2021 - present

The global decline or extinction of large mammals over the last 50,000 years has caused sweeping changes in the ecosystems they once inhabited. Trophic rewilding holds promise for returning lost ecological function and restoring processes that support...

This research paper investigates the efficacy of leading machine learning (ML) models for detecting and identifying ungulate species in African savanna using nadir imagery from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Traditional aerial counting methods, while...

Grassy ecosystems cover >25% of the world's land surface area. The abundance of herbaceous vegetation in these systems directly impacts a variety of ecological processes, including carbon sequestration, regulation of water and nutrient cycling, and...

While advances in machine learning with satellite imagery (SatML) are facilitating environmental monitoring at a global scale, developing SatML models that are accurate and useful for local regions remains critical to understanding and acting on an ever...

Across savanna ecosystems worldwide, the decline of large trees and the rapid expansion of shrubs present major conservation challenges. These trends are especially pronounced in South Africa's Kruger National Park (KNP), the country's largest protected...

Accurately predicting exposure of animals to climate change requires evaluating the effects of warming on the microclimates they occupy. Birds, like many other taxa, make extensive use of cool microsites in vegetation during hot weather. Taking advantage...

Identifying effective approaches to measuring habitat requirements for elusive and difficult-to-study species is an important component of ecological research, particularly for species of conservation concern. The continued decline of critically...

Grassy ecosystems cover >25% of the world’s land surface area. The abundance of herbaceous vegetation in these systems directly impacts a variety of ecological processes, including carbon sequestration, regulation of water and nutrient cycling, and...

Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) are a large carnivore species known to range across broad savanna regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Although hyenas have occasionally been observed in rainforest habitat, they have been considered largely transient through...

Much of Earth’s charismatic megafauna is endangered by human activities, particularly the rhino, which is at risk of extinction due to the poaching crisis in Africa. Monitoring rhinos’ movement is crucial to their protection but has unfortunately proven...