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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). I am currently serving as Director of the program. My position involves conducting research on the natural world, teaching and mentoring students, and service to the community and profession.
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 mammalian carnivores with an emphasis on their conservation. Much of my experience has focused on the Canidae, including foxes, wild dogs, and wolves, and explored aspects of their sociality, demography, food habits, ranging behavior, and activity patterns. I am also interested in understanding how human activities affect carnivores. For example, how do activities such as landscape development, climate change, and hunting/poaching affect carnivore 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.
Publications
A selection of recent articles | Google Scholar profile
Bobcat habitat selection
Vermont, USA
Abouelezz, H., T. Donovan, J. Murdoch, R. Mickey, M. Freeman, and K. Royar. In review. Landscape composition mediates movement and habitat selection in bobcats (Lynx rufus): Implications for conservation planning. Landscape Ecology.
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 (early view). DOI: 10.1111/aje.12398
Wildlife & landscape development
Vermont, usa
Espenshade, J., J. Murdoch, T. Donovan, R. Manning, C. Bettigole, and J. Austin. In review. Public acceptability of development in the Northern Forest of Vermont, USA – the influence of wildlife information, recreation involvement, and demographic characteristics. PLOS ONE.
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
Jake DeBow
M.S. program
Jake's project focuses on moose survival and recruitment 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 States. Co-advisor: Dr. Terri Donovan, USGS VCFWRU.
Skye Pearman-Gillman
Ph.D. program
Skye's project focuses on wildlife responses to climate change in the northeastern United States. Her graduate work is supported by a USDA McIntire-Stennis research grant. Co-advisor: Dr. Terri Donovan, USGS VCFWRU.
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.
Collaborators
Research partners
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
USA
A main partner for research in Vermont and northeastern US is the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department of the Agency of Natural Resources.
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.
Zambian
Carnivore Programme
Zambia
A main partner for research in Africa is the Zambian Carnivore Programme that works country-wide on carnivore conservation issues.
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.