KRISTEN S.

ELLIS
kristensue.ellis@gmail.com | +1801 726 4789 | ksellis.weebly.com | Twitter kgurrellis

Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology | Colorado State University | Fort Collins, CO

Professional Appointments

Research Ecologist 2019 - Present

U.S.G.S., Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, North Dakota
and Colorado State University

Education

Ph.D., Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology 2019

Warner College of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Colorado

• Dissertation: Effects of predator strategy on the reproductive ecology of Snowy Plovers

• Advised by Dr. David Koons

M.Sc., Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation 2013

Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, Utah

• Thesis: Habitat selection and nesting ecology of Snowy Plovers (Charadrius nivosus) in the Great
Basin
• Advised by Dr. Randy Larsen

B.Sc. Zoology, Chemistry minor 2009

Weber State University, Utah

Publications

Peer-reviewed Publications

1. Ellis, K. S., R. T. Larsen, and D. N. Koons. 2019. The importance of functional responses among
competing predators for avian nesting success. Functional Ecology. DOI:10.1111/1365-2435.13460

2. Ellis, K. S., J. F. Cavitt, R. T. Larsen, and D. N. Koons. 2018. Using remote cameras to validate
estimates of nest fate in shorebirds. Ibis. 160(3): 681-687. DOI:10.1111/ibi.12607

3. Ellis, K. S., R. T. Larsen, J. C. Whiting, T. L. Wilson, and B. R. McMillan. 2017. Assessing

indirect measures of abundance and distribution with remote cameras: simplifying indices of activity
at pygmy rabbit burrows. Ecological Indicators. 77: 23-30. DOI:10.1016/j.ecolind.2017.01.041

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 4. Ellis, K. S., J. R. Jehl, Jr., R. N. Knight, K. S. Marvel, and R. T. Larsen. 2016. Spring downings
clarify the migration biology of Eared Grebes (Podiceps nigricollis). Waterbirds. 39(4): 338-346.
DOI:10.1675/063.039.0403

5. Ellis, K. S., J. F. Cavitt and R. T. Larsen. 2015. Factors influencing Snowy Plover (Charadrius
nivosus) nest survival at Great Salt Lake, Utah. Waterbirds. 38(1): 58-67. DOI:10.1675/063.038.
0108

6. Ellis, K. S., R. T. Larsen, R. N. Knight and J. F. Cavitt. 2014. Occupancy and detectability
of Snowy Plovers in western Utah: an application to a low density population. Journal of Field
Ornithology. 85(4): 355-363. DOI:10.1111/jofo.12075

Under Review or Revision

1. Ellis, K. S., R. T. Larsen, and D. N. Koons. Scale-dependence in habitat associations with cause-
specific predation of snowy plover nests. Submitted to Landscape Ecology.

Book Chapters

1. Zeveloff, S., B. Bartosz, K. S. Ellis. 2010. On Wolves, Wildlife and Weather: A Conversation
with Douglas W. Smith (Project Leader for Yellowstone Wolf Project). S. Cole, Editor. In The
Stewardship of Public Lands: A Handbook for Educators. American Association of State Colleges
and Universities, Washington, D.C

Awards and Honors

• Best Paper Published by an Early Career Researcher in 2018, Ibis journal 2019
• Publication Award for Outstanding Contribution to Conservation, The Waterbird Society 2017
• Best Student Poster at the Utah Chapter The Wildlife Society 2015
• Best Graduate Research Presentation, Brigham Young University 2013
• Browning Arms Field Research Award, Weber State University 2009
• Zoology Department Academic Award, Weber State University 2008

Grants and Scholarships

• Jack and Retha Grieb Memorial Scholarship, Warner College of Natural Resources 2018
• Utah Chapter The Wildlife Society Research Grant 2016
• Howard C. and Mildred R. Stutz Research Award, Brigham Young University 2012
• Undergraduate Research Grant, Weber State University 2008
• New Century Scholarship, State of Utah Higher Education (60-credits of tuition waivers) 2007
• Travel Grants
– Van Riper Graduate Student Travel Award 2019
– American Ornithological Society 2019
– The Waterbird Society 2017
– The Southwestern Association of Naturalists 2016

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Select Presentations

Invited

1. Snowy Plover productivity at Great Salt Lake. Biology and Management of Shorebirds and Colonial
Nesting Waterbirds of Utah’s Wetlands; hosted by National Audubon Society, Utah Division of
Natural Resources, and The Nature Conservancy, Salt Lake City, Utah (September 2015).

