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Matthew J. Kauffman

Publications and source records attributed to Matthew J. Kauffman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2026

Predicting disease spread from host movement data: Chronic wasting disease in North America as a case study

1. Rare long-distance movements can increase the spatial spread of invasive species and shifts in species ranges. However, in the context of wildlife disease spread, seasonal migrations only matter if they lead to transmission beyond an individual’s initial set of contacts, and the importance of juvenile dispersal depends on whether those juveniles become infected before they disperse. 2. High resolution animal movement data are increasing, but it is unclear how to leverage these data to improve predictions future disease spread particularly in regions without pre-existing movement data. 3. We predicted the speed of chronic wasting disease (CWD) spread based on movement metrics of mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) and white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) and compared our predictions to observed spreading rates in North America from 2005 to 2022. We hypothesized that CWD should spread faster in regions with long-distance migratory mule deer, but this hypothesis was only partially supported. 4. Observed rates of CWD spread were faster in western epicenters with more mobile mule deer than in epicenters with only white-tailed deer (14-18 km/yr compared to 5-7 km/yr, respectively). However, the observed speed of CWD spread did not align well with migration distances. Deer movements in the Canadian Prairie Provinces (CPP) were far shorter than those in Colorado and Wyoming, yet had faster CWD spread much of which was open prairies where deer movements tend to be along riverine corridors rather than the longer elevational migrations in more montane regions. 5. Generally, our predicted rates of CWD spread from three different models were far slower than the observed rates regardless of whether the model included dispersal or migration. Understanding of these discrepancies is needed before high-resolution animal movement data can be used to predict broad-scale patterns of disease invasion. 6. Anthropogenic movements likely explain longer-distance movements of CWD across North America, but it remains unclear whether human-mediated movements or alternative analytical methods and deer movement metrics can explain the faster than predicted local CWD spread.

Journal of Animal Ecology↗
USGS2026

Space between houses influences movement and habitat selection of ungulates: Width as a novel metric of development

Wildlife often lose access to habitat due to housing development. The magnitude of indirect habitat loss can be conditional on the configuration of individual houses, but commonly used metrics (i.e. density or distance) can overlook the configuration of development. We introduce a novel framework to index the configuration of development based on the width of space between houses and associated structures. We use resource selection functions to assess the degree that GPS-collared elk ( Cervus canadensis ), mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ), pronghorn and moose ( Alces alces ) on winter range and on migration routes use space between houses within northwest Wyoming, USA, near the towns of Cody and Jackson. Further, to help inform regulations aiming to promote wildlife movement across a gradient of land uses, we differentiated between individuals residing in primarily rural and exurban areas. Rural populations of elk, mule deer, pronghorn and moose avoided spaces narrower than 2 km and never used spaces narrower than 50 m between houses, whereas exurban populations of elk, mule deer and moose selected for spaces narrower than 2 km but avoided spaces narrower than 50 m. We identified cutoffs in rural and exurban areas where space may become too narrow for most animals to use. Through this metric, managers and policy makers can inform the necessary width to maintain wildlife movement through corridors. Our width metric can be applied to other systems and our workflow is publicly available ( https://wildlifemovetools.org/width-calculator ) so users can estimate the width of space between structures in their focal areas. Synthesis and applications . In rural areas, maintaining spaces between houses >500 m will likely facilitate ungulate movement. To fully conserve functional habitat, such as unimpeded habitat use along migration corridors, maintaining spaces approximately >2.5 km between houses will likely be necessary.

