Dr. Stephen DeStefano

Education

• Oregon State University 1994
• Ph D University of Idaho 1989
• MS University of Wisconson 1982
• BS University of Massachusetts 1978

Biography

I have been associated with the Cooperative Research Unit program in some way since 1974, including Units in Massachusetts (1974-78, field assistant on projects as an undergraduate), Wisconsin (1978-84, MS and post-MS), Idaho (1984-89, PhD), Oregon (1990-94, post-Doc), Arizona (1994-99, Assistant Leader), and Massachusetts (1999-present, leader).

Research Interests

I have a broad base of research experience on population ecology and habitat relationships of terrestrial and semi-aquatic wildlife, including birds (waterfowl and other waterbirds such as rails and loons, gallinaceous birds, raptors, corvids) and mammals (beavers, carnivores, ungulates), ranging from threatened and endangered species to abundant and overabundant species. I have focused on issues related to urban/suburban wildlife, forest wildlife, and human-wildlife interactions. Conservation of large landscapes as informed by the spatial requirements of large animals such as moose, bears, and bobcats is a major goal of my current research program.

Teaching Interests

For the past 10+ years I have been teaching Research Concepts to all incoming MS students (and a few PhD candidates) in the Department of Environmental Conservation. We discuss the history and philosophy of science, setting up research questions and hypotheses, and basic research concepts and study design. Throughout the semester the students work on a draft proposal for their graduate research.

Professional Society Service

• Society of American Foresters - Member (January 2002 - December 2008)
• Society for Conservation Biology - Member (January 1990 - December 2008)
• Raptor Research Foundation - Member (January 2001 - December 2005)
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Research Publications

• DeStefano, S., K. K. G. Koenen, and J. Pereira. 2013. Common loon incubates rocks as surrogates for eggs. Northeastern Naturalist 20:143-147.
• DeStefano, S., and C. M. Webster. 2012. Distribution and habitat of greater roadrunners in urban and suburban Arizona. Studies in Avian Biology 45:155– 166. | Abstract | 
• Bies, L., M. Hutchins, J. Organ, and S. DeStefano. 2012. Chapter 7. The role of professional societies in connecting science and management: The Wildlife Society as an example. Pages 85-98 in J. P. Sands, S. J. DeMaso, M. J. Schnupp, and L. A. Brennan, editors. Wildlife science: connecting research with management. CRC Press: Taylor Francis Group, Boca Raton, Florida, USA.
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Current Projects

• Landscape Use by a Re-colonizing Moose Population in Massachusetts
• Bobcat distribution and movements in a mixed urban-rural environment
• Movements, Site Fidelity, Foraging Ecology, and Roosting Behavior of Ring-billed Gulls in Relation to a Water Supply Reservoir in Central Massachusetts.
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Completed Projects

• Salt Drive in Beavers: An Experimental Assessment with Field Feeding Trials
• Regeneration of Forest Vegetation in Response to Browsing by Moose and Deer: An Experimental Approach Using Exclosures
• Optimal Habitat Configuration for Mature-Forest and Scrub-Shrub Birds
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Courses

• Research Concepts (2012)
• Research Concepts (2011)
• Research Concepts (2010)
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Technical Publications

• DeStefano, S., E. Faison, J. Compton, and D. Wattles. 2010. Forest exclosures: an experimental approach to understanding browsing by moose and deer. Massachusetts Wildlife 60:14-23.
• DeStefano, S., and D. Wattles. 2009. Tracking the Commonwealth's moose. Massachusetts Wildlife 59:12-25.
• DeStefano, S., D. Wattles, and R. Packard. 2006. Coyotes in the northeastern U. S.: interactions with white-tailed deer and humans along an urban-rural gradient. USGS Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Amherst, MA and Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, MA. 82pp
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