
Mary M. Rowland
Research Wildlife Biologist
1401 Gekeler Lane
La Grande
Oregon
United States
97850-3368
Phone: 541-962-6582
Fax: 541-962-6504
Contact Mary M. Rowland
Current Research
My current work centers on several aspects of ungulate ecology, including the role of ungulates as disturbance agents and how they are in turn impacted by human disturbance, climate change, and land use change; developing resource selection models for ungulates; interactions of grazing by cattle, deer, and elk with a suite of responses (shrubs, native bees) in a restored riparian area supporting endangered salmonids; and factors driving hunter distributions and their impacts on prey energetics and distributions.
Research Interests
- Interactions of domestic and wild ungulates with multiple resources in riparian systems
- Wildlife habitat modeling and monitoring
- Biodiversity and use of surrogate species in conservation
- Impacts of climate change on ungulate distribution and performance
- Impacts of human disturbance on wildlife and their habitats
Past Research
Past research topics have included developing and validating habitat use models for elk, greater sage-grouse, wolverine, and other species of concern; elk response to fire and roads/traffic; greater sage-grouse as an umbrella species; and regional assessments of habitat threats, especially in the sagebrush ecosystem.
Why This Research is Important
Ungulates are among the most common disturbance agents on public lands of the western U.S.; moreover, elk and mule deer are of high social and economic value, and cattle grazing remains a key use of western rangelands. Better understanding of the key factors driving distributions of deer, elk, and cattle across multiple seasons can help inform land management decisions about issues such as forage improvements, grazing in riparian areas, and road access. For example, strategic road management can help re-distribute elk on national forests and private lands, increase viewing and hunting opportunities, and decrease damage to croplands. The role of cattle vs. deer and elk in affecting riparian restoration for endangered fish is little studied; new information from our studies can guide future riparian monitoring and restoration.
Education
- Colorado State University, M.S. Wildlife Ecology 1981
- Duke University, B.S. Zoology 1977
Professional Experience
- Research Wildlife Biologist, Starkey Ungulate Ecology Team, PNW Research Station, U.S. Forest Service
2012 - Current
Professional Organizations
- The Wildlife Society, Peer Reviewer (1979 - Current)
Member since 1970s; national, section, and state levels. Serve as reviewer for TWS journals each year; have served as session chair at state-level annual TWS meetings and state officer of Wyoming Chapter. - The Wildlife Society, Biodiversity Working Grp, Board Member (2013 - 2017)
Served as treasurer and board member.
Awards & Recognition
- David B. Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award, Oregon Chapter, The Wildlife Society, 2019
For a lifetime career of service to the Wildlife Society and to wildlife research and management. - Science Findings Award, PNW Research Station, U.S. Forest Service, 2016
Submission titled "Watching What Wildlife Want - and Need" which describes publication of a comprehensive guide for wildlife habitat monitoring and other technology transfer. - National award from Boone and Crockett Club and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, 2012
Award to the multi-agency Elk Modeling Team (of which I am a member) to recognize outstanding work in creating and validating new elk nutrition and habitat selection models for elk in western Oregon and Washington. - Outstanding Service Award, Oregon Chapter, The Wildlife Society,, 2012
Award received by modeling team that developed and applied Westside elk habitat models for OR and WA, which are being used throughout the modeling region to benefit land management. - Extra Effort Award, Washington Office, R&D, U.S. Forest Service, 2011
For outstanding performance in detail as National Wildlife Program Leader, Washington Office, Research and Development R&D - Civil Rights Action Group Research Grant for Underserved Populations, PNWRS, 2009
First recipient of the PNW Civil Rights Action Group for Research with Underserved Communities Fund award, totaling $20,000. Created elk habitat models specifically tailored for the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, through collaboration with - Sustainable Operations Award, 2009
PNW Research Station, U.S. Forest Service ($500 + matching for local unit) - Science Findings Award, PNW Research Station, U.S. Forest Service, 2006
Co-recipient of $10,000 award for research accomplishments related to regional assessments of habitat threats in sagebrush ecosystems;findings were featured in PNW Science Findings
Featured Publications & Products
- Rowland, Mary M.; Wisdom, Michael J.; Nielson, Ryan M.; Cook, John G.; Cook, Rachel C.; Johnson, Bruce K.; Coe, Priscilla K.; Hafer, Jennifer M.; Naylor, Bridgett J.; Vales, David J.; Anthony, Robert G.; Cole, Eric K.; Danilson, Chris D.; Davis, Ronald W.; Geyer, Frank ; Harris, Scott ; Irwin, Larry L.; McCoy, Robert ; Pope, Michael D.; Sager-Fradkin, Kim ; Vavra, Martin . 2018. Modeling elk nutrition and habitat use in Western Oregon and Washington.
