My main interests lie in examining human-driven effects on wildlife populations and their habitat, as well as predator-prey interactions, at the landscape level.
The Ya Ha Tinda elk herd, which once numbered well over 1000, has dwindled over the last decade to about 300 animals. In addition, significant changes have occurred in the migration patterns of the herd: more elk are remaining year-long on the low-elevation winter range of the Ya Ha Tinda ranch, as opposed to making the long trek to higher-elevation summer range in Banff National Park. Several collaborators, including Dr. Mark Hebblewhite of the University of Montana, and Dr. Evelyn Merrill of the University of Alberta, have been working for a number of years to document the causes and effects of these changes to the herd. My research will focus on the reasons for low calf survival, as well as the driving forces behind the decline in the migratory elk population. Hypotheses include density-dependent predation, apparent competition facilitated by increasing mule and white deer, and/or mortality by a specific mix of predators. I will further explore elk use of human activity areas as refuge from predation. Information from the project will assist both Parks Canada and the Province of Alberta in managing the wildlife of this trans-boundary interagency ecosystem. Check out the Ya Ha Tinda Elk Project website!
Contact Information:
Jodi Berg, PhD Candidate
Office: CCIS 1-238
Phone: 865-207-0933
E-mail: jberg@ualberta.ca
Technical reports:
Canadian Section of the Wildlife Society Travel Award (9/2015)
Bill Samuel Graduate Student Service Award (2015)
William Wishart Post-graduate Scholarship AB TWS (2015)
Best Student Presentation AB TWS (2014)
Graduate Student Association Professional Development Award (2013)
University of Alberta Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship (2013)
Graduate Teaching Assistantship and Scholarship – U of AB (2012 – present)
Publications:
Berg, J.E., Novaro, A.J., Walker, R.S., & Bolgeri, M.J. In prep. Dietary niche, prey availability and selection by four species of carnivores in La Payunia Reserve, Patagonia, Argentina. To be submitted to Journal of Zoology.
Carmanchahi, P., Schroeder, N., Bolgeri, M., Walker, S., Funes, M., Berg, J.E., Taraborelli, P., Ovejero, R., Gregorio, P., Moreno, P., & Novaro, A. 2014. Live-shearing effects on population parameters and movements in sedentary and migratory populations of guanacos. Oryx, doi:10.1017/S0030605314000027.
Wasser, S.K., Hayward, L.S., Hartman, J.L., Booth, R., Broms, K., Berg, J.E., Seely, E., Lewis, L., & Smith, H. 2012. Using detection dogs to conduct simultaneous surveys of northern spotted (Strix occidentalis caurina) and barred owls (Strix varia). PLoS ONE 7(8):e42892. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0042892
Popular articles:
Berg, J.E., Merrill, E., & Boyce, M. 2013. Ya Ha Tinda elk herd: Persistence or doom? Alberta Outdoorsmen. October: 16-18.
Technical reports:
Berg, J.E. 2009. 2009 northern spotted owl survey summary. Center for Conservation Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
Berg, J.E., & Hartman, J.L. 2010. 2010 northern spotted owl survey summary. Center for Conservation Biology, University of Washington. Seattle, WA.
Berg, J.E., & Seely, E. 2009. StatoilHydro-Center for Conservation Biology oil sands project: 2009 season summary. Center for Conservation Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
Berg, J.E., Intering, C., Merrill, E., & Hebblewhite, M. 2013. 2013 progress report. Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
Berg, J.E., Intering, C., Spilker, E., Merrill, E., & Hebblewhite, M. 2014. 2014 progress report. Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
Berg, J.E., Smolko, P., Merrill, E., & Hebblewhite, M. 2012. Re-visiting the Dogrib burn: effects of post-fire logging on elk habitat a decade later. Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
Berg, J.E., Wasser, S.K., & Smith, H. 2009. Grizzly and black bear project 2009 progress report: A report to Montanore Mining Co. Center for Conservation Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
Killeen, J., Merrill, E., Bohm, H., Berg, J., Eggeman, S., & Hebblewhite, M. 2015. Migration patterns of the Ya Ha Tinda elk herd 2002-2014. Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
Presentations:
Berg, J.E., Merrill, E.H., & Hebblewhite, M. Differences in summer exposure to predation drive annual survival for elk calves. Presentation. 2015 The Wildlife Society, Winnipeg, MB.
