Frank R. Thompson
Title: Research Wildlife Biologist
Unit: Sustainable Management of Central Hardwood Ecosystems and Landscapes
Address: NRS
202 ABNR Bldg., University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO 65211-7260
Phone: 573-875-5341 x224
E-mail: Contact Frank R. Thompson
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Education
- University of Missouri, Ph.D. Wildlife Biology, 1987
- University of Vermont, M.S. Wildlife Biology, 1982.
- Cook College, Rutgers University, B.S Wildlife Science, 1979.
Civic & Professional Affiliations
The Wildlife Society, The American Ornithologists Union, Cooper Ornithological Society
Current Research
I discover and develop information needed for conservation strategies for songbirds and other wildlife. My primary focus is to determine the effects of selected land use practices on forest songbirds, determine population demographics of selected neotropical migratory birds and identify factors regulating populations, and to determine factors affecting nest predation and brood parasitism. This information is used in landscape and habitat modeling to assist with conservation planning at landscape and ecoregional-scales. As Project Leader, I lead a multidisciplinary unit to develop the information needed for sustainable management of Central Hardwood ecosystems.
Why is This Important
Land managers and conservationists need tools based on state of the art science to accomplish conservation and management objectives.
Future Research
I am very interested in the development of tools and technologies to assist conservation planners and managers in planning wildlife conservation at large spatial scales. This involves the development of landscape change and wildlife habitat and viability models that can be used with existing data sources and GIS products over large areas such as national forests and ecological sections and provinces.
Featured Publications
- Robinson, Scott K.; Thompson III, Frank R.; Donovan, Therese M.; Whitehead, Donald R.; Faaborg, John. 1995. Regional Forest Fragmentation and the Nesting Success of Migratory Birds. Science. Vol. 267 no. 1.:p. 1987-1990. (1995)
- Larson, Michael A.; Dijak, William D.; Thompson, Frank R. III; Millspaugh, Joshua J. 2003. Landscape-level habitat suitability models for twelve species in southern Missouri. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-233. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 51 p.
- Peak, Rebecca G.; Thompson, Frank R.; Shaffer, Terry L. 2004. Factors affecting songbird nest survival in riparian forests in a Midwestern agricultural landscape. The Auk 121(3):726-737, 2004
- Burhans, Dirk E.; Thompson, Frank R. 2006. Songbird abundance and parasatism differ between urban and rural shrublands. Ecological Applications, 16(1), 2006, pp. 394-405
Additional
Online Publications
- Thompson, Frank R., III; Ribic, Christine A. 2012. Conservation implications when the next predators are known. Chapter 2. In: Ribic, C.A.; Thompson, F.R., III; Pietz, P.J., eds. Video surveillance of nesting birds. Studies in Avian Biology (no. 43). Berkeley, CA: University of California Press: 23-33.
- Cox, W. Andrew; Pruett, M. Shane; Benson, Thomas J.; Chiavacci, Scott J.; Thompson, Frank R., III. 2012. Development of camera technology for monitoring nests. Chapter 15. In: Ribic, C.A.; Thompson, F.R., III; Pietz, P.J., eds. Video surveillance of nesting birds. Studies in Avian Biology (no. 43). Berkeley, CA: University of California Press: 185-210.
- Jacobs, Robert B.; Thompson, Frank R. III; Koford, Rolf R.; La Sorte, Frank A.; Woodward, Hope D.; Fitzgerald, Jane A. 2012. Habitat and landscape effects on abundance of Missouri's grassland birds. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 76(2): 372-381.
- Cox, W. Andrew; Thompson, Frank R. III; Faaborg, John. 2012. Landscape forest cover and edge effects on songbird nest predation vary by nest predator. Landscape Ecology. 27: 659-669.
- Thompson, Frank R., III; Robbins, Mark B.; Fitzgerald, Jane A. 2012. Landscape-level forest cover is a predictor of cerulean warbler abundance. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 124(4): 721-727.
- Hirsch-Jacobson, Robin; Cox, W. Andrew; Tewes, Emily E.; Thompson, Frank R., III; Faaborg, John. 2012. Parents or predators: Examining intraseasonal variation in nest survival for migratory passerine. The Condor. 114(2): 358-364.
- Reidy, Jennifer L.; Thompson, Frank R., III. 2012. Predator identity can explain nest predation patterns. Chapter 11. In: Ribic, C.A.; Thompson, F.R., III; Pietz, P.J., eds. Video surveillance of nesting birds. Studies in Avian Biology (no. 43). Berkeley, CA: University of California Press: 135-148.