- Miller, Anna B.; King, David ; Rowland, Mary ; Chapman, Joshua ; Tomosy, Monica ; Liang, Christina ; Abelson, Eric S.; Truex, Richard L. 2020. Sustaining wildlife with recreation on public lands: a synthesis of research findings, management practices, and research needs.
- Hanberry, Brice B.; DeBano, Sandra J.; Kaye, Thomas N.; Rowland, Mary M.; Hartway, Cynthia R.; Shorrock, Donna . 2020. Pollinators of the Great Plains: Disturbances, stressors, management, and research needs.
- DeBano, Sandra J.; Roof, Samantha M.; Rowland, Mary M.; Smith, Lauren A. 2016. Diet overlap of mammalian herbivores and native bees: implications for managing co-occurring grazers and pollinators.
- Charnley, Susan; Gosnell, Hannah; Wendel, Kendra L; Rowland, Mary M; Wisdom, Michael J. 2018. Cattle grazing and fish recovery on US federal lands: can social-ecological systems science help.
- Rowland, Mary M.; Wisdom, Michael J.; Suring, Lowell, H..; Meinke, Cara W. 2006. Greater sage-grouse as an umbrella species for sagebrush-associated vertebrates..
- Averett, Joshua P.; Endress, Bryan A.; Rowland, Mary M.; Naylor, Bridgett J.; Wisdom, Michael J. 2017. Wild ungulate herbivory suppresses deciduous woody plant establishment following salmonid stream restoration.
- Rowland, Mary M.; Wisdom, Michael J.; Johnson, Bruce K.; Penninger, Mark A. 2004. Effects of roads on elk: implications for management in forested ecosystems..
- Rowland, M.M.; Vojta, C.D. 2013. A technical guide for monitoring wildlife habitat.
Publications
- Wisdom, Michael J.; Nielson, Ryan M.; Rowland, Mary M.; Proffitt, Kelly M. 2020. Modeling landscape use for ungulates: Forgotten tenets of ecology, management, and inference.
- Watts, Andrea ; Rowland, Mary ; Wisdom, Michael . 2020. Predicting where elk will thrive: New models point the way.
- Spirito, Florencia ; Rowland, Mary ; Wisdom, Michael ; Tabeni, Solana . 2020. Tracking native small mammals to measure fine-scale space use in grazed and restored dry woodlands.
- Wiechman, Lief A.; Pyke, David A.; Crist, Michele R.; Munson, Seth M.; Brooks, Matthew L.; Chambers, Jeanne C.; Rowland, Mary M.; Kachergis, Emily J.; Davidson, Zoe . 2019. Adaptive management and monitoring Chapter 2.
- Wisdom, Michael J.; Preisler, Haiganoush K.; Naylor, Leslie M.; Anthony, Robert G.; Johnson, Bruce K.; Rowland, Mary M. 2018. Elk responses to trail-based recreation on public forests.
- Spitz, Derek B.; Clark, Darren A.; Wisdom, Michael J.; Rowland, Mary M.; Johnson, Bruce K.; Long, Ryan A.; Levi, Taal . 2018. Fire history influences large-herbivore behavior at circadian, seasonal, and successional scales.
- Schroeder, Natalia M.; González, Alejandro ; Wisdom, Michael ; Nielson, Ryan ; Rowland, Mary M.; Novaro, Andres J. 2018. Roads have no effect on guanaco habitat selection at a Patagonian site with limited poaching.
- Spirito, Florencia ; Rowland, Mary ; Nielson, Ryan ; Wisdom, Michael ; Tabeni, Solana . 2017. Influence of grazing management on resource selection by a small mammal in a temperate desert of South America.
- Hayward, Gregory D.; Flather, Curtis H.; Rowland, Mary M.; Terney, Regis; Mellen-McLean, Kim; Malcolm, Karl D.; McCarthy, Clinton; Boyce, Douglas A. 2016. Applying the 2012 Planning Rule to conserve species: A practitioner's reference.
