Quinney College of Natural Resources USU

A new, AI-powered tool created by QCNR's John Kemper and a national team of scientists uses machine-learning technology that’s been trained on data from existing water monitoring systems to predict contamination upstream of municipal water sources. “Turning a streamflow forecasting tool into a water quality forecasting tool paves the way for increasingly available forecasts to serve community needs,” Kemper said, “and informs similar strategies for managing turbidity in basins worldwide.” https://lnkd.in/g5gYnkCG

The Range Club attended and competed at the National Society for Range Management meeting in Spokane Washington, bringing together science, management, and production together! USU's team came away with some wins: 2nd Place Student Poster Presentations, E.P. Sargant 1st Place Undergrad Extemporaneous Speech Contest, Stephen Bunnell Congrats to everyone who attended and thanks to the SRM Parent Society

I’m incredibly honored to be named the 2025 Researcher of the Year by the Quinney College of Natural Resources USU. This recognition reflects the collective efforts of the amazing colleagues, students, and partners I’ve had the privilege to work with. I’m also thrilled that the Utah Outdoor Recreation Strategic Plan, which my team helped develop, has been awarded the Department of Environment and Society’s 2025 Publication of the Year. This plan represents a collaborative effort to shape the future of outdoor recreation in Utah, ensuring sustainable access and responsible management of our state’s incredible natural resources. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to this work, from researchers and policymakers to outdoor recreation professionals. Your dedication to advancing the field and supporting resource-dependent communities makes this work meaningful.

The 2025 Northern Utah Water Users/Spring Runoff Conference is calling for abstract submissions for poster and oral presentations. The submission deadline is Feb. 26. Positioned as the premiere event for key insights on water research and Utah water legislation, the Spring Runoff Conference is an essential gathering for the region’s water scientists, scholars and experts. Set to take place on March 25-26, this year's theme is "Advancing Solutions for Policy, Innovation and Sustainability." The two-day conference will feature plenary sessions with policymakers, scientists and experts. This year, a special panel with Utah environmental journalists will discuss their experiences reporting on water issues. Additionally, this year marks the 60th anniversary of the Utah Water Research Laboratory at USU, celebrating its significant contributions to water research and management. Registration is free but required and closes on March 23. For more information and to register, visit the USU Spring Runoff website,?usu.edu/ilwa/spring-runoff.

In 2023, QCNR alumnus Manny May graduated with his masters degree in Ecology. Now he's working for the Bureau of Land Management in Fairbanks, Alaska. As a fish biologist, his area of oversight spans roughly 6 million acres of some of the most diverse and breathtaking terrain in the world. His path wasn’t easy, but it was the hands-on research opportunities he found as an undergraduate that ignited his passion for science and set him on a trajectory for success. “I think [undergraduate research] really pushed me to where I’m at today. Because if it wasn’t for the undergraduate work that I did in the lab, I probably wouldn’t be as well-equipped as I am now,” May said. Read more about Manny's inspiring story here! https://lnkd.in/gYKCK2UU

QCNR's Larissa Yocom has been officially named executive director of the new Utah Forest Restoration Institute (UFRI), a recently established institute focused on improving forest health and reducing wildfire risk across the state. “Her science-rich background in fire ecology and forest restoration combined with her connections across the state and region will be invaluable for increasing the pace and scale of forest management treatments in Utah, boosting the health and resilience of our forests,” said QCNR Dean Linda Nagel. https://lnkd.in/gSQGbBVm

