Peer-reviewed (bold represents Merkle Research Group)
Picardi, S., B. Abrahms, E.R. Gelzer, T.A. Morrison, T.L. Verzuh, J.A. Merkle. 2022. Defining null expectations for animal site fidelity. Ecology Letters in press.
Merkle, J.A., Gage, J., Sawyer, H., Lowrey, B., Kauffman, M.J. 2022. Migration Mapper: Identifying movement corridors and seasonal ranges for large mammal conservation. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 13(11): 2397-2403.
Prima, M.-C., Duchesne, T., Merkle, J.A., Chamaillé-Jammes, S., and Fortin, D. 2022. Multi-mode movement decisions across widely ranging behavioral processes. Plos One 17(8): e0272538.
Nunez, T.A, M.A. Hurley, T.A. Graves, A.C. Ortega, H. Sawyer, J. Fattebert, J.A. Merkle, M.J. Kauffman. 2022. A statistical framework for modeling migration corridors. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 13(11): 2635-2648.
Lambert, M.S., H. Sawyer, and J.A. Merkle. 2022. Responses to natural gas development differ by season for two migratory ungulates. Ecological Applications e2652.
Kauffman, M., Lowrey, B., Beck, J., Berg, J., Bergen, S., Berger, J., Cain, J., Dewey, S., Diamond, J., Duvuvuei, O., Fattebert, J., Gagnon, J., Garcia, J., Greenspan, E., Hall, E., Harper, G., Harter, S., Hersey, K., Hnilicka, P., Hurley, M., Knox, L., Lawson, A., Maichak, E., Meacham, J., Merkle, J., Middleton, A., Olson, D., Olson, L., Reddell, C., Robb, B., Rozman, G., Sawyer, H., Schroeder, C., Scurlock, B., Short, J., Sprague, S., Steingisser, A., and Tatman, N. 2022. Ungulate migrations of the western United States, Volume 2: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2022-5008, 160 p.
Merkle, J.A., B. Abrahms, D.P. Costa, A.D. Chalfoun, and H. Sawyer. 2022. Site fidelity as a maladaptive behavioral strategy in the Anthropocene. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 20(3): 187-194.
Gelzer, E.R., M.P. Laforge, J.A. Becker, N.P. Hough, M.S. Lambert, M-P. Poulin, R. Thomas-Kuzilik, T.L. Verzuh, and J.A. Merkle. 2022. Getting cited early: influence of visibility strategies, structure, and focal system on early citation rates. Journal of Wildlife Management 86(4): e22214.
Robb, B., J.A. Merkle, H. Sawyer, J.L. Beck, and M.J. Kauffman. 2022. Nowhere to run: pronghorn space use impacted by semi-permeability of barriers. Journal of Wildlife Management 86(4): e22212.
Lewis, M.A., W.F. Fagan, M. Auger-Méthé, J. Frair, J. Fryxell, C. Gros, E. Gurarie, S. Healy, and J.A. Merkle. 2021. Learning and animal movement. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 9: 441. (download)
Esmaeili, S., B.R. Jesmer, S.E. Albeke, E.O. Aikens, K.A. Schoenecker, S.R.B. King, B. Abrahms, B Buuveibaatar, J.L. Beck, R.B. Boone, F. Cagnacci, S. Chamaillé-Jammes, B. Chimeddorj, P.C. Cross, N. Dejid, J. Enkhbyar, I.R. Fischhoff, A.T. Ford, K. Jenks, M-R. Hemami, J.D. Hennig, T.Y. Ito, P. Kaczensky, M.J. Kauffman, J.D.C. Linnell, B. Lkhagvasuren, J.F. McEvoy, J. Melzheimer, J.A. Merkle, T. Mueller, J. Muntifering, A. Mysterud, K.A. Olson, M. Panzacchi, J.C. Payne, L. Pedrotti, G.R. Rauset, D.I. Rubenstein, H. Sawyer, J.D. Scasta, J. Signer, M. Songer, J.A. Stabach, S. Stapleton, O. Strand, S.R. Sundaresan, D. Usukhjargal, G. Uuganbayar, J.M. Fryxell, J.R. Goheen. 2021. Body size and digestive system shape resource selection by ungulates: a cross-taxa test of the Forage Maturation Hypothesis. Ecology Letters 24(10): 2178-2191. (request reprint)
Bowersock, N.R., A.R. Litt, J.A. Merkle, K.A. Gunther, and F.T. van Manen. 2021. Responses of American black bears to spring resources. Ecosphere 12(11): e03773. (request reprint)
Kauffman, M.J., F. Cagnacci, S. Chamaillé-Jammes, M. Hebblewhite, J.G.C. Hopcraft, J.A. Merkle, T.
