James D. Murdoch
Associate Professor | Wildlife Biology
University of Vermont
Welcome and thanks for visiting!
James (Jed) D. Murdoch | University of Vermont
About
Position & Background
I am a wildlife biologist and Associate Professor of the Wildlife & Fisheries Biology program in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at the University of Vermont (USA). My position involves conducting research, teaching and mentoring students, and service to the community and profession. I am also a Fellow at the Gund Institute for Environment.
I am originally from Vermont and joined the University of Vermont in 2009. I earned a BA (Biology) from Colorado College, MS (Biological Sciences) from University of Denver, and DPhil (Zoology - Wildlife Conservation Research Unit) from University of Oxford.
Research
Aims & Interests
My research interests focus on the behavior and ecology of wildlife with an emphasis on their management and conservation. Much of my experience has focused on large mammals, including carnivores and ungulates, and explored questions related to abundance and distribution, landscape connectivity, habitat selection, prey use, and demography. I am also interested in understanding how human activities affect wildlife. For example, how do activities such as landscape development, climate change, and hunting/poaching affect wildlife populations? I use a combination of field studies, experimentation, and modeling to address these questions in a variety of areas including here in Vermont, but also Africa and Asia.
Teaching
Wildlife Biology & Conservation
I teach undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Vermont. Courses include those focusing on conservation biology, wildlife behavior, ecology, and management. I also teach methods courses in estimating species abundance and distribution. Course numbers include: WFB 150, WFB 224, WFB 275, WFB 283, WFB 387, and NR 103.
Service
Supporting Conservation
I serve on the Board of Trustees of The Nature Conservancy - Vermont. TNC has been active in Vermont for over 50 years and is an effective, science-based organization with an outstanding record of conservation success. I am also a member of the Vermont Scientific Advisory Group for Mammals, which provides scientific advice to the State of Vermont.
News
Recent updates
Kit fox occupancy during an epizootic (1/11/21)
Well done to Nicole Deatherage for leading an analysis of San Joaquin kit fox occupancy patterns during an epizootic (sarcoptic mange). Results of the study were just published: Deatherage, N., B. Cypher, J. Murdoch, T. Westall, E. Kelly, and D. Germano. 2021. Urban landscape attributes affect occupancy patterns of the San Joaquin kit fox during an epizootic. Pacific Conservation Biology, https://doi.org/10.1071/PC20059.
Kit fox occupancy during a decline (12/4/20)
Congratulations to Nicole Deatherage from CSU Bakersfield/ESRP for completing a study that examined factors affecting kit fox occupancy patterns during a population decline from sarcoptic mange. Results of the study were just accepted for publication: Deatherage, N., B. Cypher, J. Murdoch, T. Westall, E. Kelly, and D. Germano. In press. Urban landscape attributes affect occupancy patterns of the San Joaquin kit fox during a population decline due to sarcoptic mange. Pacific Conservation Biology.
NE Transportation & Wildlife Conference (9/30/20)
Congratulations to Caitlin Drasher for an outstanding presentation at the Northeast Transportation and Wildlife Conference entitled: Ranking transportation structures for wildlife connectivity in Vermont. Caitlin presented on new approach to visualizing and modeling wildlife connectivity using electrical circuit analysis as part of our project with the Vermont Agency of Transportation.
Wildlife resistance to change (9/15/20)
Well done again to Skye Pearman-Gillman for publishing a comprehensive analysis of wildlife resistance to future land use and climate change. The paper modeled and mapped wildlife resistance (multiple species) across the New England landscape and in relation to the protected area network: Pearman-Gillman, S., M. Duveneck, J. Murdoch, and T. Donovan. 2020. Wildlife resistance and protection in a changing New England landscape. PLoS ONE 15(9): e0239525.
Wildlife and future landscape change (6/5/20)
Congratulations to Skye Pearman-Gillman for publishing an assessment of the impacts of future landscape change on the distribution of 10 wildlife species in the New England region of the northeastern US. Here are the details: Pearman-Gillman, S., M. Duveneck, J. Murdoch, and T. Donovan. 2020. Drivers and consequences of alternative landscape futures on wildlife distributions in New England, United States. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 8:164 doi: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00164.
