Andrea L. Easter-Pilcher
Associate Professor of Biology



ADDRESS:
321 Block Hall
Department of Environmental Sciences
The University of Montana - Western
710 South Atlantic
Dillon, Montana 59725
(406) 683-7910
FAX: (406) 683-2560

Email: a_easterpilc@umwestern.edu
or
Email: bpilcher@bpilcher.com

Emily is quite the photographerMore on Andrea


Interests
Conservation biology; sampling design, statistical methodology and quantitative analytical techniques related to ecological research; wildlife habitat ecology; ecology and dynamics of rare vertebrate species

Education
Postdoctoral Research Appointment: 01/95 Purdue University Wildlife Ecology
Ph.D. Conservation Biology 12/93 Montana State University
Ph.D. Supporting Field: Statistics
M.Sc. Wildlife Biology 08/87 University of Montana
B.A. Cultural Anthropology 05/77 Bowdoin College Junior Year Abroad 75/76 University of London, England

Honors
National Wildlife Federation - National Wildlife Federation Fellowship (1985)

Experience
Associate Professor of Biology, The University of Montana - Western (UMW) -- May 1998 to present.
As a professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at UMW, I have taught general biology with labs, conservation biology, upper level courses in ecology with field labs, wildlife ecology and management, genetics and evolution, natural resource issues and honors seminars on modern extinctions and current extinction process theory.

Statistical and Biological Consultant, Polar Oceans Research Group Ð Montana State University Ð August 2000 - present
See Antarctica below.

Assistant Professor of Biology, The University of Montana Ð Western -- August 1996 to May 1998.

International Projects:

Palmer Station, Antarctica: 2000 to present
I am consulting for and collaborating with scientists from the Polar Oceans Research Group. I have been involved in examining the effects of human activity and environmental variability on long-term changes in Adelie penguin populations. Specifically, I have developed and implemented multivariate statistical analyses designed to delineate the causal factors driving Adelie penguin population declines on the West coast of Antarctica. I have also developed and implemented statistical analyses designed to explore the potential impact of ecotourism on those same penguin colonies. See publications including: The International Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR): Antarctic Biology in a Global Context (in press).

Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia: 1996 to present
I initiated (in collaboration with Dr. Yuri Gorshkov) a long-term research project, while at Purdue, designed to assess ecosystem changes effected by the re-introduction of beavers into the 10,000 hectare Volga-Kama State Preserve in Tatarstan. Dr. Yurii Gorshkov (director of the national preserve), Anatolii I. Schepovskikh (Minister of Tatarstan Nature Conservation), Alexander F. Kadish (Head of Wildlife Management, Department of Tatarstan Cabinet Ministers of Kazan, Kremlin), and Tatyana V. Rogova (Dean of Ecology Faculty of Kazan State University) requested my collaboration. Beavers, which are native to the area, were extirpated in the early 1800Õs. It is the hope of my Tatarstan colleagues that beavers will be instrumental in restoring the landscape to more original conditions. Our research is focused upon monitoring ecosystem changes from a landscape perspective using satellite remote sensing; assessing direct and indirect effects of beavers upon the diversity of associated plant and animal communities; monitoring the movements, migration, feeding, and establishment of dens and lodges by the introduced beavers; and monitoring the population density, structure and dynamics of the introduced beavers. The ecological restoration work of Dr. Andrea L. Easter-Pilcher, Dr. Yuri Gorshkov, Brian K. Pilcher and Mitya Gorshkov, as described above, was featured at the First European-American Beaver Conference. This conference was held at the Volga-Kama National Nature Preserve, Kazan, Russia in 1999. See publications including: Folia Zoologica: International Journal of Vertebrate Zoology. 2002.

Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Purdue University -- Jan. 1995 to Aug. 1996
I was involved with several other faculty members at Purdue University in a landscape level, multidisciplinary study (which I coordinated and oversaw) designed to determine how best to manage forested ecosystems, across a range of spatial scales, to insure the recovery and maintenance of native biological diversity. Our initial research efforts concentrated upon quantifying the impact of white-tailed deer on the biological diversity of native plant communities within protected (non-hunted) forested parks and preserves across the state of Indiana. I was instrumental in acquiring over $125,000 in funding for this research. My other responsibilities included: 1) coordinate the activities of professional research team members (several Purdue professors and a USDA GIS landscape specialist); 2) supervise and coordinate activities of field survey crews, graduate students and field technicians; 3) oversee and conduct database management, multivariate data analyses and production of publishable papers; 4) interact with the media and interested citizens. My work has also included administrative activities such as the preparation of project budgets, proposal transmittals, and technical reports. See publications including: Canadian Journal of Zoology 1999.

