Kristin Barker

PhD candidate; Associate Wildlife Biologist®

Education

MS, Wildlife Biology - University of Montana (2018)

BA, Biology - Western State Colorado University (2012)

BA, English - The University of Georgia (2006)

Research Interests / Specializations:

wildlife ecology, predator-prey interactions, partial migration

Research Description:

I work to help improve management and conservation outcomes while advancing ecological theory by investigating (a) why wild animals act the way they do, and (b) how wildlife behaviors affect everything from individual fitness to ecological communities. My current research focuses on the behavioral ecology of large terrestrial mammals, using wolves and elk in the Greater Yellowstone Area as a study system. Specifically, I am testing hypotheses related to predator-prey interactions, migration ecology, and human influences on wildlife behavior and distribution.

Selected Publications

Barker, K. J., Xu, W., Scoyoc, A. V., Serota, M. W., Moravek, J. A., Shawler, A. L., Ryan, R. E., & Middleton, A. D. 2021. Toward a new framework for restoring lost wildlife migrations. Conservation Letters. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12850

Xu, W, K. Barker, A. Shawler, A. Van Scoyoc; J. Smith, T. Mueller, H. Sawyer, C. Andreozzi, O. Bidder, H. Karandikar, S. Mumme, E. Templin, A. Middleton. 2021. Ecology 102(4). The plasticity of ungulate migration in a changing world. DOI:10.1002/ecy.3293

Loe, L.E., G. Liston, G. Pigeon, K. Barker, N. Horvitz, A. Stein, M. Forchhammer, W. Getz, et al. 2021. Global Change Biology 27, 993-1002. The neglected season: warmer autumns counteract harsher winters and promote population growth in Arctic reindeer. DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15458

Barker, K., M. Mitchell, and K. Proffitt. 2019. Native forage mediates influence of irrigated agriculture on migratory behavior of elk. Journal of Animal Ecology. DOI:10.1111/1365-2656.12991

Barker, K., M. Mitchell, K. Proffitt, and J. DeVoe. 2019. Land management alters traditional nutritional benefits of migration for elk. Journal of Wildlife Management 83(1), 167-174. DOI:10.1002/jwmg.21564

Proffitt, K., J. DeVoe, K. Barker, R. Durham, T. Hayes, M. Hebblewhite, C. Jourdonnais, P. Ramsey, J. Shamhart. 2019. A century of changing fire management alters ungulate forage in a wildfire-dominated landscape. Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research. DOI: 10.1093/forestry/cpz017

DeVoe, J., K. Proffitt, M. Mitchell, C. Jourdonnais, and K. Barker. 2019. Elk forage and risk tradeoffs during the fall archery season. Journal of Wildlife Management early view. DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21638

Mitchell, M., S. Sells, K. Barker, S. Bassing, S. Forshee, A. Keever, J. Goerz. 2018. Testing A Priori Hypotheses Improves the Reliability of Wildlife Research. Journal of Wildlife Management 82: 1568-1571

Sells, S., S. Bassing, K. Barker, S. Forshee, A. Keever, J. Goerz, and M. Mitchell. 2018. Increased scientific rigor will improve reliability of research and efficacy of management. Journal of Wildlife Management 82:485-494.

Coop, J., K. Barker, A. Knight, and J. Pecharich. 2014. Aspen (Populus tremuloides) stand dynamics and understory plant community changes over 46 years near Crested Butte, Colorado, USA. Forest Ecology and Management 318:1-12