- Finch, D. M.; Boyce, D. A.; Chambers, J. C.; Colt, C. J.; Dumroese, K.; Kitchen, S. G.; McCarthy, C.; Meyer, S. E.; Richardson, B. A.; Rowland, M. M.; Rumble, M. A.; Schwartz, M. K.; Tomosy, M. S.; Wisdom, M. J. 2016. Conservation and restoration of sagebrush ecosystems and sage-grouse: An assessment of USDA Forest Service Science.
- White, Rachel; Charnley, Susan; Grant, Gordon; Rowland, Mary; Wisdom, Michael. 2016. Restoring rivers, sustaining communities.
- Vizcarra, Natasha; Rowland, Mary; Vojta, Christina. 2016. Watching what widlife want and need.
- Roever, C. L.; DelCurto, T.; Rowland, M.; Vavra, M.; Wisdom, M. 2015. Cattle grazing in semiarid forestlands: Habitat selection during periods of drought.
- Rowland, Mary M.; Suring, Lowell H.; Vojta, Christina D. 2015. Sound solutions for habitat monitoring.
- Finch, Deborah; Boyce, Douglas; Chambers, Jeanne; Colt, Chris; McCarthy, Clint; Kitchen, Stanley; Richardson, Bryce; Rowland, Mary; Rumble, Mark; Schwartz, Michael; Tomosy, Monica; Wisdom, Michael. 2015. USDA Forest Service Sage-Grouse Conservation Science Strategy.
- Saab, Victoria A.; Latif, Quresh S.; Rowland, Mary M.; Johnson, Tracey N.; Chalfoun, Anna D.; Buskirk, Steven W.; Heyward, Joslin E.; Dresser, Matthew A. 2014. Ecological consequences of mountain pine beetle outbreaks for wildlife in western North American forests.
- Daniels, Amy; Shaw, Nancy; Peterson, Dave; Nislow, Keith; Tomosy, Monica; Rowland, Mary. 2014. Facing climate change in forests and fields: U.S. Forest Service taps into science-management partnerships.
- Rowland, M.M.; Vojta, C.D. 2013. Appendix B. Glossary.
- Rowland, M.M.; Vojta, C.D. 2013. Appendix C. List of Scientific and Common Names of Animals and Plants Mentioned in the Text.
- Rowland, Mary M.; Kujawa, Greg; Rickel, Bryce; Vojta, Christina D. 2013. Chapter 1. Overview.
- Goldstein, Michael I.; Suring, Lowell H.; Vojta, Christina D.; Rowland, Mary M.; McCarthy, Clinton. 2013. Chapter 10. Developing a habitat monitoring program: three examples from national forest planning.
- Vojta, Christina D.; McDonald, Lyman L.; Brewer, C. Kenneth; McKelvey, Kevin S.; Rowland, Mary M; Goldstein, Michael I. 2013. Chapter 3. Planning and design for habitat monitoring.
- DeMeo, Thomas E.; Manning, Mary M.; Rowland, Mary M.; Vojta, Christina D.; McKelvey, Kevin S.; Brewer, C. Kenneth; Kennedy, Rebecca S.H.; Maus, Paul A.; Schulz, Bethany; Westfall, James A.; Mersmann, Timothy J. 2013. Chapter 4. Monitoring vegetation composition and structure as habitat attributes.
- Wisdom, Michael J.; Rowland, Mary M.; Vojta, Christina D.; Goldstein, Michael I. 2013. Chapter 7. Monitoring human disturbances for management of wildlife species and their habitats.
- Amelon, Sybill; Brooks, Robert T.; Glaeser, Jessie; Friggens, Megan; Lindner, Daniel; Loeb, Susan C.; Lynch, Ann; Minnis, Drew; Perry, Roger; Rowland, Mary M.; Tomosy, Monica; Weller, Ted. 2012. U.S. Forest Service Research and Development (USFS R/D) national science strategy on White Nose Syndrome (WNS).
- Rowland, Mary M.; Suring, Lowell H.; Tausch, Robin J.; Greer, Susan; Wisdom, Michael J. 2011. Dynamics of western juniper woodland expansion into sagebrush communities in central Oregon.
- Hanser, Steven E.; Aldridge, Cameron L.; Leu, Matthias; Rowland, Mary M.; Nielsen, Scott E.; Knick, Steven T. 2011. Greater sage-grouse: general use and roost site occurrence with pellet counts as a measure of relative abundance.
- Knick, Steven T.; Hanser, Steven E.; Leu, Matthias; Aldridge, Cameron L.; Neilsen, Scott E.; Rowland, Mary M.; Finn, Sean P.; Wisdom, Michael J. 2011. Management considerations.
