Erica Stuber

Erica Stuber is an Assistant Professor in the Wildland Resources Department at Utah State University. Her research integrates behavioral ecology, spatial science, and data science to explore how individual variation scales to population and community dynamics.

• Education: PhD in Organismal Biology (Max Planck Institute for Ornithology; Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, 2015), MS in Ecology (Penn State, 2011), BS in Wildlife and Fisheries Science (Penn State, 2009)
• Teaching: Courses include WILD 6710 - Landscape Ecology (Fall 2022-2024) and specialized graduate seminars on spatial ecology

Her research focuses on three interconnected scales:

• Individuals: Examining consistent behavioral differences in space use ("spatial personalities") and their ecological consequences
• Populations: Investigating how phenotypic composition influences population dynamics and habitat selection
• Communities: Analyzing species-environment relationships to predict biodiversity under global change

Publications highlight methodological innovations in spatial ecology (2018-2022) and empirical studies across diverse systems:

• 2024 studies on Great Basin carnivore spatial ecology
• 2023 meta-research on analytical variability in ecological studies
• 2022 work on mule deer energy expenditure in oil/gas landscapes
• 2021-2019 research on biodiversity scaling, nest predation, and hunter behavior
• 2015-2018 foundational studies on sleep behavior in wild great tits

She mentors PhD students in Wildland Resources and collaborates extensively with wildlife agencies and conservation organizations, utilizing both empirical field data and computer simulations in her multidisciplinary approach.