Katherine Zeller, PhD
Research Biologist
katherine.zeller@usda.gov
Treesearch Publications
- Jaclyn Rushing, Kira Hefty, Teresa Hollingsworth, Amanda E. Cravens, Chris A. Armatas, Clare Boerigter, Kellie Carim, Shelley D. Crausbay, Olga Helmy, David J. Lawrence, Lauren Redmore, Gregor W. Schuurman, Eric J. Taylor, Jennifer Nifer L. Wilkening, Katherine Zeller, Sean A. Parks. 2026. Wicked problems in practice: Responding to ecological transformation in wilderness
- Mark Ditmer, Katherine Zeller, Heather N. Abernathy, James Wilder, Ashley Egan, Julia N.D. Daniell, Jesse R. Barber, William L. Rice, Michael K. Schwartz, George Wittemyer. 2026. The landscape of no worries? Increased recreation exposure decreases the landscape of human fear in wildlife
- Eric C. Palm, Clayton D. Apps, Tal Avgar, Melanie Dickie, Bruce N. McLellan, Joseph M. Northrup, Michael A. Sawaya, Julie W. Turner, Jesse Whittington, Erin L. Landguth, Katherine Zeller, Clayton T. Lamb. 2025. Changing grizzly bear space use and functional connectivity in response to human disturbance in the southern Canadian Rocky Mountains
- Eric C. Palm, Clayton D. Apps, Tal Avgar, Melanie Dickie, Bruce N. McLellan, Joseph M. Northrup, Michael A. Sawaya, Julie W. Turner, Jesse Whittington, Erin L. Landguth, Katherine Zeller, Clayton T. Lamb. 2025. Changing grizzly bear space use and functional connectivity in response to human disturbance in the southern Canadian Rocky Mountains
- Heather Abernathy, Mark Ditmer, Seth B. Hibbard, Jason V Lombardi, Thomas R. Stephenson, John R. Squires, Jennifer N. Newton, Sarah R. Dewey, Katherine Zeller, Michael K. Schwartz, George Wittemyer. 2025. A case for human mobility data applications in wildlife management
- Jedediah F. Brodie, Andrew Gonzalez, Jayasilan Mohd-Azlan, Cara R. Nelson, Gary Tabor, Divya Vasudev, Katherine Zeller, Robert J. Fletcher. 2025. A well-connected Earth: The science and conservation of organismal movement
- Kira Hefty, Nicholas Povak, Patricia N. Manley, Samuel W. Flake, Katherine Zeller. 2025. Spatiotemporal patterns of diversity and diversity‑stability relationships as a function of compounding disturbances and forest management
- Sylvia Kantor, Katherine Zeller, Mark Ditmer, John R. Squires, Jesse Barber, James Wilder, Ashley Egan. 2025. How human-generated noise disrupts wildlife: The unseen impact of outdoor recreation
- A. T. H. Keeley, P. Beier, R. T. Belote, M. Clark, A. P. Clevenger, T. G. Creech, L. Ehlers, J. Faselt, M. Gogol-Prokurat, K. R. Hall, M. A. Hardy, J. A. Hilty, A. Jones, T. A. Nunez, K. Penrod, E. E. Poor, C. Schloss, D. M. Theobald, T. Smith, W. D. Spencer, R. Sutherland, G. M. Tabor, Katherine Zeller. 2025. Comment on functional landscape connectivity for a select few: Linkages do not consistently predict wildlife movement or occupancy
- Casey C. Day, Erin L. Landguth, Michael A. Sawaya, Anthony P. Clevenger, Robert A. Long, Zachary Holden, Jocelyn R. Akins, Robert B. Anderson, Keith B. Aubry, Mirjam Barrueto, Nichole L. Bjornlie, Jeffrey P. Copeland, Jason T. Fisher, Anne Forshner, Justin A. Gude, Doris Hausleitner, Nichole A. Heim, Kimberly S. Heinemeyer, Anne Hubbs, Robert M. Inman, Scott Jackson, Michael Jokinen, Nathan P. Kluge, Andrea Kortello, Deborah L. Lacroix, Luke Lamar, Lisa I Larson, Jeffrey C. Lewis, Dave Lockman, Michael K. Lucid, Paula MacKay, Audrey J. Magoun, Michelle L. McLellan, Katie Moriarty, Cory E. Mosby, Garth Mowat, Clifford G. Nietvelt, David Paetkau, Eric C. Palm, Kylie J. S. Paul, Kristine L. Pilgrim, Catherine M. Raley, Michael K. Schwartz, Matthew A. Scrafford, John R. Squires, Zachary J. Walker, John S. Waller, Richard D. Weir, Katherine Zeller. 2024. Genetic connectivity of wolverines in western North America
- David M. Theobald, Alexander V Kumar, Kevin Doherty, Katherine Zeller, Todd B. Cross. 2024. Well-connected core areas retain ecological integrity of sagebrush ecosystems amidst overall declines from 2001-2021
