Mike Mooring, Ph.D.

Dr. Mike Mooring has been conducting behavioral ecology research since 1985, mounting field studies of African antelope, North American ungulates, and Neotropical mammals. During this time, he has worked in six countries and five states, navigating the logistical challenges of field research in a variety of contexts. His doctoral research focused on the parasite-defense behavior of impala in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Namibia. Mooring received his Ph.D. from the Animal Behavior Graduate Group at University of California, Davis, in 1993 and then completed postdoctoral positions at the University of Pretoria (South Africa), University of Alberta (Canada), and University of California, Davis. Since coming to PLNU in 1997, he has directed over 50 students in field research projects, primarily with bighorn sheep, American bison, and Neotropical felids (e.g., jaguar). His current work in Costa Rica is at the interface of ecology and conservation biology (see A Trek for Conservation article). Since 2010, he and his students have worked with Costa Rican collaborators to survey the elusive mammals inhabiting the montane cloud forests of the Talamanca Cordillera. The project promotes community-based conservation by empowering local partners to conduct their wildlife research and engage in environmental education. Mooring's current research focuses on predation and competition among Neotropical mammalian predators and their prey. In addition, Dr. Mooring teaches annually in Costa Rica in the QERC Semester and Neotropical Ecology study abroad programs.

Education

Ph.D., Animal Behavior, University of California, Davis
M.Sc., Animal Behavior, University of California, Davis
B.A., Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder

Courses Taught

Environment and People – BIO 1002
Ecology and Conservation Biology – BIO 1005
Neotropical Ecology – BIO 3040
Conservation Ecology – BIO 3063
Vertebrate Biology – BIO 4010
Animal Behavior – BIO 4030

Experience in Field

PLNU Biology, Full Professor (tenured), 2006 – present
PLNU Biology, Associate Professor, 2002 – 2006
PLNU Biology, Assistant Professor, 1997 – 2002
University of California Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Postdoctoral Research Associate, 1996 – 1997
University of Alberta Biological Sciences, NATO Postdoctoral Fellow, 1995 – 1996
University of Pretoria Zoology, Visiting Scientist and Postdoctoral Researcher, 1994 – 1995
Zimbabwe Department of National Parks and Wild Life Management, Research Associate, 1990 – 1993
American Musical and Dramatic Academy (New York City), Performing Arts Student, 1980 – 1982
United Farm Workers Union (California), Community Organizer and Service Center Director, 1972 – 1978

Professional and Community Involvement

Research Fellow, Zoological Society of San Diego, 2013 – 2022
Visiting Associate Professor, University of California, Davis, 2004 – 2006
Member, Animal Behaviour Society
Founding Member, International Society for Behavioral Ecology
Member, American Society of Mammalogists
Member, The Wildlife Society
Member, Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation
Member, Society for Conservation Biology

Awards and Honors

Fellow of the Zoological Society of San Diego, 2013-2022
Quetzal Education and Research Grant, seven awards from 2012-2018
San Diego Zoo Global Jaguar Awards, ten awards from 2011-2020
Principal Investigator, NSF-RUI Award IOB-0517771, "Fitness Consequences of Sexually Selected Acoustical Signaling in American Bison", 2005 – 2009
Sabbatical Grants, three from 2003-2020
PLNU Provost's Grant, three from 2003-2024
PLNU Wesleyan Center Fellow, 2001
PLNU Wesleyan Center Scholar, four awards from 2000 – 2010
PLNU Research and Special Projects Awards, 25 awards from 1999-2024
PLNU Alumni Awards, 13 awards from 1999-2024
Hero for Heroes Award, 2021
Ryan Botts Award for Excellence as an Honors Scholars Mentor, 2023

