Background

I grew up on a farm in the southwest United States, where I was immersed in nature and developed my passion for wildlife biology and conservation. As a first generation college student, I began my academic training at a community college while working various jobs in local restaraunts, markets, and livestock feed stores (delivering hay and grain to local ranches) and volunteering on wildlife projects every chance I had.

My research interests are a product of 26 years of professional experience working in permanent positions for federal and state resource agencies and my graduate training in quantitative ecology and population biology. As a federal and state wildlife scientist and endangered species biologist, my work spanned a variety of conservation challenges, including determining critical habitat for endangered species and estimating, monitoring, managing, and recovering their populations. This diverse set of experiences informs my research, providing a deep understanding of the information needs of resource management agencies and the ecological and policy context from which wildlife conservation and management occurs in North America.

Education

Ph.D. — Fish and Wildlife Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow
Dissertation: Population dynamics of Rocky Mountain elk and mule deer: competition, habitat selection, wolf predation, and predictions under climate change. Graduate Committee: Edward O. Garton, James Peek, Steve Bunting, and Pete Zager

M.S. — Wildlife Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis
Thesis: Small mammal responses to silvicultural treatments in southwest Oregon. Graduate Committee: Dan Edge, Bob Anthony, and Chris Maguire

B.S. — Ecology and Systematic Biology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Undergraduate thesis: Harvest effects on home range dynamics of wolves on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. Undergraduate Advisor: Roger Gambs

Professional Experience

2019-present — Assistant Professor, School of the Environment, WSU.
2016-2018 — Environmental Scientist, Perm. Class-C, Colorado Desert District, California State Parks.
2015-2018 — Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of the Environment, WSU.
2013-2014 — Postdoctoral Researcher, Dept of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
2012-2013 — Wild Horse Specialist / National Interagency Research Leader, Perm. GS-13, Division of Wild Horses & Burros, BLM, Washington D.C.
2011-2012 — Wildlife Biologist/Program Lead, Perm. GS-11, Badlands National Park, South Dakota.
1998-1999 — Faculty Research Assistant, Dept of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University.
1990-1998 — Wildlife Biologist, Perm. GS-11, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Endangered Sp. Program, California.
1988-1990 — Field Biologist, GS-05, California Condor Recovery Program, Hopper National Wildlife Refuge; Cleveland National Forest; Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.

Selected Research Grants

2022 — Ecology and impacts of coyotes from shrub-steppe to alpine environments of the Cascade Range, Washington: source populations, species interactions, and dynamic behaviors under climate change. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. ($321,133 and $265,000 in supplies/equipment). (PI) $586,000.

2021 — Estimating population status, size, and limiting factors of mountain quail in eastern Washington state and surrounding Interior Columbia River Basin area to inform translocation and habitat restoration efforts. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. (PI) $499,387.

2021 — Impacts of outdoor recreation on black bears in the North Cascades under changing
climate. Seattle City Light Wildlife Research Program. (PI) $42,337.

2020 — Development and testing of non-invasive sampling and analytical methods for estimating population size of mountain lions in the Santa Ana Mountains, California: foundations to inform long-term monitoring of a declining population. California Department of Fish and Wildlife LAG Program. (Co-PI) $149,571.

2019 — Scaling up from individuals to populations: integrating spatial ecology with multi-locus environmental DNA to improve detection and estimate population parameters. Department of Defense. (Co-PI) $1.4 million.

2019 — Avian responses to multi-state habitat components in restored riparian systems. Southern Sierra Research Station, Weldon, California. (PI) $54,000.

2019 — Mammalian community and population responses to multi-state habitat components in restored versus natural riparian forest and related rangeland systems. USDA McIntire-Stennis Program. (PI) $11,992.

2019 — Wildlife responses to oak tree mortality in mixed hardwood-coniferous forests of the San Luis Rey River Valley: effects of the invasive gold-spotted oak borer. USDA McIntire-Stennis Program and River Watch, Fallbrook, California. ($40,000 from River Watch and $32,000 from USDA McIntire Stennis). (PI) $72,000.

2018 — The origins, genetic relatedness, and health status of desert tortoises in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California: 47 years after a translocation event. Desert Tortoise Council, Palmdale, California and California Department of Parks and Recreation. ($14,000 from CDPR and $10,000 from DTC). (PI) $24,000.

2017-2019 — Modeling environmental factors affecting the frequency of wildlife-vehicle collisions in the Methow Valley, Washington to inform engineering solutions. Washington State Department of Transportation and USDA McIntire Stennis Program. ($96,800 from WSDOT and $5,654 from USDA McIntire Stennis). (PI) $102,454.

2016-2018 — Vertebrate and plant biodiversity inventory on the El Canto De La Tierra Wildlife Conservation, Management, and Sustainable Utilization Unit (UMA) in Rancho San Gregorio, Baja, Mexico. JiJi Foundation and ICF-International Community Foundation. National City, California. (PI) $6,000.

