Kathreen Ruckstuhl

Dr. Kathreen Ruckstuhl is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Science. She serves as Assistant Head (Graduate Programs) and leads research focused on social behavior, parasite dynamics, and conservation biology in ungulates such as bighorn sheep and red deer. Her work integrates ecological, behavioral, and evolutionary perspectives to understand group living costs/benefits, disease transmission via social networks, and climate change impacts on wildlife.

Education: B.S. (Biological Sciences, Bern University, 1989), M.Sc. (Zoology, Bern University, 1992), Ph.D. (Ecology, University of Sherbrooke, 1998), and postdoctoral research at the University of Cambridge (2004).

Research Interests: Social network analysis in ungulates, parasite-host interactions, climate change effects on parasitism, and conservation strategies for migratory species. Current projects include studying disease dynamics in bighorn sheep (Canada) and red deer (Scotland), and investigating how parasites influence mating systems and reproductive success.

Awards: Recognized for editorial contributions (WSB, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology) and peer review excellence, including lifetime membership at Clare Hall College, Cambridge. Active in strategic initiatives like Human Dynamics in a Changing World (2015–2021) and One Health (2020–2025).

Teaching: Courses include ECOL 413 (Field Course in Ecology), ECOL 429 (Ecology of Individuals), and ECOL 603.6 (Advanced Behavioural Ecology).

Collaborations: Works with global researchers like Prof. Tim Clutton-Brock (Cambridge) and Profs. Susan Kutz and Karin Orsel (UCVM), focusing on wildlife health, urban coyote ecology, and alpine ecosystem dynamics.