Gund Institute for Environment (5/20/20)
I am delighted to have joined the Gund Institute for Environment as a Fellow. The Gund Institute is based at the University of Vermont and brings scholars and leaders together to accelerate research, uncover solutions and tackle the world's most pressing environmental issues. I look forward to contributing to this vibrant community.
Rabies vaccinations and wildlife (5/7/20)
I am thrilled to announce a new project that will involve evaluating rabies vaccination strategies for wildlife in partnership with USDA APHIS Wildlife Services National Rabies Management Program, National Wildlife Research Center, and the Vermont Wildlife Services operational program. The project will help inform wildlife disease management decisions, especially along the urban-suburban interface, and is set to begin this summer.
Marten gene flow -- COVER article (2/10/20)
Cody Aylward spearheaded a new analysis of marten gene flow at multiple spatial scales in the northeastern US. Delighted to announce that the paper has been published in the journal Heredity. The article made the cover of the journal! Here are details: Aylward, C., J. Murdoch, C. W. Kilpatrick. 2020. Multiscale landscape genetics of American marten at their southern range periphery. Heredity.
Wildlife distributions in NE United States (12/23/19)
Congratulations to Skye Pearman-Gillman for her new paper on wildlife distributions in the northeastern United States. The paper details distribution models developed for 10 harvested species such as deer, bear, moose, and turkey, based on expert elicitation techniques. Pearman-Gillman, S., J. Katz, R. Mickey, J. Murdoch, and T. Donovan. 2020. Predicting wildlife distribution patterns in New England USA based on expert elicitation techniques. Global Ecology and Conservation 21:e00853.
Wildlife and roads (12/9/19)
We recently received a grant from the Vermont Agency of Transportation to evaluate and rank road crossing structures in terms of their value for wildlife and landscape connectivity in Vermont. The grant is in partnership with The Nature Conservancy Vermont and the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. The team includes James Brady and Chris Slesar, our project champions from VTRANS, Paul Marangelo from TNC, Jens Hilke from VFWD, and Caitlin Drasher from UVM (graduate student). We look forward to working with VTRANS and helping inform their approaches to road and wildlife management!
Conservation Biology textbook is out! (12/7/19)
Thrilled to announce that our Conservation Biology textbook is out! The book has been over two years in the making. Cardinale, B., R. Primack, J. Murdoch. 2019. Conservation biology, 1st edition. Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Research projects
A snapshot of current projects
American marten
genetics and
distribution
Northeastern USA
Predicting wildlife
distributions in
future landscapes
Northeastern USA
Moose survival,
reproduction,
habitat use,
and genetics
Vermont and Northeastern USA
Rabies vaccination
strategies for wildlife
Vermont USA
Wildlife and road
crossing structures
Vermont USA
Effects of landscape
change on
carnivores
Mongolia
Sustainable
cashmere production
for wildlife and people
Mongolia
Publications
A selection of recent articles | Google Scholar profile
Conservation Biology, 1st edition
Global
Cardinale, B., R. Primack, and J. Murdoch. Conservation Biology, 1st edition, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
Kit fox occupancy during an epizootic
California usa
Deatherage, N., B. Cypher, J. Murdoch, T. Westall, E. Kelly, and D. Germano. 2021. Urban landscape attributes affect occupancy patterns of the San Joaquin kit fox during an epizootic. Pacific Conservation Biology, https://doi.org/10.1071/PC20059.
Wildlife resistance to change
northeastern usa
Pearman-Gillman, S., M. Duveneck, J. Murdoch, and T. Donovan. 2020. Wildlife resistance and protection in a changing New England landscape. PLoS ONE 15(9): e0239525.
Wildlife and landscape change
northeastern usa
Pearman-Gillman, S., M. Duveneck, J. Murdoch, and T. Donovan. 2020. Drivers and consequences of alternative landscape futures on wildlife distributions in New England, United States. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 8:164 doi: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00164.
Wildlife distribution patterns
northeastern usa
Pearman-Gillman, S., J. Katz, R. Mickey, J. Murdoch, and T. Donovan. 2020. Predicting wildlife distribution patterns in New England USA based on expert elicitation techniques. Global Ecology and Conservation 21:e00853.
