Pacific Southwest Research Station

Education

B.S. Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, 1993, University of California, San Diego.
M.S. Landscape Ecology, 2001, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA.
Ph.D. Wildlife Ecology, 2006, Utah State University, Logan, UT.

Research Interests/Duties

My primary research interest is evaluating the effects of large-scale habitat change on species of concern. These changes can result from a variety of processes including natural disturbances, management actions, or other anthropogenic activities. Often, they result in a cascade of effects altering resource availability or shifting predator-prey balances. In particular, I am interested in how changes in habitat structure can alter predator-prey dynamics and how management activities such as fuel reduction can be modified to reduce negative impacts on species of concern.

Currently, I am involved in designing and running the Kings River fisher research project. The study centers around two primary objectives: 1) Quantifying fisher habitat preferences, population vital rates, and pathology in the Kings River Administrative Area. 2) Monitoring fisher populations before, during, and after large-scale fuel reduction efforts to evaluate the impact of these efforts on the southern Sierra fisher population. The project is designed based on three complementary methods: live-capture and radio-telemetry, remote camera surveys, and scat detector dog surveys. Data from telemetry and scat surveys are linked using genetic analysis, and we are exploring the utility of scat detection dogs, a non-invasive survey technique, to generate spatial and habitat use information. Collaborators include the University of Washington’s Center for Conservation Biology, the USFS Wildlife Genetics Laboratory, the University of California at Davis’ School of Medicine and Epidemiology, the USFS Redwood Sciences Laboratory, and the University of California’s Sierra Nevada Adaptive Management Program.

Selected Publications

Thompson, C. M. and E. M. Gese. 2007. Food webs and intraguild predation: Community interactions of a native mesocarnivore. Ecology 88: 334-346.
Thompson, C. M., P. E. Nye, G. A. Schmidt, and D. K Garcelon. 2005. Foraging ecology of bald eagles in a freshwater tidal system. Journal of Wildlife Management 69: 600-608.
Thompson, C. M. and K. McGarigal, 2002. Influence of scale on bald eagle habitat selection along the Hudson River, NY. Landscape Ecology 17: 569-586.
Thompson, C. M., D. J. Augustine, and D. M. Mayers. Swift fox response to prescribed fire in shortgrass steppe. Western North American Naturalist. In press.