JOHN J. COX
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Wildlife and Conservation Biology
Contact
me:
214 T.P. Cooper Building (office 208)
Lexington, KY 40546-0073
Tel: 859-257-9507 (office)
Fax: 859-323-1031
E-mail: jjcox@uky.edu
Education:
B.S. Biology, Morehead State University, 1995
M.S. Biology, Morehead State University, 1997
Ph.D. Animal Sciences, University of Kentucky, 2003
Academic Interests:
Wildlife Ecology and Management
Conservation Biology
Restoration Ecology
Human Dimensions in Conservation
Environmental Ethics
Personal Interests:
Photography, Bird Watching, History, Travel, Hiking, Consumptive Hunting
Courses taught:
FOR 315: Conservation Biology (3 Credit hours)
Summary: A 3-hour credit, undergraduate, general survey course that focuses on the evolutionary and ecological factors that influence biodiversity at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Emphasis is placed on factors that have led to loss of biodiversity and responsive conservation strategies at single-species, ecosystem, and landscape scales. Because conservation biology is multidisciplinary in scope, we review and discuss conservation-related topics that span a gamut of subdisciplines, including wildlife management, restoration ecology, economics, evolution, phylogeny, taxonomy, genetics, behavioral ecology, population ecology, disease, sociology, sustainable living, and human dimensions.
FOR 599: Environmentalism: Survey of a sociopolitical movement (3 Credit hours)
Summary: A 3-hour credit, graduate course designed to present upper undergraduates and graduate students a multi-disciplinary overview of the environmental movement in America. It examines the socio-political, cultural, philosophical, and scientific developments that created and continue to influence the modern environmental movement using an historical framework to organize discussion of key literary, scientific, and political figures, legislative and environmental events, and philosophical approaches that shape human perspective and relations with the environment.
FOR 770: The wild canids: ecology, management, and conservation (1 Credit hour)
Summary: A 1-hour credit course is designed to provide graduate students with an overview and synthesis of scientific literature pertaining to the wild canids found throughout the world. The course will cover the evolution, behavioral ecology, management, and conservation of wolves, dogs, jackals and foxes.
Professional Affiliation:
Society for Conservation Biology
The Wildlife Society, National and Kentucky Chapters
Kentucky Ornithological Society
Kentucky Society of Natural History
CURRENT PROJECTS (Wildlife)
Gray Fox Ecology and Monitoring in Kentucky - The gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is an important furbearer predator and omnivore in Kentucky. It is also an important disease reservoir that has the potential to interact with both wild and domesticated carnivores. Although little is known about the distribution and abundance of this native Kentucky canid species, state wildlife agency personnel and fur trappers have suggested the species is in statewide decline, perhaps due to colonization by and competition from its larger cousin, the coyote (Canis latrans). To address concerns about the population status of the gray fox, and to begin to characterize its local ecological patterns, we will develop a regional monitoring strategy for gray fox in the Commonwealth. Study objectives fall within the natural resource management proposal guidelines and include: (1) examination of distribution, and space and habitat use patterns of the gray fox, (2) testing the efficacy of a noninvasive single-sampling hair snare for fox detection, and (3) design and evaluation of a regional monitoring plan for the species that can be implemented statewide. The study will serve as a baseline for determining long-term population trends of this mesocarnivore species important to Kentucky’s ecology and economy.
The Common Raven in Cliff Habitat: Detectability and Occupancy - The common raven (Corvus corax) is a cliff-nesting bird species of conservation interest in Kentucky. Suitable breeding habitat appears to be extensive in Kentucky but the status of this species in cliff habitat is largely unknown. We propose to characterize the detectability and autecology of the common raven in cliff habitat and to develop protocols for monitoring the occupancy of key habitat in eastern portions of the Commonwealth. Study objectives are to: (1) quantify factors affecting the detectability of the raven in cliff habitat, (2) quantify landscape attributes of known breeding locations at multiple scales, (3) develop and initiate protocols for monitoring the occupancy of key potential breeding habitats in Kentucky. Detectability will be estimated by conducting surveys at sites known to be occupied by ravens in the Southern Appalachians. These sites will provide the basis for a site-attribute habitat model that will quantify breeding habitat in the region. We expect to generate new information for detecting breeding ravens at Kentucky’s cliffs and on habitat features that might be important in their occupancy of potential breeding sites. Finally, we expect to develop a consensus on where the most likely breeding locations for these species are in the Commonwealth, and to initiate a plan for their long-term periodic monitoring. Finally, we will opportunistically gather similar data on ravens observed to nest in non-cliff habitat in the state.
