Kelley Stewart

Professor, Wildlife Ecology

Department: Natural Resources & Environmental Science
Office: 775-784-4314
Fax: 775-784-4227
Email: kelleys@unr.edu
Building: FA
Room: 220f
Mailstop: 186
Website: https://naes.unr.edu/stewart

Summary

I am interested in population ecology of large mammals, and effects of density dependence on population growth, movement patterns, habitat selection, and both inter- and intraspecific competition. I am also interested in community-level effects of population dynamics of large mammals, such as changes in plant growth, community structure, and trophic cascades.

Education

BS (1993) University of California Davis
MS (1997) Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Texas A&M University - Kingsville
PhD (2004) Dept of Biology & Wildlife, & Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Publications

Book Chapter(s)

Competition with Other Ungulates

2023

Ecology and Management of Black-Tailed and Mule Deer in North America (Chapter 8) Ed By James R. Heffelfinger, Paul R. Krausman, Wiley, ISBN 9781032407609

Bowyer, R. T., Stewart, K., Cain, J. W. & McMillian, B.

Digestive Physiology and Nutrition

2023

Ecology and Management of Black-Tailed and Mule Deer in North America (Chapter 4) Ed By James R. Heffelfinger, Paul R. Krausman, Wiley, ISBN 9781032407609

Monteith, K. et al.

Intermountain West Ecoregion

2023

Ecology and Management of Black-Tailed and Mule Deer in North America (Chapter 11), Ed By James R. Heffelfinger, Paul R. Krausman, Wiley, ISBN 9781032407609

Stewart, K. et al.

Mammalogy: Adaptation, Diversity, Ecology

2020

5th Edition, Johns Hopkins University Press

G.A. Feldhamer, J. F. Merritt, C. Krajewski, J. L. Rachlow, and K. M. Stewart

Graduate School: A Professor Perspective.

2017

In Scott E. Henke and Paul R. Krausman (Ed.), Becoming a Wildlife Professional. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Hernandez, F., Silvy, N. J., Stewart, K.

Wildlife Ecology

2012

In A.H. El-Shaarawi, and W.W. Piegorsch (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Environmetrics (vol. 2nd edition, pp. 2963-2968). New York, New York: John Wiley and Sons, LTd.

Bowyer, R. T., Stewart, K., Long, R., Monteith, K. L.

Spatial Use of Landscapes by White-Tailed Deer.

2011

In David Hewitt (Ed.), Biology and Management of White-Tailed Deer.

Stewart, K., Bowyer, R. T., Weisberg, P. J.

Ungulates in western coniferous forests: habitat relationships, population dynamics, and ecosystem processes

2003

Management and Conservation in the Coniferous Forests of Western North America, Edited by Cynthia J. Zabel, Cambridge University Press

John G. Kie, R. Terry Bowyer And Kelley M. Stewart

Journals

Comparing contemporary models to traditional indices to estimate abundance of desert bighorn sheep

2024

The Journal of Wildlife Management, 88(2), e22517

Blum, M. E., Buderman, F. E., Bennett, J. R., Stewart, K. M., Cox, M., & Williams, P. J.

Animal movement and associated infectious disease risk in a metapopulation.

2023

R. Soc. Open Sci. 10: 220390

Dekelaita DJ, Epps CW, German, DW, Powers JG, Gonzales BJ, Abella-Vu RK, Darby, NW, Hughson DL, Stewart KM.

Changes in selection of resources with reproductive state in a montane ungulate.

2023

Movement Ecology 11, 20

Blum, M.E., Stewart, K.M., Shoemaker, K.T. et al.

Improved topographic ruggedness indices more accurately model fine-scale ecological patterns.

2023

Landscape Ecology, 38, 1395–1410

Dilts, T.E., Blum, M.E., Shoemaker, K.T. et al.

Variation in diet of desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni): Tradeoffs associated with parturition

2023

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 10, 1071771

Blum, M. E., Stewart, K. M., Cox, M., Shoemaker, K. T., Bennett, J. R., Sullivan, B. W., Wakeling, B. F., & Bleich, V. C.

