Date: June 30, 2017
Contact: Denise Germann, 307.739.3393
MOOSE, WY — Grand Teton National Park and the Grand Teton Association have selected Danielle Fagre for the 2016 Boyd Evison Graduate Fellowship. Her project focuses on the abundance of multiple grassland songbird species in relation to bison grazing intensity in Yellowstone National Park.
Fagre’s study will ultimately measure bison grazing intensity in songbird habitat, record songbird abundances, and statistically relate the two variables. She will examine whether there is a positive, negative, or neutral association with bison grazing intensity. This will contribute to understanding the ecological interactions that result from current bison management.
Fagre is pursuing a master’s degree in wildlife biology from the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana. She completed her bachelors in biology in 2010 at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. She grew up in West Glacier, Montana.
Fagre has a keen interest in wildlife-habitat relationships, ecology of biological communities, and wildlife and habitat conservation. She worked in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem as a wolf-tracking field technician. She also conducted avian and mammalian research for long-term monitoring projects and documented breeding efforts of avian species and pronghorn antelope, conducted avian point counts, surveyed for bighorn sheep, and assessed pika habitat quality. While completing her undergrad studies she was a part of the Behavior Health Lab managing research activities and advancing the course of research while mentoring new lab members.
For her graduate work, she’s had major part in managing daily research activities for grassland songbird research in Yellowstone National Park. She worked a field season in the Little America and Lamar Valley area of the park which provided a valuable study location because bison have a long history on this landscape which allowed her to sample a wide spectrum of bison grazing intensities.
The fellowship was established in 2005 in memory of Boyd Evison after his death in 2002. The fellowship honors his extensive and dedicated service to both the National Park Service, where he worked for 42 years, and the Grand Teton Association, where he later served as executive director. The fellowship encourages scientific and conservation-related research in Grand Teton National Park and throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Tuition assistance and a stipend to cover travel and field research costs are provided through the fellowship, and Grand Teton National Park may offer housing support for students during field sessions. To inquire about the Boyd Evison Graduate Fellowship, or donate funds toward this program, please contact Jan Lynch, executive director of Grand Teton Association at 307.739.3406 or by mail at P.O. Box 170, Moose, Wyoming, 83012.