Ecology and Management of Reintroduced Elk in Kentucky - As with other large mammals (bison, wolf, cougar, black bear), elk were probably extirpated in Kentucky before the Civil War. However, elk are a charismatic and popular game species valued by hunters and non-hunters alike. As such, they were reintroduced to several states during the 20th century. Over a decade since initial reintroduction efforts began in 1997, elk in southeastern Kentucky have grown to number an estimated 6,000-9,000, and are thus considered by far the largest herd east of the Mississippi River. Elk have returned some key ecological processes characteristic of large herbivores to this area, but their size and tendency to form large herds can cause local conflict with people. Led by the late Dr. David Maehr, the initial decade of elk research focused on the natural and anthropogenic factors that influenced reestablishment, demographic issues, habitat use, movement patterns, food habits, and impacts on other species and soils. Current research focuses on population monitoring techniques and modeling.
Ecology and Management of Black Bear in Eastern Kentucky - Kentucky was referred to by some early European settlers as the “bear state” due to the prolific numbers of bears harvested and shipped to fur and hide markets (e.g. British soldier hats). Black bear may have been the last large mammal to be extirpated from Kentucky in the 19th century. Bears in adjacent eastern states didn’t fair much better, although pockets did survive in the most rugged, mountainous areas and would later recolonize most forested portions of those states during the 20th century. Black bears, primarily wandering males, begin to trickle into eastern Kentucky in the latter half of the 20th century. Led by the late Dr. David Maehr, the initial 5 years of KY bear research focused on resource selection and demography. Current research continues to focus on demography and resource use patterns, but also intrastate and interstate genetic diversity and population structure.
Ecology and Conservation of Black Bears in Southcentral Florida– This project examines the natural history and population status of one of the smallest and most isolated bear populations in North America. Here the black bear inhabits a fragmented landscape that is dominated by agriculture and is increasingly threatened by highways and associated human activities. The population is strategically located as a stepping stone between the larger Big Cypress Swamp population and potential habitat to the north. Highlands County and Glades County bears exist primarily on private lands where land owners have maintained suitable tracts of forested habitat. The black bear in this region is a logical conservation umbrella because its movements integrate the remaining fragments of the Lake Wales Ridge and its associated biodiversity. This is an area of high endemism and conservation attention. Not only does the black bear range widely here, it also interacts with a variety of species and habitats that are, themselves, imperiled. Successful conservation of the black bear carries with it benefits to many other important natural resources. We continue the pioneering research of the late Dr. David Maehr that began nearly 5 years ago. Our current research focuses on the ecology of the bear, with particular focus on identifying and characterizing key landscape corridors that stitch together the fragile network of public and private lands, particularly road crossings.
Impact of Timber Harvest on Herpetofauna and Breeding Birds in a Mixed-mesophytic Forest -
CURRENT PROJECTS (Forestry)
Selected publications (past 5 years):
Larkin, J.L., D.S. Maehr, J. J. Krupa, J.J. Cox, K.A. Alexy, D. Unger, and C. Barton. 2008. Response of small mammals to 3 post-coal mining reclamation treatments. Southeastern Naturalist 7(4):401-412.
Cox, J.J., and P.S. Crowley. 2007. The Bluegrass restoration program at Griffith Woods. (Invited) Restoration Ecology 25:72-73.
Cox, J.J., J.L. Larkin, and D.S. Maehr. 2006. Florida panther habitat use: new approach to an old problem. Journal of Wildlife Management 70:1778-1785.
Maehr, D.S., P.S. Crowley, J.J. Cox, M.J. Lacki, J.L. Larkin, T.S. Hoctor, L.D. Harris, and P.M. Hall. 2006. Of Florida panthers and haruspices: genetic intervention in the Florida panther. Animal Conservation 9:127-132.
Dzialak, M.R., M.J. Lacki, K.M. Carter, K. Huie, and J.J. Cox. 2006. A critical assessment of hacking as a raptor reintroduction technique. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34:542-547.
Schneider, J., D.S. Maehr, K.A. Alexy, J.J. Cox, J.L. Larkin, and B.C. Reeder. 2006. Food habits of reintroduced elk in southeastern Kentucky. Southeastern Naturalist 5:535-546.
Seward, N.W., D.S. Maehr, J. Gassett, J.J. Cox, and J.L. Larkin. 2005. Field searches versus vaginal-implant transmitters for locating elk calves. Wildlife Society Bulletin 33:751-756.
Wichrowski, M.W., D.S. Maehr, J.L. Larkin, J.J. Cox, and M. Olsson. 2005. Activity and movements of reintroduced elk in southeastern Kentucky. Southeastern Naturalist 4:365-374.
Larkin, J.L., J.J. Cox, M. W. Wichrowski, Matthew Dzialak, and D.S. Maehr. 2004. Release site fidelity of reintroduced elk in Kentucky. Restoration Ecology 12:97-105.
Maehr, D.S., J.L. Larkin, and J.J. Cox. 2004. Shopping centers as panther habitat: inferring animal locations from models. Ecology and Society 9(2): 9. [online] URL: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol9/iss2/art9