Marten gene flow
northeastern usa
Aylward, C., J. Murdoch, C. W. Kilpatrick. 2020. Multiscale landscape genetics of American marten at their southern range periphery. Heredity 124:550-561.
Wildlife & landscape development
Vermont, usa
Espenshade, J., J. Murdoch, T. Donovan, R. Manning, C. Bettigole, and J. Austin. 2018. Public acceptability of development in the Northern Forest of Vermont, USA – the influence of wildlife information, recreation involvement, and demographic characteristics. PLoS ONE 13(12): e0203515.
Marten population genetics
Northeastern usa
Aylward, C., J. Murdoch, and C. W. Kilpatrick. 2019.
Genetic legacies of translocation and relictual populations of American marten at the southeastern margin of their distribution. Conservation Genetics 20:275-286.
Bobcat habitat selection
Vermont, USA
Abouelezz, H., T. Donovan, J. Murdoch, R. Mickey, M. Freeman, and K. Royar. 2018. Landscape composition mediates movement and habitat selection in bobcats (Lynx rufus): Implications for conservation planning. Landscape Ecology 33:1301-1318.
Marten distribution & connectivity
Northeastern usa
Aylward, C., J. Murdoch, T. Donovan, C. W. Kilpatrick, and C. Bernier. 2018. Estimating distribution and connectivity of recolonizing American marten in the northeastern United States using expert elicitation techniques. Animal Conservation 21:483-495.
Moose genetic tool
North america
Kalbfleisch, T. S., B. M. Murdoch, T. P. L. Smith, J. D. Murdoch, M. P. Heaton, and S. D. McKay. 2018. A SNP resource for studying North American moose. F1000Research 7:40. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.13501.1
Argali and ecosystem services
Mongolia
Murdoch, J., R. Reading, S. Amgalanbaatar, G. Wingard, and B. Lkhagvasuren. 2017. Ecological interactions shape the distribution of a cultural ecosystem service: argali sheep (Ovis ammon) in the Gobi-Steppe of Mongolia. Biological Conservation 209:315-322.
Wildebeest, zebra, oribi density
zambia
M’soka, J., S. Creel, M. Becker, and J. Murdoch. 2017. Ecological and anthropogenic effects on the density of migratory and resident ungulates in a human-inhabited protected area. African Journal of Ecology 55:618-631.
Argali corridor mapping
MONGOLIA
Murdoch, J., R. Reading, S. Amgalanbaatar, G. Wingard, and B. Lkhagvasuren. 2017. Argali sheep (Ovis ammon) movement corridors between critical resources in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia. Mongolian Journal of Biological Sciences 15:3-11.
Argali, wolves, and pastoralists
Mongolia
Ekernas, L. S., W. M. Sarmento, H. S. Davie, R. P. Reading, J. Murdoch, G. J. Wingard, S. Amgalanbaatar, and J. Berger. 2017. Desert pastoralists' negative and positive effects on rare wildlife in the Gobi. Conservation Biology 31:269-277.
Developing a model reserve
Mongolia
Reading, R., J. Murdoch, S. Amgalanbaatar, H. Davie, M. Jorgensen, D. Kenny, T. Munkhzul, G. Onloragcha, L. Rhodes, J. Schneider, T. Selenge, E. Stotz, S. Buyandelger, E. Tuguldur, and G. Wingard. 2016. From "paper park" to model protected area: transformation of Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia. IUCN Parks 22.2:25-38.
Corsac foxes and habitat loss
Mongolia
Lkhagvasuren, M., J. Murdoch, T. Munkhzul, and A. Strong. 2016. Predicting the effects of habitat loss on corsac fox occupancy in Mongolia. Journal of Mammalogy 97:1153-1163.
Hedgehog radio-telemetry
Mongolia
Reading, R., D. Kenny, J. Murdoch, and S. Batdorj. 2016. Use of dental restorative temporization material for attaching radiotransmitters to hedgehogs. Wildlife Society Bulletin 40:355-358.