Dissertations, Presentations, and Publications

McCullough, I.M., Beirne, C., Soto-Navarro, C., Eppert, A., Flatt, E., Kemp, Y.J.M., Molnar, P., Mooring, M.S., Nikolova, Y., Olson, E., Pinto, C., Porras, J., Quirós, M.J.M., Rodriguez, G.S., Schipper, J., Tellez, C.R., Soto, J.S.V., Whitworth, A. (2024). Integrating high-resolution remote sensing and empirical wildlife detection data for climate-resilient corridors across tropical elevational gradients. Biological Conservation (in press).
Mooring, M.S. (2024). Programmed grooming after 30 years of study: a review of evidence and future prospects. Animals, 14, 1266. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14091266
Bonilla-Sánchez, A., Sartor, C.C., Fox-Rosales, L.A., Feijó, A., Ramírez-Fernández, J.D., Brenes-Mora, E., Mooring. M.S., Blankenship, S.R., Sánchez- Lalinde, C., Oliveira do Nascimento, F., Zug, R., Oliveira, M.J., Marinho, P.H.D., Ferreira, G.B., Solari, S., Gomes de Oliveira, T., Eizirik, E. (2024). Ecological niche modeling of the Leopardus tigrinus complex sheds light on its elusive evolutionary history. Journal of Mammalogy, gyae074, https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyae074
de Oliveira, T.G., Fox-Rosales, L.A., Ramírez-Fernández, J.D. et al. (2024). Ecological modeling, biogeography, and phenotypic analyses setting the tiger cats’ hyperdimensional niches reveal a new species. Sci Rep 14, 2395. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52379-8
Mooring, M., Cordero, A. M., Ewing, J. (2023). Wildlife Crossings in Costa Rica: Are wildlife crossing structures effective in mitigating roadkill mortality on tropical highways? OCELOTS Incubator: Creating an online module in tropical biology, QUBES Educational Resources. DOI: https://qubeshub.org/community/groups/ocelots/publications?id=4409&v=1. Ocelot Learning Module.
Villalobos-Hoffman, R., Ewing, J.E., Mooring, M.S. (2023). Do wildlife crossings mitigate the roadkill mortality of tropical mammals? A case study from Costa Rica. Diversity 14: 665. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/d14080665
Mooring, M. S., and Eppert, A. A. (2022). Patrones de actividad circadiana y lunar del jaguar y el puma en relación con sus presas y competidoras (Carnivora: Felidae). UNED Research Journal 14(Supl.1): e3858. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v14iS1.3858
Eppert, A. A., Botts, R. T., and Mooring, M. S. (2022). Selección natural del melanismo en jaguar y tigrillo (Carnivora: Felidae). UNED Research Journal 14(Supl.1): e3857. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v14iS1.3857
González-Tenorio, R., Eppert, A. A., and Mooring, M.S. Diversidad y patrones de actividad de mamíferos silvestres medianos y grandes en la Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica. UNED Research Journal 13: e3621. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v13i2.3621
Wyman, M. T., Pinter-Wollman, N., and Mooring, M. S. (2021). Trade-offs between fighting and breeding: a social network analysis of bison male interactions. Journal of Mammalogy 102: 504–519. DOI:10.1093/jmammal/gyaa172