2015-2018 — Relative importance of environmentally varying factors in migration and overwintering regions on the survival, timing of breeding, and productivity of two North American neotropical migrant birds, southwestern willow flycatcher and least Bell’s vireo. California Department of Fish and Wildlife Endangered Species Conservation and Recovery Grant (A Federal Endangered Species Act Traditional Section 6 Grant). (Co-PI) $181,250.

2012 — Swift fox and black-footed ferret population monitoring and responses to sylvatic plague. Badlands Natural History Association, Badlands National Park, South Dakota. (PI) $4,500.

2012 — Black-footed ferret monitoring and predator interactions. Badlands Natural History Association, Badlands National Park, South Dakota. (PI) $2,200.

2008 — Burrowing owl population abundance and distribution across the 800-square-mile IID Habitat Conservation Planning Area. Habitat Conservation Plan IID Water Conservation and Transfer Project. Imperial Irrigation District, Imperial, California. Service Agreement 8100000664-3. (Co-PI) $1.2 million.

2007 — Burrowing owl population abundance and distribution across the 800-square-mile IID Habitat Conservation Planning Area. Habitat Conservation Plan IID Water Conservation and Transfer Project. Imperial Irrigation District, Imperial, California. Service Agreement 8100000664-2. (Co-PI) $1.4 million.

2006 — Burrowing owl population abundance and distribution across the 800-square-mile IID Habitat Conservation Planning Area: Pilot Study. Habitat Conservation Plan IID Water Conservation and Transfer Project. Imperial Irrigation District, Imperial, California. Service Agreement 8100000664-1. Imperial, California. (Co-PI) $1.3 million.

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Manning, J.A., T.E. Edwards, J. Clemons, D.J. Leavitt, C.S. Goldberg, & M. Culver. 2022. Scat as a source of DNA for monitoring herbivorous reptile populations. Ecology and Evolution 2022;12:e9415.

Stanek, J.E., S.E. McNeil, D. Tracy, J.R. Stanek, P. Wohner, J.A. Manning, & M.D. Halterman. 2021. Nest site selection by western yellow-billed cuckoos in restored and natural riparian forests. Journal of Wildlife Management 85:782-793.

Ebenhoch, K, D. Thornton, L. Shipley, J.A. Manning, & K. White. 2019; Early View. Effects of post-release movements on survival of translocated sage-grouse. Journal of Wildlife Management.

Manning, J.A. & P.D. McLoughlin. 2019. Environmental and demographic drivers of male mating success vary across sequential reproductive episodes in a polygynous breeder. Ecology and Evolution.

Manning, J.A. & P.D. McLoughlin. 2017. Climatic conditions cause spatially dynamic polygyny thresholds in a large mammal. Journal of Animal Ecology 86:296-304.

Manning, J.A., S.A. Medill, & P.D. McLoughlin. 2015. Climate fluctuations interact with local demography and resources to predict spatially dynamic adult sex ratios in a megaherbivore. Oikos 124:1132-1141.

Manning, J.A. & E.O. Garton. 2013. A piecewise linear modeling approach to testing competing theories of habitat selection: an example with mule deer in northern winter ranges. Oecologia 172:725-735.

Manning, J.A. & E.O. Garton. 2012. Reconstructing historical snow depth surfaces to evaluate changes in critical demographic rates and habitat components of snow-dependent and snow-restricted species. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 3:71-80.

Manning, J.A. & E.O. Garton. 2012. A sightability model for correcting visibility and availability biases from standardized surveys of breeding burrowing owls in agroecosysem environments. Journal of Wildlife Management 76:65-74.

Manning, J.A. 2011. Factors affecting detection probability of burrowing owls in southwest agro-ecosystem environments. Journal of Wildlife Management 75:1558-1567.

Manning, J.A. & R.S.A. Kaler. 2011. Effects of survey methods on burrowing owl behaviors. Journal of Wildlife Management 75:525-530.

Manning, J.A. & C.S. Goldberg. 2010. Estimating population size using capture-recapture encounter histories created from point-coordinate locations of animals. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 1:389-397. — Cover Feature Article —

Falkowski, M. & J.A. Manning. 2010. Parcel-based classification of agricultural crops via multitemporal Landsat imagery for monitoring habitat availability of western burrowing owls in the Imperial Valley agro-ecosystem. Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing 36:750-762.

Manning, J.A. & W.D. Edge. 2008. Small mammal population responses to fine woody debris and fuels management in southwest Oregon. Journal of Wildlife Management 72:625-632.

Manning, J.A. & W.D. Edge. 2004. Small mammal survival and downed wood at multiple spatial scales in managed forests. Journal of Mammalogy 85:87-96.

Book Chapters

Manning, J.A. & W.D. Edge. 2002. Review of the relationships between bald eagle biology and federal environmental decisions on the Klamath Project. Pages 285-312 in W. Braunworth, Jr., T. Welch, & R. Hathaway, eds. Water allocation in the Klamath Reclamation Project, 2001: An assessment of natural resource, economic, social, and institutional issues with a focus on the Upper Klamath Basin. Oregon State University, SR1037, Corvallis.