- Marcot, Bruce G.; Thompson, Matthew P.; Runge, Michael C.; Thompson, Frank R.; McNulty, Steven; Cleaves, David; Tomosy, Monica; Fisher, Larry A.; Bliss, Andrew. 2012. Recent advances in applying decision science to managing national forests. Forest Ecology and Management. 285: 123-132.
- Thompson, Frank R., III; Reidy, Jennifer L.; Kendrick, Sarah W.; Fitzgerald, Jane A. 2012. Songbirds in managed and non-managed savannas and woodlands in the central hardwoods region. In: Dey, Daniel C.; Stambaugh, Michael C.; Clark, Stacy L.; Schweitzer, Callie J., eds. Proceedings of the 4th fire in eastern oak forests conference; 2011 May 17-19; Springfield, MO. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-102. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 159-169.
- Cox, W. Andrew; Thompson, Frank R. III; Faaborg, John. 2012. Species and temporal factors affect predator-specific rates of nest predation for forest songbirds in the midwest. The Auk. 129(1): 147-155.
- Yang, Jian; He, Hong S.; Shifley, Stephen R.; Thompson, Frank R.; Zhang, Yangjian. 2011. An innovative computer design for modeling forest landscape change in very large spatial extents with fine resolutions. Ecological Modelling. 222(15): 2623-2630.
- He, Hong S.; Yang, Jian; Shifley, Stephen R.; Thompson, Frank R. 2011. Challenges of forest landscape modeling - simulating large landscapes and validating results. Landscape and Urban Planning. 100: 400-402.
- Rittenhouse, Chadwick D.; Shifley, Stephen R.; Dijak, William D.; Fan, Zhaofei; Thompson, Frank R., III; Millspaugh, Joshua J.; Perez, Judith A.; Sandeno, Cynthia M. 2011. Chapter 13 Application of landscape and habitat suitability models to conservation: the Hoosier National Forest land-management plan. In: Li, Chao; Lafortezza, Raffaele; Chen, Jiquan, eds. Landscape Ecology in forest management and conservation. Challenges and solutions for global change. Higher Education Pres, Beijing and Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg: 299-328.
- Reidy, Jennifer L.; Thompson, Frank R.; Bailey, J. Wesley. 2011. Comparison of methods for estimating density of forest songbirds from point counts. Journal of Wildlife Management. 75(3): 558-568.
- Jones-Ferrand, D. Todd; Fearer, Todd M.; Thogmartin, Wayne E.; Thompson, Frank R., III; Nelson, Mark D.; Tirpak, John M. 2011. Comparison of statistical and theoretical habitat models for conservation planning: the benefit of ensemble prediction. Ecological Applications. 21(6): 2269-2282.
- Bonnot, Thomas W.; Thompson, Frank R. III; Millspaugh, Joshua. 2011. Extension of landscape-based population viability models to ecoregional scales for conservation planning. Biological Conservation. 144: 2041-2053.
- Greenberg, Cathryn H.; Collins, Beverly S.; Thompson, Frank R., III; McNab, William H. 2011. Introduction: what are early successional habitats, why are they important, and how can they be sustained? Chapter 1.. In: Greenberg, Cathryn H.; Collins, Beverly S.; Thompson, Frank R., III, eds. Sustaining young forest communities; ecology and management of early successional habitats in the Central Hardwood region, USA. New York, NY: Springer Dordrecht : 1-10.
- He, Hong S.; Shifley, Stephen R.; Thompson, Frank R., III. 2011. Overview of contemporary issues of forest research and management in China. Environmental Mangement. 48: 1061-1065.
- Tomosy, Monica S.; Thompson, Frank R.; Boyce, Douglas. 2011. Role of the U.S. Forest Service: Helping forests, grasslands, and wildlife adapt to shifts in climate. The Wildlife Professional. Fall: 42-46.
- Rittenhouse, Chadwick D.; Thompson, Frank R., III; Dijak, William D.; Millspaugh, Joshua J.; Clawson, Richard L. 2010. Evaluation of habitat suitability models for forest passerines using demographic data. Journal of Wildlife Management. 74(3): 411-422.
- Jones-Farrand, D. Todd; Tirpak, John M.; Thompson, Frank R.; Twedt, Daniel J.; Baxter, Charles K.; Fitzgerald, Jane A.; Uihlein, William B. 2009. A decision support tool for setting population objectives for priority landbirds in the Central Hardwoods and West Gulf Coastal Plain/Quachitas Bird Conservation Regions. In: Rich, Terrell D.; Arizmendi, Coro; Demarest, Dean W.; Thompson, Craig, eds. Tundra to Tropics: connecting birds, habitats, and people: proceedings of the 4th International Partners in Flight conference; 2008 February 13-16; McAllen, TX: Partners in Flight: 377-387.
