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Amanda Cheeseman, PHD
My research broadly focuses on the relationships between mammal species and their habitats to answer today's conservation and management challenges. I work in highly impacted systems, using collaborative and interdisciplinary approaches to better understand these complex and dynamic relationships across multiple spatial and temporal scales.
When I'm not chasing, modelling, thinking, or speaking about mammals, I can be found chatting science among friends, kayaking, or reading my favorite science fiction.
When I'm not chasing, modelling, thinking, or speaking about mammals, I can be found chatting science among friends, kayaking, or reading my favorite science fiction.
EDUCATION:
PhD, Fish and Wildlife Biology and Management, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
MS, Biology, Fort Hays State University
BS, Zoology, Michigan State University
Email me
Curriculum Vitae
PhD, Fish and Wildlife Biology and Management, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
MS, Biology, Fort Hays State University
BS, Zoology, Michigan State University
Email me
Curriculum Vitae
CurrENT Lab Members
Graduate
MAYA PENDLETON
PHD TRACK
My research and professional experience have mainly focused on conservation ecology, non-game and sensitive species monitoring, native habitats, and the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. I am also interested in movement and disease ecology, identifying critical habitat needs for wildlife, and public outreach. I have worked with various organizations throughout the West, including the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources, the National Park Service, Weber State and Utah State Universities, and non-profit organizations. I have primarily worked with birds and bats, but also enjoy working with pygmy rabbits, pinyon jays, kit foxes, prairie dogs, beavers, and sensitive plants. At SDSU, I will conduct the first statewide systematic bat survey to determine species occurrence and distribution, with an emphasis on threatened and endangered myotis species. We will also characterize habitat features that are essential for bats to help inform land management practices.
In my free time, I enjoy the outdoors as much as possible as an avid camper, hiker, boater, snowboarder, biker, birder, and gardener. I also enjoy yoga, video games, and spending time with my dog, cat, spiders, reptiles, and plants.
PHD TRACK
My research and professional experience have mainly focused on conservation ecology, non-game and sensitive species monitoring, native habitats, and the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. I am also interested in movement and disease ecology, identifying critical habitat needs for wildlife, and public outreach. I have worked with various organizations throughout the West, including the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources, the National Park Service, Weber State and Utah State Universities, and non-profit organizations. I have primarily worked with birds and bats, but also enjoy working with pygmy rabbits, pinyon jays, kit foxes, prairie dogs, beavers, and sensitive plants. At SDSU, I will conduct the first statewide systematic bat survey to determine species occurrence and distribution, with an emphasis on threatened and endangered myotis species. We will also characterize habitat features that are essential for bats to help inform land management practices.
In my free time, I enjoy the outdoors as much as possible as an avid camper, hiker, boater, snowboarder, biker, birder, and gardener. I also enjoy yoga, video games, and spending time with my dog, cat, spiders, reptiles, and plants.
BRIANA ALL
MS TRACK
My research interests focus on applied research and conservation of non-game wildlife species, particularly small mammals and mesocarnivores and understanding the relationships with their respective habitats to guide land management practices. I have had the opportunity to work with a multitude of non-game species for different agencies including the U.S. Forest Service, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, the NYS Office of Renewable Energy Siting, as well as private and non-profit organizations. Some of my favorite species I’ve had the opportunity to work with include the Mexican spotted owl, West Virginia northern flying squirrel, New England cottontail, the eastern hellbender, and the Ord's kangaroo rat. My research will be focusing on mammalian communities in western South Dakota looking at species presence, distribution and habitat utilization.
When I’m not doing fieldwork or working in the lab, I enjoy leisurely hikes to boost my bird species life list, chasing rare bird sightings, or just exploring new areas and trying new foods. I also enjoy quiet days at home working on a cross-stitch, puzzling, gardening, or just relaxing with my three cats Otis-Jean, Wallace-James, and Chico-Boy.
MS TRACK
My research interests focus on applied research and conservation of non-game wildlife species, particularly small mammals and mesocarnivores and understanding the relationships with their respective habitats to guide land management practices. I have had the opportunity to work with a multitude of non-game species for different agencies including the U.S. Forest Service, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, the NYS Office of Renewable Energy Siting, as well as private and non-profit organizations. Some of my favorite species I’ve had the opportunity to work with include the Mexican spotted owl, West Virginia northern flying squirrel, New England cottontail, the eastern hellbender, and the Ord's kangaroo rat. My research will be focusing on mammalian communities in western South Dakota looking at species presence, distribution and habitat utilization.