Ph.D. Dissertation Research, Montana State University -- 1988 to 1993 My doctoral research was designed to assess whether an objective and consistent methodology is implicit in the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) selection of species to list as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Initially, I compiled all of the biological information reported in the Federal Register (FR) final rules and pertinent to the listing decisions for 272 species. I then used histograms, scatterplots and summary statistics in an attempt to identify thresholds between endangered and threatened species. In addition, I used jackknife discriminant analyses to identify specific biological criteria which may discriminate endangered from threatened species. Changes in the amount and the type of biological information utilized by USFWS to list species from 1975-1991 were identified. Biological criteria were ranked according to use across all listings and within classes (mammals, fish, birds, and reptiles). Incidence of missing data was determined for all biological criteria across listings and within classes. USFWS priority guidelines were evaluated for selecting candidate species to consider for listing and for selecting listed species for recovery actions. Partial funding for this project was provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). See publications including: BioScience 1996.

Statistical Consultant, Montana State University -- 1988 to 1990
I collaborated in the development of a sampling survey design for a dioxin contaminated superfund site in EPA Region 7. The project objective was to quantify the effectiveness in terms of cost and cleanup efficiency of higher intensity sampling procedures which would allow for "surgical" removal of dioxin "hotspots". We also assisted in final provision to EPA of a sampling design strategy which represented both a substantial monetary savings and met their health-based cleanup criterion. See professional presentations.

Assistant Wildlife Biologist, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) -- 1987
I collaborated with BIA biologists in an investigation to determine the impacts of regulated water levels on semiaquatic furbearers in the lower Flathead drainage in Montana. Methodology and results from my thesis (Easter-Pilcher 1987) were used extensively by the BIA for this research. I also collaborated with BIA biologists in the design and implementation of a beaver cache food preference study and assisted in subcutaneous implants of radio transmitters in beavers. My work included live-trapping of beavers using Hancock traps, taking biological measurements and tagging same.

Graduate Research Assistant, University of Montana -- 1985 to 1987
I designed and implemented research to determine population status and relative densities of beavers within diverse habitats on 550 km of selected rivers in northwestern Montana. In addition, I designed and implemented research to determine forage utilization, habitat selection and population indices for beavers at ten colony and ten stratified random sites in each of three drainages. I developed a discriminant function model for winter colony site selection from measured stream and vegetation characteristics at colony and random sites. I also assessed the size of each beaver colony through nocturnal observations with infrared night vision goggles and regressed these population counts with various population indices and with principal components of the habitat parameters. My work included trapper surveys and supervision of field assistants. See publications including: Wildlife Society Bulletin 1990.

Wildlife Technician: Team Leader, Border Grizzly Project -- 1983 to 1985
I worked as team leader on a snare trap-line for grizzly bears and black bears for two years. This work included sole responsibility for the trap line, care of the snared bears and supervision of field assistants. I became proficient with a capture gun and the chemical immobilization compounds used to drug snared bears. We took biological measurements, attached identification ear tags, extracted a premolar (for aging), and affixed lip tattoos on all bears. Radio collars were fitted to the grizzly bears. I was also responsible for the telemetry work with grizzly bears which included year-round monitoring. I gave presentations to local and professional groups regarding my research.

Grants
2001 Fund for Improvement of Post-Secondary $1,029,252 Education (FIPSE)
1998 Montana Space Grant Consortium (NASA) $17,800
1997 Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation $10,680
1996 SEAMS (Service Learning) Grant $ 4,000
1995 Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) $40,000
1995 Martin Foundation $50,000
1995 IDNR Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program $ 9,736
1995 Northern Indiana States Power $ 5,000
1995 National Rifle Association $10,000

Funded Proposals,
2001 & 2000
Facilitating Learning Through Immersion Scheduling.

1998 & 1997
Alternatives for wetland restoration: Reintroduction of a native species to the Volga-Kama National Preserve in Kazan, Russia.

1996 & 1995
Chemistry and biology of the Beaverhead River in the Dillon area.
Avian responses to woodland habitats differentially impacted by deer browsing. Impact of white-tailed deer on forest ecosystems: A landscape perspective.
Physical condition of white-tailed deer in hunted and non-hunted forest ecosystems in Indiana.

