Contact 
Office      109 Coastal Institute
Address  1 Green House Road,
                    Kingston, RI 02881
Email       bgerber@uri.edu

Education
  • Postdoctoral Researcher, Colorado State University, USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
  • Ph.D., Colorado State University, USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
  • M.S., Virginia Tech, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation
  • B.S., University of Massachusetts, Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation

Brian Gerber, PhD 
Assistant Professor
Department of Natural Resources Science
​University of Rhode Island

Interests: I enjoy research questions about animal behavioral, and population and community dynamics. I am especially interested in the ecology and conservation of rare animals. I spend a good deal of time developing, refining, and clarifying statistical approaches to improve scientific inference and prediction. I am also interested in developing efficient monitoring strategies for species that is integrated within a decision-making framework. 
​
Collaborators: A cornerstone of my research is collaboration. I work with colleagues from many backgrounds and disciplines working at federal and state agencies, national and international non-government organizations, and environmental consulting firms. 

Motivation: Science is fun. Conservation is fun. Science and conservation are necessary for learning and improving logical/empirical based-decision making to support the vastness of Earth’s biodiversity.
URI Courses
  • Quantitative Wildlife Ecology (NRS 402)
  • The Biodiversity Crisis (NRS 330G; Grand Challenge)
  • Quantitative Techniques in Natural Resource Research (NRS 520)
  • Advanced Conservation Biology (BES 532)

Research Collaborations

Improving predictions of animal resource selection
Main Collaborator: Dr. Joseph Northrup (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources).
Objective:  We are evaluating continuous data-driven regularization techniques to improve predictions when fitting resource selection functions in a use-availability framework using spatial relocation data from telemetry devices
Amur Tiger and Leopard Population Monitoring
Main Collaborators: Dr. Dale Miquelle (WCS), Dina Matiukhina (LLNP), Anna Vitkalova (LLNP), and Alexander Rybin (WCS).
Objective:  To understand the spatial and population ecology of Amur tigers and leopards along a transboundary region between China and Russia. To develop robust trans-boundary population estimates.
Avian electrocution and predictive power pole modeling
Main Collaborators: Dr. James Dwyer (EDM Internationa, Inc.)
Objective: To understand patterns of avian electrocution in order to develop mitigation strategies. Also, to develop predictive models based on machine learning algorithms to identify high risk electrocution areas throughout the Western United States.
Mule Deer Population Demography & Behavioral Plasticity

Main Collaborators:
Dr. Joseph Northrup (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry), Dr. Charles Anderson (Colorado Parks and Wildlife), Dr. George Wittemeyer (Colorado State University)
Objective: To understand the impacts of oil and natural gas development on the demography (abundance, survival, fecundity) and behavior (animal movement, resource selection) of Mule Deer. Specifically, within the Piceance Basin of Colorado during the winter.
Article: https://doi.org/10.1002/wmon.1060
Bengal Tiger Population Monitoring and Intraspecific Interactions
Main Collaborators: Dr. Pranav Chanchani (WWF).
Objective:  To understand the spatial and population ecology of Bengal tigers in the Terai Arc. To also investigate social and intraspecific interactions that potentially limit tiger population abundance and growth.
Javan Rhino Population Monitoring
Main Collaborators: Dr. Sunarto (WWF-Indonesia), Arnaud Lyet (WWF-US), Rois Mahmud (WWF-Indonesia), and Dr. Barney Long (GWC)
Objective:  To develop a robust population monitoring strategy for the last population of Javan rhinos to understand their population ecology and guide future conservation and translocation efforts.

Articles: 
Saving-javan-rhinos-from-extinction
Bayesian Hierarchical Radio-Telemetry Model Development & Gunnison Sage-Grouse Spatial Ecology
Main Collaborators: : Dr. Mevin Hooten (Colorado State University), Christopher Peck, Dr. Mindy Rice (USFWS), Dr. James Gammonley (CPW), Anthony Apa (CPW), and Dr. Amy Davis (USDA).
Objective:  To develop modeling frameworks that integrate radio-telemetry uncertainty coherently into spatial ecological models and to investigate Gunnison sage-grouse space-use and site fidelity.
Urbanization effects on the activity patterns of mammals
Main Collaborator: Dr. Travis Gallo (George Mason Univ) and Dr. Mason Fidino (Urban Wildlife Institute)
Objective:  We are examining how the temporal activity of mammals (diurnal, nocturnal, cathemeral, crepuscular) changes in response to urbanization across major cities throughout the United States.