West Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Staff Member
Dr. Laura Gigliotti
Assistant Unit Leader
Phone: (304) 293 - 4810
Email: lcgigliotti@usgs.gov
Faculty Email: laura.gigliotti@mail.wvu.edu
Education
- Ph D Clemson University 2020
- MS The Pennsylvania State University 2015
- BA Colby College 2012
Biography
Dr. Gigliotti joined the West Virginia Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit as an Assistant Unit Leader in August 2022. Prior to joining the WV Unit, Dr. Gigliotti received an MS from the Pennsylvania State University, a PhD from Clemson University, and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at U.C. Berkeley. She uses a combination of long-term datasets, targeted field studies, and spatial and demographic modelling to answer ecologically- and management-relevant questions. In particular, she conducts research related to species interactions, predator-prey ecology, wildlife responses to habitat management and anthropogenic disturbance, and linkages between habitat use and demography. She studies a variety of mammalian species both nationally and internationally, with a particular focus on carnivores and large game species. She will develop graduate-level classes at WVU based on the needs of the department.
Areas of Expertise
Anthropogenic Impacts, Behavioral Ecology, Fire Ecology, Habitat Management, Movement Ecology, Population Dynamics, Population and Community Ecology, Predator-Prey Dynamics, Statistics and Modelling, T&E Species Management, Wildlife Management
Taxon Groups Studied
Carnivores, Furbearers, Nongame Fish/Wildlife, Small Mammals, Species of Greatest Conservation Need, Ungulates
| Research Publications | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| Zuckerman, G. et al. Diverse migratory portfolios drive inter-annual switching behavior of elk across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem | December 2023 |
| Xu, W., L.C. Gigliotti, R. Royauté, H. Sawyer, and A.D. Middleton. 2023. Fencing amplifies individual differences in movement with implications on survival for two migratory ungulates. Journal of Animal Ecology 92(3): 677-689. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13879 | March 2023 |
| Serota, M.W., K.J. Barker, L.C. Gigliotti, S.M.L. Maher, A.L. Shawler, G.R. Zuckerman, W. Xu, G. Verta, E. Templin, C. Andreozzi, and A.D. Middleton. 2023. Incorporating human dimensions improves wildlife translocation outcomes. Nature Communications 14(1): 2119. | April 2023 |
| Hansen, A.J., A. East, Z. Ashford, C. Crittenden, O. Jakabosky, D. Quinby, L. Gigliotti, F.T. van Manen, M.A. Haroldson, A. Middleton, N. Robinson, and D.M. Theobald. 2024. Which private lands in Greater Yellowstone are highest priorities for biodiversity conservation? Natural Areas Journal 44(3): 157-171 | July 2024 |
| Gigliotti, L.C., W. Xu, G. Zuckerman, M.P. Atwood, E. Cole, A. Courtemanch, S. Dewey, J. Gude, P. Hnilicka, M. Hurley, M.J. Kauffman, K. Kroetz, A. Lawson, B. Leonard, D. MacNulty, E. Maichack, D. McWhirter, T. Mong, K. Proffitt, B. Scurlock, D. Stahler, and A.D. Middleton. 2022. Wildlife migrations highlight importance of both private lands and protected areas in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Biological Conservation 275: 109752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109752 | November 2022 |
| Gigliotti, L.C., L. Keener, L.H. Swanepoel, C. Sholto-Douglas, A. Hunnicutt, and G. Curveria-Santos. 2023. Positive but un-sustained wildlife community responses to reserve expansion and mammal reintroduction in South Africa. Biological Conservation 287: 110277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110277. | November 2023 |
| Gigliotti, L.C., E.S. Boyd, and D.R. Diefenbach. 2024. Delayed positive responses of snowshoe hares to prescribed burning in a fire-adapted ecosystem. Animal Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12959 | Download | June 2024 |