Variation in diet of desert bighorn sheep: tradeoffs associated with parturition

2022

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 10 (2023) 14

M.E. Blum, K.M. Stewart, M. Cox, K.T. Shoemaker, J.R. Bennett, B.W. Sullivan, B.F. Wakeling, V.C. Bleich

Demographic performance of a large herbivore: effects of winter nutrition and weather.

2021

Ecosphere, Vol 12 Iss 1

Jackson, N. J., Stewart, K., Wisdom, M. J., Clark, D. A., Rowland, M. M.

Effects of human-altered landscapes on a reintroduced ungulate: Patterns of habitat selection at the rangeland-wildland interface.

2021

Biological Conservation Volume 257, 109086

Hughey, L. F., Shoemaker, K. T., Stewart, K. M., McCauley, D. J., & Cushman, J. H.

Prey Specialization by Cougars on Feral Horses in a Desert Environment. J

2021

Journal of Wildlife Management, 85(6), 1104–1120.

Andreasen, A. M., Stewart, K. M., Longland, W. S., & Beckmann, J. P.

Individual variation in use of nutritional landscape predicts early-winter condition of a long-lived ungulate.

2020

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (INVITED)

Merems, J.L., Shipley, L.A., Levi, T., Ruprecht, J., Clark, D.a., Wisdom, M.J., Jackson, N.J., Stewart, K.M., Long, R.A.

Metrics of harvest for ungulates: misconceptions, lurking variables, and prudent management.

2020

Alces, Vol 56

Bowyer, R. T., Stewart, K., Bleich, V. C., Whiting, J. C., Monteith, K. L., Blum, M. E.

Resource selection by female mule deer: tradeoffs associated with reproduction

2020

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (Invited)

Heffelfinger, L.J., Stewart, K.M., Shoemaker, K.T., Darby, N.W., Bleich, V.C.

Survival of adult female bighorn sheep following a pneumonia epizootic.

2020

Journal of Wildlife Management, vol 84 iss 7

Dekelaita, D. J., Epps, C., Stewart, K., Sedinger, J. S., Powers, J., Gonzales, B. J., Abella-Vu, R., Darby, N., Hughson, D.

Experimental harvest regulations reveal that climate, not harvest, drives population change in Nevada wood ducks.

2019

Ecology and Evolution

Sedinger, B.S., Riecke, T., Nicolai, C.,

Flexible resource use strategies of a central-place forager experiencing dynamic risk and opportunity.

2019

Movement Ecology, 7(23)

Hefty, K. L., Stewart, K.

Mule deer juniper use is an unreliable indicator of habitat quality: comments on Coe et al. 2018.

2019

Journal of Wildlife Management

Maestas, J.D., Hagen, C.A., Smith, J.T., Tack, J.D., Allred, B.W., Griffiths, T., Bishop, C.J., Stewart, K.M., Naugle, D.E.

Woodland expansion in a shrub-steppe ecosystem: effects on resource availability and behavior of a native ungulate

2019

Ecosphere

Morano, S.M., Stewart, K.M., Dilts, T., Ellsworth, A., V.C.Bleich

A machine-learning approach for extending classical wildlife resource selection analyses

2018

Ecol Evol. 2018;00:1–14.

Shoemaker KT, Heffelfinger LJ, Jackson NJ, Blum ME, Wasley T, Stewart KM

Effects on survival of cougars caught in non-target foothold traps.

2018

Journal of Wildlife Management, 82(5)

Andreasen, A., Stewart, K., Sedinger, J., Lackey, C., Beckman

Investigating Relationships between Reproduction, Immune Defenses, and Cortisol in Dall Sheep

2018

Front Immunol. 2018; 9: 105.

Downs, C., Boan, B. V., Lohuis, T. D., Stewart, K.

Maternal effects and risk of offspring mortality: quality of breeding females drives much within-year variation in duckling mortality rates.

2018

Journal of Avian Biology, 49(10)

Sedinger, B. S., Nicolai, C. A., Stewart, K.