- W. Connor O’Malley, L. Mark Elbroch, Katherine Zeller, Paul Beier, Meghan M. Beale, Richard A. Beausoleil, Brian Kertson, Kyle Knopff, Kryan Kunkel, Benjamin T. Maletzke, Quinton Martins, Marc R. Matchett, Christopher C. Wilmers, Heiko U. Wittmer, Winston Vickers, Kimberly Sager‑Fradkin, Hugh Robinson. 2024. Machine learning allows for large‑scale habitat prediction of a wide‑ranging carnivore across diverse ecoregions
- Katherine Zeller, Bradley W. Compton, Sean P. Finn, Eric C. Palm. 2024. Measuring ecological connectivity with ecological distance and dynamic resistant kernels
- Katherine Zeller, Mark Ditmer, John R. Squires, William L. Rice, James Wilder, Don DeLong, Ashley Egan, Niah Pennington, Chris A. Wang, Jacinta Plucinski, Jesse R. Barber. 2024. Experimental recreationist noise alters behavior and space use of wildlife
- Ana Patricia Calderón, Patricia Landaverde‑Gonzalez, Claudia Wultsch, Rebecca Foster, Bart Harmsen, Omar Figueroa, Rony Garcia‑Anleu, Franklin Castañeda, George Amato, Volker Grimm, Stephanie Kramer‑Schadt, Katherine Zeller. 2024. Modelling jaguar gene flow in fragmented landscapes offers insights into functional population connectivity
- Jason J. Taylor, Teresa Hollingsworth, Chris A. Armatas, Kellie Carim, Kira Hefty, Olga Helmy, Lisa M. Holsinger, Danette Paige, Sean A. Parks, Lauren Redmore, Jaclyn Rushing, Erana J. Taylor, Katherine Zeller. 2023. The future of wilderness research: A 10-Year wilderness science strategic plan for the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute
- Katherine Zeller, Nicholas Povak, Patricia N. Manley, Samuel W. Flake, Kira Hefty. 2023. Managing for biodiversity: The effects of climate, management and natural disturbance on wildlife species richness
- Mark Ditmer, George Wittemyer, Katherine Zeller, Stewart W. Breck, Robert J. Fletcher, Kevin R. Crook. 2023. Predicting dispersal and conflict risk for wolf recolonization in Colorado
- Sean A. Parks, Lisa M. Holsinger, John T. Abatzoglou, Caitlin E. Littlefield, Katherine Zeller. 2023. Response to concerns raised about the likelihood of protected areas serving as steppingstones for species responding to climate change
- Eric C. Palm, Erin L. Landguth, Zachary A. Holden, Casey C. Day, Clayton T. Lamb, Paul F. Frame, Andrea T. Morehouse, Garth Mowat, Michael F. Proctor, Michael A. Sawaya, Gordon Stenhouse, Jesse Whittington, Katherine Zeller. 2023. Corridor-based approach with spatial cross-validation reveals scale-dependent effects of geographic distance, human footprint and canopy cover on grizzly bear genetic connectivity
- Katherine Zeller. 2023. Isolation Consequences: Researchers discover Olympic Peninsula cougars are becoming more isolated based on genetic evidence
- Thomas E. Dilts, Katherine Zeller, Samuel A. Cushman, Eveline S. Larrucea, Miranda M. Crowell, Nathan W. Byer, Kevin T. Shoemaker, Marjorie D. Matocq. 2023. Pygmy rabbit habitat network reveals threats and opportunities for management and conservation
- Claudia Wultsch, Katherine Zeller, Lindsay S. Welfelt, Richard A. Beausoleil. 2023. Genetic diversity, gene flow, and source‑sink dynamics of cougars in the Pacific Northwest
- Katherine Zeller, Claudia Wultsch, Lindsay S. Welfelt, Richard A. Beausoleil, Erin L. Landguth. 2023. Accounting for sex‑specific differences in gene flow and functional connectivity for cougars and implications for management
- Sean A. Parks, Lisa M. Holsinger, John T. Abatzoglou, Caitlin E. Littlefield, Katherine Zeller. 2023. Protected areas not likely to serve as steppingstones for species undergoing climate-induced range shifts
- Kira Hefty, Jaclyn Rushing, Katherine Zeller, Greta Schmidt, Jill Bright, Paul Sitzmann, Jennifer Wilkening, Stephanie Fuest. 2022. RAD decisions in rad landscapes: Climate adaptation for Sonoran pronghorn
- Kevin Doherty, David M. Theobald, John B. Bradford, Lief A. Wiechman, Geoffrey Bedrosian, Chad S. Boyd, Matthew Cahill, Peter S. Coates, Megan K. Creutzburg, Michele R. Crist, Sean P. Finn, Alexander V Kumar, Caitlin E. Littlefield, Jeremy D. Maestas, Karen L. Prentice, Brian G. Prochazka, Thomas E. Remington, William D. Sparklin, John C. Tull, Zachary Wurtzebach, Katherine Zeller. 2022. A sagebrush conservation design to proactively restore America’s sagebrush biome
