Data

We investigated the summer diets of feral burros (Equus asinus) in two ecosystems in which they are found in the United States: a subtropical desert in Arizona (Lake Pleasant Herd Management Area; HMA) and a temperate juniper shrubland in Utah (Sinbad HMA). In June and July of 2019, we gathered 50 burro fecal samples randomly from each location and used plant DNA metabarcoding to determine the bur

Informed wildlife management requires robust information regarding population status, habitat requirements, and likely responses to changing resource conditions. Growing evidence indicates single species management may inadequately conserve communities and result in undesired effects to non-target species. Thus, management can benefit from habitat relationship information for multiple species with

Individual species often drive habitat restoration action; however, management under this paradigm may negatively affect non-target species. Prioritization frameworks which explicitly consider benefits to target species while minimizing consequences for non-target species may drastically improve management strategies. We examined extents to which conifer removal, an approach frequently implemented

We collected fleas from black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) on Buffalo Gap National Grassland and Badlands National Park, South Dakota, 2020-2022. We anesthetized trapped prairie dogs (and their fleas) with isoflurane in induction chambers for processing. We combed each individual with a fine-tooth comb for 30 seconds to remove and count fleas. We released all animals, after they were

We collected fecal pellets from six black-tailed prairie dogs in captivity. Prairie dogs were provided free access to non-treated grain (oat groats) or fipronil-treated grain for 5 days. Two prairie dogs received non-treated grain and four prairie dogs received fipronil grain. During each day of the feeding trial, prairie dog fecal pellets were collected, stored in sealable plastic bags, labeled b

We live-trapped black-tailed prairie dogs on Buffalo Gap National Grassland, South Dakota, 2020-2021. We anesthetized trapped animals (and their fleas) with isoflurane in induction chambers for processing. We combed each individual with a fine-tooth comb for 30 seconds to remove and count fleas. The total flea count from an individual prairie dog was considered an index of flea abundance. We relea

These data are detections of burros in the Sinbad Herd Management Area in central Utah made during aerial thermal infrared-based distance sampling surveys in December 2015 and May 2016. Burros were detected from a fixed wing aircraft using an infrared camera mounted on the underside of the aircraft. A monitor screen was inside the aircraft, connected to the camera so the observer could look for bu

Digestive tract contents were identified to provide an account of Burmese python diet. Diet contents came from 1716 pythons collected by cooperators during 1995-2020 from public and private lands across southern Florida, primarily within the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. Burmese pythons consumed 76 species of fauna across three taxonomic classes (Aves, Mammalia, and Reptilia). 

Wildfires are increasingly modifying wildlife habitat in the western United States and managers need ways to scope the pace and degree to which post-fire restoration actions can re-create habitat in dynamic landscapes. We simulated post-fire revegetation and greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat restoration using a spatially explicit state-transition simulation model (STSM) devel

High-throughput methods for identification of pollinator taxa are desirable to improve our understanding of pollinator distributions, population trends, and ecology. Genetic sequencing of taxonomically informative 'barcode' loci is one high-throughput strategy, which can be applied to individual specimens using Sanger technology and to complex mixtures using metabarcoding technology. This study ge

Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems provide critical habitat for the near-threatened Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), and future loss of sagebrush habitat because of land use change and global climate change is of concern. We used a dynamic additive spatio-temporal model to estimate effects of climate (spring-summer temperatures and precipitation) on sagebrush cover dynamics at 3

This dataset contains carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values, percent carbon and percent nitrogen, algal pigment data, and diatom taxonomy from lake sediment layers dating back to 1749 Common Era (CE) for Santa Fe lake, New Mexico. Subalpine and alpine lakes are typically sensitive indicators of anthropogenically driven global change. Lake sediment records in the western United States have docu