Dr. Courtney Duchardt, Assistant Professor, Oklahoma State University Researchgate, OKState Experts Research interests: rangeland biodiversity, grassland avifauna, ecosystem engineers, landscape ecology, community ecology, disturbance, working landscapes Non-research interests: Literature, travel, hiking, bouldering, cooking, chicken-rearing, puns *Non-interests: making sure this website has consistent text formatting PhD University of Wyoming MS University of Illinois BS Truman State University Email:[email protected] |
Holly Todaro, PhD Student Holly is the current Dr. Fritz L. Knopf PhD Fellow. Her project will focus broadly on grassland bird conservation, using both field components and existing datasets to answer novel research questions. Holly's project is being co-advised by Scott and Dr. Courtney Duchardt (also in OSU NREM). Holly grew up in Port Huron, Michigan and received her BS from Central Michigan University, and her MS from Mississippi State University. Her general research interests include species-habitat interactions, investigating links between landscapes and spatial patterns using animal movement and/or distribution, and conservation. In her free time, Holly enjoys being outside, thrifting, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. Email: [email protected] |
Mady Eori, MS Student Mady is Master's student funded by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Her project is focused on mapping and surveying biodiversity of glade ecosystems in the Ozarks of Oklahoma. She also aims to study disturbance in these habitats to better inform conservation management decisions. Mady is co-advised by Dr. Courtney Duchardt and Dr. Bryan Murray. Mady grew up in Massachusetts and obtained her BA with Honors from Boston University. Her research interests include wildlife conservation management, habitat use and spatial ecology, and the effects of natural or anthropogenic disturbance on habitats. Email: [email protected] |
Kyle Pfaffenberger, MS Student Kyle is a Master's student funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. His project studies the effects of Virtual Fencing (VF) on pollinators and wildlife habitats in sites in Oklahoma and Colorado. He is from Seymour, Indiana, and earned his Bachelor's in Environmental Science with a concentration in Biology at Hanover College in Southern Indiana. His research interests include evaluating biodiversity in rangeland systems and integrating novel ways that both agencies and the local community can achieve conservation goals. Kyle enjoys hiking, biking, swimming, watching classic movies, and reading fantasy and science fiction. Kyle does not enjoy writing autobiographies. Email:[email protected] Dylan Cooper, PhD Student
Dylan is leading a large-scale study covering 26 counties in Oklahoma, with the goal of quantifying Loggerhead Shrike occupancy throughout the region. He hopes to expand this study even further by connecting occupancy to prey community composition. Due to his interest in citizen science, Dylan will also be working on developing a curriculum to engage the community in Loggerhead Shrike conservation and research. Dylan’s project is being co-advised by Scott Loss, Courtney Duchardt, and Tim O’Connell. Dylan grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. He received a BS in Biological Sciences from Arizona State University, and a MS in Biology from University of Nebraska–Kearney. Dylan has previously studied the feeding habits of Barn Owls, and the range expansion of the Broad-billed Hummingbird. His primary research interests include avian ecology and urban evolution. In his free time, Dylan enjoys gaming, playing with his dogs, and various outdoor activities including birding, hiking, SCUBA diving, and skiing. Email: [email protected] |
Ellery Lassiter, Post-doctoral Researcher Ellery is a Postdoctoral Fellow funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In collaboration with USDA, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Lab, Ellery is using big data to study effects of wind energy and USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) on birds, including potential interactive effects of wind and CRP. Her research results will also be used in an interdisciplinary analysis of ecological & economic outcomes of wind and CRP, and in models forecasting wind development scenarios in the U.S. Ellery is co-advised by Scott and Dr. Courtney Duchardt (also in NREM). Ellery is originally from Richmond, Virginia and received her BS from Longwood University in Virginia. She worked for the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute before starting her PhD at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and finishing her PhD at University of Arkansas. Ellery’s research interests include population dynamics, spatial ecology, and conservation biology. In her free time, Ellery enjoys playing board games and hiking with friends, as well as cooking and reading with her cat, Ham. Mark Nessel, Post-doctoral Researcher