Red fox distribution
Mongolia
Murdoch, J., H. Davie, M. Galbadrah, and R. P. Reading. 2016. Factors influencing red fox occupancy probability in central Mongolia. Mammalian Biology 81:82-88.
Red fox phylogeny
Global
Statham, M., J. Murdoch, J. Janecka, K. Aubry, C. Edwards, C. Soulsbury, O. Berry, Z. Wang, D. Harrison, M. Pearch, L. Tomsett, J. Chupasko, and B. Sacks. 2014. Range-wide multilocus phylogeography of the red fox reveals ancient continental divergence, minimal genomic exchange and distinct demographic histories. Molecular Ecology 23:4813-4830.
Graduate students
Current students and their projects
Elias Rosenblatt
Ph.D. program
Eli's project examines the physiological responses of moose to landscape change in the northeastern US. His graduate work is supported by the Steven Rubenstein Ph.D. Fellowship and a USDA McIntire-Stennis research grant. Co-advisor: Dr. Terri Donovan, USGS VCFWRU.
Elisabeth Lohre
M.S. program
Lisi's research involves developing an adaptive framework for sustainable cashmere certification that meets the needs of wildlife and people in Mongolia. Her work is in partnership with Ikh Nart Nature Reserve and supported by the Denver Zoological Foundation and Earthwatch Institute.
Josh Blouin
M.S. program
Josh's project focuses on moose habitat selection in Vermont. His graduate work is supported by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department and is part of a region-wide effort to understand moose ecology in the northeastern United Co-advisor: Dr. Terri Donovan, USGS VCFWRU.
Maggie Batton
M.S. program
Maggie's project focuses on aspects of the effectiveness of rabies vaccination strategies in Vermont in partnership with the USDA APHIS Wildlife Services National Rabies Management Program, National Wildlife Research Center, and the Vermont Wildlife Services operational program.
Caitlin Drasher
M.S. program
Caitlin's research focuses on evaluating and ranking the value of road crossing structures for wildlife and landscape connectivity. The project is in partnership with the Vermont Agency of Transportation, The Nature Conservancy in Vermont, and Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.
Matt Lacey
Dual M.S./M.E.S.L. program
Matt is part of the Vermont Law School / University of Vermont dual degree program. Matt's research focuses on the effectiveness of legislation on wildlife conservation in Vermont in partnership with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.
Collaborators
Research partners
Vermont Fish
and Wildlife Department
USA
A main partner for research in Vermont and northeastern US is the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department of the VT Agency of Natural Resources.
Vermont Agency of Transportation
USA
A main partner for research on roads, wildlife, and landscape connectivity in Vermont is research department of VTRANS.
The Nature Conservancy of Vermont
USA
A main partner for research on roads, wildlife, and landscape connectivity in Vermont is the The Nature Conservancy of Vermont.
Mongolian Academy of Sciences
Mongolia
A main partner for research in Asia is the Mongolian Academy of Sciences Institute of General and Experimental Biology, Mammalian Ecology Laboratory.
USDA APHIS Wildlife Services
Vermont
Partners in rabies management research include the National Rabies Management Program, National Wildlife Research Center, and the Vermont Wildlife Services operational program.
Denver
Zoological Foundation
USA & Mongolia
A main partner for research in Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia is the Field Conservation Department at the Denver Zoological Foundation in the US.
Zambian
Carnivore Programme
Zambia
A main partner for research in Africa is the Zambian Carnivore Programme that works country-wide on carnivore conservation issues.
Tilad Veterinary Center & Environmental Consultants
Saudi Arabia
I serve on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Tilad Group that provides wildlife and environmental services in Saudia Arabia.
Contact
+1 (802) 656-2912 | jmurdoch@uvm.edu
This is a personal website for James (Jed) D. Murdoch and the information, text, images, videos, content, opinions, and representations do not necessarily reflect those of the UVM Wildlife and Fisheries Biology Program, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, The Nature Conservancy, or other organizations or entities mentioned on the site. All text, images, and videos are copyrighted. Use of text, images and other elements of this site requires permission from the author/photographer/producer. Videos may be used for free for educational purposes (any form of commercial use not allowed) and there is no guarantee on their content. If you have questions, please contact James Murdoch by email at jmurdoch@uvm.edu.