December 3, 2025

12:00pm – 1:00pm Hershey Hall 158

Maddie Zuercher - PhD Exit Seminar
UCLA

" The Role of Introduced Carnivores in Shaping Native Carnivore Behaviors "

Introduced species play a major role in reshaping ecological communities. Introduced predators strongly influence communities by impacting prey populations as well as other species within the predator guild. They can affect native predators through multiple behavioral and ecological processes. Understanding these dynamics is critical for developing effective conservation strategies in a rapidly changing world. In this dissertation seminar, I will discuss my empirical studies on the impacts of domestic dogs and feral cats on the behaviors of gray foxes and ringtails, respectively. Based on these findings, I will provide management recommendations to reduce the impacts of introduced carnivores on wildlife. Then, I will review how introduced carnivores affect native carnivores. I will highlight the diverse interactions documented in the literature and their consequences for native wildlife communities. This work sheds light on the complex and dynamic interactions that shape wildlife communities under global change.

 

Zoom Link: https://ucla.zoom.us/j/94783439902

Host: Greg Grether