When I’m not doing fieldwork or working in the lab, I enjoy leisurely hikes to boost my bird species life list, chasing rare bird sightings, or just exploring new areas and trying new foods. I also enjoy quiet days at home working on a cross-stitch, puzzling, gardening, or just relaxing with my three cats Otis-Jean, Wallace-James, and Chico-Boy.
KARMA CHOKI
MS TRACK
Belonging to one of the most biodiverse lands in the Eastern Himalayas with culturally innate reverence for nature and wildlife, I could only stay close and true to my roots through my conservation work. I am passionate about the charisma of carnivores especially felids, canids, and mustelids and enthralled by the their sheer wildness. My research interest lies within the broad spectrum of field survey techniques, conservation technologies, and statistical models and in converting the findings amenable to conservation and management. I’m drawn to the applications of hierarchical models (single-species and multi-species occupancy models, spatial capture-recapture models, N-mixture models), geospatial analysis, and species distribution modelling.
My current work focuses on understanding the common leopard’s Panthera pardus spatial distribution, population structure, and its interaction with other wildlife in the montane landscape. I will evaluate the mechanisms underpinning the leopard occurrence and how perturbations alter their coexistence and interaction with other sympatric carnivores in Bhutan. I will also study the relative abundance of the leopard’s primary prey species and their role in sustaining leopards in the landscape. My research will also assess leopard persistence in the landscape using climate models and project their future range shifts. There is a paucity of information on the common leopard and it limits our ability to understand the ecological relationships and interactions in an understudied Himalayan region. The findings of my research will be useful for Bhutan and other leopard-range countries to develop effective leopard conservation and management strategies.
Other than building models and setting camera traps, I love hiking, dancing, working out and reading narratives and excerpts of species and their life histories during my leisure.
MS TRACK
Belonging to one of the most biodiverse lands in the Eastern Himalayas with culturally innate reverence for nature and wildlife, I could only stay close and true to my roots through my conservation work. I am passionate about the charisma of carnivores especially felids, canids, and mustelids and enthralled by the their sheer wildness. My research interest lies within the broad spectrum of field survey techniques, conservation technologies, and statistical models and in converting the findings amenable to conservation and management. I’m drawn to the applications of hierarchical models (single-species and multi-species occupancy models, spatial capture-recapture models, N-mixture models), geospatial analysis, and species distribution modelling.
My current work focuses on understanding the common leopard’s Panthera pardus spatial distribution, population structure, and its interaction with other wildlife in the montane landscape. I will evaluate the mechanisms underpinning the leopard occurrence and how perturbations alter their coexistence and interaction with other sympatric carnivores in Bhutan. I will also study the relative abundance of the leopard’s primary prey species and their role in sustaining leopards in the landscape. My research will also assess leopard persistence in the landscape using climate models and project their future range shifts. There is a paucity of information on the common leopard and it limits our ability to understand the ecological relationships and interactions in an understudied Himalayan region. The findings of my research will be useful for Bhutan and other leopard-range countries to develop effective leopard conservation and management strategies.
Other than building models and setting camera traps, I love hiking, dancing, working out and reading narratives and excerpts of species and their life histories during my leisure.
EMILY MACKLIN
MS TRACK
My research interests include applied wildlife conservation and management, spatial ecology, and population dynamics. I am currently studying Pinyon Jay habitat use and colony site selection in relation to piñon-juniper woodlands management in southern Colorado. The Pinyon Jay, a highly social and charismatic corvid, has experienced a significant population decline over the last 50 years that has spurred a recent petition for federal listing on the Endangered Species Act. By identifying preferred habitat features, mapping current colony sites, and establishing baseline population estimates, this research can provide predictive models of high-quality habitat to inform sustainable land management practices and support Pinyon Jay recovery efforts.
I am an avid camper, birder, and all-around nature lover who enjoys indie/folk/punk jams and lofi playlists, appreciates a good sci-fi/apocalyptic flick, and proudly advocates for all our creepy-crawly slithery friends.
