UMass Sesquicentennial

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Fuller, Todd K.

Professor and Associate Department Head

413-545-4723
128 Holdsworth
Email: tkfuller tkfuller(at)eco.umass.edu

Primary interests

Dr. Fuller’s research efforts focus on identifying factors affecting variation in mammal density and distribution. Whether a species is recognized as endangered, a nuisance, or harvestable, knowledge of its natural history and population ecology is essential in order to predict or responsibly manage population change. In order to better understand the mechanisms of this change, Dr. Fuller and his students capture, mark, and monitor a variety of carnivores, ungulates, and smaller herbivores to document their movements, habitat use, food habits, survival, reproduction, social behavior, and density, then synthesize results from their own and other studies. They survey populations through direct and indirect means (e.g., scats, tracks, calls, cameras) to assess distribution and relative abundance, and also collaborate with colleagues to investigate roles of disease, genetics, nutrition, morphology, and human activities in population regulation and species conservation.

Graduate Student Opportunities

Current Students and Their Projects

Dennis Babaasa (Ph.D., ECo , co-advised with Charlie Schweik) – Mountain Gorillas in Uganda

Buuvei Bayarbaatar (Ph.D., W&FCON) – Distribution and populaton dynamics of saiga antelope in western Mongolia

Patrick Boundja (Ph.D., ECo , co-advised with Curt Griffin) – Forest elephants in Congo

Eric LeFlore – (M.S./Ph.D., ECo, co-advised with John Organ and Steve DeStefano) – Bobcat movements and distribution in the Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts

Malik Marjan (Ph.D., ECo) – Movements and conservation of migratory tiang and white-eared kob in southern Sudan

Jennifer McCarthy (Ph.D., W&FCON) – Ecology and Conservation of Four Sympatric Felids in Sumatra

Hla Naing (M.S., ECo) – Tigers and prey in the Hukaung Valley of Myanmar
(Burma)

Wulan Pusparini – (M.S., ECo, co-advised with Paul Sievert) – Ecology and conservation of the Sumatran rhinoceros in Sumatra

Nathaniel Rayl (Ph.D., W&FCON, co-advised with John Organ) – Black bear movements and predation in Newfoundland

Supagit Vinitpornsawan (Ph.D., W&FCON, co-advised w/Tim Randhir) – Tigers in Thailand

Grace Wong (Ph.D., W&FCON) Human utilization of wildlife resources in Costa Rica

Chris Zieminski (MS, W&FCON) – Trophic relationships of carnivores in Newfoundland

Post-Docs

Recent Publications

Sitompul, A.F., C.R. Griffin, T.K. Fuller. 2013. Sumatran elephant ranging behavior in a fragmented rainforest landscape. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation 5:66-72.

Calkins, E.S., T.K. Fuller, C.S. Asa, P.R. Sievert, and T.J. Coonan. 2013. Factors influencing reproductive success and litter size in captive island foxes. Journal of Wildlife Management. 77:346-351.

Matthews, S.M., J.M. Higley, K.M. Rennie, R.E. Green, C.A. Goddard, G.M.Wengert, M.W. Gabriel, and T.K. Fuller. 2013. Reproduction, recruitment, and dispersal of fishers (Martes pennanti) in a managed, Douglas-fir forest in California. Journal of Mammalogy 94:100-108.

Buuveibaatar, B., J.K. Young, J. Berger, A. Fine, Lhagvasuren B., P. Zahler, and T.K. Fuller. 2013. Factors affecting survival and cause-specific mortality of saiga calves in Mongolia. Journal of Mammalogy 94:127-136. 

Sitompul, A.F., C.R. Griffin, T.K. Fuller, W. Wardana, and Nazarudin. 2012. Use of tame elephants to find, immobilize, and mark wild elephants in Sumatran rainforest. Gajah 37:11-15.