2. Unexpected desert oasis for shorebirds in western Utah. Utah Birders Monthly Meeting, Salt Lake
City, Utah (February 2014).

Contributed

1. Ellis, K. S., R. T. Larsen, D. N. Koons. Seasonal variation in effects of competing predators for
avian nesting success. American Ornithological Society Annual Meeting, Anchorage, Alaska (June
2019).

2. Ellis, K. S., J. F. Cavitt, R. T. Larsen, D. N. Koons. The environmental context of predator-

specific nest predation in Snowy Plover. The Waterbird Society Annual Meeting, Reykjavik, Iceland
(August 2017).

3. Ellis, K. S., J. F. Cavitt, R. T. Larsen, D. N. Koons. Site variation in shorebird nest predators.
The Utah Chapter of the Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Bryce Canyon, Utah (March 2017).

4. Ellis, K. S., C. Keupper, J. F. Cavitt, R. N. Knight, R. T. Larsen. Influence of nest-site camouflage

on predation in a ground-nesting shorebird: a test of two hypotheses. Southwestern Association of
Naturalists Annual Meeting, Mexico City (April 2016).

5. Ellis, K. S., J. F. Cavitt, R. T. Larsen. Effect of nest predation on renesting decisions in a

ground-nesting shorebird. The Utah Chapter of the Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Moab,
Utah (March 2015).

6. Ellis, K. S., A. M. Peters, K. S. Marvel, R. J. Delph, R. N. Knight, J. R. Jehl, R. T. Larsen.

Spring downings clarify the migration biology of Eared Grebes. The Utah Chapter of the Wildlife
Society Annual Conference, St. George, Utah (March 2014).

7. Ellis, K. S., R.T. Larsen, and J.F. Cavitt. Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus) nest survival at
Great Salt Lake, Utah. Association of Field Ornithologists Annual Meeting, Archbold Biological
Station, Florida (March 2013).

8. Ellis, K. S., R.T. Larsen, and J.F. Cavitt. Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus) nest survival
at Great Salt Lake, Utah. The Utah Chapter of the Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Bryce
Canyon, Utah (March 2013).

9. Ellis, K. S., and R.T. Larsen. Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus) inventory and habitat use in
western Utah. The Utah Chapter of the Wildlife Society Annual Conference, Springdale, Utah
(March 2012).

10. Ellis, K. S., and J. F. Cavitt. Incubation behavior of Snowy Plovers at Great Salt Lake, Utah.
Association of Field Ornithologists Annual Meeting, Weber State University, Utah (June 2010).

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Teaching Experience

Co-Instructor 2019
FW471: Wildlife Data Collection and Analysis, Colorado State University (Todos Santos, MX)
Teaching Assistant 2019
16 credit hours. Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Education Abroad Program. Colorado State
University (Todos Santos, MX)
Teaching Assistant 2017
FW471: Wildlife Data Collection and Analysis, Colorado State University
Teaching Assistant 2015 & 2016
PWS663: Biometry and Experimental Design. Brigham Young University
Teaching Assistant 2012 & 2013
PWS446: Ornithology. Brigham Young University
Teaching Assistant 2008 & 2009
ZOOL1110: Principles of Zoology. Weber State University

Journal Referee

Waterbirds (3), Mammalian Biology (1), Ibis (2), Western North American Naturalist (2)

Service and Outreach

• Blog post: What I’ve Learned About Being a Successful Graduate Student, Weber State University
College of Science 2019
• Seminar: Toolbox for Graduate School. Weber State University chapter The Wildlife Society 2017
• Poster Presentation Judge (Spanish and English), Southwestern Association of Naturalists, Mexico
City 2016
• Presentation Judge & Session Moderator, Utah Chapter of The Wildlife Society 2016-2017
• Volunteer, Utah Chapter of The Wildlife Society 2011-2017
• Volunteer Naturalist, Legacy Nature Preserve 2013
• Local Organizing Committee, Association of Field Ornithologists Meeting 2010
• Field Trip Leader, Association of Field Ornithologists Meeting 2010
• Field Trip Leader, Great Salt Lake Bird Festival 2010
• Science Fair Judge, Regional High School Fairs, Northern UT 2010
• Envirothon Advisor, Ogden City School District, Ogden, UT 2009-2011

Professional Memberships

• American Ornithological Society

• Western Hemisphere Shorebird Group
• Waterbird Society
• The Wildlife Society