Thomas Mueller
Advisor: Dr.
William F. Fagan
Previous Education:
Diplom (M.S.) Biology University of Marburg, Germany
Research Interests:
I seek to better understand the underlying behavioral mechanisms
of various ungulate movement strategies which can be observed
under different landscape scenarios with varying environmental
predictability. Animal movements are usually motivated by
a need for resources. Among ungulates, some species (e.g.,
white-tailed deer) have generally abundant and well-dispersed
resources and are considered range-residents, whereas other
species (e.g., caribou, wildebeest), whose resources are predictably
distributed in different parts of their range in different
seasons, are migratory. However, large-scale, long-range movements
that occur when resource distributions are fundamentally unpredictable
both temporally and spatially have so far received little
attention. These movements could be called nomadism and one
striking example can be observed in Mongolian gazelles, which
are the most important wild ungulate in one of the last intact
temperate grassland ecosystem on the planet.
My project seeks to develop computer models that simulate
and link behavioral movement mechanisms which can be either
based on memory, perceptual cues or triggered by environmental
factors. It explores their efficiency under different scenarios
of resource distributions across time and space. Finally it
tries to integrate empirical data on resource distributions
as well as movements of moving animals, such as satellite
data on primary productivity and satellite tracking data of
Mongolian gazelles.
New insights about the driving forces of ungulate movements
will support conservation efforts for nomadic and migratory
species in general and Mongolian gazelles specifically, which
are constantly moving and difficult to manage with traditional
static protected areas.
Location of Research:
Eastern Steppes, Mongolia
Publications:
Mueller T., K. Olson, T.K. Fuller , G.B. Schaller, M.G. Murray, and P. Leimgruber. 2007. In search of forage: predicting dynamic habitats of Mongolian gazelles using satellite-based estimates of vegetation productivity. Journal of Applied Ecology, doi:
10.1111/j.1365-2664.2007.01371.x.
Leimgruber, P., D. S. Kelly, M. Steininger, J. Brunner, T.
Müller and M. A. Songer. Forest cover change patterns
in Myanmar (Burma) 1990-2000. Accepted in Journal of Environmental
Conservation. 2005.
Rösner, S., N. Selva, T. Müller, E. Pugacewicz,
and F. Laudet. 2005. Raven Corvus corax ecology in a primeval
temperate forest. in: Jerzak, L.; Kavanagh, B.P. & P.
Tryjanowski (red.): Ptaki krukowate Polski [Corvids of
Poland]. - Bogucki Wyd. Nauk., Poznan.
Rösner S. and T. Müller 2001. Der Kolkrabe (Corvus
corax) in Hessen und Rheinland-Pfalz - Ausrottung, Wiederbesiedlung
und Aktueller Bestand. Charadrius 3: 109-112.
Müller T. and S. Rösner 2000. Der Kolkrabe (Corvus
corax) in Hessen -Wiederbesiedlung und Bestandsentwicklung. Vogel und Umwelt, 11, 3-11.
Awards:
2006 NSF Dissertation Improvement Grant (recommended for funding)
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