Kelsey Reider

Kelsey Reider is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at James Madison University (JMU), specializing in ecological responses to climate change. Her work focuses on wildlife and ecosystem dynamics in high-mountain regions, particularly in the Andes and Rocky Mountains. She holds a PhD in Biology from Florida International University (2018), an MS in Biology from the same institution (2011), and a BS in Zoology/Marine Ecology from Ohio State University (2007).

Her research themes include vertebrate range expansions in tropical Andes, hydrologic changes in high-mountain wetlands, and amphibian adaptations to extreme environments. She investigates ecosystem engineering by animals like vicuñas and collared peccaries, which influence nutrient cycling and succession in deglaciated zones. She also explores the intersection of complex life histories, ecophysiology, and climate change impacts on salamanders.

Her publications highlight ecosystem development post-glacier retreat, amphibian thermal biology, and biologging technology applications. Collaborators include institutions like UC-Boulder, Florida International University, and the USDA Forest Service. She actively engages in interdisciplinary conservation efforts addressing climate threats to both wildlife and human communities.

Reider’s lab offers research opportunities for students interested in vertebrate ecology and ecosystem processes. No awards are explicitly listed, but her work underscores contributions to high-altitude biodiversity conservation and climate science.