Room 446, UU
Casper, WY
Phone: 570-394-0032
Email: gbarrile@uwyo.edu
Ph.D. Ecology, University of Wyoming, May 2021
Dissertation: Behavioral and demographic responses to environmental change in a pond-breeding amphibian.
This dissertation received the Outstanding Dissertation Award for 2023 at the University of Wyoming.
B.S. Environmental Biology, Bloomsburg University, December 2013
Graduated Summa Cum Laude and Top Student in the College of Science and Technology.
Thesis: Comparative studies of island dwarfism in amphibians on several Atlantic Coast barrier islands.
I am an applied quantitative ecologist with a strong focus on wildlife responses to environmental change. I work at the intersection of disease ecology, population demography, and animal behavior, often investigating how natural and anthropogenic disturbances influence host-pathogen dynamics. Though I work across taxonomic systems (e.g., fish, amphibians, mammals), a common theme that bridges all my research is the use of cutting-edge techniques in data science to inform species conservation. This involves leveraging machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence to analyze large datasets and integrate predictive models into user-friendly applications to aid the decision-making of wildlife practitioners.
My research has made several strong contributions to basic and applied ecology. For instance, I have (1) demonstrated that stochastic variability in patch quality can underpin dispersal behavior in wild animals, (2) revealed complex interactions among climate, phenology, and disturbances (e.g., wildfire, cattle grazing) in predicting the timing and location of wildlife epizootics, and (3) characterized the movement behavior and vital rates of wildlife in highly altered systems. My most significant contribution, however, is helping to facilitate the integration of host-pathogen ecology and habitat selection theory. Infectious disease has traditionally been overlooked as an important evolutionary force shaping animal space use, and linking host behavior and disease dynamics is a central issue in wildlife disease ecology. By collecting concomitant measurements of host habitat choices and infection status, I demonstrated that some animals can behaviorally modify the use of habitats in response to infection, providing strong evidence that disease can comprise an important selective pressure on animal movement.
I have authored or co-authored 10 peer-reviewed articles (with an additional four that are submitted, under review, or in revision) with first-authored publications in outlets such as American Naturalist, Ecosphere, Journal of Animal Ecology, Biological Conservation, Ecological Applications, Journal of Herpetology, PLoS ONE, and Ecology and Evolution. To support my research, I have co-raised over $500,000 in funding. Most projects are collaborative, including close collaborations with state (e.g., Wyoming Game and Fish Department), federal (e.g., USDA-ARS), and university partners (e.g., Colorado State University).
I care deeply about students. One of my main goals is to facilitate student growth, both personally and professionally. I mostly teach ecology and statistics courses, but I’ve led DEIJ-focused courses as well. I strive to make all course materials freely available whenever possible. Thus, I often record videos and post lectures and code online, such that anyone can access the material. Finally, I am committed to enhancing diversity and inclusion in STEM fields and working to make ecology a more equitable and just discipline. I believe that creating a positive workplace climate is a key first step in attracting, retaining, and genuinely supporting people from diverse backgrounds in the field of ecology.