Mueller, A. Mysterud, W. Peters, C. Roettger, A. Steingisser, J.E. Meacham, K. Abera, J. Adamczewski, E.O. Aikens, H. Bartlam-Brooks, E. Bennitt, J. Berger, C. Boyd, S.D. Côté, L. Debeffe, A.S. Dekrout, N. Dejid, E. Donadio, L. Dziba, W.F. Fagan, C. Fischer, S. Focardi, J.M. Fryxell, R.W. S. Fynn, C. Geremia, B.A. González, A. Gunn, E. Gurarie, M. Heurich, J. Hilty, M. Hurley, A. Johnson, K. Joly, P. Kaczensky, C.J. Kendall, P. Kochkarev, L. Kolpaschikov, R. Kowalczyk, F. van Langevelde, B.V. Li, A.L. Lobora, A. Loison, T.H. Madiri, D. Mallon, P. Marchand, R.A. Medellin, E. Meisingset, E. Merrill, A.D. Middleton, K.L. Monteith, M. Morjan, T.A. Morrison, S. Mumme, R. Naidoo, A. Novaro, J.O. Ogutu, K.A. Olson, A. Oteng-Yeboah, R.J.A. Ovejero, N. Owen-Smith, A. Paasivaara, C. Packer, D. Panchenko, L. Pedrotti, A.J. Plumptre, C.M. Rolandsen, S. Said, A. Salemgareyev, A. Savchenko, P. Savchenko, H. Sawyer, M. Selebatso, M. Skroch, E. Solberg, J.A. Stabach, O. Strand, M.J. Suitor, Y. Tachiki, A. Trainor, A. Tshipa, M.Z. Virani, C. Vynne, S. Ward, G. Wittemyer, W. Xu, and S. Zuther. 2021. Mapping out a future for ungulate migrations. Science 372(6542): 566-569. (request reprint)
Morrison, T.A., J.A. Merkle, J.G.C. Hopcraft, E.O. Aikens, J.L. Beck, R.B. Boone, A.B. Courtemanch,
S.P. Dwinnell, W.S. Fairbanks, A.D. Middleton, K.L. Monteith, B.A. Oates, L. Riotte-Lambert, H. Sawyer, K.T. Smith, J.A. Stabach, K.L. Taylor, M.J. Kauffman. 2021. 2021. Drivers of site fidelity in ungulates. Journal of Animal Ecology 90(4) 955-966. (download)
Rayl, N.D., J.A. Merkle, K.M. Proffitt, E.S. Almberg, J.D. Jones, J.A. Gude, and P.C. Cross. 2021. Elk migration influences the risk of disease spillover in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Journal of Animal Ecology in press. (download)
Abrahms, B., E.O. Aikens, J.B. Armstrong, W.W. Deacy, M.J. Kauffman, and J.A. Merkle. 2020. Emerging
perspectives on resource tracking and animal movement. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 36(4): 308-320. (request reprint)
Kauffman, M.J., H.E. Copeland, J. Berg, S. Bergen, E. Cole, M. Cuzzocreo, S. Dewey, J. Fattebert, J. Gagnon, E. Gelzer, C. Geremia, T. Graves, K. Hersey, M. Hurley, J. Kaiser, J. Meacham, J. Merkle, A. Middleton, T. Nuñez, B. Oates, D. Olson, L. Olson, H. Sawyer, C. Schroeder, S. Sprague, A. Steingisser, M. Thonhoff. 2020. Ungulate migrations of the western United States, Volume 1: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2020–5101, 119. 