Wyoming↗
USGS2026

The interplay of habitat quality and temperature shape demographic patterns of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in North America

Mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) are declining in abundance across their broad distribution in western North America. Identifying drivers of mule deer demography could inform habitat restoration. However, linking habitat quality to vital rates is challenging and often done indirectly using proxy metrics. We combine habitat selection with climate-related effects to identify synergistic influences affecting mule deer age ratios (fawn:doe). We used location data from 1473 female deer over 22 years in Wyoming to fit seasonal resource selection models, predict habitat suitability, and model age ratios as a function of drought conditions, winter severity, and seasonal habitat. Here we show temperature had the largest effect on mule deer recruitment with age ratios declining following hotter summers and colder winters. Age ratios increased with higher proportions of habitat with high-quality summer habitat of particular importance. Given the likely increases in summer temperatures and extreme winter weather events, populations may struggle to increase recruitment over the next half-century. Targeted management supporting forage quantity and quality, especially on summer range, could buffer the effects of decades-long drought conditions. Our findings also indicate mule deer avoid areas with high densities of oil and gas development. By delineating important mule deer habitat, we offer spatial tools for development siting and mitigation in Wyoming and a framework for broader application across the western United States.

Wyoming↗
USGS2026

Nutritional and reproductive dynamics of moose near their southern range limit

Understanding the relationships between nutrition and life-history characteristics can provide insight into the factors limiting populations. Moose ( Alces alces ) at their southern range periphery are subject to nutritional constraints because of marginal climatic and habitat conditions, but how these limitations influence vital rates remains a point of uncertainty. We examined the nutritional and reproductive dynamics of moose at the fringes of their range in southeast Wyoming, USA. We used an individual-based approach to evaluate the nutritional condition (i.e., body fat) of female moose by recapturing the same individuals each autumn and spring to measure body fat, pregnancy, recruitment of offspring, and survival. Like other temperate ungulates, we anticipated that moose would accumulate body fat over summer and use those reserves to support survival and reproduction over winter. Throughout the annual cycle, we expected that body fat, an integrated measure of energetic gains and losses, would influence pregnancy, recruitment, and adult survival. Contrary to expectations, body fat varied by less than 1.5 percentage points between autumn and spring. Despite relatively low seasonal fluctuations, body fat was positively associated with probability of pregnancy and adult survival but did not influence recruitment of young. Moreover, age influenced probability of pregnancy and overwinter survival. We demonstrate clear signs of nutritional limitation and unexpectedly absent relationships between body fat and recruitment that may be unique to moose living at the fringes of their range, highlighting environmental constraints on reproduction at distributional limits. By investigating the connections between nutrition and reproduction in southern moose, we provide insight into how vital rates can be used to monitor demographic performance for at-risk populations.

Wyoming↗
USGS2026

Ungulate migrations of the Western United States, volume 6

This report, volume 6 in the “Ungulate Migrations of the Western United States” report series, showcases the migrations of 23 ungulate herds in the Western United States. The report series is produced by the Corridor Mapping Team (CMT). Led by the U.S. Geological Survey, the CMT is a collaboration among 11 State agencies, as well as regional and Federal partners, and an expanding number of Tribal wildlife agencies. The CMT was initiated in response to the U.S. Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3362, which was signed in 2018 and provided Federal support to expand existing research efforts to study ungulate populations and conserve their migrations throughout the Western United States. Including this volume, the report series has detailed the migrations of 237 unique ungulate herds throughout the Western United States and continues to serve as a valuable resource to guide local and regional management, policy, and on-the-ground work necessary to maintain intact and functional ungulate migrations. This report highlights several guiding principles of the CMT that facilitate collaboration among the diverse set of partners and contribute to the program’s continued successes. Notably, raw global positioning system data are not shared among participating agencies and the U.S. Geological Survey, delineating migration corridors and seasonal ranges relies on empirical data, the CMT provides flexible approaches to participating State and Tribal partners, and regular CMT meetings create a framework for open communication among agency partners that supports transboundary mapping of migrations. The 237 ungulate migrations that have been included in the report series are an expanding inventory, which can help maintain ungulate migrations in perpetuity.

Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nev↗
USGS2026

Local and landscape-level environmental conditions drive habitat selection across terrestrial mammal species

Aim Animal movements are a fundamental process affecting communities and ecosystems. Quantifying habitat selection across species and habitats is key for understanding how animals respond to environmental change. Currently, we lack comparative studies that examine how habitat selection varies across species traits and landscapes. We aim to quantify global patterns of habitat selection to help understand the fundamental drivers of movement behaviour. Location Global. Time Period Contemporary. Major Taxa Studied Terrestrial mammals. Methods We estimated selection coefficients for terrain ruggedness, vegetation productivity, human population density and distance to roads of individual terrestrial mammals through step-selection analysis of 1344 GPS tracks across 48 species. We quantified intra- and interspecific variation and tested whether selection coefficients were associated with species traits and habitat availability. Results We observe an overall avoidance of roads and areas of high human population density as well as rugged terrain, with a large proportion of individuals selecting for areas of intermediate NDVI. However, we also found large intraspecific variation in habitat selection and show that this variation is predicted by local and landscape-level environmental conditions rather than species traits. Individuals in more remote areas exhibited weaker functional responses to human presence than those in more disturbed areas. Avoidance of rugged terrain is also context-dependent, with stronger avoidance when local ruggedness is high. The only exception to the observed intraspecific variability is consistent species-level responses to road proximity. Main Conclusions Our findings contribute to the understanding of habitat selection by terrestrial mammals, showing that selection is largely shaped by environmental conditions and that animals exhibit high plasticity in their responses. Our results also provide further evidence for the significant impact of roads on animal movement. These insights can help us to understand the potential effects of environmental change on the behaviour of mammal species around the world.

Global Ecology and Biogeography↗
USGS2026

Moose indifferent to canopy loss from forest disturbance by bark beetles

Conifer forests have experienced widespread disturbance following the infestation of bark beetles ( Dendroctonus spp.). Tree mortality and resulting canopy loss have altered forest composition in ways that could affect moose ( Alces alces ), including potential benefits from increased understory forage and drawbacks through the loss of refuge from heat and deep snow. We examined the behavioral response of moose to beetle-killed forest, comparing resource selection before (2005–2006) and after (2015–2017) disturbance in southeast Wyoming, USA. To evaluate selection, we created a land cover classification layer at 0.5-m resolution using machine learning to delineate dead conifers, as well as aspen and willows that were underrepresented in existing land cover products. By measuring resource selection in a fractional cover framework, we found that moose showed strikingly similar resource selection before and after beetle disturbance. Moose during both periods selected willows and aspen while avoiding conifer forest and shrubs throughout the year. Moose in the post-beetle periods avoided conifer forest more strongly the more conifer forest made up their home range. The same pattern emerged for beetle-killed conifer: the more beetle-kill in a home range, the stronger the avoidance of beetle-kill. Our findings indicate that forest disturbance caused by bark beetles does not appreciably alter habitat quality for moose, and moose continue to employ similar patterns of resource selection regardless of forest changes in the early stages of the post-beetle infestation. Our work supports the importance of riparian and deciduous land cover in sustaining moose populations in the face of widespread forest disturbances.

Wyoming↗
USGS2026

Integrating climate and anthropogenic dynamics can inform multifaceted management for declining mule deer populations

Wildlife and their habitats face profound challenges from climate and landscape-scale changes that extend beyond the influence and time horizon of most biologists and land managers. In this changing environment, long-term datasets can enhance assessments of how demographic trends respond to interactions among local (e.g., habitat restoration decisions) and broad extent drivers, including energy development, to shape wildlife populations. Although many studies evaluate habitat selection or demographics for a single population, our multipopulation, multiscale study quantifies the influence of local management actions given broader environmental forces using both immediate and lagged effects. This approach may be particularly important for species with high site fidelity that may have less adaptive capacity, including mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ), which are experiencing widespread population declines. We analyzed a 40-year (1980–2019) dataset for 37 mule deer populations across Wyoming, USA, to test hypotheses about and quantify the relative influence of conditions within winter use areas on annual rates of juvenile recruitment. Recruitment has been strongly affected by multiple factors largely beyond the control of managers. Land cover (agriculture and shrubland) had the largest positive effects on recruitment, with estimates more than twice the magnitude of other variables, but also had limited presence in some winter use areas. The next strongest effect sizes were shared by energy developments (including oil/gas and wind energy) and climatic conditions, which, except for wind turbines, had broad distributions across winter use areas. Recruitment increased with higher mean winter temperatures and summer precipitation, but declined with wind, oil and gas developments, cumulative drought, and wildfire. Expected increases in drought and decreases in summer precipitation may constrain options to sustain mule deer populations. Although mule deer recruitment may sometimes be enhanced through habitat restoration, effects varied with treatment type, habitat type, and time since treatment. Given large constraining effects of temperature and drought, supporting drought resiliency for important habitat may be useful. Our results can be used to weigh the relative strength of threats and the value of restoration actions, interpret historic demographic change, prioritize populations for conservation, and optimize options for wildlife habitat management.