?? New Publication: Unraveling the Dynamics of Social Cohesion in Wild Canids ?? A new study just published in Ecology explores how wolves, coyotes, and other wild canids stay close to each other in their social groups. The study, led by John Benson and a team of scientists from around the world, including Dan MacNulty and Julie Young from Utah State University, looked at how these animals spend time together and what affects their social bonds. Key Findings: ?? Breeding Pairs Are Closest: Wolves and coyotes are most connected during breeding season, but how much time they spend together changes with the seasons, depending on what they need to do (like raising pups or hunting). ?? Wolves vs. Coyotes: Wolves tend to stay together more than coyotes. In wolves, group size and the availability of food play a big role in how much time pairs spend together. ?? Environmental Impact: When the environment changes, like through human activity or changing climates, wolves spend less time with their partners, making it harder for them to thrive. ?? Food and Competition: Wolves were less connected when there was competition for food (like when smaller prey was available) or when there were larger groups. This study shows how flexible and adaptable these animals are when it comes to their social behavior. As the world changes, understanding how wolves and coyotes adjust is important for protecting them. ?? Why It’s Important: ?? Understanding how animals like wolves and coyotes work together helps us learn more about their survival and what they need to stay safe. This information is key to helping conserve them, especially as our world changes. Check out the full study here: https://lnkd.in/gUW6JJ37 ?? Photos: (A) Gray wolves (Canis lupus) in Alaska, Bridget Borg/NPS. (B) Gray wolves in Denali National Park in Alaska, NPS. (C) Iberian wolves (Canis lupus signatus) in Portugal, Artur Oliveira. (D) Golden jackals (Canis aureus) in the Golan Heights, Shlomo Preiss-Bloom. (E) Coyotes (Canis latrans) in Ontario, Canada, John Benson. (F) Eastern wolves (Canis lycaon) in Ontario, Canada, John Benson. #AnimalBehavior #WildlifeConservation #Canids #Wolves #Coyotes #SocialCohesion #Research #DanMacnulty #JulieYoung #Ecology #UtahStateUniversity

Utah State University’s Larissa Yocom, an assistant professor of fire ecology in the Department of Wildland Resources and Ecology Center met with KPCW Radio to discuss the environmental factors that affect fire, including fuels, weather and topography. Listen to the full podcast: https://lnkd.in/g_b723sa

Jordan Van Sickle, a restoration coordinator for the Utah Department of Natural Resources, has been battling invasive species along the Green River for years. With hundreds of miles of river habitat at risk, it's a daunting task. Traditional methods to track plant changes are outdated and costly, but now there's a promising solution: drones + AI! By using drones to capture aerial photos, researchers and students at Utah State University are training AI to identify invasive species like tamarisk, phragmites, and Russian olive. This breakthrough tech could help restoration teams like Van Sickle’s make faster, data-driven decisions on where to focus their efforts for maximum impact. This collaboration between students, ecologists, and geospatial AI experts illustrates the potential at the forefront of this new field. “This technology has potential to address some of the Earth’s and society’s most pressing challenges,” says Elise Jakoby Laugier, PhD, assistant professor of geospatial science. “It is transforming the speed at which we can extract meaning from complex datasets like this one.”?? You can read more about this effort at Utah State Magazine https://lnkd.in/gpBQbbEq #RiverRestoration #AI #Drones #EnvironmentalTech #InvasiveSpecies #UtahStateUniversity #GreenRiver #Conservation

??? New Research on Arctic Wolves Reveals Key Insights for Ecosystem and Conservation in the Canadian High Arctic ???? QCNR’s Dan MacNulty and team have completed a landmark study on the Arctic wolf (Canis lupus arctos) in the Canadian High Arctic, shedding light on their year-round presence, density, and predation patterns. This research is vital for understanding the complex predator-prey dynamics among muskoxen, Arctic hares, and the endangered Peary caribou in a rapidly changing environment. ?? Key Findings: ?? Wolf Density: GPS tracking of 10 adult wolves revealed relatively high densities of 2.5–10.4 wolves per 1,000 km2, with wolves maintaining territories year-round. ?? Sustainable Predation: The study found wolves preying on muskoxen at a rate of 5.5–17% of the population annually. This rate is likely sustainable as wolves primarily target calves and yearlings. ?? Arctic Hares: Wolves consume up to 228 Arctic hares annually, highlighting their significant role in shaping the ecosystem. ?? Peary Caribou Impact: With the decline of Peary caribou, this study suggests potential apparent competition could hinder their recovery efforts. This groundbreaking work highlights how Arctic wolves shape the High Arctic ecosystem and underscores the importance of understanding predator-prey dynamics in the context of climate change. Inuit and Inuvialuit communities, who depend on these species for subsistence, are particularly concerned about how warming may affect this delicate balance. ?? Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/gTDkiFHA #ArcticResearch #WildlifeConservation #PredatorPrey #ArcticWolf #DanielMacnulty #Muskox #PearyCaribou #ArcticHares #ClimateChange #EcosystemDynamics #WildlifeManagement #USU #ConservationScience