Botts, R. T, Eppert, A. A., Wiegman, Rodriguez, A., T. J., Blankenship, S. R., Asselin, E. M., Garley, W. M., Wagner, A. P., Ullrich, S. E., Allen, G. R., and Mooring, M. S. (2020). Circadian activity patterns of mammalian predators and prey in Costa Rica. Journal of Mammalogy 101: 1313–1331. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyaa103
Botts, R. T, Eppert, A. A., Wiegman, T. J., Blankenship, S. R., Rodriguez, A., Wagner, A. P., Ullrich, S. E., Allen, G. R., Garley, W. M., Asselin, E. M., and Mooring, M. S. (2020). Does moonlight increase predation risk for elusive mammals in Costa Rica? Tropical Conservation Science 13: 1–21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1940082920952405
Mooring, M. S., Eppert, A. A., and Botts, R. T. (2020). Natural selection of melanism in Costa Rican jaguar and oncilla: a test of Gloger’s Rule and the temporal segregation hypothesis. Tropical Conservation Science 13: 1-15. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1940082920910364
Sáenz-Bolaños, C., Fuller, T.K., Mooring, M.S., Porras, J., Sievert, P.R., Montalvo, V.H., Carrillo, E. (2019). Bush dogs in Central America: recent range expansion, cryptic distribution, or both? Tropical Conservation Science 12: 1-5.
Le Yang, Y.L., Ming, T., Zhigang, J., Zhongqiu, L., Mooring, M. (2018). Tick-defense grooming patterns of two sympatric Tibetan ungulates. Journal of Zoology 307: 1-7.
Wyman MT, Mooring MS, Pinter-Wollman N. (2016). Socially Connected Dominant Bison Bulls Emphasize Mating Quality Over Quantity. In review for Animal Behaviour.
Mooring MS, Penedo MCT. (2014). Behavioral Versus Genetic Measures of Fitness in Bison Bulls. Bison bison. Journal of Mammalogy 95: 913-924.
Li Z, Beauchamp G, Mooring MS. (2014). Relaxed Selection for Tick-Defense Grooming in Père David’s Deer? Biological Conservation. 178: 12-18.
Wyman MT, Mooring MS, McCowan B, Penedo MCT, Reby D, Hart LA. (2012). Acoustic Cues to Size and Quality in the Vocalizations of Male North American Bison. Bison bison. Animal Behavior. 84: 1381-1391.
Wyman MT, Mooring MS, McCowan B, Penedo MCT, Hart LA. (2008). Bellow Amplitude of Bison Reflects Male Quality, Seasonal Condition, and Motivation. Animal Behaviour. 76: 1625-1639.
Mooring MS, Blumstein DT, Reisig DD, Niemeyer JM, Osborne ER. (2007). Insect-Repelling Behaviour in Bovids: Role of Mass, Tail Length, and Group Size. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 91: 383-392.
Mooring MS, Patton ML, Reisig DD, Osborne ER, Kanallakan AL, Aubery SM. (2006). Sexually Dimorphic Grooming in Bison: Influence of Body Size and Testosterone. Animal Behaviour. 72: 737-745.
Mooring MS, Hart BL, Fitzpatrick TA, Benjamin JE, Fraser IC, Nishihira TT, Reisig DD. (2006). Grooming in Desert Bighorn Sheep and the Ghost of Parasites Past. Behavioral Ecology. 17: 364-371.
Mooring MS, Patton ML, Lance VA, Hall BM, Schaad EW, Fetter GA, Fortin SS, McPeak KM. (2006). Glucocorticoids of Bison Bulls in Relation to Social Status. Hormones & Behavior 49: 369-375.
Mooring MS, Reisig DD, Osborne ER, Kanallakan AL, Wiseman DS, Huber RR. (2005). Sexual Segregation in Bison. Bison bison: A Test of Multiple Hypotheses. Behaviour. 142: 897-927.
Mooring MS, Patton ML, Lance VA, Hall BM, Schaad EW, Fortin SS, Jella JE, McPeak KM. (2004). Fecal Androgens of Bison Bulls During the Rut. Hormones & Behavior. 46: 392-398.