Wyoming↗
USGS2026

Foraging benefits promote fitness in migratory mule deer

Although migration is widespread among ungulates, the fitness benefits associated with different migratory tactics have rarely been documented. Here, we evaluated a 9-year dataset on a migratory population of mule deer to test the hypothesis that long-distance migration provides access to seasonal forage which translates into demographic benefits. Mule deer that migrated long (>130 km) and medium distances (50–130 km) accessed higher forage quality and thus gained 1.3–2.7 times more fat over the growing season compared to mule deer that remained year-round as residents within a desert ecosystem. Elevated levels of fat translated to ∼20% higher probability of adult annual survival than residents. Mule deer that remained year-round in the desert portion of the study area were so resource-limited that they raised fawns at the expense of their own survival. Due to their higher levels of fat, annual survival, and fetal rates, migrants showed more robust population growth (λ = 1.03) compared to residents, which exhibited projected declines in population size over time (λ = 0.95). These results support the notion that migration translates into demographic benefits and highlight the urgent conservation work necessary to sustain diverse ungulate migrations amid habitat alteration due to climate change and an expanding web of linear barriers to movement.

Wyoming↗
USGS2026

Interacting effects of human presence and landscape modification on birds and mammals

Sustainable human–wildlife coexistence requires a mechanistic understanding of the many ways that humans affect animals. However, progress is hampered by the lack of accessible data measuring the dynamic presence of people. Here, we leverage mobile-device data to disentangle how human presence and landscape modification differentially influence the use of geographic and environmental space for 37 mammal and bird species across the United States. Human presence affected more than 65% of species, with substantial variation across species. For ~60% of species that responded to human activities, the effects were interdependent—animals tended to react more strongly to human presence in less modified habitats. Our results demonstrate that human presence and landscape modification have complex combined effects on wildlife, which need to be considered for effective management.

Science↗
USGS2025

From fences to roads: Changes in barrier behaviour of Mongolian gazelle across different types of linear infrastructure in Mongolia

Poorly designed linear infrastructure can reduce habitat connectivity and be major barriers for migratory wildlife. An important start at effective mitigation is understanding how individuals respond when barriers are encountered. This can be done via comparison of fine- and broad-scale behavioural responses to various anthropogenic barrier types. We classified fine-scale responses of 62 Mongolian gazelles ( Procapra gutturosa ) across different barrier types, seasons and times of day. We also investigated interactions at a broader scale by measuring the length of linear infrastructure traced, interaction duration and crossing success rate. We learned that gazelle behaviour varied according to barrier permeability, and that fences were major obstacles. Gazelles exhibited similar bouncing behaviour when confronted with paved roads as with fences, suggesting paved roads can act as semi-permeable barriers during high traffic volume. Broad-scale movement patterns revealed gazelles travelled considerable distances along fences—averaging 40.2 km, and up to 211.6 km—before moving away or crossing. Long-distance tracing movements can help identify areas with the strongest barrier effect and guide mitigation measures for current and future linear infrastructure. Designing infrastructure and implementing conservation strategies for ungulates in steppe ecosystems will benefit from taking into account behavioural responses at both fine and broad scales.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sci↗
USGS2025