- Hanser, Steven E.; Leu, Matthias; Aldridge, Cameron L.; Neilsen, Scott E.; Rowland, Mary M.; Knick, Steven T. 2011. Occurrence and abundance of ants, reptiles, and mammals.
- Rowland, Mary M.; Suring, Lowell H.; Leu, Matthias; Knick, Steven T.; Wisdom, Michael J. 2011. Sagebrush-associated species of conservation concern.
- Rowland, Mary M.; Leu, Matthias. 2011. Study area description.
- Rowland, Mary M.; Suring, Lowell H.; Wisdom, Michael J. 2010. Assessment of habitat threats to shrublands in the Great Basin: a case study.
- Rowland, Mary M.; Suring, Lowell H.; Tausch, Robin J.; Geer, Susan; Wisdom, Michael J. 2008. Characteristics of western juniper encroachment into sagebrush communities in central Oregon.
- Rowland, Mary M.; Wisdom, Michael J. 2008. Habitat networks for terrestrial wildlife: concepts and case studies.
- Wisdom, Michael J.; Rowland, Mary M.; Tausch, Robin J. 2005. Effective management strategies for sage-grouse and sagebrush: a question of triage.
- Wisdom, Michael J.; Rowland, Mary M.; Suring, Lowell H. 2005. Habitat threats in the sagebrush ecosystem: methods of regional assessment and applications in the Great Basin.
- Wisdom, Michael J.; Rowland, Mary M.; Hemstrom, Miles A.; Wales, Barbara C. 2005. Landscape restoration for greater sage-grouse: implications for multiscale planning and monitoring.
- Rowland, Mary M. 2004. On the road: workable solutions to the problems of roads and highways.
- Wisdom, Michael J.; Rowland, Mary M.; Johnson, Bruce K.; Dick, Brian L. 2004. Overview of the Starkey Project: mule deer and elk research for management benefits..
- Kie, John G.; Ager, Alan A.; Cimon, Norman J.; Wisdom, Michael J.; Rowland, Mary M.; Coe, Priscilla K.; Findholt, Scott L.; Johnson, Bruce K.; Vavra, Martin. 2004. The Starkey databases: spatial-environmental relations of North American elk, mule deer, and cattle at the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range in northeastern Oregon..
- Hann, Wendel J.; Wisdom, Michael J.; Rowland, Mary M. 2003. Disturbance departure and fragmentation of natural systems in the interior Columbia basin..
- Wisdom, Michael J.; Holthausen, Richard S.; Wales, Barbara C.; Hargis, Christina D.; Saab, Victoria A.; Lee, Danny C.; Hann, Wendel J.; Rich, Terrell D.; Rowland, Mary M.; Murphy, Wally J.; Eames, Michelle R. 2000. Source habitats for terrestrial vertebrates of focus in the interior Columbia basin: broadscale trends and management implications (Volumes 1-3).
- Rowland, Mary M.; Coe, Priscilla K.; Stussy, Rosemary J.; [and others]., . 1998. The Starkey habitat database for ungulate research: construction, documentation, and use..
- Rowland, Mary M.; Bryant, Larry D.; Johnson, Bruce K.; Noyes, James H.; Wisdom, Michael J.; Thomas, Jack Ward. 1997. The Starkey project: history, facilities, and data collection methods for ungulate research..
- Holthausen, Richard S.; Wisdom, Michael J.; Pierce, John; Edwards, Daniel K.; Rowland, Mary M. 1994. Using expert opinion to evaluate a habitat effectiveness model for elk in western Oregon and Washington..
- Wisdom, Michael J.; Cook, John G.; Rowland, Mary M.; Noyes, James H. 1993. Protocols for care and handling of deer and elk at the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range..
- Bryant, Larry D.; Thomas, Jack W.; Rowland, Mary M. 1993. Techniques to construct New Zealand elk-proof fence..
Research Highlights
Highlight | Title | Year |
![]() PNW-2014-087 | National Technical Guide Provides a Foundation for Monitoring Wildlife Habitat on National Forests This technical guide offers comprehensive guidance for habitat monitoring on public lands in the United States, particularly national forests an ... | 2014 |
![]() PNW-2017-189 | Quantifying the effects of deer and elk on riparian plantings installed to improve salmon habitat Researchers evaluated elk and mule deer impacts on deciduous woody riparian plantings along Meadow Creek, a steelhead- and Chinook salmon-bearin ... | 2017 |