Kelsey Reider, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor Department of Biology James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA USA |
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Research themes
Vertebrate upward range expansions
Lizards and frogs in the high tropical Andes are swiftly expanding their elevational ranges to the upper limits of the biosphere. I combine field surveys and occupancy modeling to better understand patterns of occurrences in new habitat formed in the wake of rapidly retreating glaciers.
Lizards and frogs in the high tropical Andes are swiftly expanding their elevational ranges to the upper limits of the biosphere. I combine field surveys and occupancy modeling to better understand patterns of occurrences in new habitat formed in the wake of rapidly retreating glaciers.
Hydrologic alterations in high-mountain wetlands
The rapid loss of glaciers has led to the formation of new habitat that is also threatened by ongoing deglaciation. I use the stable isotopes of water to track hydrologic change associated with glacier retreat in high-elevation wetlands. I collaborate with social scientists to understand parallel threats to wildlife and human communities and to develop conservation strategies that benefit both. This project is a collaboration with Allison Caine (UM) and Dr. René Price (FIU).
Adaptations to extreme environments on tropical mountaintops
Above 5000 meters in elevation organisms must deal with some of the most extreme conditions on Earth. Above the treeline organisms confront daily thermal variation that is like "summer every day, winter every night." I study how two frog species living at the same elevation and location employ contrasting strategies allowing them to persist in this extreme environment. Collaborators: Dr. Brian Barnes and Don Larson (UA-Fairbanks)
Above 5000 meters in elevation organisms must deal with some of the most extreme conditions on Earth. Above the treeline organisms confront daily thermal variation that is like "summer every day, winter every night." I study how two frog species living at the same elevation and location employ contrasting strategies allowing them to persist in this extreme environment. Collaborators: Dr. Brian Barnes and Don Larson (UA-Fairbanks)
Amphibian breeding phenology at the edge of the cryosphere
I use field surveys and passive acoustic monitoring to study the impacts of environmental variation and extreme climate events, such as El Niño and La Niña, on reproduction of the world's highest-elevation amphibian, Pleurodema marmoratum. Collaborators: Dr. Daniel Saenz (USDA Forest Service), Dr. Lee Fitzgerald (TAMU), M.Sc. Juan Carlos Chaparro (MUBI)
I use field surveys and passive acoustic monitoring to study the impacts of environmental variation and extreme climate events, such as El Niño and La Niña, on reproduction of the world's highest-elevation amphibian, Pleurodema marmoratum. Collaborators: Dr. Daniel Saenz (USDA Forest Service), Dr. Lee Fitzgerald (TAMU), M.Sc. Juan Carlos Chaparro (MUBI)
Ecosystem engineering by vicuñas
I study nutrient transfer by vicuñas, Vicugna vicugna, upslope into the rapidly expanding deglaciated zone on high Andean mountains. In these barren, recently deglaciated soils, vicuña latrines may be an important nutrient subsidy and appear to facilitate the colonization of microbial and plant communities. Vicuña latrines may accelerate primary succession in these barren, proglacial landscapes by 150 years or more. Herbivore-facilitated succession likely provides a crucial mechanism by which tropical alpine grassland plants can undergo upslope expansion on timescales relevant to climate change.
Collaborators: Dr. Steve Schmidt (UC-Boulder), Dr. Cliff Bueno de Mesquita (UC-Boulder)
I study nutrient transfer by vicuñas, Vicugna vicugna, upslope into the rapidly expanding deglaciated zone on high Andean mountains. In these barren, recently deglaciated soils, vicuña latrines may be an important nutrient subsidy and appear to facilitate the colonization of microbial and plant communities. Vicuña latrines may accelerate primary succession in these barren, proglacial landscapes by 150 years or more. Herbivore-facilitated succession likely provides a crucial mechanism by which tropical alpine grassland plants can undergo upslope expansion on timescales relevant to climate change.
Collaborators: Dr. Steve Schmidt (UC-Boulder), Dr. Cliff Bueno de Mesquita (UC-Boulder)
The intersection between complex life histories, ecophysiology, and climate change
I am studying shifts in phenology, life history trade-offs, and thermal ecology in populations of polyphenic tiger salamanders along an elevational gradient in the West Elk Mountains, Colorado. The goal of this research is to better understand how variation in life history strategies influence population responses to climate change.
Collaborator: Dr. Howard Whiteman (Murray State University)
I am studying shifts in phenology, life history trade-offs, and thermal ecology in populations of polyphenic tiger salamanders along an elevational gradient in the West Elk Mountains, Colorado. The goal of this research is to better understand how variation in life history strategies influence population responses to climate change.
Collaborator: Dr. Howard Whiteman (Murray State University)
Ecosystem engineering by peccaries
In addition to my research in high mountains, I also work in Central American lowland rainforest ecosystems where I primarily study the community of insects, amphibians, and reptiles that breed or live in collared peccary bathing wallows. I also study the social interactions of peccaries in their wallows, and the diverse group of mammals and birds who make use of these small aquatic habitats.
In addition to my research in high mountains, I also work in Central American lowland rainforest ecosystems where I primarily study the community of insects, amphibians, and reptiles that breed or live in collared peccary bathing wallows. I also study the social interactions of peccaries in their wallows, and the diverse group of mammals and birds who make use of these small aquatic habitats.
Biogeochemistry controls on leaf litter amphibian & reptile communities
We are investigating the role of soil and leaf litter biogeochemistry and ecological stoichiometry as determinants of leaf litter amphibian and reptile community composition and biomass in lowland wet forests in Central America and the southwestern Amazon. This research aims to uncover mechanisms driving observations from previous survey work and link observed patterns across local and regional scales. Collaborator: Rudolf von May (CSU Channel Islands)
We are investigating the role of soil and leaf litter biogeochemistry and ecological stoichiometry as determinants of leaf litter amphibian and reptile community composition and biomass in lowland wet forests in Central America and the southwestern Amazon. This research aims to uncover mechanisms driving observations from previous survey work and link observed patterns across local and regional scales. Collaborator: Rudolf von May (CSU Channel Islands)