Research Statement
One of the primary goals of my research program is to carry out projects that answer fundamental questions in ecology to serve as a foundation for conservation, management, and restoration of natural resources and natural areas. Broadly defined, I am a landscape ecologist and conservation biologist. My research is a blend of field observation, manipulative experimentation, molecular lab work, and quantitative modeling. With these tools, I answer questions at multiple spatial and temporal scales in an attempt to elucidate the mechanisms and processes underlying observed patterns. A clear understanding of fine-scale mechanisms allows for broad-scale management and conservation. Of specific interest to me are the effects of global climate change, habitat alteration/degradation, and urbanization on biodiversity, as well as the abundance, performance, and movement/connectivity of animal populations across the landscape. Some of the recurring questions in my research are:
1) What environmental factors affect the distribution and abundance of species on the landscape?
2) How are populations connected in space and time, and how does land use or habitat alteration affect dispersal?
3) What management strategies can be implemented to ensure long-term population viability?
Please visit my lab webpage for more details: PetermanResearch.weebly.com
Prospective Graduate Students
Students interested in joining my lab should send me an email with (1) your research experience and interests; (2) a current CV; (3) a list of references; and (4) your GPA and GRE scores (if available).
Selected Publications
Reprints and a full list of publications are available through: PetermanResearch.weebly.com/publications.html
Peterman, W.E. 2018. ResistanceGA: An R package for the optimization of resistance surfaces using genetic algorithms. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 9:1638–1647.
Peterman, W.E., T.L. Anderson, B.H. Ousterhout, D.L. Drake, F.E. Rowland, J.J. Burkhart, and R.D. Semlitsch. 2018. Using spatial demographic network models to optimize habitat creation, restoration, and preservation. Journal of Wildlife Management 82:649–659.
Peterman, W.E. and M. Gade. 2017. The importance of assessing parameter sensitivity when using biophysical models: A case study with a plethodontid salamander. Population Ecology 59:275–286.
Crawford, J.A., W.E. Peterman, A.R. Kuhns, and L.S. Eggert. 2016. Influence of pond occupancy and connectivity on metapopulation genetic structure of a threatened salamander in an agroecosystem. Landscape Ecology 31:2231–2244.
Peterman, W.E., J.A. Crawford, and D.J. Hocking. 2016. Effects of elevation on plethodontid salamander body size. Copeia 104:202–208.
Courses Offered
ENR 5370 Management of Wildlife Habitat (Spring semester)
ENR 4900.02 Environment and Natural Resources Management for Forestry Fisheries and Wildlife (Fall semester)