Berman, E.E., T.A. Graves, N.L. Mikle, J.A. Merkle, A.N. Johnston, G.W. Chong. 2020. Comparative quality and trend of remotely sensed forage phenology and productivity metrics across the Western United States. Remote Sensing 12(16): 2538. (request reprint)
Alston, J.M., M.J. Joyce, J.A. Merkle, and R.A. Moen. 2020. Temperature shapes movement and habitat selection by a heat-sensitive ungulate. Landscape Ecology 35: 1961-1973. (request reprint)
Aikens, E.O., A. Mysterud, J.A. Merkle, F. Cagnacci, I.M. Rivrud, M. Hebblewhite, M.A. Hurley, W. Peters, S. Bergen, J. De Groeve, S.P.H. Dwinnell, B. Gehr, M. Heurich, A.J.M. Hewison, A. Jarnemo, P. Kjellander, M. Kröschel, A. Licoppe, J.D.C. Linnell, E.H. Merrill, A.D. Middleton, N. Morellet, L. Neufeld, A.C. Ortega, K.L. Parker, L. Pedrotti, K.M. Proffitt, S. Said, H. Sawyer, B.M. Scurlock, J. Signer, P. Stent, P. Šustr, T. Szkorupa, K.L. Monteith and M.J. Kauffman. 2020. Wave-like patterns of plant phenology determine ungulate movement tactics. Current Biology 30(17): 3444-3449. (download)
Aikens, E.O., K.L. Monteith, J.A. Merkle, S.P.H. Dwinnell, G.L. Fralick, and M.J. Kauffman. 2020. Drought reshuffles plant phenology and reduces the foraging benefit of green-wave surfing for a migratory ungulate. Global Change Biology 26(8): 4215-4225. (request reprint)
Sawyer, H., M.S. Lambert, and J.A. Merkle. 2020. Migratory disturbance thresholds with mule deer and energy development. Journal of Wildlife Management 84(5): 930-937. (request reprint)
Maloney, M., J.A. Merkle, D. Aadland, D. Peck, R.D. Horan, K.L. Monteith, T. Winslow, J. Logan, D. Finnoff, and C. Sims. 2020. Chronic Wasting Disease Undermines Efforts to Control the Spread of Brucellosis in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Ecological Applications 30(6): 1961-1973. (request reprint)
Lamont, B.G., M.J. Kauffman, J.A. Merkle, T.W. Mong, M.M. Hayes, K.L. Monteith. 2020. Bark Beetle-affected forests provide only a marginal refuge from hunters. Journal of Wildlife Management 84(3): 413-424. (request reprint)
Geremia, C., J.A. Merkle, D.R. Eacker, R.L. Wallen, P.J. White, M. Hebblewhite, and M.J. Kauffman. 2019. Migrating bison engineer the green wave. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 116(51): 25707-25713. (request reprint)
Cotterill, G.G., P.C. Cross, J.A. Merkle, J.D. Rogerson, B.M. Scurlock, and J.T. du Toit. 2020. Parsing the effects of demography, climate, and management on recurrent brucellosis outbreaks in elk. Journal of Applied Ecology 57(2): 379-389. (download)
Branco, P.S., J.A. Merkle, R.M. Pringle, L. King, T. Tindall, M. Stalmans, and R.A. Long. 2019. An experimental test of community-based strategies for mitigating human-wildlife conflict around protected areas. Conservation Letters e12679. (download)
Merkle, J.A., H. Sawyer, L. Monteith, S.P. Dwinnell, G. Fralick, and M.J. Kauffman. Spatial memory shapes migration and its benefits: evidence from a large herbivore. Ecology Letters 22(11): 1797-1805. (request reprint)