Overpasses and underpasses: effectiveness of crossing structures for migratory ungulates.

2016

Journal of Wildlife Management, 80(8), 1370-1378.

Simpson, N. O., Stewart, K., Schroeder, C., Cox, M., Huebner, K., Wasley, T.

A primer in ecoimmunology & immunology for wildlife research and management.

2015

California Fish and Game 100 (3):371-395

Downs, CJ and KM Stewart.

Effects of large scale gold mining on migratory behavior of a large herbivore.

2015

Ecosphere

Blum, M., Stewart, K., Schroeder, C.

Investment in Constitutive Immune Function by North American elk experimentally maintained at two different population densities.

2015

Plos One, 10(5), 17.

Downs, C. J., Stewart, K., Dick, B. L.

Sexual Segregation in North American elk: the role of density dependence.

2015

Ecology and Evolution

Stewart, K., Walsh, D. R., Kie, J. G., Dick, B. L., Bowyer, R. T.

Spatial distribution and resource selection by mule deer in an arid environment: responses to provision of water.

2015

Journal of Arid Environments, 122, 76-84.

McKee, C., Stewart, K., Sedinger, J. S., Bush, A., Darby, N., Hughson, D., Bleich, V.

A primer in ecoimmunology and immunology for wildlife research and management.

2014

California Fish and Game, 100(3), 369-393.

Downs, C. J., Stewart, K.

Density Dependence in Ungulates: a Review of Causes, and Concepts with Some Clarification.

2014

California Fish and Game, 100(3), 550-572.

Bowyer, R. T., Bleich, V. C., Stewart, K., Whiting, J. C., Monteith, K. L.

Identification of source-sink dynamics in mountain lions of the Great Basin.

2012

Molecular Ecology/Blackwell, 21(23), 5689–5701.

Andreasen, A. M., Stewart, K., Longland, W. S., Beckman, J. P., Forister, M. L.

Life-history strategies of North American elk: trade-offs associated with reproduction and survival.

2012

Journal of Mammalogy, 93(6), 11.

Morano, S., Stewart, K., Sedinger, J. S., Nicolai, C., Vavra, M.

Effects of density dependence on diet composition of North American elk Cervus elaphus and mule deer Odocoileus hemionus: an experimental manipulation

2011

Wildl. Biol. 17: 417-430

Kelley M. Stewart, R. Terry Bowyer, Brian L. Dick & John G. Kie

Population density of North American elk: density-dependent effects on diet composition of mule deer and elk

2011

Wildlife Biology, 17(4), 417-430

Stewart, K., Bowyer, R. T., Dick, B. L., Kie, J. G.

Vocalizations by alaskan moose: female incitation of male aggression

2011

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 65(12), 2251-2260

Bowyer, R. T., Rachlow, J. L., Stewart, K., VanBallenberghe, V.

What have we learned about water developments for wildlife? Not enough!

2011

California Fish and Game 97(4):190-209

Nova O. Simpson, Kelley M. Stewart, And Vernon C. Bleich

Spatial distributions of mule deer and North American elk: resource partitioning in a sage-steppe environment.

2010

American Midland Naturalist 163:400-412

Stewart, K. M., R. T. Bowyer, J. G. Kie, and M. A. Hurley.

Population density of North American elk: effects on plant diversity.

2009

Oecologia 161:303-312

Stewart, K. M., R. T. Bowyer, J. G. Kie, B. L. Dick, and R. W. Ruess.

Reintroduced bighorn sheep: do felames adjust maternal care to compensate for late-born young?

2009

European Journal of Wildlife Research. Published online November 2009.

Whiting, J. C., K. M. Stewart, R. T. owyer, and J. T. Flinders.

Herbivore optimization by North American elk: consequences for theory and management

2007

Wildlife Monographs 167: 1–24

K.M. Stewart, R. T. Bowyer, R.W. Ruess, B.L. Dick, J. G. Kie

Density Dependence in North American Elk: An Experimental Test

2006

Oecologia 143:85-93

Stewart, K. M., R. T. Bowyer, B. L. Dick, B. K. Johnson, and J. G. Kie.