Buuveibaatar, B., T.K. Fuller, and A.E. Fine. 2012. Survival and spatial ecology of saiga calves in Mongolia. Saiga News 15(Summer):15.

McCarthy, J., T. K. Fuller, K. McCarthy, H. Wibisono, and M. Livolsi. 2012. Using camera trap photos and direct sightings to identify possible refugia for the Sumatran striped rabbit Nesolagus netscheri. Oryx 46:438-441.

Buuveibaatar, B., G. Gunbat, and T. K. Fuller. 2011. Food habits and diet overlap among livestock and saigas in Mongolia. Saiga News 14(Winter 2011/2012):14-16.

Fuller, M. R., and T. K. Fuller. 2011. Radio-telemetry equipment and applications for carnivores. Pp. 152-168 In L. Boitani and R. Powell, eds. Carnivore Research Methods. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K.

McDonald, J.E., Jr., S. DeStefano, C. R. Gaughan, M. S. Mayer, W.A. Woytek, S. Christensen, and T. K. Fuller. 2011. Survival and harvest-related mortality of white-tailed deer in Massachusetts. Wildlife Society Bulletin 35:209-219.

Matthews, S. M., J. M. Higley, J. S. Yaeger, and T. K. Fuller. 2011. Density of fishers and the efficacy of relative abundance indices and small scale occupancy estimation to detect a population decline on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation, California. Wildlife Society Bulletin 35:69-75

Mueller, T., K.A. Olson, G. Dressler, P. Leimgruber, T.K. Fuller, C. Nicolson, A.J. Novaro, M.J. Bolgeri, D. Wattles, S. DeStefano, J.M. Calabrese, and W.F. Fagan. 2011. How landscape dynamics link individual movements to population-level patterns: a multispecies comparison of ungulate relocation data. Global Ecology and Biogeography 20:683–694.

Olson, K. A., T. Mueller, J. T. Kerby, S. Bolortsetseg, P. Leimgruber, C. R. Nicolson, and T. K. Fuller. 2011. Death by a thousand huts? Effects of household presence on density and distribution of Mongolian gazelles. Conservation Letters 4:304-312. 

Stein A.B., T.K. Fuller, S. DeStefano, and L.L. Marker. 2011. Leopard population and home range estimates in north-central Namibia. African Journal of Ecology 49:383-387.


2005 – 2010 Publications

Courses Taught

NRC 211 – Animal Sampling & Identification (1 cr) – Spring
This course provides students with basic skills needed to identify terrestrial vertebrate wildlife and gives them hands on opportunities to utilize typical means of capturing, sampling, and studying such organisms in the field.

NRC 261 Wildlife Conservation (3 cr) – Spring
An introduction to wildlife conservation through lectures and assigned readings concerning ecological processes (including animal behavior, habitat interactions, and population dynamics), effects of humans on life around them, and the wise stewardship of our natural resources. Case studies of various species are used to illustrate the complexities of most conservation and management situations, but also to identify the common themes encountered in wildlife conservation efforts. Emphases include understanding the integral link between wildlife and their environments, the impacts humans have on wildlife (both positive and negative), and the various methods by which wildlife populations are monitored, managed, and preserved.

NRC 391A – Curriculum Planning (1cr.) – Spring
Development of individualized curricula for the NRC Environmental Conservation Concentration’s elective credits. Discussion of University and program graduation requirements, minors, domestic and international exchange programs, internships, and job searches, career planning, etc.

NRC 564 Wildlife Habitat Management (4cr) – Fall
Wildlife-habitat relationships illustrated through basic field zoology and natural history, evolutionary biology, ecological theory, and quantitative tools used to explain ecological processes and their influence on wildlife and their environment. Explores the dynamics and management of various habitats in North America and elsewhere. Topics include wildlife ecology, habitat classification, resource utilization, effects of humans, and management techniques. Prerequisite: W&FCONSV 261.

 

Last updated March 11, 2013 by Roxann Cormier