Cherry, S.G., J.A. Merkle, D. Fortin, M. Sigaud, and G.A. Wilson. 2019. Managing genetic diversity and extinction risk for a rare plains bison (Bison bison bison) population. Environmental Management 64(5): 553-563. (request reprint)
Middleton, A.D., H. Sawyer, J.A. Merkle, M.J. Kauffman, E.K. Cole, S.R. Dewey, J.A. Gude, D. Gustine, D.E. McWhirter, K.M. Proffitt, and P.J. White. 2020. Conserving migrations across boundaries: emerging insights and case studies from Greater Yellowstone. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 18(2): 83-91. (request reprint)
Merkle, J.A., N.J. Anderson, D.L. Baxley, M. Chopp, L.C. Gigliotti, J.A. Gude, T.M. Harms, H.E. Johnson, E.H. Merrill, M.S. Mitchell, T.W. Mong, J. Nelson, A.S. Norton, M.J. Sheriff, E. Tomasik, and K.R. VanBeek. 2019. A collaborative approach to bridging the gap between managers and researchers in the wildlife profession. The Journal of Wildlife Management 83(8): 1644-1651. (request reprint)
Wang, Y, P.G. Blackwell, J.A. Merkle, and J.R. Potts. 2019. Continuous time resource selection analysis for moving animals. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 10(10): 1664-1678. (download)
Rickbeil, G.J.M., J.A. Merkle, 
G. Anderson, M.P. Atwood, J.P. Beckmann, E.K. Cole, A.B. Courtemanch, S. Dewey, D.D. Gustine, M.J. Kauffman, D.E. McWhirter, T. Mong, K. Proffitt, D.R. Stahler, P.J. White, and A.D. Middleton. 2019. Plasticity in elk migration timing is a response to changing environmental conditions. Global Change Biology 25(7): 2368-2381. (request reprint)
Branco, P.S., J.A. Merkle, R.M. Pringle, J Pansu, A.B. Potter, A. Reynolds, M. Stalmans, and R.A. Long. 2019. Determinants of elephant foraging behavior in a coupled human-natural system: is brown the new green? Journal of Animal Ecology 88(5): 780-792. (request reprint)
Rayl, N.D., K.M. Proffitt, E.S. Almberg, J.D. Jones, J.A. Merkle, J.A. Gude, and P.C. Cross. 2019. Modelling elk-to-livestock transmission risk to predict hotspots of brucellosis spillover. The Journal of Wildlife Management 83(4): 817-829. (download)
Lamont, B.G., K.L. Monteith, J.A. Merkle, T.W. Mong, S.E. Albeke, M.M. Hayes, M.J. Kauffman. 2019. Multi-scale habitat selection of elk in response to beetle-killed forest. The Journal of Wildlife Management 83(3): 679-693. (request reprint)
Oates, B.A., J.A. Merkle, M.J. Kauffman, S.R. Dewey, M.D. Jimenez, J.M. Vartanian, S.A. Becker, and J.R. Goheen. 2019. Antipredator response of moose diminishes during periods of resource deficit. Ecology 100(4): e02618. (request reprint)
Sawyer, H., J.A. Merkle, A.D. Middleton, S.P. Dwinnell, K.L. Monteith. 2019. Migratory plasticity is not ubiquitous among large herbivores. Journal of Animal Ecology 88(3): 450-460. (download)
Jesmer, B.R, J.A. Merkle, J.R. Goheen, E.O. Aikens, J.L. Beck, A.B. Courtemanch, M.A. Hurley, D.E. McWhirter, H.M. Miyasaki, K.L. Monteith, and M.J. Kauffman. 2018. 
