Jeffrey Beck
Ecosystem Science and Management
Professor
I joined the rangeland ecology faculty in the Department of Ecosystem Science and
Management in summer 2007. My research interests lie in wildlife habitat ecology
and restoration ecology with a focus on restoring the functionality and structure
of wildlife habitats in disturbed rangeland systems, particularly sagebrush habitats.
The types of research questions that my lab addresses typically are guided by ecological
concepts that are used as a framework to evaluate conservation questions. We use
a variety of tools to obtain data to answer our questions including estimation of
demographic parameters, field experimentation, habitat modeling, nutritional analyses,
population monitoring, statistical modeling, and vegetation measurements. Two general
areas of emphasis that my lab is pursuing are: (1) understanding the direct and indirect
impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on vertebrate species (greater sage-grouse and
ungulates as model taxa) inhabiting sagebrush habitats, and (2) evaluating the efficacy
of mitigation techniques and conservation practices intended to enhance habitat conditions
or mitigate effects of anthropogenic development in sagebrush habitats. In all studies
we seek to understand responses of habitat restoration efforts across a range of spatial
and temporal scales to better inform conservation practices. I have additional interests
in habitat and population assessment and monitoring and foraging ecology and a general
interest in wildlife ecology.
| Google Scholar | ResearchGate |
Research interests
My research, teaching, and service activities center on assessing, conserving, and restoring wildlife habitats, with a particular emphasis on sagebrush steppe ecosystems. The research questions my lab addresses are grounded in ecological concepts and framed around conservation challenges. To answer these questions, we use a variety of tools, including demographic estimation, field experimentation, habitat and statistical modeling, nutritional analyses, population monitoring, and vegetation measurements.
Two major areas of emphasis guide our work: (1) understanding the direct and indirect impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on vertebrate species, such as greater sage-grouse and ungulates, that inhabit sagebrush habitats, and (2) evaluating the efficacy of mitigation techniques and conservation practices aimed at enhancing habitat conditions or reducing the effects of anthropogenic development. Across all projects, we strive to understand the responses to habitat restoration efforts at multiple spatial and temporal scales to inform more effective conservation practices.
More broadly, my students and I aim to bridge basic and applied aspects of restoration ecology, with the goal of restoring ecosystem functionality and mitigating impacts to forest and rangeland wildlife habitats following large-scale anthropogenic and natural disturbances. I also maintain broader interests in habitat and population assessment, monitoring, foraging ecology, and wildlife ecology as a whole. My professional activities are divided across research (45%), teaching and advising (45%), and service (10%), reflecting a balanced commitment to advancing ecological knowledge while applying it to real-world conservation challenges.
Education
- B.S. Wildlife and Range Resources, Minor in Zoology, Brigham Young University
- M.S. Wildlife and Range Resources, Brigham Young University
- Ph.D. Wildlife and Range Sciences, University of Idaho
Teaching
- 4330 Rangeland Ecosystem Assessment and Monitoring
Assessment, monitoring, and analysis of rangeland ecosystems. Students integrate sampling design, measurements of vegetation attributes, ecological site information, and statistical estimation to evaluate rangeland resources. Students collect, analyze, and report data using current technology. Prerequisites: STAT 2050 or 2070 (can be concurrent with either); REWM 2000; REWM 2500. (Normally offered fall semester). - 4750/5750 Wildlife Habitat Restoration Ecology
Emphasis on fundamental and applied aspects of restoration ecology for terrestrial wildlife habitats following anthropogenic and natural disturbances. Although the course overviews theoretical concepts applicable to many systems, there is a focus on applications for wildlife habitats in western North America. Prerequisites: REWM 4330 and 4850. -
4850 Rangeland Vegetation Management Techniques
Uses applied ecological principles in restoration of degraded rangeland ecosystems to introduce methods for manipulating rangeland vegetation that satisfy land management objectives. Provides ecologically-sound practices to maintain optimal and sustained yield of rangeland products. Prerequisites: REWM 2000 and SB. (Normally offered spring semester).
Affiliations
Service
Associate Editor
- Western North American Naturalist (2006-2008)
- Human-Wildlife Interactions (2017-present)
Certifications
- Certified Professional in Rangeland Management, Society for Range Management, 2020
- Certified Wildlife Biologist, The Wildlife Society, 2005
- Associate Wildlife Biologist, The Wildlife Society, 1996
Manuscript Reviewer for Peer-Reviewed Journals
- American Society of Mining and Reclamation symposium proceedings
- Animal Conservation
- Biological Conservation
- BMC Research Notes
- Ecological Applications
- Ecology and Evolution
- Ecosphere
- Environmental Management
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
- Forest Ecology and Management
- Global Ecology and Conservation
- Human-Wildlife Interactions
- Journal of Arid Environments
- Journal of Field Ornithology
- Journal of Mammalogy
- Journal of Wildlife Management
- Methods in Ecology and Evolution
- Oecologia
- PeerJ
- PLoS ONE
- Rangeland Ecology and Management
- Restoration Ecology
- Studies in Avian Biology
- The Condor: Ornithological Applications
- The Southwestern Naturalist
- Western North American Naturalist
- Wildlife Biology
- Wildlife Research
- Wildlife Society Bulletin
Professional Societies