- R. Travis Belote, Kevin Barnett, Katherine Zeller, Angela Brennan, Josh Gage. 2022. Examining local and regional ecological connectivity throughout North America
- Sean A. Parks, Lisa M. Holsinger, Caitlin E. Littlefield, Solomon Z. Dobrowski, Katherine Zeller, John T. Abatzoglou, Charles Besancon, Bryce L. Nordgren, Joshua J. Lawler. 2022. Efficacy of the global protected area network is threatened by disappearing climates and potential transboundary range shifts
- Megan K. Jennings, Katherine Zeller, Rebecca L. Lewison. 2021. Dynamic Landscape Connectivity Special Issue Editorial
- Katherine Zeller, Cody A. Schroeder, Ho Yi Wan, Gail Collins, Kristin Denryter, Andrew F. Jakes, Samuel A. Cushman. 2021. Forecasting habitat and connectivity for pronghorn across the Great Basin ecoregion
- Katherine Zeller, Samuel A. Cushman, Nicholas J. Van Lanen, John D. Boone, Elisabeth Ammon. 2021. Targeting conifer removal to create an even playing field for birds in the Great Basin
- Katherine Zeller. 2020. Balancing bird habitat and conifer removal in the Great Basin
- Claire S. Teitelbaum, Alexej P. K. Siren, Ethan Coffel, Jane R. Foster, Jacqueline L. Frair, Joseph W. Hinton, Radley M. Horton, David W. Kramer, Corey Lesk, Colin Raymond, David W. Wattles, Katherine Zeller, Toni Lyn Morelli. 2020. Habitat use as indicator of adaptive capacity to climate change
- Katherine Zeller, D. W. Wattles, L. Conlee, S. Destefano. 2020. Response of female black bears to a high-density road network and identification of long-term road mitigation sites
- Megan K. Jennings, Katherine Zeller, Rebecca L. Lewison. 2020. Supporting adaptive connectivity in dynamic landscapes
- Katherine Zeller, Rebecca Lewsion, Robert J. Fletcher, Mirela G. Tulbure, Megan K. Jennings. 2020. Understanding the importance of dynamic landscape connectivity
- Katherine Zeller, David W. Wattles, Stephen Destefano. 2020. Evaluating methods for identifying large mammal road crossing locations: Black bears as a case study
- Katherine Zeller, David W. Wattles, Javan M. Bauder, Stephen DeStefano. 2020. Forecasting seasonal habitat connectivity in a developing landscape
- Katherine Zeller, Megan K. Jennings, T. Winston Vickers, Holly B. Ernest, Samuel A. Cushman, Walter M. Boyce. 2018. Are all data types and connectivity models created equal? Validating common connectivity approaches with dispersal data
- Katherine Zeller, Kevin McGarigal, Samuel A. Cushman, Paul Beier, T. Winston Vickers, Walter M. Boyce. 2017. Sensitivity of resource selection and connectivity models to landscape definition
- Kevin McGarigal, Ho Yi Wan, Katherine Zeller, Brad C. Timm, Samuel A. Cushman. 2016. Multi-scale habitat selection modeling: A review and outlook
- Katherine Zeller, Kevin McGarigal, Samuel A. Cushman, Paul Beier, T. Winston Vickers, Walter M. Boyce. 2015. Using step and path selection functions for estimating resistance to movement: Pumas as a case study
- Katherine Zeller, Kevin McGarigal, Paul Beier, Samuel A. Cushman, T. Winston Vickers, Walter M. Boyce. 2014. Sensitivity of landscape resistance estimates based on point selection functions to scale and behavioral state: Pumas as a case study
- Samuel A. Cushman, Brad McRae, Frank Adriaensen, Paul Beier, Mark Shirley, Katherine Zeller. 2013. Biological corridors and connectivity [Chapter 21]
Citations of Non-Forest Service Publications
- Bosco, L., S.A. Cushman, H.Y. Wan, K.A. Zeller, R. Arlettaz, A. Jacot. 2020. Fragmentation effects on woodlark habitat selection depend on habitat amount and spatial scale. Animal Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12604
- Zeller, K.A., D.W. Wattles, L. Conlee, S. DeStefano. 2019. American black bears (Ursus americanus) alter movements in response to anthropogenic features with time of day and season. Movement Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-019-0166-4
- Zeller, K.A., D.W. Wattles, S. DeStefano. 2018. Predicting moose-vehicle collisions in Massachusetts, USA: Incorporating road crossing data into collision risk models. Environmental Management 62: 518-528. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-018-1058-x