Is Ungulate Migration Culturally Transmitted? Evidence for Social Learning from Translocated Animals. Science 361(6406): 1023-1025. (request reprint)
Brennan, A., E.M. Hanks, A. Merkle, E.K. Cole, S.R. Dewey, A.B. Courtemanch, B.M. Scurlock, and P.C. Cross. 2018. Examining speed versus selection in connectivity models using elk migration as an example. Landscape Ecology 33(6): 955–968. (request reprint)
Barocas, A., R. Hefner, M. Ucko, J.A. Merkle, and E. Geffen. 2018. Behavioral adaptations of a large carnivore to human activity in an extremely arid landscape. Animal Conservation 21(5): 433-443. (request reprint)
Middleton, A.D., J.A. Merkle, D.E. McWhirter, J.G. Cook, R.C. Cook, M.D. Jimenez, P.J. White, and M.J. Kauffman. 2018. Green-wave surfing increases fat gain in a migratory ungulate. Oikos 127(7): 1060-1068. (request reprint)
Johnson, A.N., E.A. Beever, J.A. Merkle, and G. Chong. 2018. Vegetation responses to sagebrush-reduction treatments measured by satellites. Ecological Indicators 87: 66-76. (request reprint)
Merkle, J.A., P.C. Cross, B.M. Scurlock, E.K, Cole, A.B., Courtemanch, S.R., Dewey, and M.J. Kauffman. 2018. Linking spring phenology with mechanistic models of host movement to predict disease transmission risk. Journal of Applied Ecology 55:810–819. (download)
Merkle, J.A., J.L. Polfus, J.J. Derbridge, and K.S. Heinmeyer. 2017. Dietary niche partitioning among black bears, grizzly bears and wolves in a multi-prey ecosystem. Canadian Journal of Zoology 95(9): 663-671. (request reprint)
Aikens, E.O., M.J. Kauffman, J.A. Merkle, S.P. Dwinnell, G.L. Fralick, and K.L. Monteith. 2017. The greenscape shapes surfing of resource waves in a large migratory herbivore. Ecology Letters 20(6): 741-750. (request reprint)
Sigaud, M., J.A. Merkle, S.G. Cherry, and D. Fortin. 2017. Collective decision-making promotes fitness loss in a fusion-fission society. Ecology Letters: 20(1):33-40. (request reprint)
Merkle, J.A., K.L. Monteith, E.O. Aikens, M.M. Hayes, K.R. Hershey, A.D. Middleton, B.A. Oates, H. Sawyer, B.M. Scurlock, M.J. Kauffman. 2016. Large herbivores surf waves of green-up in spring. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 283:20160456. (request reprint)
Merkle, J.A., J.R. Potts, and D. Fortin. 2017. Energy benefits and emergent space use patterns of an empirically parameterized model of memory-based patch selection. Oikos 126(2): 185–196. (request reprint)
Merkle, J.A., M. Sigaud, and D. Fortin. 2015. To follow or not? How animals in fusion-fission societies handle conflicting information during group decision-making. Ecology Letters 18(8): 799-806 (request reprint).
Derbridge, J.J., J.A. Merkle, M. Bucci, P. Callahan, J.L. Koprowski, J.L. Polfus, and P.R. Krausman. 2015. Experimentally derived δ13C and δ15N discrimination factors for gray wolves, and the impact of prior information in Bayesian mixing models. PloS ONE 10(3): e0119940 (link to article; PDF).