Expression and mechanisms of behavioral plasticity in large mammals

Behavioral plasticity, the alteration of behavior in response to stimuli, is becoming increasingly important in the context of human-induced rapid environmental change. Theoretical and empirical studies suggest that the expression and magnitude of behavioral plasticity are likely facilitated or constrained primarily by two factors: environmental variation and endogenous traits such as body size. The contextual role of these factors on behavioral plasticity, however, is poorly understood; there are relatively few studies that have compared the magnitude and potential drivers of behavioral plasticity at different levels (i.e., population and individual) across species, especially in free-ranging animals with diverse behavioral traits such as large mammals. Here, we quantify and test potential hypotheses for the mechanisms underpinning behavioral plasticity at the individual and population level in response to variation in summer temperatures for 1068 animal-years in 17 populations across nine species of large mammals. All populations displayed behavioral plasticity in response to increased temperatures, modifying their relative selection for heat-relieving habitat attributes (e.g., elevation) and heat-generating behavior (i.e., movement speed). We found strong support for the hypothesis that the variability of the physical environment is an important driver of behavioral plasticity—both mean population behavioral plasticity and variation among individuals within each population in plasticity were lower with increased heterogeneity of habitat attributes such as tree cover. Yet, the variability in environmental conditions (i.e., the magnitude of the temperature increase) had no effect on behavioral plasticity within and among populations. We did not detect an effect of endogenous traits on the expression of behavioral plasticity; however, we note that data availability limited our tests of this hypothesis to a select few endogenous traits (body size, feeding guild, and sex of the tracked individuals) that predominantly vary at the species level, for which we had one to three replicate populations per species. Our results provide an integrative and generalizable understanding of the expression of behavioral plasticity among populations of large mammals in temperate environments and emphasize the important but nuanced role of environmental variation in determining the scope of behavioral plasticity in these populations.

Wyoming↗
USGS2025

Beyond habitat: Memory versus environment in shaping animal space use

For nearly half a century, ecologists have sought to explain animal space use through characteristics of the environment (i.e., habitat). Recent evidence suggests animals also use memory of previous experiences to decide when and where to move. Yet, the relative influence of the two in explaining animal space use has not been resolved. Using six large ungulate species in the Rocky Mountains (USA), we evaluated the performance of a habitat selection model with 16 environmental variables and another with two variables representing previous use (i.e., memory). While memory outperformed the environment for two species and the environment outperformed memory for four species, the influence of memory and the environment was overall comparable. The environment best explained the space use of specialists, while memory best explained species with strong site fidelity. Our work challenges traditional habitat selection theory, showcasing that animals build their spatial preferences through experience just as much as merely responding to their environment.

Wyoming↗
USGS2025

Do mule deer surf peaks in forage quality while on summer range?

Many animals track ephemeral peaks in food abundance and quality that propagate across landscapes. Migrating ungulates, in particular, track waves of newly emerging plants from low-elevation winter ranges to high-elevation summer ranges—known as “green-wave surfing.” Because plants lose crude protein and gain insoluble fiber with maturation, ruminants are expected to exploit peaks in forage quality among individual plants (i.e., Forage Maturation Hypothesis). Although ample evidence supports the long-standing hypothesis that migratory ungulates surf peaks in forage quality during migration, the hypothesis that ungulates track peaks in forage quality at a small scale (i.e., microsurf while on summer range) remains less known. We studied a partially migratory population of mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) in Wyoming, USA, to understand whether temperate ungulates optimize the use of high-quality forage as plants grow and senesce on disparate summer ranges. Specifically, we evaluated how crude protein, digestible energy, and relative abundance changed throughout the growing season and whether deer altered their diet to reflect species-specific changes in plant phenology. In support of the Forage Maturation Hypothesis, forage quality declined as large-scale patterns of phenology progressed away from a remotely sensed metric of peak green-up for most plant species on the summer ranges of deer that migrated short (<50 km), medium (50–130 km), and long distances (>130 km). Declining rates in forage quality among plant species were heterogeneous, providing deer with the phenological diversity required to microsurf. Deer changed their diet throughout the growing season and prioritized the consumption of some plants, including Rosa woodsii and Purshia tridentata , as the rank of forage quality increased ( p < 0.01). In light of the complexities common to studies on foraging behavior, our findings suggest that deer may have some potential to microsurf on summer range when heterogeneity in resource phenology is prevalent. Moreover, our findings validate the accuracy of remote sensing in quantifying peak forage quality for plants within sagebrush shrublands and montane habitats.