- Tirpak, John M.; Jones-Farrand, D. Todd; Thompson, Frank R.; Twedt, Daniel J.; Baxter, Charles K.; Fitzgerald, Jane A.; Uihlein, William B. 2009. Assessing ecoregional-scale habitat suitability index models for priority landbirds. Journal of Wildlife Management. 73(8): 1307-1315.
- Thompson, Frank R., III. 2009. Bridging the gap between habitat-modeling research and bird conservation with dynamic landscape and population models. In: Rich, Terrell D.; Arizmendi, Coro; Thompson, Craig, eds. Tundra to Tropics: connecting birds, habitats, and people: proceedings of the 4th International Partners in Flight conference; 2009 October [City, State: Publisher unknown]: 437- 438.
- Reidy, Jenifer L.; Thompson, Frank R.; Peak, Rebecca G. 2009. Factors affecting golden-cheeked warbler nest survival in urban and rural landscapes. Journal of Wildlife Management. 73(3): 407-413.
- Tirpak, John M.; Jones-Farrand, D. Todd; Thompson, Frank R., III; Twedt, Daniel J.; Uihlein, William B., III. 2009. Multiscale habitat suitability index models for priority landbirds in the Central Hardwoods and West Gulf Coastal Plain/Ouachitas Bird Conservation Regions. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-49. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Northern Research Station. 195 p.
- Reidy, Jennifer L.; Stake, Mike M.; Thompson, Frank R. III. 2009. Nocturnal predation of females on nests: an important source of mortality for golden-cheeked warblers?. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 121(2): 416-421.
- Tirpak, John M.; Jones-Farrand, D. Todd; Thompson, Frank R., III; Twedt, Daniel J.; Nelson, Mark D.; Uihlein, William B., III. 2009. Predicting bird habitat quality from a geospatial analysis of FIA data. In: McRoberts, Ronald E.; Reams, Gregory A.; Van Deusen, Paul C.; McWilliams, William H., eds. Proceedings of the eighth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; 2006 October 16-19; Monterey, CA. Gen. Tech. Report WO-79. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 171-178.
- Rittenhouse, Tracy A.G.; Semlitsch, Raymond D.; Thompson, Frank R. III. 2009. Survival costs associated with wood frog breeding migrations: effects of timber harvest and drought. Ecology. 90(6): 1620-1630.
- Thompson, Frank R.; La Sorte, Frank A. 2008. Comparison of methods for estimating bird abundance and trends from historical count data. Journal of Wildlife Management. 72(8): 1674-1682.
- Shifley, Stephen R.; Thompson, Frank R.; Dijak, William D.; Fan, Zhaofei F. 2008. Forecasting landscape-scale, cumulative effects of forest management on vegetation and wildlife habitat: a case study of issues, limitations, and opportunities. Forest Ecology and Management. 254(3): 474-483.
- Rittenhouse, Chadwick D.; Dijak, William D.; Thompson, Frank R. III; Millspaugh, Joshua J. 2007. Development of landscape-level habitat suitability models for ten wildlife species in the central hardwoods region. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-4. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 47 p.
- Dijak, William D.; Rittenhouse, Chadwick D.; Larson, Michael A.; Thompson, Frank R. III; Millspaugh, Joshua J. 2007. Landscape habitat suitability index software. Journal of Wildlife Management. 71(2): 668-670.
- La Sorte, Frank A.; Thompson, Frank R., III. 2007. Poleward shifts in winter ranges of North American birds. Ecology. 88(7): 1803-1812.
- La Sorte, Frank A.; Thompson, Frank R., III; Trani, Margaret K.; Mersmann, Timothy J. 2007. Population trends and habitat occurrence of forest birds on southern national forests, 1992-2004. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-9. Newton Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 260 p.
- Small, Stacy L.; Thompson, Frank R., III; Geupel, Geoffery R.; Faaborg, John. 2007. Spotted Towhee population dynamics in a riparian restoration context. The Condor. 109: 721-733.
- Thompson, Frank R., III. 2006. Conservation assessments for five forest bat species in the Eastern United States. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-260. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 82 p.
- Shifley, Stephen R.; Thompson, Frank R., III; Dijak, William D.; Larson, Michael A.; Millspaugh, Joshua J. 2006. Simulated effects of forest management alternatives on landscape structure and habitat suitability in the Midwestern United States. Forest Ecology and Management. 229: 361-377.
