First Tuesday: Fence Ecology with Wenjing Xu

When: Tuesday, November 5 at 7pm
Where: TBD

Hindered Hooves and the Wires that Bind Them

Animal migrations are the most conspicuous pulses of biomass on Earth, affecting ecological processes in every system. Such movements translate to a requirement for extensive habitat, rendering the animals susceptible to environmental changes. In this talk, ecologist Wenjing Xu will discuss her work on ungulate (hooved mammals) migration in a changing world. Specifically, she will focus on how fences, a globally pervasive yet largely understudied linear barrier, alter animal movement behavior, habitat use, and fitness. Attendees will also learn how this research can inform actionable and timely conservation solutions to make landscapes more connected for both humans and wildlife.

This event is free and open to the public. Reach out to Bridger with any questions about the event.

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Wenjing Xu is a postdoctoral researcher at the Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center in Frankfurt, Germany. Using behavioral ecology, spatial ecology, and land use science, her research examines diverse aspects of movement of life. From the Asian highlands to the American West and East Africa, her research system lies in rangelands where humans, livestock, and wildlife have coexisted for millennia. A significant part of her work focuses on the social and ecological complexities of linear infrastructures, such as fences, which form barriers for many wide-ranging animals. Wenjing obtained her PhD in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at the University of California, Berkeley, and her M.S. degree in geography at the University of Georgia.