Wyoming↗
USGS2025

Consistent individual differences and plasticity in migration behaviour of three North American ungulates

Migratory herbivores often time spring migration to coincide with the green-up of plants. When the timing of green-up changes across years, herbivores can respond directly and be plastic to changing conditions or populations may adapt via inherent differences among individuals that may allow for an evolutionary response. We quantified plasticity and individual variation in the timing of spring migration and selection for high-quality forage as a function of the timing of spring green-up using behavioural reaction norms for three North American ungulate species. The timing of arrival to summer range (but not departure from winter range) was plastic to the timing of green-up, and both arrival and departure timing were repeatable. Our results suggest that herbivores synchronise migration with the timing of green-up by adjusting the pace of migration and may be buffered against change via individual differences. Quantifying plasticity and differences in responses represents a crucial step to elucidating the fate of species in a changing world.

Wyoming↗
USGS2025

How sampling design of GPS collar deployment influences consistency of mapped migration corridors over time

Federal and state agencies within the United States have recently issued directives prioritizing the conservation of ungulate migration corridors and winter ranges. The ability to identify and delineate the spatial distribution of seasonal ranges underpins these policies. While such delineations are often derived from global positioning system (GPS) collar data collected for a few years on a focal population, they are being used in long-term conservation planning. Our objectives were to quantify consistency in migration corridors from year to year and cumulatively across multiple years and identify which aspects of the sampling design of GPS collar deployment will delineate a consistent and relatively complete migration corridor. We used data from 6 sub-herds of mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ), a species known to have high migratory fidelity, located in Wyoming and northern New Mexico, USA, monitored for 5–7 years (510 unique individuals). We calculated 2 types of migration corridors over time: cumulative corridors where each new year of data was added to all previous years and yearly corridors where each year was based only on data collected in that year. We then calculated the year-to-year consistency in the 2 types of migration corridors by calculating the percent overlap between corridors calculated in sequential years. We found that collaring a higher proportion of a sub-herd increased the consistency in migration corridors, whereas collaring new individuals via redeployments in a subsequent year of monitoring caused corridors to shift. To obtain a corridor with ≥90% consistency (i.e., approaching the complete area used by a population in our data), our results suggest that biologists should strive to collar ≥6% of a sub-herd for a minimum of 2 years. However, if ≥6% of a sub-herd cannot be collared, monitoring for longer (3–4 years) will provide roughly 90% consistency in a migration corridor estimate for mule deer. Furthermore, adding 16–25% new individuals each year will help capture variation among individuals while maintaining corridor consistency of ≥90%, leading to a more accurate delineation of the corridor. Our results provide managers with a logistical framework for collaring projects aimed at delineating migration corridors that are durable into the future.

Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming↗
USGS2025

Ungulate migrations of the Western United States, volume 5

Many ungulates migrate between distinct summer and winter ranges to take advantage of spatially and temporally variable food sources and avoid threats such as predators and deep snow. In 2018, the U.S. Department of the Interior established Secretarial Order 3362, which provided Federal support to expand existing research efforts to study ungulate populations and conserve their migrations by enhancing habitat quality for ungulates across the Western United States. In response to the order, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) created the Corridor Mapping Team, which is a collaboration among 11 State agencies, regional and Federal partners, and an expanding number of Tribal wildlife agencies. Together, the Corridor Mapping Team maps ungulate migrations throughout the Western United States and publishes them in the USGS “Ungulate Migrations of the Western United States” report series. This report details migrations and seasonal ranges from 36 additional herds and includes 2 herd updates detailed in previous reports. The Corridor Mapping Team has mapped the migrations and seasonal ranges of 218 unique herds for the report series, including this report. The report series serves as a map-based inventory of the ungulate migrations across the Western United States for biologists, managers, policymakers, and conservation practitioners. Building on the previous report volumes in the series, volume 5 additionally describes some of the local and national initiatives that are incorporating the products, tools, and information from this growing USGS report series.

Navajo Nation↗