Edward Olexa
Biography
Education
M.S. Wildlife Management. 1993. University of Minnesota, St. Paul
B.S. cum laude, Fisheries and Wildlife Biology. 1987. Michigan State University, East Lansing
Research Interests
I have been involved with research on large mammal ecology and ungulate-habitat relationships in the Midwest, Alaska, and the Greater Yellowstone area since 1990. My interests include assessing the impact of land management activities on the spatial and temporal distribution of ungulate populations and identifying the impact of ungulate herbivory on DOI-managed areas. I enjoy working with management agencies to identify ungulate/habitat research opportunities that go beyond administrative boundaries while meeting the specific information needs of area managers. My current research involves identifying spatial and temporal aspects of elk distribution to be used in resource protection on protected areas administered by the National Park Service and assessing elk response to land management activities on BLM grazing allotments.
Science and Products
Ecology of Elk on Department of Interior Lands in Southwest Wyoming
Between 2005 and 2010, we radio- collared 61 female elk (Cervus elaphus) on Fossil Butte National Monument and 12 female elk near Cokeville, Wyoming, slightly northwest of the Monument, all from the West Green River herd. We are using the 209,250 locations from these elk to identify seasonal distribution patterns, evaluate habitat use, and assess factors influencing the timing of migration. ...
To forage or flee: Lessons from an elk migration near a protected area
Alteration of wide-ranging wildlife migrations can drastically impact the structure and function of ecosystems, yet the causes and consequences of shifting migration patterns remain largely unknown. Management decisions made in one portion of a landscape may induce spatial and temporal shifts of wildlife use in another, creating tension among...
Mikle, Nathaniel; Graves, Tabitha A.; Olexa, Edward M.U.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2014 annual report
This is the seventh report produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) to detail annual activities conducted by the USGS for addressing specific management needs identified by WLCI partners. In FY2014, there were 26 projects, including a new one that was completed, two others that were...
Bowen, Zachary H.; Aldridge, Cameron L.; Anderson, Patrick J.; Assal, Timothy J.; Bartos, Timothy T.; Biewick, Laura R; Boughton, Gregory K.; Chalfoun, Anna D.; Chong, Geneva W.; Dematatis, Marie K.; Eddy-Miller, Cheryl A.; Garman, Steven L.; Germaine, Stephen S.; Homer, Collin G.; Huber, Christopher; Kauffman, Matthew J.; Latysh, Natalie; Manier, Daniel J.; Melcher, Cynthia P.; Miller, Alexander; Miller, Kirk A.; Olexa, Edward M.; Schell, Spencer; Walters, Annika W.; Wilson, Anna B.; Wyckoff, Teal B.Observations of elk movement patterns on Fossil Butte National Monument
The elk herd that frequents Fossil Butte National Monument, a subset of the West Green River elk population, provides visitors with seasonal opportunities to view an iconic species of the western United States. Throughout the year, these elk range across a variety of private, State, and Federal lands within close proximity to the Monument. These...
Olexa, Edward M.; Soileau, Suzanna Carrithers.; Allen, Leslie A.Performance and effects of land cover type on synthetic surface reflectance data and NDVI estimates for assessment and monitoring of semi-arid rangeland
Federal land management agencies provide stewardship over much of the rangelands in the arid andsemi-arid western United States, but they often lack data of the proper spatiotemporal resolution andextent needed to assess range conditions and monitor trends. Recent advances in the blending of com-plementary, remotely sensed data could provide...
Olexa, Edward M.; Lawrence, Rick LPregnancy rates in central Yellowstone bison
Plains bison (Bison b. bison) centered on Yellowstone National Park are chronically infected with brucellosis (Brucella abortus) and culled along the park boundaries to reduce the probability of disease transmission to domestic livestock. We evaluated the relationship between pregnancy rates and age, dressed carcass weight, and serological status...
Gogan, Peter J.; Russell, Robin E.; Olexa, Edward M.; Podruzny, Kevin M.U.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative: 2011 annual report
This is the fourth report produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) to detail annual work activities. In FY2011, there were 37 ongoing, completed, or new projects conducted under the five major multi-disciplinary science and technical-assistance activities: (1) Baseline Synthesis, (2)...
Bowen, Zachary H.; Aldridge, Cameron L.; Anderson, Patrick J.; Assal, Timothy J.; Biewick, Laura; Blecker, Steven W.; Boughton, Gregory K.; Carr, Natasha B.; Chalfoun, Anna D.; Chong, Geneva W.; Clark, Melanie L.; Diffendorfer, Jay E.; Fedy, Bradley C.; Foster, Katharine; Garman, Steven L.; Germaine, Stephanie; Hethcoat, Matthew G.; Holloway, JoAnn; Homer, Collin G.; Kauffman, Matthew J.; Keinath, Douglas; Latysh, Natalie; Manier, Daniel J.; McDougal, Robert R.; Melcher, Cynthia P.; Miller, Kirk A.; Montag, Jessica; Olexa, Edward M.; Potter, Christopher J.; Schell, Spencer; Shafer, Sarah L.; Smith, David B.; Stillings, Lisa L.; Sweat, Michael J.; Tuttle, Michele L.; Wilson, Anna B.Spatial population structure of Yellowstone bison
Increases in Yellowstone National Park, USA, bison (Bison bison) numbers and shifts in seasonal distribution have resulted in more frequent movements of bison beyond park boundaries and development of an interagency management plan for the Yellowstone bison population. Implementation of the plan under the adaptive management paradigm requires an...
Olexa, E.M.; Gogan, P.J.P.Yellowstone bison fetal development and phenology of parturition
Gogan, P.J.P.; Podruzny, K.M.; Olexa, E.M.; Ihsle Pac, H.; Frey, K.L.Incisor wear and age in Yellowstone bison
Biologists commonly use tooth eruption and wear patterns or cementum annuli techniques to estimate age of ungulates. However, in some situations the accuracy or sampling procedures of either approach are undesirable. We investigated the progression of several quantitative measures of wear with age, using permanent first incisors from Yellowstone...
Christianson, D.A.; Gogan, P.J.P.; Podruzny, K.M.; Olexa, E.M.Relative spatial distributions and habitat use patterns of sympatric moose and white-tailed deer in Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
We examined the distribution and home range characteristics of moose (Alces alces) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. Pellet count transects revealed low densities of moose and higher densities of white-tailed deer, and provided evidence of partial spatial segregation between moose and white-...
Cobb, M.; Gogan, P.J.P.; Kozie, K.D.; Olexa, E.M.; Lawrence, R.L.; Route, W.T.Gray wolves in and adjacent to Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota: Research and synthesis 1987-1991
No abstract available.
Gogan, P.J.P.; Route, W.T.; Olexa, E.M.; Thomas, N.; Kuehn, D.; Podruzny, K.M.Projecting the demographic consequences of management of Yellowstone Bison: Slaughtered bison sampling winter 2001 - 2002
Abstract not available
Gogan, Peter J.; Podruzny, K.M.; Olexa, Edward M.