Ph.D., Professor
Email: dhvanvuren@ucdavis.edu
Office: 1351 Academic Surge
Phone: (530) 752-4181
Personal Professional Website:
http://vanvurenlab.weebly.com
Research:
- We use both field and laboratory approaches for addressing questions about mammalian ecology and behavior, with the goal of contributing to solutions for real-world problems in conservation and management.
- Vertebrate ecology and behavior, especially mammals.
- Ecological approaches for managing human-wildlife conflicts.
- Conservation biology, especially the ecology of exotic speciesin island ecosystems.
Education and Experience:
- BA, UC Berkeley, 1975
- MS, Oregon State University, 1979
- PhD, University of Kansas, 1990
- Assistant Professor, UC Davis, 1990
- Associate Professor, UC Davis, 1996
- Professor, UC Davis, 2000
Current Projects:
- Ecology and behavior of ground squirrels: we are studying several species of ground -dwelling squirrels, including yellow-bellied marmots and Belding's, California, and golden-mantled ground squirrels, in order to address questions about habitat selection, spatial organization, and impacts of climate change.
- Island conservation: we are involved in an ongoing series of studies in California's Channel Islands about the impacts of exotic herbivores on island ecosystems, the restoration of island vegetation, and the conservation of endemic island foxes, island spotted skunks, and island deer mice.
- Managing squirrels on levees: research is completed and we are currently working with management agencies to ensure that California ground squirrels on levees do not impair levee safety.
Teaching:
- WFC 100 - Field Methods in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology. Offered every Spring quarter.
- WFC 101/101L - Field Research in Wildlife Ecology. Offered Fall quarter in even numbered years.
- WFC 151 - Wildlife Ecology. Offered every Fall quarter.
- WFC 152 - Ecology of Human-Wildlife Conflicts. Offered Winter quarter in odd numbered years.
Campus Memberships:
- Graduate Group in Ecology