- Fink, Alix D.; Thompson, Frank R., III; Tudor, April A. 2006. Songbird use of regenerating forest, glade, and edge habitat types. Journal of Wildlife Management. 70(1): 180-188.
- Fan, Zhaofei; Shifley, Stephen R.; Spetich, Martin A.; Thompson III, Frank R.; Larsen, David R. 2005. Abundance and Size Distribution of Cavity Trees in Second-Growth and Old-Growth Central Hardwood Forests . Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 22(3):162-169.
- Thompson, Frank R.; Burhans, Dirk E. 2004. Differences in predators of artificial and real songbirds nests: Evidence of bias in artificial nest studies. Conservation Biology. Volume. 18, No. 2, 2004. pp. 373-380.
- Larson, Michael A.; Thompson, Frank R., III; Millspaugh, Joshua J.; Dijak, William D.; Shifley, Stephen R. 2004. Linking population viability, habitat suitability, and landscape simulation models for conservation planning. Ecological Modelling 180:103-118
- Potts, Robert; Gustafson, Eric; Stewart, Susan I.; Thompson, Frank R.; Bergen, Kathleen; Brown, Daniel G.; Hammer, Roger; Radeloff, Volker; Bengston, David; Sauer, John; Sturtevant, Brian. 2004. The Changing Midwest Assessment: land cover, natural resources, and people. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-250. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 87 p.
- Thompson, Frank R., III, ed. 2004. The Hoosier-Shawnee Ecological assessment. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-244. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 267 p.
- Thompson, Frank R., III ed. 2004. The Hoosier-Shawnee ecological assessment: Table of contents. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-244. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 267 p.
- Thompson, Frank R., III. 2004. The Hoosier-Shawnee ecological assessment: objectives, approach, and major findings. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-244. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station. 267 p.
- Fan, Zhaofei; Shifley, Stephen R.; Spetich, Martin A.; Thompson, Frank R., III; Larsen, David R. 2003. Distribution of cavity trees in midwesternold-growth and second-growth forests. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 33(8):1481-1494
- Thompson, Frank R., III; Burhans, Dirk E. 2003. Predation of Songbird Nests Differs By Predator and Between Field and Forest Habitats. Journal of Wildlife Management 67(2):408-416
- Thompson, Frank R.; Donovan, Therese M.; DeGraff, Richard M.; Faaborg, John; Robinson, Scott K. 2002. A Multi-Scale Perspective of the Effects of Forest Fragmentation on Birds in Eastern Forests. In: George, T. Luke; Dobkin, David S., eds. Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on Birds in Western Landscapes: Contrasts With Paradigms from the Eastern United States. Studies in Avian Biology. 25:8-19
- Pagen, Rich W.; Thompson, Frank R., III; Burhans, Dirk E. 2002. A comparison of point-count and mist-net detections of songbirds by habitat and time-of-season. Journal of Field Ornithology 73(1):53-59
- Burhans, Dirk E.; Dearborn, Donald; Thompson, Frank R. III; Faaborg, John. 2002. Factors affecting predation at songbird nests in old fields. Journal of Wildlife Management. Vol. 66, no. 1 (2002).:p.240-249.
- Woodward, April A.; Fink, Alix D.; Thompson III, Frank R. 2001. Edge Effects and Ecological Traps: Effects on Shrubland Birds in Missouri. Journal of Wildlife Management. Vol. 65 no. 4.:p. 668-675. (2001)
- Donovan, Therese M.; Thompson , Frank R, III. 2001. Modeling the ecological trap hypothesis: a habitat and demographic analysis for migrant songbirds. Ecological Applications, 11(3), 2001, pp. 871-882
- Burhans, Dirk E.; Thompson, Frank R. III. 2001. Relationship of songbird nest concealment to nest fate and flushing behavior of adults. Auk. Vol. 118, no. 1 (Jan. 2001).:p. 237-242 : ill.