Service
Chapter Editor for: Effects of recreation on Rocky Mountain wildlife: A review for Montana. 1999.
Elected Vice-President of the UMW Faculty Association 1998-1999
Board member and Chair WomenÕs Resource Center, Dillon 1998-2000
Service Learning (SEAMS) UMW 1996-1997
Adjunct Professor Purdue University 1995 to 1999
Biodiversity Working Group The Wildlife Society 1995 to 1999
Reviewer for BioScience BioScience 1996 to present
On the Rocks: Director UMW 1997-1999
Faculty/Campus Committees UMW 1996 to present
Honors Seminars UMW Spring 1997, 1999, 2001
Graduate Committee Member for:
Donna Patterson M.S. Montana State University 2000-2001
Shannon E. Brown M.S. Purdue University 1995-1997
. Instructor Project Future 1996
Guest Lecturer: Purdue University 1996
Environmental Impact Statements (Reintroduction of Grizzly Bears)
Wildlife Management II: Endangered Species Act (Evaluating the Listing Process)

Teaching :
Associate Professor of Biology UMW (May 1998 to present)
Introduction to Biology with a lab, Ecology with a field lab
Wildlife Ecology and Management with a field lab, Natural Resource Issues, Genetics and Evolution, Conservation Biology, Honors seminars (Extinction)
Assistant Professor of Biology UMW (August 1996 to May 1998)
Instructor (University of Montana 1984): Zoology
Field Research Instructor/Supervisor: Undergraduate assistants (University of Montana) Grizzly bear research (1983 to 1985) Beaver research (1985-1987 and 1996 to present) Affiliations
The Society for Conservation Biology;
The Wildlife Society,
The Nature Conservancy Publications
Gorshkov, Y.A., D.Y. Gorshkov*, A.L. Easter-Pilcher**, B.K. Pilcher. 2002. First results of beaver (Castor fiber) reintroduction in the Volga-Kama National Nature Zapovednik (Russia). Folia Zoologica: International Journal of Vertebrate Zoology (Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic)51:67-74.
*Former UMW undergraduate student. **Principal investigator.

Patterson, D.L., A.L. Easter-Pilcher, and W.R. Fraser. (in press). The Effects of Human Activity on Long-Term Changes in Adelie Penguin Populations at Palmer Station, Antarctica. Manuscript selected to be published in: The International Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR): Antarctic Biology in a Global Context.

Gorshkov, Y.A., D.Y. Gorshkov*, A.L. Easter-Pilcher**, B.K. Pilcher. 2001. Spatial Structure of the Primary Subpopulation of Beavers in the Volga-Kama National Nature Zapovednik. in P.E. Busher and Y.A. Gorshkov, eds, Proceedings of the First Euro-American Beaver Congress. Kazan, Tatarstan. ISBN: 5-89120-160-7.
*Former UMW undergraduate student. **Principal investigator.

Gorshkov, Y.A., D.Y. Gorshkov*, A.L. Easter-Pilcher**, B.K. Pilcher. 2001. Feeding Behavior of Reintroduced Beavers on the Volga-Kama National Nature Zapovednik. in P.E. Busher and Y.A. Gorshkov, eds, Proceedings of the First Euro-American Beaver Congress. Kazan, Tatarstan. ISBN: 5-89120-160-7.
*Former UMW undergraduate student. **Principal investigator.

Gorshkov, Y.A., A.L. Easter-Pilcher*, B.K. Pilcher, and D. Gorshkov**. 1999. Ecological restoration by harnessing the work of beavers. In P.E. Busher ad R.M. Dziecidowski, eds, Beaver Protection, Management , and Utilization in Europe and North America.
*Principal investigator. **UMW undergraduate student

Joslin, G., Youmans, H. (Ed.) 1999. Effects of recreation on Rocky Mountain wildlife: A review for Montana. A.L. Easter-Pilcher: Editor for Chapter 5: Semi-aquatic mammals.

Swihart, R.K., H.P. Weeks, Jr., A.L. Easter-Pilcher and G.R. Parker. 1998. Nutritional condition and fertility of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from areas with contrasting histories of hunting. Canadian Journal of Zoology 76:1932-1941.

Thomas, R.C., A.L. Easter-Pilcher, J. Kirkley, S. Mock, S. Roberts, K. Ulrich and C. Zaspel. 1997. Experiential Environmental Sciences Education at Western Montana College-UM, Dillon, Montana: Montana Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting Proceedings, Billings, MT.

Easter-Pilcher, A.L. 1996. Implementing the Endangered Species Act: Selecting species to list as endangered or threatened. BioScience 46(5): 1-26.

Easter-Pilcher, A.L. 1993. Analysis of the listing of species as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Ph.D. Dissertation. Montana State University, Bozeman. 196pp.

Easter-Pilcher, A.L. 1990. Cache size as an index to beaver colony size in northwestern Montana. Wildlife Society Bulletin 18:110-113.

Ryti, R.T., and A. L. Easter-Pilcher. 1990. Development of a survey design for chemical contaminants in soil. Presented at WNAR Biometrics Society meetings. Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 1990.

Easter-Pilcher, A.L. 1987. Forage utilization, habitat selection and population indices of beaver in northwestern Montana. M.S. Thesis. University of Montana, Missoula. 88pp.

