Most of the research I do is applied mammal ecology. I'm particularly interested in interactions between mammal species (like predation), including how humans influence these interactions. I study wildlife at the community and individual level using various tools like camera traps and GPS collars. I am increasingly interested in working with large datasets to understand processes at continental scales.
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Movement ecology and predator-prey dynamics
Understanding where and how animals are moving can tell us a lot about their lives. Recent advancements in GPS technology (frequent fixes, smaller GPS units) have begun to give us deeper insight into the behavior of hard to study species. In South Carolina, we are using movement data from coyotes and deer to investigate how they interact with each other and with their environment. It's rare to have concurrent movement data from more than one species in the same area, so we are excited about the potential insight we can have on these species, both from a management, as well as ecological perspective. Collaborators: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, USDA Forest Service, Vectronic Aerospace, National Deer Association, Davis Land and Timber, Rusty Johnson |
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How and why coyote diets vary from the continental to individual scale
Many carnivore species are declining due to human pressures, but some are doing better than ever. The coyote is one of these species - it's range has expanded by 40% in the last 100 years and they live in variety of habitats, from deserts to big cities. As coyotes have expanded, research has centered around what they're eating. We conducted the first continental scale analysis of coyote diets and found that a variety of factors influence what they eat, including the presence of wolves, human development, and snow cover. We are also investigating coyote diets in South Carolina, where we're focused on how they respond to temporarily available foods (like fawns and blackberries) and how much variation in diet there is across individuals. Collectively, this research highlights the dietary and trophic flexibility of an adaptable carnivore. Collaborators: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, USDA Forest Service, University of Idaho, Davis Land and Timber Related publications Jensen A, C Marneweck, J Kilgo, D Jachowski. Coyote diets in North America: geographic and ecological patterns during range expansion. Mammal Review |
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Socio-environmental justice
We are committed to making the environmental sciences more inclusive to historically underrepresented groups. There are barriers to entry, at the societal level, as well as within our field. One of those barriers is pay - someone with limited income will not be able to work for no or little pay. Using a nationwide survey of environmental science students, we showed that pay was indeed a barrier for many students, particularly those who were low-income and non-white. We are also interested in integrating social science, environmental justice, and ecology more generally. We are in the early phases of a new project aimed at comparing parallels between people's attitudes on non-native species and human immigration. Related publications Jensen A, S Bombaci, L Gigliotti, S Harris, C Marneweck, M Muthersbaugh, B Newman, S Rodriguez, E Saldo, K Shute, K Titus, A Williams, SW Yu, D Jachowski. 2021. Attracting diverse students to field experiences requires adequate pay, flexibility, and inclusion. BioScience Jensen A. Who can work for free? How higher pay will make the environmental and natural resource sciences more inclusive. SACNAS STEM and Culture Chronicle. Link |
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Reducing roadkill while maintaining ecological connectivity
Roads are critical for efficient transportation, but wildlife-vehicle collisions pose a risk for both drivers and wildlife. Roads can also be barriers to wildlife movement and effects often extend beyond the road itself. While progress has been made on ways to reduce roadkill while maintaining ecological connectivity, more work is needed. In California, we investigated wildlife use of undercrossings and escape ramps along a fenced highway. We showed that large, open undercrossings closer to streams accommodated the most species, and that deer did not use the escape ramps as much as we hoped. This research adds to the growing body of research investigating ways to mitigate the effects of roads on wildlife. Collaborators: California Department of Transportation Related publications Jensen A, J Perrine, A Schaffner, R Brewster, A Giordano, M Robertson, N Siepel. Mammal use of undercrossings is influenced by openness and proximity to riparian corridors. Wildlife Research in press Jensen A, J Perrine, A Schaffner, R Brewster, A Giordano, M Robertson, N Siepel. Quantifying Wildlife Use of Escape Ramps along a Fenced Highway. Human Wildlife Interactions in press |
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