Losier, C., S. Couturier, M-H. St-Laurent, P. Drapeau, C. Dussault, T. Rudolph, V. Brodeur, J.A. Merkle, and D. Fortin. 2015. Adjustments in habitat selection to changing availability induce fitness costs for a threatened ungulate. Journal of Applied Ecology 52(2) 496-504. (download)
Merkle, J. A., D. Fortin, and S. G. Cherry. 2015. Bison distribution under conflicting foraging strategies: site fidelity versus energy maximization. Ecology 96(7): 1793-1801. (request reprint)
Fortin, D., J.A. Merkle, M. Sigaud, S.G. Cherry, S. Plante, A. Drolet, M. Labrecque. 2015. Temporal dynamics in the foraging decisions of large herbivores. Animal Production Science 55: 376-383. (reprint)
Merkle, J. A., D. Fortin, and J. M. Morales. 2014. A memory-based foraging tactic reveals an adaptive mechanism for restricted space use. Ecology Letters 17(8): 924–931. (request reprint)
Merkle, J. A., and D. Fortin. 2014. Likelihood-Based Photograph Identification: Application with Photographs of Free-Ranging Bison. Wildlife Society Bulletin 38(1): 196-204. (request reprint)
Merkle, J. A., H. S. Robinson, P. R. Krausman, and P. Alaback. 2013. Food availability and foraging near human developments by black bears. Journal of Mammalogy 94(2): 378-385. (Open Access)
Merkle, J. A., N. Decesare, P. R. Krausman, and J. J. Jonkel. 2011. Predicting spatial distribution of human-black bear interactions across an urban area. Journal of Wildlife Management 75(5): 1121–1127. (request reprint)
Merkle, J. A.,P. R. Krausman, and M. M. Booth. 2011. Behavioral and attitudinal change of residents exposed to human–bear interactions. Ursus: 22(1):74-83. (request reprint)
Merkle, J. A., J. Derbridge, and P. R. Krausman. 2011. Using stable isotope analysis to quantify anthropogenic foraging in black bears. Human-Wildlife Interactions 5(1):159-167. (request reprint)
Merkle, J. A., P. R. Krausman, D. W. Stark, and W. B. Ballard. 2009. Summer diet of the Mexican gray wolf. Southwestern Naturalist 54:480-485. (request reprint)
Merkle, J. A., D. R. Stahler, and D. W. Smith. 2009. Interference competition between gray wolves and coyotes in Yellowstone National Park. Canadian Journal of Zoology 87:56-63. (request reprint)
Nicholson, K. L., P. R. Krausman, and J. A. Merkle. 2008. Hypatia and the Leopold Standard: Women in the wildlife profession 1937-2006. Wildlife Biology in Practice 4:57-72. (request reprint)
*Click here to see our publications on google scholar.
Other publications
Merkle, J.A. 2015. Invited Book Review of ‘Ecology of Climate Change: the Importance of Biotic Interactions. Journal of Wildlife Management 79(7): 1208:1209.
Merkle, J.A., M. Sigaud, and D. Fortin. 2014. Habitat use and spatial distribution of plains bison in relation to management practices and wolf predation in Prince Albert National Park. Final Project Report to Parks Canada: 1-42.
Merkle, B.G., and J.A. Merkle. 2013. A park where the buffalo roam. BC Nature 51 (3): 18-19. (download reprint)
Kohl, M. T., J. A. Merkle, P. R. Krausman, K. Kunkel, K. Aune, C. C. Gates, S. D. Fuhlendorf. 2013. What is the future of bison conservation? Proceedings of the IVth International Wildlife Management Congress: 1-9. (download reprint)
Merkle, J. A., P. R. Krausman, and B. G. Merkle. 2012. How ‘bout them apples: Insights on reducing human-bear conflicts. Fair Chase Fall: 73-77. (download reprint)
Krausman, P. R., S. M. Smith, J. Derbridge, and J. A. Merkle. 2011. Suburban and exurban influences on wildlife and fish. Pages 135-191 in P.R. Krausman, L. Harris, editors. The cumulative effects of suburban and exurban influences on wildlife. Taylor & Francis Group, London.
Derbridge, J., E. Cleere, J. A. Merkle, and A. Mynsberge. 2009. A wildlife graduate student perspective on the future of big game management in North America. Fair Chase Winter: 42-43. (download reprint)
Cleveland, S., J. Merkle, R. Stutzman, G. Neudecker, J. Stone, and D. Naugle. 2009. Lessons from the field a hands-on crash course in landscape conservation. The Wildlife Professional 3:40-41. (download reprint)
Krausman, P. R., S. M. Smith, J. Derbridge, and J. A. Merkle. 2008. Suburban and exurban influences on wildlife and fish. FWP Project 2801. Wildlife Division, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Helena, USA. (download reprint)
Merkle Research Group 