Manning, J.A. & W.D. Edge. 2002. Relationships between mule deer biology and federal environmental decisions on the Klamath Project. Pages 327-335 in W. Braunworth, Jr., T. Welch, & R. Hathaway, eds. Water allocation in the Klamath Reclamation Project, 2001: An assessment of natural resource, economic, social, and institutional issues with a focus on the Upper Klamath Basin. Oregon State University, SR1037, Corvallis.

Reports

Manning, J.A. & C.S. Goldberg. 2020. Modeling environmental drivers of wildlife-vehicle collisions in the Methow Valley, Washington to inform engineering solutions. Final Report Washington State Department of Transportation.

Manning, J.A. & C.S. Goldberg. 2020. Vertebrate and plant biodiversity on the El Canto De La Tierra Wildlife Conservation, Management, and Sustainable Utilization Unit (UMA [from its name in Spanish]) in Rancho San Gregorio, Baja, Mexico. Final Report to the International Community Foundation.

Manning, J.A. and M. Whitfield. 2019. Drought severity in wintering grounds prior to arrival influences annual survival of Southwestern Willow Flycatchers breeding in California. Final Demographic Report to California Department of Fish and Wildlife. USFWS Section 6 Endangered Species Grant P1540032. 18 pages.

Manning, J.A. 2018. Modeling environmental factors affecting the frequency of wildlife-vehicle collisions in the Methow Valley, Washington to inform engineering solutions. Report to Washington State Department of Transportation, North Central Region. WSDOT Federal Highways Grant. 21 pages.

Manning, J.A. 2018. Genetic origins and population status of desert tortoises in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California: initial steps towards population monitoring. California Department of Parks and Recreation, Colorado Desert District, Borrego Springs, California. California State Parks and Desert Tortoise Council Grant. 93 pages.

Hoines, J. & J.A. Manning. 2016. Mojave and Colorado Deserts Biosphere Reserve 10-Year Periodic Review. Final Report, United Nations Man and the Biosphere Program. Submitted by Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Manning, J.A. 2009. Burrowing owl population size in the Imperial Valley, California: survey and sampling methodologies for estimation. Final report to the Imperial Irrigation District, Imperial, California, USA, April 15, 2009. Service Agreement # 8100000664. 181pp.

• Manning, J.A., C.S. Goldberg, P.H. Bloom, & S.E. Thomas. 2009. Diurnal space use and availability of breeding male burrowing owls during standardized surveys. Pages 5-14.

• Manning, J.A. & S. Robinson. 2009. Spatial autocorrelation in male burrowing owl territory abundance. Pages 55-62.
• Manning, J.A. & C.S. Goldberg. 2009. The relative importance of potential correlates of male burrowing owl territory abundance. Pages 81-89.
• Manning, J.A. & C.S. Goldberg. 2009. Development and validation of a stratified random sampling methodology with optimum allocation to survey for and estimate male burrowing owl territory abundance. Pages 95-117.

Manning, J.A. 2006. Burrowing owl population investigation pilot study. Annual report by Manning Biological Research to Bloom Biological, Inc. and the Imperial Irrigation District, Imperial, Ca. Service Agreement # 8100000664.

Manning, J.A. & E.O. Garton. 2005. Modeling elk and deer population dynamics in Idaho. General Technical Report W-160-R-32-55-2. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise, ID.

Manning, J.A. 2005. Relative abundance and distribution of reptiles and amphibians in a hybrid poplar plantation, Boardman, Oregon. Technical Report, Potlatch Corporation, Lewiston, ID.

Manning, J.A. & E.O. Garton. 2004. Modeling elk and deer population dynamics in Idaho. General Technical Report W-160-R-31-55-2. Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Boise, ID.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Manning, J.A. – author). 1998. Jeopardy conference opinion of the proposed Shadowrock Ventures Development Project and its effects on the proposed endangered Peninsular bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) in the Peninsular Ranges of California. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon.

Manning, J.A. 1997. Habitat characteristics of turkey vulture nests in San Diego County, California. Technical report. San Diego Co. Fish and Wildlife Advisory Commission – Research Grant 92-05.

Manning, J.A. 1997. Status and biology of breeding turkey vultures in San Diego County, California. Technical report. San Diego Co. Fish and Wildlife Advisory Commission – Research Grant 92-05.

Manning, J.A. 1997. Spatial distribution of and habitat selection by seabirds and waterfowl in central and south San Diego Bay, California. Pacific Seabirds Vol. 24, No. 1, Spring 1997.

Manning, J.A. 1995a. Waterbirds of Central and South San Diego Bay, California. Technical Report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad, CA, USA.

Manning, J.A. 1995b. Nesting habitats of black skimmer and Caspian tern in south San Diego Bay, California. Technical Report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad, CA, USA.

Manning, J.A. 1994. Canada geese of San Dieguito Valley and Lagoon. Technical Report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad, CA, USA.

Stadtlander, D., J. Konecny, J.A. Manning, & S. Wynn. 1993. Colonial seabirds and the Western Snowy Plover nesting in south San Diego Bay. Technical Report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad, CA, USA.

Manning, J.A. 1990. Harvest effects on home range dynamics of wolves on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. Technical Report, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Soldatna, AK, USA.