MS TRACK
My research interests include applied wildlife conservation and management, spatial ecology, and population dynamics. I am currently studying Pinyon Jay habitat use and colony site selection in relation to piñon-juniper woodlands management in southern Colorado. The Pinyon Jay, a highly social and charismatic corvid, has experienced a significant population decline over the last 50 years that has spurred a recent petition for federal listing on the Endangered Species Act. By identifying preferred habitat features, mapping current colony sites, and establishing baseline population estimates, this research can provide predictive models of high-quality habitat to inform sustainable land management practices and support Pinyon Jay recovery efforts.
I am an avid camper, birder, and all-around nature lover who enjoys indie/folk/punk jams and lofi playlists, appreciates a good sci-fi/apocalyptic flick, and proudly advocates for all our creepy-crawly slithery friends.
JESSICA SPEISER
MS TRACK
My research interests are in spatial ecology, carnivore conservation, wildlife management, and human-wildlife interactions. I’ve worked in state and federal agencies, as well as in private and non-profit conservation positions. My current work is focused on the North American river otter in eastern South Dakota. After being recently delisted from the endangered species list in South Dakota and the opening of a trapping season, I’m looking into their distribution, abundance, habitat preferences, and possible connection corridors. I’m using trail cameras in conjunction with occupancy modeling to detect the presence of river otters across the eastern half of the state.
When I’m not working outside, I’m playing outside. I love hiking and camping with my dog, Jack. I also enjoy embroidering while watching a good movie.
MS TRACK
My research interests are in spatial ecology, carnivore conservation, wildlife management, and human-wildlife interactions. I’ve worked in state and federal agencies, as well as in private and non-profit conservation positions. My current work is focused on the North American river otter in eastern South Dakota. After being recently delisted from the endangered species list in South Dakota and the opening of a trapping season, I’m looking into their distribution, abundance, habitat preferences, and possible connection corridors. I’m using trail cameras in conjunction with occupancy modeling to detect the presence of river otters across the eastern half of the state.
When I’m not working outside, I’m playing outside. I love hiking and camping with my dog, Jack. I also enjoy embroidering while watching a good movie.
Undergraduate
KAYLEE BOLAND
I am a Junior at South Dakota State University studying Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. My interests involve habitat quality for all species to improve conservation efforts. My research focuses on New England cottontail and Eastern cottontail resting locations, and how use of invasive vs native plant species for resting locations affects survival.
When I am not studying or researching, I am heavily involved with State A Thon, a club on campus that fundraises for Children’s Miracle Network. I enjoy being outside hiking, hunting, fishing, and paddle boarding.
I am a Junior at South Dakota State University studying Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. My interests involve habitat quality for all species to improve conservation efforts. My research focuses on New England cottontail and Eastern cottontail resting locations, and how use of invasive vs native plant species for resting locations affects survival.
When I am not studying or researching, I am heavily involved with State A Thon, a club on campus that fundraises for Children’s Miracle Network. I enjoy being outside hiking, hunting, fishing, and paddle boarding.
PAST Lab Members
DREW ELINE
MASTERS OF SCIENCE 2021 (CO-ADVISOR: DR. JONATHAN COHEN)
My research focused on assessing the impact of habitat management on the New England cottontail, a species of concern in New York. The New England cottontail is an early successional (shrubland) obligate species that has experienced significant habitat loss due to forest maturation. Other factors such as the presence of eastern cottontails and invasive plant species could also be limiting the success of the species. My research looked at habitat use and survival of New England and eastern cottontails in areas where habitat management has been provided and behavioral response following translocation and reintroductions. Results will aid managers in providing appropriate habitat management for the species, which can ideally encourage the presence of New England cottontails without encouraging eastern cottontails.
When not doing science-y things, I enjoy reading, hand embroidery, being outdoors, making delicious popcorn, and petting all the cats and dogs. Oh, and gushing over all species of squirrel!
PAST UNDERGRADUATE MEMBERS
Bethany Bespoyasny (SNAPSHOT USA 2021 and SDSU mammal collections 2021-2023)
Margaret Wilson (SNAPSHOT USA 2022 and impacts of RHDV2 on hare and cottontail populations in the southwest, 2022)
Jessica Shirbroun (Camera trapping for weasels, 2021-2022)
Raymond McAndrew (Camera and acoustics as methods for detecting flying squirrels (2020-2022)