Research Interests
My research interests focus on wildlife ecology and genetics, including studies of the genetic consequences of species reintroduction programs, the application of genetic tools for addressing issues in wildlife management, conservation, and disease ecology, the use of genetic markers to elucidate mating systems, movement behavior, and population structure of wildlife species, and sustainability of wildlife species in human-dominated landscapes with an emphasis on the resolution of human-wildlife conflicts.
Selected Publications
Meehan et al. 2022. Integrating data types improves the understanding of avian migration patterns across the Western Hemisphere. Ecological Applications DOI: 10.1002/eap.2679
Bernasconi, D.A., E.C. Dixon, J. L. Helton, M.T. Hamilton, R.B. Chipman, A.T. Gilbert, J.C. Beasley, O.E. Rhodes, Jr. and G. Dharmarajan. 2022. Influence of landscape attributes on Virginia opossum density. Journal of Wildlife Management DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22280
Butler-Valverde, M.J., T.L. DeVault, O.E. Rhodes, Jr., and J.C. Beasley. 2022. Scavenger avoidance of carnivore carrion: Does carcass appearance influence carcass use by scavengers? Scientific Reports 12, 18842 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-22297-8
Hill, J.E., K.L. Turner, J.B. Smith, M.T. Hamilton, T.L. DeVault, W.W. Pitt, J.C. Beasley, and O.E. Rhodes, Jr. 2023. Scavenging Dynamics on Guam and their implications for invasive species management. Biological Invasions https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-023-03014-6
Dixon, W.C., J.E. Hill, R.B. Chipman, A.J. Davis, A.T. Gilbert, J.C. Beasley, O.E. Rhodes, Jr., and G. Dharmarajan. 2023. Interspecifc oral rabies bait competition in the southeast United States. Journal of Applied Animal Behavior Science 261(2023) 105697
Bernasconi, D.A., M.L. Miller, J.E. Hill, P. Gupta, R. Chipman, A.T. Gilbert, O.E. Rhodes, Jr., and G. Dharmarajan. 2023. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) experience higher Trypanosoma cruzi infection rates than opossums (Didelphis virginiana) in the southeast U.S. J. of Wildlife Diseases https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-22-00174
Helton, J.L., J.E. Hill, D.A. Bernasconi, W.C. Dixon, R.B. Chipman, A.T. Gilbert, J.C. Beasley, G. Dharmarajan, and O.E. Rhodes, Jr. 2023. Assessment of habitat-specific competition for oral rabies vaccine baits between raccoons and opossums. Journal of Wildlife Management https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22398
Hill, J.A., J.L. Helton, R.B. Chipman, A.T. Gilbert, J.C. Beasley, G. Dharmarajan, and O.E. Rhodes, Jr. 2023. Spatial ecology of translocated raccoons. Scientific Reports https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37323-6
Hill, J.E., J.L. Helton, D.A. Bernasconi, W.C. Dixon, M.T. Hamilton, R.B. Chipman, A.T. Gilbert, J.C. Beasley, G. Dharmarajan, and O.E. Rhodes, Jr. 2023. Raccoon densities across four land cover types in the southeastern United States. Journal of Wildlife Management https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22480
Pakula, C.J., S Guenin, J. Skaggs, O.E. Rhodes, Jr., and T.L. DeVault. 2023. Driving in the dark: Deciphering nighttime driver detection of free-ranging roadside wildlife. Transportation Research Part D https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2023.103873
Hill, J.E., M.L. Miller. J.L. Helton, R.B. Chipman, A.T. Gilbert, J.C. Beasley, G. Dharmarajan, and O.E. Rhodes, Jr. 2023. Raccoon spatial ecology in the rural southeastern United States. Plos One https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293133
Silva, A.E., R. J. Speakman, B.F. Barnes, D.R. Coyle, J.C. Leaphart, E.F. Abernethy, K.L. Turner, O.E. Rhodes, Jr., J.C. Beasley, and K.J.K. Gandhi. 2023. Bioaccumulation of contaminants in Scarabidae and Silphidae beetles at sites polluted by coal combustion residuals and radiocesium. Science of the Total Environment https://doi.org/10.1016/ j.scitotenv.2023.166821
Hill, J.E., Bernasconi, D.A., R.B. Chipman, A.T. Gilbert, J.C. Beasley, O.E. Rhodes, Jr. and G. Dharmarajan. 2023. Home range and resource selection of Virginia opossums in the rural southeastern Unites States. Mammal Research https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-023-00733-y
Werner, C.S., M. Chapman, J. Skaggs, S. Munos, O.E. Rhodes, Jr., and T.L DeVault. 2024. Trace metal flux to passerines inhabiting wastewater treatment wetlands. Science of the Total Environment https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172373
