Yooper Wildlife Watch

THE TEAM
We are motivated by the idea that a greater understanding of how wildlife populations–and their associated communities and ecosystems–respond to environmental change is essential for developing science-informed strategies to conserve Earth’s biodiversity. However, science alone cannot save species from extinction. In fact, we believe the intentional inclusion of people with diverse knowledge, experiences, and identities in the conservation ecology pipeline is requisite for creating a more just world for all people and the wildlife that share our planet. As such, we strive to synergize conceptually rich hypothesis-driven research with mentoring, teaching and extension efforts to make meaningful advances in conservation ecology and to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education. We achieve this by (a) establishing intentionally diverse teams of scientists to conduct rigorous basic and applied research that provides a basis for wildlife conservation and environmental policy decision-making, (b) engaging diverse stakeholders in our scientific process while also providing them the information and tools they need for real-world decision-making to enhance environmental stewardship, and (c) recruiting aspiring scientists (undergrads, grads, postdocs) that represent the diversity of our global society and training them in critical thinking, research methods, interdisciplinary collaboration, community engagement, and science communications so they can make fundamental and lasting contributions to conservation ecology and to our society.

Principle Investigator - Dr. Diana Lafferty (left)
As a broadly trained and passionate interdisciplinary conservation ecologist, I synergize my research, mentoring, teaching, and outreach activities to maximize participation by diverse people in authentic science to advance our understanding of how wildlife populations–and their associated communities and ecosystems–respond to global change. I lead students in hypothesis-driven research at the nexus of basic and applied science using a variety of taxonomic models that span myriad landscapes. The ecological questions I seek to answer often integrate macro and micro-perspectives using a mix of natural history observations, field-based monitoring, traditional and cutting-edge laboratory techniques, geographic information systems, statistical modeling and bioinformatics analyses. Consequently, my research often extends into other disciplines including microbiology, human dimensions of natural resource management, geography, and postsecondary science education. By intention, my inclusive and highly collaborative research allows me to build successful partnerships with academic, governmental, and non-governmental institutions, as well as industry partners to engage diverse stakeholders in the research process and provide novel opportunities for students and citizen scientist participation at local, national and international levels.

Graduate Student - Laura Whipple (right)
Laura is a MS student in Biology leading the Yooper Wildlife Watch project, an education and research initiative that uses remote cameras to study wildlife in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Her research will also use Snapshot USA data - a nation-wide annual camera trapping initiative - to study human impacts on mesocarnivore populations in the Northwoods. In addition to collecting data to inform wildlife management, Laura's research aims to bring new ways of presenting wildlife ecology topics to biology students by utilizing camera trap imagery as a teaching tool. Prior to joining the Yooper Wildlife Watch, Laura received a B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in December 2020. Her undergraduate honors thesis also used camera trap data from SnapShot USA to investigate spatial differences in mammal communities between Urbana, IL and other SnapShot USA sites.

PAST TEAM MEMBERS

Former Graduate Student - Tru Hubbard (left)
Tru Hubbard graduated in August of 2021 with an MS in Biology from NMU where she lead the Yooper Wildlife Watch project from 2019-2021. Tru's research provided information to state and private land managers to help mitigate the impacts of recreation on wildlife populations, particularly sensitive carnivore populations during sensitive times of year. Beyond Yooper Wildlife Watch, Tru also contributed to SnapShot USA, a nation-wide initiative led by The Smithsonian and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences to evaluate wildlife detections and occupancy across all 50 states. Tru hopes to use the skills gained from her graduate school endeavors to propel herself into a wildlife conservation career where she can continue to influence human-wildlife coexistence.

Former Graduate Student - Amelia Bergquist (right)
Amelia graduated with her M.S. in Post-Secondary Science Education from NMU where she helped create the framework for Yooper Wildlife Watch. In addition to her savvy technological skills, Amelia developed immersive curriculum for the large-enrollment Principles of Ecology general education course at Northern Michigan University that engages > 200 undergraduates annually in authentic ecological inquiry while simultaneously training students in camera trapping field methods. Prior to attending graduate school, Amelia completed her B.S. degree in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Minnesota Duluth, spent several years working on shipping vessels in Alaska as a NOAA observer, and served as a teacher at Conserve School in Wisconsin.