Eva-Maria Muecke, Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorBiology
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Education
B.A. in Biology, University of California at Santa Cruz.Ph.D., Michigan State University,
Joint degree in Zoology & Ecology, and Evolutionary Biology & Behavior.
Research Interests
Urbanization dramatically alters the proportion of suitable habitat available to wildlife by fragmenting and degrading natural habitats and by introducing exotic fauna and flora with which native species have to compete. In the face of increasing urbanization, it is important to understand the factors that influence the distribution and abundance of wildlife in urban habitats. While significant amount of data on avian biology and ecology in an urban landscape have emerged, similar studies on mammals are still limited providing at best a murky picture of the factors driving distribution patterns of mammals in an urban landscape. My general research goal is to examine the factors that influence the distribution and movement patterns of mammals, specifically tree squirrels, in an urban landscape. Squirrels are an ideal model system on which to study the impact of urbanization on wildlife because they are diurnal and can easily be trapped, handled, and tracked. In addition, observed patterns can be used to model the ecology and behavior of mammals for which similar data are more difficult to collect.
The large numbers of greenspaces in the Portland metropolitan area provide a unique opportunity to study the factors that influence the distribution and abundance of tree squirrels in an urban landscape. Furthermore, the presence of two nonnative species, eastern gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis, and the fox squirrel, S. niger, and in this region allows me to assess the impact of introduced species on the distribution and abundance of the region’s native species, which include the western gray squirrel, S. griseus, and the Douglas’ squirrel, Tamiasciurus douglasii. This is especially relevant in Oregon as the status of the native western gray squirrel is currently tenuous resulting in its listing as a strategy species by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. General observations suggest that habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, and possibly competition with the nonnative eastern gray squirrel have led to the disappearance of the western gray squirrel throughout Oregon, especially in urban sites. However, limited quantitative data are available to verify the impact of these factors in this species’ decline. As a result, my studies will not only be able to address important question in urban ecology but they will also provide important data to make informed conservation and management decisions for the western gray squirrel in Oregon.
If you want to learn more about my past research, feel free to visit my website at Michigan State University. This site provides a comprehensive review of my research background.
Research Opportunities for Undergraduates
Getting involved as an undergraduate in research is an excellent opportunity to expand your college education, your personal horizon, and your skill tool set regardless of which profession you intend to pursue in the future. As a result, I strongly support undergraduate research and am currently seeking undergraduate students to assist me in my research. Get in touch with me to learn more about this opportunity.
Courses that I teach....
At Pacific University, all faculty teach a variety of different courses. Typically, we do not use graduate teaching assistants, which means that your classes will be taught by professors and that you will have plenty of opportunites to get to know the faculty in your discipline.
Below, I have listed some of the courses that I teach. We are always developing and trying out new classes, so the list may change now and then. You can use the links to the left to read descriptions of the courses listed below.
| Biol | 155 | Neuroscience for non-science majors |
| Biol | 202 | General Biology I |
| Biol | 204 | General Biology II |