Easter-Pilcher, A.L. 1987. Utilization of woody species by beaver in northwestern Montana. Pages 3-22 in A.L. Easter-Pilcher. Forage utilization, habitat selection and population indices of beaver in northwestern Montana. M.S. Thesis. University of Montana, Missoula. 88pp.

Easter-Pilcher, A.L. 1987. Cache size as an index to beaver colony size in northwestern Montana. Pages 23-40 in A.L. Easter-Pilcher. Forage utilization, habitat selection and population indices of beaver in northwestern Montana. M.S. Thesis. University of Montana, Missoula. 88pp. Easter-Pilcher, A.L. 1987. Winter colony site selection by beaver in northwestern Montana. Pages 41-71 in A.L. Easter-Pilcher. Forage utilization, habitat selection and population indices of beaver in northwestern Montana. M.S. Thesis. University of Montana, Missoula. 88pp.

Brown, S.E.*, A.L. Easter-Pilcher and G.R. Parker. (Submitted). Response of forest communities to white-tailed deer within IndianaÕs state parks and nature preserves. *Purdue graduate student.

Professional Presentations

Patterson, D.L., A.L. Easter-Pilcher, and W.R. Fraser 2001. The Effects of Human Activity on Long-Term Changes in Adelie Penguin Populations at Palmer Station, Antarctica. Presented at the 8th Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) International Biology Symposium: Antarctic Biology in a Global Context. Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Gorshkov, Y.A., D.Y. Gorshkov*, A.L. Easter-Pilcher**, B.K. Pilcher. 2001. Spatial Structure of the Primary Subpopulation of Beavers in the Volga-Kama National Nature Zapovednik. *Former UMW undergraduate student. **Principal investigator.

Armiger, C.*, L. Sterling*, J. Kirkley, and A.L. Easter-Pilcher. 1999. Nest tree selection by Northern Goshawks. Presented at the Raptor Research Foundation Annual Meeting. La Paz, Mexico. *UMW undergraduate students.

Armiger, C.*, L. Sterling*, A.L. Easter-Pilcher, and J. Kirkley. 1999. Presented at the annual meeting of the Montana Academy of Sciences. Butte, Montana. *UMW undergraduate students.

Gorshkov, Y.A., A.L. Easter-Pilcher*, B.K. Pilcher, and D. Gorshkov**. 1998. Ecological restoration by harnessing the work of beavers. Presented at the Euro-American Mammal Congress, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. *Principal investigator. **UMW undergraduate student.

Easter-Pilcher, A.L. 1997. Implementing the Endangered Species Act: Selecting species to list as endangered or threatened. Presented at the 1997 Society for Conservation Biology annual international meeting. Victoria, British Columbia.

Easter-Pilcher, A.L. and B. K. Pilcher. 1997. Dam Beavers! or The Russia Connection. Presented at ÒOn the RocksÓ a science colloquium held at The University of Montana-Western, Dillon, MT.

Braut, J.E.*, M.E. Perry*, and A.L. Easter-Pilcher. 1997. Preliminary study of the Beaverhead River and the effects of the Dillon community: Biology. Presented at the annual meeting of the Montana Academy of Sciences. Billings, Montana. *UMW undergraduate students.

Easter-Pilcher, A.L. 1996. Implementing the Endangered Species Act: Selecting species to list as endangered or threatened. Presented at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

Easter-Pilcher, A.L., G.R. Parker, H.P.Weeks, Jr., R.K. Swihart, J.T. OÕLeary, and E. Gustafson. 1995. Impact of white-tailed deer on midwestern forest ecosystems: A landscape perspective. Presented at the 57th Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference. Detroit, Michigan.

Easter-Pilcher, A.L., G.R. Parker, H.P.Weeks, Jr., R.K. Swihart, J.T. OÕLeary, and E. Gustafson. 1995. Impact of white-tailed deer on midwestern forest ecosystems. Presented at the First Annual Purdue Forestry & Natural Resources Symposium.

Brown, S.E.*, G.R. Parker and A.L. Easter-Pilcher. 1995. Response of forest communities to white-tailed deer within IndianaÕs state parks and nature preserves. Presented at Indiana Academy of Sciences meetings. Indianapolis, Indiana. *Purdue graduate student.

Easter-Pilcher, A.L. 1993. Analysis of the listing of species as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Presented at the Conservation of Biological Diversity Workshop. Bozeman, Montana.

Easter-Pilcher, A.L. and C. Jonkel. 1983. Aversive conditioning and relocation of problem grizzly bears. Presented at The Grizzly and Wolf Technical Workshop. Polebridge, MT.




Turtles at Notch Bottom


Environmental Sciences in Montana