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Kristen Ellis

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Evaluating patterns of long-term system change and demographic response for grassland nesting ducks in the US Prairie Pothole Region
The US Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) has experienced some of the highest rates of grassland loss in North America over a time that coincides with dramatic declines in grassland songbird populations yet increasing abundance of most grassland-nesting duck species except for northern pintail. To provide more insight into this contradiction, we propose to capitalize on long-term databases to evaluate how a key population driver nest survival for North American ducks has responded to system changes in the region including landscape and climatic factors. Outcomes of these analyses will contribute to testing primary conservation planning assumptions for the PPJV a vital component of the PPJV Strategic Habitat Conservation...
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Relieving the Sting: Spatial Prioritization for Pollinator Conservation Under a Changing Climate
Project Overview The Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, and other native bees and pollinators, are declining due to climate change, habitat loss, and other stressors like pathogens and pesticide-use. Researchers supported by this Midwest CASC project will study how certain stressors interact to affect the geographic distribution of Rusty Patched Bumble Bees, using mapping techniques and future climate data to identify vulnerable populations and future strongholds. A resulting model and web application will enable resource managers and conservation practitioners to improve pollinator recovery efforts by identifying and prioritizing future locations for conservation action, including potential species reintroductions. Project...
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Assessing phenology of grassland-nesting birds to inform timing of grassland management
Robust assessments of nesting periods and durations for many grassland-nesting birds in the Great Plains are lacking. The timing of management practices (e.g., grazing, haying, mowing, burning) will invariably have different benefits or impacts to different guilds of birds. Our goal is to inform decisions about timing of management practices with research to provide an improved quantification and understanding of contemporary nesting season patterns for grassland birds. Results from this project could aid program managers through improved assessments of tradeoffs from the timing of management actions for various priority birds in the Great Plains.
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