- Burhans, Dirk; Thompson III, Frank R. 2000. Cost of Parasitism Incurred by Two Songbird Species and Their Quality As Cowbird Hosts1. The Condor. Vol. 102 p. 364-373. (2000)
- Donovan, Therese M.; Thompson III, Frank r.; Faaborg, John R. 2000. Cowbird Distribution at Different Scales of Fragmentation: Trade-offs Between Breeding and Feeding Opportunities. Ecology and Management of Cowbirds and Their hosts. p. 255-264. (2000)
- Budnik, Joel M.; Ryan, Mark R.; Thompson III, Frank R. 2000. Demography of Bell's Vireos in Missouri grassland-shrub habitats. The Auk. Volume 117. Issue 4. 2000. 925-935
- Dijak, William D.; Thompson III, Frank R. 2000. Landscape And Edge Effects On The Distribution Of Mammalian Predators In Missouri. Journal Of Wildlife Management. Vol. 64 no. 1.:p. 209-216. (2000)
- Shifley, Stephen R.; Thompson, Frank R.; Larsen , David R.; Dijak, William D. 2000. Model forest landscape change in the Missouri Ozarks under alternative management practices. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. Volume 27. 2000. 7--24
- Shifley, Steven R.; Thompson, Frank R., III; Larsen, David R.; Mladenoff, David J.; Gustafson, Eric J. 2000. Utilizing inventory information to calibrate a landscape simulation model. In: Hansen, Mark; Burk, Tom, eds. Integrated tools for natural resources inventories in the 21st century. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-212. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station: 549-561.
- Guldin, James M.; Thompson, Frank R.; Richards, Lynda L.; Harper, Kyra C. 1999. Chapter 3: Status and trends of vegetation. In: Ozark-Ouachita Highlands assessment: terrestrial vegetation and wildlife. Gen. Tech. Rep. 21-72. (1999)
- Burhans, Dick E.; Thompson III, Frank R. 1999. Habitat patch size and nesting success of yellow-breasted chats. The Wilson Bulletin. 111(2): 210-215. (1999)
- Kurzejeski, Eric W.; Thompson, Frank R. III. 1999. Ruffed grouse status, hunting and response to habitat management in Missouri.. Research Paper NC-333. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station
- Larsen, David R.; Shifley, Stephen R.; Thompson, Frank R., III; Brookshire, Brian L.; Dey, Daniel C.; Kurzejeski, Eric W.; England, Kristine. 1997. 10 Guidelines for Ecosystem Researchers: Lessons from Missouri. Journal of Forestry 95(4):4-9
- Thompson, Frank R. III; Dessecker, Daniel R. 1997. Management of early-successional communities in central hardwood forests: with special emphasis on the ecology and management of oaks, ruffed grouse, and forest songbirds.. General Technical Report NC-195. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station
- Shifley, Stephen R.; Thompson, Frank R., III; Larsen, David R.; Mladenoff, David J. 1997. Modeling forest landscape change in the Ozarks: guiding principles and preliminary implementation. In: Pallardy, Stephen G.; Cecich, Robert A.; Garrett, H. Gene; Johnson, Paul S., eds. Proceedings of the 11th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-188. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station: 231-241
- Donovan, Therese M.; Jones, Peter W.; Annand, Elizabeth M.; Thompson III, Frank R. 1997. Variation in Local-Scale Edge Effects: Mechanisms and landscape Context. Ecology. Vol. 78 no. 7.:p. 2064-2075. (1997)
- Thompson, Frank R. III. 1996. Management of midwestern landscapes for the conservation of neotropical migratory birds; 1995 December 5; Detroit, MI.. General Technical Report NC-187. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station
- Donovan, Therese M.; Thompson, Frank R. , III; Faaborg, John; Probst, John R. 1995. Reproductive success of migratory birds in habitat sources and sinks. Conservation Biology, Pages 1380-1395, Volume 9, No. 6, December 1995
- Thompson, Frank R. 1994. Temporal and Spatial patterns of Breeding Brown-Headed Cowbirds in the Midwestern United States. The Auk. Vol. 111 no. 4.:p.979-909. (1994)
- Thompson, Frank R., III; Dijak, William D.; Kulowiec, Thomas G.; Hamilton, David A. 1992. Breeding bird populations in Missouri Ozark forests with and without clearcutting. Journal of Wildlife Management. Vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 23-30.
- Thompson, Frank R. III; Fritzell, Erik K. 1990. Bird densities and diversity in clearcut and mature oak-hickory forest.. Research Paper NC-293. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station
- Thompson, Frank R. III; Fritzell, Erik K. 1989. Enhancing Wildlife Habitat When Regenerating Stands. In: Clark, F. Bryan, tech. ed.; Hutchinson, Jay G., ed. Central Hardwood Notes. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station.: Note 9.06.
- Thompson, Frank R., III. 1989. Enhancing wildlife habitat when regenerating stands. In: Hutchinson, Jay G., ed. Central hardwood notes. St. Paul, MN.: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station. 9.06
Last Modified:
02/15/2012