Mark is co-advised by Courtney and Dr. Scott Loss. Mark is based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his hometown. He received his BS from Drexel University and his PhD from Rutgers University, Camden. His research interests include community ecology, ecological stoichiometry and agroecology. He is focused on understanding the impact of human activity on ecosystems in order to uncover real-world solutions. Besides research, Mark is a huge fan of movies, gardening, craft beer, and spending time with family and friends. |
Undergraduate Researchers
Chaille Driggers, Undergraduate
Chaille is a Natural Resource Ecology and Management Major with a concentration in wildlife biology and pre-veterinary studies. She is a member of the OSU Ranch Horse Team and is from Gilbert, AZ. She volunteered at wildlife rescues in Australia during the 2020 wildfires and has a passion for conservation. Current Project: Mesocarnivore responses to prairie dogs across a latitudinal gradient |
ALUMNI
Lindsey Buehler, M.S. Student
Lindsey Buehler (she/her) is a Master’s student at Oklahoma State University. She is funded by the Natural Resource Ecology and Management Department at OSU. Her research is evaluating the effects of prairie dog management on forage quality and grassland bird communities. She is also using camera traps to evaluate ungulate usage of prairie dog colonies. She is from the Driftless Region of Wisconsin and earned her B.S. in Biology and Animal Ecology at Iowa State University. Project: Impacts of prairie dogs and prairie dog management on associated species across the Great Plains Email: [email protected] Currently with Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Allison Salas, MS (NMSU)
Temporary loan to the lab! Project: Wintering raptor use of prairie dog colonies Hailey Hughes, Technician
I received my B.A. in Biology: ecology, evolution, and organismal diversity from the University of Northern Iowa. A few of my research interests include entomology, pollinator habitat health, and rangeland ecology and management. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband and son outside, hiking, riding my horse, walking my dogs, and reading. Email: [email protected] |
Other Frequent Collaborators:
Dr. Jacob Hennig ([email protected])
Public Lands Grazing Extension Specialist, University of Arizona, studying North American feral equid ecology and impacts on co-occurring wildlife
Also Husband to Dr. Duchardt and research mentor to Indigo Cat
Drs Lauren Porensky and David Augustine, USDA Agricultural Research Service
Rangeland ecology and management, lead researchers of Thunder Basin Research Initiative (among other accolades).
David has a bearded dragon I think?
Dr. Scott Loss, Oklahoma State University, https://scottrloss.wixsite.com/losslab
Effects of CRP and Wind on birds
Loggerhead Shrike Occupancy in Oklahoma (also with Dr. O'Connell, https://timoconnell.wordpress.com/)
USGS FORT (Drs. Cam Aldridge, Adrian Monroe, Dr. Jessica Schyvers, Dr. Nick Van Lanen, and others)
Prioritizing Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems Tool (PReSET)
Neutral landscape models for umbrella species management
Exploring tradeoffs in multi-ecosystem management
Dr. Jacob Hennig ([email protected])
Public Lands Grazing Extension Specialist, University of Arizona, studying North American feral equid ecology and impacts on co-occurring wildlife
Also Husband to Dr. Duchardt and research mentor to Indigo Cat
Drs Lauren Porensky and David Augustine, USDA Agricultural Research Service
Rangeland ecology and management, lead researchers of Thunder Basin Research Initiative (among other accolades).
David has a bearded dragon I think?
Dr. Scott Loss, Oklahoma State University, https://scottrloss.wixsite.com/losslab
Effects of CRP and Wind on birds
Loggerhead Shrike Occupancy in Oklahoma (also with Dr. O'Connell, https://timoconnell.wordpress.com/)
USGS FORT (Drs. Cam Aldridge, Adrian Monroe, Dr. Jessica Schyvers, Dr. Nick Van Lanen, and others)
Prioritizing Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems Tool (PReSET)
Neutral landscape models for umbrella species management
Exploring tradeoffs in multi-ecosystem management