Kerry Foresman, Ph.D.
Position
Professor, Division of Biological Sciences
Ph.D
Ph.D. University of Idaho, 1977
MS/MA
M.S. University of Idaho, 1973
BA/BS
B.A. University of Montana, 1971
CV
Webpage
Current Research
My primary interests concern the ecology and reproductive biology of the mustelids, soricids, and chiropterans. Together with my graduate students, I am conducting research on many species classified as sensitive, rare, threatened, or endangered by various federal and state agencies. We are working closely with the National Forest Service and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks on studies which serve as the foundation for conservation efforts relative to these species. At the moment, ecological and distributional studies are being conducted on several species of shrews in Montana. My graduate students and I have recently finished ecological studies on marten and fisher. Research projects on black-tailed prairie dog ecology as well as plague prevalence in small mammal populations in north central Montana have also been completed.
My lab has developed survey protocols for the Forest Service for the detection and ultimate monitoring of mid-level forest carnivores, specifically marten, fisher, wolverine, and lynx. This research is on-going; our current focus is on habitat fragmentation concerns and corridor use as well as developing the statistical framework for species detection.
I am also interested in using fluctuating asymmetry as a means of studying the effects of environmental stress on developmental stability and speciation using shrews as a model system.
We have also initiated studies on the effects of highway development on fragmentation of small mammal populations and ways to mitigate such effects through the use of modified culverts, funded by Montana Department of Transportation, and have a large study addressing wildlife corridor use across the Thompson River drainage, with Federal Department of Transportation funding.
I have just completed a comprehensive text, "The Wild Mammals of Montana" , and field guide, "Key to the Mammals of Montana" on the mammals of this state.
Recent Publications
Foresman, K. R. 2001. The Wild Mammals of Montana. Special Publication No. 12, American Society of Mammalogists, Allen Press Inc., 278 pp.
Foresman, K. R. 2001. Key to the Mammals of Montana. The University of Montana Bookstore, 92 pp.
Zwolak, R., and K. R. Foresman. 2007. Effects of a stand-replacing fire on small mammal communities in montane forest. Candian Journal of Zoology 85:815-822.
Ausband, D., and K. R. Foresman. 2007. Dispersal, survival, and reproduction of wild-born, yearling swift foxes in a reintroduced population. Candian Journal of Zoology 85:185-189.
Luikart, G. S. Zundel, D. Rioux, C. Miquel, K. A. Keating, J. T. Hogg, B. Steele, K. R. Foresman, and P. Taberlet. 2007. Low genotyping error rates for microsatellite mutiplexes and noninvasive fecal DNA samples from bighorn sheep. Journal of Wildlife Management, In Press.
