MELISSA M. GRIGIONE, Ph.D. Assistant Professor
MELISSA M. GRIGIONE, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Office Phone: (813) 974-7459
Fax: (813) 974-2184
Email: mgrigion@chuma1.cas.usf.edu
Homepage: http://www.cas.usf.edu/esp/faculty/grigione.htm
Project Homepage: Bordercats Working Group
Mammalian Conservation and Ecology
Large mammal conservation, habitat restoration and
genetic variability in fragmented populations
My primary research interest is mammalian spatial ecology -- understanding how ecological and manmade elements influence home range size and location for particular species. In my lab, tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing technology, and molecular genetic techniques are employed to better understand these questions. I am also interested in what factors influence how conspecifics partition habitat, from sharing home ranges to territoriality.
My research emphasizes conservation biology because I work with species whose populations have been seriously altered as a consequence of habitat degradation and fragmentation. In addition to wildlife biology, conserving these species requires an intimate knowledge of political and legislative systems, and community-level human dimension practices.
In the past, I have worked with mammalian carnivores such as mountain lions, and neotropical cats. My future research program will include carnivores in Florida, such as the coyote, bobcat, and the Florida Burrowing Owl. International work will include conservation projects for the guanaco and vicuna in South America and conservation of neotropical cats along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Recent Publications:
Grigione, M.M. and R. Mrykalo. 2002. (SUBMITTED). Turning night into day: the effects of artificial night lighting on endangered animal species and other mammals. In Rich, C. and T. Longcore (eds.) Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting. Washington, D.C.: Island Press.
Grigione, M.M., P. Beier, R.A. Hopkins, D. Neal, W.D. Padley, C.M. Schonewald, and M.L. Johnson. 2002. Ecological and allometric determinants of home range size for mountain lions (Puma concolor). Animal Conservation, 5:317-324.
Shaw, H.G., P. Beier, M. Culver, and M. Grigione. 2002. (IN PRESS). Mountain Lion Field Guide. Arizona Department of Fish and Game, Phoenix.
Grigione, M.M., A. Caso, R. List and C. Gonzalez-Lopez. 2001. Status and Conservation of Endangered Cats Along the U.S.-Mexico Border. The Endangered Species Update, 18:129-132
Grigione, M.M. and M.L. Johnson. 2002. The Effects of Roads on Carnivores: A Case Study of Mountain Lions (Puma concolor) in California. In Managing for Healthy Ecosystems. D.J. Rapport, B. Lasley, D. Rolston, O. Nielsen, C.O. Qualset and A.B. Damania (eds). Proceedings from the International Congress of Ecosystem Health Symposium. Sacramento, California. Boca Raton, FL: Lewis Publishers, 441-448.
Grigione, M.M. and P. Burman. 2000. What is Revealed in a Mountain Lions Heel: Using Heel Shape to Ascertain Identity. Transactions of the Western Chapter of The Wildlife Society.
Grigione, Melissa M., Burman, Prabir, Bleich, Vernon C., Pierce, Becky M. 1999. Identifying Individual Mountain Lions (Felis concolor) by their Tracks: Refinement of an Innovative Technique. Biological Conservation 88(1):25-32.
Grigione, M.M. 1997. Testing of 'A Rigorous Technique for Identifying Individual Mountain Lions (Puma concolor) by their Tracks,' in W.D. Padley ed., Proceedings of the Fifth Mountain Lion Workshop: 27 February-1 March 1996; San Diego, California.
Smallwood, K.S. and M.M. Grigione. 1997. Photographic Recording of Mountain Lion Tracks, in W.D. Padley ed., Proceedings of the Fifth Mountain Lion Workshop: 27 February-1 March 1996; San Diego, California.
Grigione, M. M. 1996. Observations on the Status and Distribution of the West African Manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) in Cameroon. African Journal of Ecology 34(2):189-195.
Caro, T. M., N. Pelkey, M. Grigione. 1994. Effects of Conservation Biology Education on Aattitudes Toward Nature. Conservation Biology 8(3):846-852.