Berg, J.E., Merrill, E.H., & Hebblewhite, M. Persistence of the Ya Ha Tinda elk herd: the role of calf survival. Presentation. 86th Annual Alberta Fish & Game Conference, Lethbridge, AB.
Berg, J.E., Merrill, E.H., & Hebblewhite, M. Calving season trade-offs in a partially migratory elk herd. Presentation. 2014 North America Congress for Conservation Biology, Missoula, MT.
Berg, J.E., Merrill, E.H., & Hebblewhite, M. Calving season trade-offs in a transboundary elk herd. Presentation. 2014 The Wildlife Society Alberta Chapter, Jasper, AB.
Berg, J.E., Merrill, E.H., & Hebblewhite, M. Using GPS technology for differential predation at elk birth sites. Poster. 2014 Gordon Research Conference on Predator-Prey Interactions, Ventura, CA.
Berg, J.E., Merrill, E.H., & Hebblewhite, M. Persistence of the Ya Ha Tinda elk population: the role of calf survival. Presentation. 2013 The Wildlife Society Canadian Section & Alberta Chapter, Canmore, AB.
Berg, J.E., Merrill, E.H., & Hebblewhite, M. Persistence of the Ya Ha Tinda elk population: the role of calf survival. Presentation. 2013 Sundre Forest Products Public Involvement Roundtable, Caroline, AB.
Berg, J.E., Merrill, E.H., & Hebblewhite, M. Using GPS technology to to predict elk birth site selection and calf survival. Presentation. 2013 GISDay, Edmonton, AB.
Berg, J.E., Merrill, E.H., Hebblewhite, M., & St. Clair, C.C. Persistence of the Ya Ha Tinda elk population: the role of calf survival. Presentation. 2013 Wednesday Night Ecology Series, Edmonton, AB.
Berg, J.E., Reimer, J., Merrill, E.H., & Hebblewhite, M. Using technology for elk calf survival. Presentation. 11th Biennial Western States Deer & Elk Workshop, Canmore, AB.
Berg, J.E., Reimer, J., Merrill, E.H., & Hebblewhite, M. Using technology in elk calf survival. Presentation. 2015 The Wildlife Society Alberta Chapter, Edmonton, AB.
Berg, J.E., & Sweitzer, R.A. Carnivore distribution in relation to roads on the Sierra National Forest, California. Poster. 2012 The Wildlife Society Western Section, Sacramento, CA.
Bohart, A., Skurdal, A., Beatty, A., Spilker, E., Berg, J.E., & Merrill, E.H. Diet comparisons of sympatric carnivore species at the Ya Ha Tinda, AB. Poster. 2015 The Wildlife Society Alberta Chapter, Edmonton, AB.
Merrill, E., Spaedtke, H., Robinson, B., Berg, J.E., Hebblewhite, M., & Eggeman, S. Loss of more than migration; the imperiled Ya Ha Tinda elk herd. Presentation. 2012 The Wildlife Society, Portland, OR.
Funding Agencies:
University of Alberta
Parks Canada
Environment Canada
NSERC
Alberta Conservation Association
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Safari Club International Foundation
Northern Alberta Chapter of Safari Club International
Alberta Fish and Game Association (Minister’s Special License)
TD Friends of the Environment Foundation
Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks & Wildlife Foundation
Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development
Colleges and Institutes Canada CleanTech Internships
Science Horizons Youth Internship Program
Awards and Honors:
Best Student Poster Award – Alberta Chapter The Wildlife Society 2016
Nestor and Sue Cebuliak Graduate Award – U of AB 2016
Student Travel Award – Canadian Section The Wildlife Society 2015
Bill Samuel Graduate Student Service Award – U of AB 2015
William Wishart Post-graduate Scholarship – Alberta Chapter TWS 2015
Best Student Poster Award – Alberta Chapter The Wildlife Society 2015
Nestor and Sue Cebuliak Graduate Award (nominated) – U of AB 2014
John & Patricia Schlosser Environment Scholarship (nominated) – U of AB 2014
Best Student Presentation – Alberta Chapter The Wildlife Society 2014
Graduate Student Association Professional Development Award – U of AB 2013
Nestor and Sue Cebuliak Graduate Award (nominated) – U of AB 2012
University of Alberta Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship – U of AB 2012