- Wattles, D.W., K.A. Zeller, S. DeStefano. 2018. Range expansion in unfavorable environments through behavioral adaptation to microclimates: moose (Alces americanus) as the model. Mammalian Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2018.05.009
- Jędrzejewski, W., H.S. Robinson, M. Abarca, K.A. Zeller, G. Velasquez, E. Paemelaere, J.F. Goldberg, E. Payan, R. Hoogesteijn, E.O. Boede, K. Schmidt, M. Lampo, A.L. Viloria, R. Carreño, N. Robinnson, P.M. Lukacs, J.J. Nowak, R. Salom-Pérez, F. Castañeda, V. Boron, H. Quigley. 2018. Estimating large carnivore populations at global scale based on spatial predictions of density and distribution – application to the jaguar (Panthera onca). PLoS ONE 13(3): e0194719. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0194719
- Wattles, D.W., K.A. Zeller, S. DeStefano. 2018. Response of moose to a high-density road network. Journal of Wildlife Management 82: 929-939. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.21459
- Petracca, L., J. Frair, J. Cohen, A.P. Calderón, J. Carazo-Salazar, F. Castañeda, D. Corrales-Gutiérrez, R. Foster, B. Harmsen, S. Hernández-Potosme, L. Herrera, M. Olmos, S. Pereira, H. Robinson, N. Robinson, R. Salom-Pérez, Y. Urbina, K.A. Zeller, H. Quigley. 2018. Robust inference on large-scale species habitat use using interview data: The status of jaguars outside protected areas in Central America. Journal of Applied Ecology 55: 723-734. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12972
- Zeller, K.A., T.W. Vickers, H.B. Ernest, W.M. Boyce. 2017. Multi-level, multi-scale resource selection functions and resistance surfaces for conservation planning: pumas as a case study. PLoS ONE 12(6): e0179570. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0179570
- Olsoy, P.J., K.A. Zeller, J.A. Hicke, H.B. Quigley, A.R. Rabinowitz, D.H. Thornton. 2016. Quantifying the effects of deforestation and fragmentation on a range-wide conservation plan for jaguars. Biological Conservation 203: 8-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.08.037
- McGarigal, K., K.A. Zeller, S.A. Cushman. 2016. Multi-scale habitat selection modeling: Introduction to the special issue. Landscape Ecology 31: 1157-1160. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-016-0388-4
- Zeller, K.A., T. G. Creech, K.L. Millette, R.S. Crowhurst, R.A. Long, H.H. Wagner, N. Balkenhol, E.L. Landguth. 2016. Using simulations to evaluate Mantel-based methods for assessing landscape resistance to gene flow. Ecology and Evolution 6 (12): 4115-4128. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2154
- Thornton, D., K.A. Zeller, C. Rondinini, L. Boitani, K. Crooks, C. Burdett, H. Quigley. 2016. Assessing the umbrella value of a range-wide conservation network for jaguars (Panthera onca). Ecological Applications 26: 1112-1124. https://doi.org/10.1890/15-0602
- Zeller, K.A., K. McGarigal, A. Whiteley. 2012. Estimating landscape resistance to movement: A review. Landscape Ecology 27:777-797. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-012-9737-0
- Zeller, K.A., S. Nijhawan, J. Hines, R. Salom-Perez, S. Hernandez. 2011. Integrating Site Occupancy Modeling and Interview Data for Identifying Jaguar (Panthera onca) Corridors: A case study from Nicaragua. Biological Conservation 144: 892-901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2010.12.003
- Salom-Pérez, R., J. Polisar, H. Quigley, K.A. Zeller. 2010. Iniciativa del Corredor del Jaguar: Un Corredor Biológico y un Compromiso a Largo Plazo para la Conservación. Mesoamericana 14: 25-34.
- Rabinowitz, A., K. A. Zeller. 2010. A Range-wide model of landscape connectivity and conservation for the jaguar, Panthera onca. Biological Conservation 143: 939-945. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2010.01.002
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Ph.D., Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, 2016
- University of Montana, M.S., Environmental Studies, 2003
- Tufts University, B.S., Biology, 1997
Last updated March 10, 2026