlife models.  Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management. 6(2):437–447; e1944-687X. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10. 3996/092013-JFWM-064.

Aycrigg, J. L. and E. O. Garton.  2014.  Linking Metapopulation Structure to Elk Population Management in Idaho: A Genetic Approach.   Journal of Mammalogy 95:597-614.

North American Bird Conservation Initiative, U.S. Committee, 2014. The State of the Birds 2014. U.S. Department of Interior: Washington, D.C. 16 pages. Member of Science Team that produced report.  http://www.stateofthebirds.org

Sullivan, B. L., J. L. Aycrigg, J. H. Barry, R. E. Bonney, N. Bruns, C. B. Cooper, T. Damoulas, A. A. Dhondt, T. Dietterich, A. Farnsworth, D. Fink, J. W. Fitzpatrick, T. Fredericks, J. Gerbracht, C. Gomes, W. M. Hochachka, M. J. Iliff, C. Lagoze, F. A. La Sort, M. Merrifield, W. Morris, T. B. Phillips, M. Reynolds, A. D. Rodewald, K. V. Rosenberg, N. M. Trautmann, A. Wiggins, D. W. Winkler, W. Wong, C. L. Wood, J. Yu, and S. Kelling.  2014.  The eBird enterprise: an integrated approach to development and application of citizen science.  Biological Conservation 169:31-40.  Editor’s choice publication for January 2014.

Aycrigg, J. L., M. Andersen, G. Beauvais, M. Croft, A. Davidson, L. Duarte, J. Kagan, D. Keinath, S. Lennartz, J. Lonneker, T. Miewald, and J. Ohmann, Editors.  2013.  Ecoregional gap analysis of the Northwestern United States; Northwest Gap Analysis Project Draft Report.  U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Program.

North American Bird Conservation Initiative, U.S. Committee, 2013. The State of the Birds 2013 Report on Private Lands. U.S. Department of Interior: Washington, D.C. 48 pages. Member of Science Team that produced report.  http://www.stateofthebirds.org

Aycrigg, J. L., A. Davidson, L. Svancara, K. J. Gergely, A. McKerrow, and J. M. Scott.  2013.  Representation of ecological systems within the protected areas network of the continental United States.  PLoS ONE 8(1): e54689. Doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054689.

Stamper, T., J. Hicke, M. Jennings, and J. L. Aycrigg.  2013.  Spatial and temporal patterns of changes in protected areas across the Southwestern United States.  Biodiversity and Conservation 22:343-356.