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Animal migrations are the most conspicuous pulses of biomass on Earth, affecting ecological interactions in every ecosystem. Yet, threats to these movements are often invisible. How can we harness data and technology to assess and conserve the movement of life, especially alongside the needs of humans? My research tackles this critical question using data science, satellite sensing technologies, automated biological sensors (e.g., telemetry tracking, camera trapping), and field studies. Spanning from the Asian highlands to the American West and the East African savanna, my research focuses on arid and semi-arid rangelands where humans, livestock, and wildlife have coexisted for millennia.
Animal movement in a changing world
Pornghorn crossing fences in snow. © Joe Riis
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Movement is a fundamental way through which individual animals respond to and interact with their external environments. Understanding whether, when, where, and how animals move does not only enrich our knowledge on ecology of the target species, but also shed light on mechanisms of how various ecological processes connect across scales. Using satellite remote sensing and animal tracking technologies, my research measures the spatio-temporal responses of migratory animals to environmental change, informing actionable and timely conservation solutions.
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Relevant publications:
(see Publications page for complete citations & links)
(see Publications page for complete citations & links)
- Xu, W., et al. (2023) Fencing amplifies individual differences in movement with implications on survival for two migratory ungulates. J. of Animal Ecology.
- Xu, W., et al. (2021). Barrier Behavior Analysis (BaBA) reveals extensive effects of fencing on wide-ranging animals. Journal of Applied Ecology.
- Xu, W., et al (2021). Migratory Plasticity of Ungulate in a Changing World. Ecology.
- Barker, K.J., Xu, W., et al (2021). Can lost migrations be restored? Evaluating re-establishment of long-distance movements. Conservation Letters.
- Xu, W., et al (2019). Railway Underpass Location Affects Migration Distance in Tibetan Antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii). PLoS ONE
Learn more:
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Draper Natural History Museum lunchtime expedition talk
The Wires that Shape the World: Fence Ecology and Conservation |
Ecological interactions in working landscapes
Working lands, such as rangelands, support both biodiversity and human livelihoods and play an essential role alongside protected areas (PAs) to combat today’s biodiversity crisis. Understanding ecological interactions (i.e. competition, herbivory, and parasitism) within working lands is key to addressing potential conflicts between biodiversity and sustainability. My research investigates how land use and management affect ecological interactions in working landscapes.
Eastern Tibetan plateau.
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Maasai Mara, Kenya
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Relevant publications:
- Xu, W., Huntsinger, L. (2022). Minding the boundary: social-ecological contexts for fence ecology and management. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.
- McInturff, A., Xu, W., et al. (2020). Toward a fence ecology: Frameworks and approaches for assessing the global ecological effects of fences. BioScience.
- ... MORE TO COME...
Data-enabled conservation and sustainability assessment
We have entered an era of unprecedented global commitment and investment in conservation, as marked by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity post-2020 biodiversity conservation framework. My work develops data analytics and leverages diverse data types to assess biodiversity and sustainability outcomes that inform policy and management from global to local scales.
Relevant publications:
(see Publications page for complete citations & links)
(see Publications page for complete citations & links)
- Han, Y., Xu, W., et al. (2023) Sand mining threatens a critically endangered freshwater cetacean.
- Giglioti, L., Xu, W., et al. (2022). Wildlife migrations highlight importance of working lands in the Greater Yellowtone Ecosystem.
- Parker-Shames, P., Xu, W., Rich, L., Brashares, J.S. (2020). Coexisting with cannabis: wildlife response to marijuana cultivation.
- Xu, W., et al. (in review) Den-site selection of Florida panthers in a fire prone landscape.