| Gigliotti, L. C., and D. R. Diefenbach. 2018. Risky behavior and its effect on survival: snowshoe hare behavior under varying moonlight conditions. Journal of Zoology 305:27-34. doi:10.1111/jzo.12532 | Download | January 2018 |
| Gigliotti, L. C., N. D. Berg, R. Boonstra, S. M. Cleveland., D. Diefenbach, E. M. Gese, J. S. Ivan, K. Kielland, C. J. Krebs, A. V. Kumar, L. S. Mills, J. N. Pauli, H B. Underwood, E. C. Wilson, M. J. Sheriff. 2020. Latitudinal variation in snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) body mass: A test of Bergmann’s Rule. Canadian Journal of Zoology 98:88-95. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2019-0184 | Download | January 2020 |
| Gigliotti, L. C., M. P. Atwood, E. K. Cole, A. Courtemanch, S. Dewey, J. A. Gude, M. Hurley, M. Kauffman, K. Kroetz, B. Leonard, D. MacNulty, E. Maichak, D. McWhirter, T. W. Mong, K. Proffitt, B. Scurlock, D. Stahler, and A. D. Middleton. 2023. Multi-level avoidance thresholds of residential and agricultural land use for elk across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Journal of Applied Ecology 60(6): 1089-1099. | June 2023 |
| Gigliotti, L. C., D. R. Diefenbach, M. J. Sheriff. 2017. Geographic variation in winter adaptations of snowshoe hares. Canadian Journal of Zoology 95:539-545. | May 2017 |
| Gigliotti, L. C., B. Jones, M. Lovallo, and D. R. Diefenbach. 2018. Snowshoe hare multi-level habitat use in Pennsylvania in relation to prescribed burning. Journal of Wildlife Management 82:435-444 DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21375. | Download | February 2018 |
| Clipp, H.L., S.M. Pesi, M.L. Miller, L.C. Gigliotti, B.P. Skelly, and C.T. Rota. 2024. White-tailed deer detection intensity increases when coyotes are present. Ecology and Evolution 14(3): e11149. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11149 | March 2024 |
| Project | Completion Date |
|---|---|
| Snowshoe Hare Habitat Relationships in Response to Northern Forest Management | December 2015 |
| Harvest Rates of Hen Wild Turkeys in Pennsylvania | June 2014 |
| Developing a Regional Deer Monitoring Protocol for the National Park Service | June 2026 |
| Wild Turkey Ecology and Management in West Virginia | December 2028 |
| River Otter Population Dynamics and Spatial Ecology in West Virginia | December 2025 |
| Presentations | Presentation Date |
|---|---|
| Shepta, E., B. Murry, C.C. Arantes, C.T. Rota, and L.C. Gigliotti. 2024. A novel occupancy model to estimate trends in aquatic species distributions. American Fisheries Society Annual Conference, Honolulu, HI. | September 2024 |
| Palumbo, K., M. Peters, C. Ryan, and L.C. Gigliotti. 2024. Eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) productivity and nesting chronology in West Virginia. The Wildlife Society 31st Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD. | October 2024 |
| Glover, L., H. Morris, C. Ryan, and L.C. Gigliotti. 2024. Understanding river otter (<i>Lontra canadensis</i>) survival and spatial ecology in West Virginia. The Wildlife Society 31st Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD. | October 2024 |
| Gigliotti, L.C., G. Curveira-Santos, G. Dupont, and C. Sutherland. 2024. Optimizing camera trap survey designs for multi-species density estimation using spatial capture-recapture models. The Wildlife Society 31st Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD. | October 2024 |
| Gigliotti, L.C., E. Boyd, and D.R. Diefenbach. 2023. Delayed positive responses of snowshoe hares to prescribed burning in a fire-adapted ecosystem. The Wildlife Society's 30th Annual Conference, Louisville, KY. | November 2023 |
| Gigliotti, L.C., E. Boyd, and D.R. Diefenbach. 2023. Delayed positive responses of snowshoe hares to prescribed burning in a fire-adapted ecosystem. The 78th Annual Northeast Fish & Wildlife Conference, Hershey, PA. | May 2023 |
| Boyd, E., L.C. Gigliotti, D.R. Diefenbach, E. Clees, and P.S. Weiss. 2023. Pennsylvania snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus). 13th International Mammal Congress, Anchorage, AK. | July 2023 |