Density-dependent effects on physical condition and reproduction in North American elk: an experimental test

2005

Oecologia (2005) 143: 85–93

Kelley M. Stewart, R. Terry. Bowyer, Brian L. Dick, Bruce K. Johnson, John G. Kie

Herbivore optimization in North American elk: consequences for theory and management.

2005

Wildlife Monographs 167

Stewart, K. M., R. T. Bowyer, R. W. Ruess, B. L. Dick, and J. G. Kie.

Niche partitioning among mule deer, elk, and cattle: do stable isotopes reflect dietary niche?

2003

Écoscience 10:297-302

Stewart, K. M., R. T. Bowyer, J. G. Kie, B. L. Dick, and M. Ben-David

Sexual segregation in white-tailed deer: responses to habitat manipulations

2003

Wildlife Society Bulletin 31:1210-1217

Stewart, K. M., T. E. Fulbright, D. L. Drawe, and R. T. Bowyer.

Assessing Sexual Segregation In Deer

2002

Journal Of Wildlife Management 66(2):536-544

R. Terry Bowyer, Kelley M. Stewart, Scott A. Wolfe, Gail M. Blundell, Karin L Lehmkuhl, Philip J. Joy, Thomas J. Mcdonough, John G. Kie

Geographical Variation In Antler Morphology Of Alaskan Moose: Putative Effects Of Habitat And Genetics

2002

ALCES VOL. 38: 155-165

R. Terry Bowyer, Kelley M. Stewart, Becky M. Pierce, Kris J. Hundertmark, and William C. Gasaway

Temporospatial distribution of large herbivores: resource partitioning and competitive displacement.

2002

Journal of Mammalogy 83:229-244

Stewart, K. M., J. G. Kie, R. T. Bowyer, N. J. Cimon, and B. K. Johnson.

Temporospatial Distributions Of Elk, Mule Deer, And Cattle: Resource Partitioning And Competitive Displacement

2002

Journal of Mammalogy, 83(1):229–244, 2002

Kelley M. Stewart, R. Terry Bowyer,* John G. Kie, Norman J. Cimon, And Bruce K. Johnson

Fluctuating Asymmetry In Antlers Of Alaskan Moose: Size Matters

2001

Journal of Mammalogy, 82(3):814–824

R. Terry Bowyer,* Kelley M. Stewart, John G. Kie, And William C. Gasaway

Antler Size Relative To Body Mass In Moose: Tradeoffs Associated With Reproduction

2000

ALCES VOL. 36: 77-83

Kelley M. Stewart, R. Terry Bowyer, John G. Kie, and William C. Gasaway

White-Tailed Deer Use Of Clearings Relative To Forage Availability

2000

J. Wildl. Manage. 64(3):2000

K.M. Stewart, T.E. Fulbright, D.L. Drawe

Newsletters

Use of Artificial Water Sources by Mule Deer in Mojave National Preserve

2013

In Debra Hughson, Science Advisor, NPS (Ed.), (vol. May 2013, pp. 4). Barstow, CA: Mojave National Preserve Science Newsletter.

Stewart, K.

Special Publications

Unintended consequences of species translocation: introduced elk alter distribution and resource selection by mule deer

2022

California Fish and Game: Special Issue on Mule Deer and Elk Ecology , California Fish and Wildlife. 108 (2022) e16

C.J. Schroeder, K.M. Stewart

Technical Publication

The Nature of Diversity: diversity builds resiliency – in the wild and in the workplace – but it isn’t easy.

2019

The Wildlife Professional.

Wakeling, B. F., VanDellen, A., Shoemaker, K. T., Gritts, M., Tull, J. C., Stewart, K.

Effectiveness of wildlife crossing structures for mule deer and other wildlife in Nevada

2015

(vol. 101-10-803, pp. 29). Carson City, Nevada: Nevada Department of Transportation.

Stewart, K., Simpson, N. O., Tian, Z., Attah, I., Cox, M., Wasley, T.