See More Dissertations, Presentations, and Publications

Mooring MS, Fitzpatrick TA, Nishihira TT, Reisig DD. (2004). Vigilance, Predation Risk, and the Allee Effect in Desert Bighorn Sheep. Journal of Wildlife Management. 68: 519-532.
Mooring MS, Rominger EM. (2004). Reply – Is the Activity Budget the Holy Grail of Sexual Segregation? Behaviour 141: 521-530.
Mooring MS, Blumstein DT, Stoner CJ. (2004). The Evolution of Parasite-Defence Grooming in Ungulates. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 81: 17-37.
Mooring MS, Fitzpatrick TA, Benjamin JE, Fraser IC, Nishihira TT, Reisig DD, Rominger EM. (2003). Sexual Segregation in Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis Canadensis Mexicana). Behaviour. 140: 183-207.
Mooring MS, Fitzpatrick TA, Fraser IC, Benjamin JE, Reisig DD, Nishihira TT. (2003). Insect-Defense Behavior by Desert Bighorn Sheep. Southwestern Naturalist. 48: 635-643.
Mooring MS, Reisig DD, Niemeyer JM, Osborne ER. (2002). Sexually and Developmentally Dimorphic Grooming: A Comparative Survey of the Ungulata. Ethology. 108: 911-934.
Mooring MS, Benjamin JE, Harte CR, Herzog NB. (2000). Testing the Interspecific Body Size Principle in Ungulates: The Smaller They Come, The Harder They Groom. Animal Behaviour. 60: 35-45.
Samuel WM, Mooring MS, Aalangdong OI. (2000). Adaptations of Winter Ticks (Dermacentor Albipictus) to Invade Moose and Moose to Evade Ticks. Alces. 36: 183-195.
Mooring MS, Dennis NJ. (1999). Impala, the Living Fossil. Africa Environment & Wildlife. 7: 52-61.
Mooring MS, Samuel WM. (1999). Premature Loss of Winter Hair in Free-Ranging Moose (Alces Alces) Infested with Winter Ticks (Dermacentor Albipictus) is Correlated with Grooming Rate. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 77: 148-156.
Mooring MS, Samuel WM. (1998). The Biological Basis of Grooming in Moose (Alces Alces): Programmed Versus Stimulus-Driven Grooming. Animal Behaviour. 56: 1561-1570.
Mooring MS, Gavazzi AJ, Hart BL. (1998). Effects of Castration on Grooming in Goats. Physiology and Behavior. 64: 707-713.
Mooring MS, Samuel WM. (1998). Tick Defense Strategies in Bison: The Role of Grooming and Hair Coat. Behaviour. 135: 693-718.
Mooring MS, Samuel WM. (1998). Tick-Removal Grooming by Elk (Cervus Elaphus): Testing Principles from the Programmed-Grooming Hypothesis. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 76: 740-750.
Mooring MS, Hart BL. (1997). Reciprocal Allogrooming in Impala Lambs. Ethology. 103: 665-680.
Mooring MS, Hart BL. (1997). Self Grooming in Impala Mothers and Lambs: Testing the Body Size and Tick Challenge Principles. Animal Behaviour. 53: 925-934.
Mooring MS, McKenzie AA, Hart BL. (1996). Role of Sex and Breeding Status in Grooming and Total Tick Load of Impala. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 39: 259-266.
Mooring MS, Mundy PJ. (1996). Factors Influencing Host Selection by Yellow-Billed Oxpeckers at Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe. African Journal of Ecology. 34: 177-188.
Mooring MS, McKenzie AA, Hart BL. (1996). Grooming in Impala: Role of Oral Grooming in Removal of Ticks and Effects of Ticks in Increasing Grooming Rate. Physiology and Behavior. 59: 965-971.
Mooring MS, Mundy PJ. (1996). Interactions Between Impala and Oxpeckers at Matobo National Park, Zimbabwe. African Journal of Ecology. 34: 54-65.
Mooring MS, Mazhowu W. (1995). Geographic Distribution of Ticks and Comparison of Tick Load on Male and Female Impala from Three Sites in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Veterinary Journal. 26: 76-85.
Mooring MS, McKenzie AA. (1995). The Efficiency of Patch Sampling for Determination of Relative Tick Burdens in Comparison with Total Tick Counts. Experimental & Applied Acarology. 19: 533-547.
Mooring MS, Hart BL. (1995). Costs of Allogrooming in Impala: Distraction from Vigilance. Animal Behaviour. 49: 1414-1416.
Mooring MS. (1995). The Effect of Tick Challenge on Grooming Rate by Impala. Animal Behaviour. 50: 377-392.
Mooring MS, Hart BL. (1995). Differential Grooming Rate and Tick Load of Territorial Male and Female Impala, Aepyceros Melampus. Behavioral Ecology. 6: 94-101.
Mooring MS, Mazhowu W, Scott CA. (1994). The Effect of Rainfall on Tick Challenge at Kyle Recreational Park, Zimbabwe. Experimental & Applied Acarology. 18: 507-520.
Mooring MS. (1994). Allogrooming, an Essential Activity in Impala Behaviour. Zimbabwe Wildlife. 19-22.
Mooring MS. (1993). Predation on a Newborn Impala by a Martial Eagle. Ostrich. 64: 185-186.
Mooring MS, Hart BL. (1993). Effects of Relatedness, Dominance, Age, and Association on Reciprocal Allogrooming by Captive Impala. Ethology. 94: 207-220.
Mooring MS, Hart BL. (1992). Animal Grouping for Protection from Parasites: Selfish Herd and Encounter-Dilution Effects. Behaviour. 123: 173-193.
Hart BL, Hart LA, Mooring MS, Olubayo R. (1992). Biological Basis of Grooming Behaviour in Antelope: The Body Size, Vigilance and Habitat Principles. Animal Behaviour. 44: 615-631.
Mooring MS, Hart BL. (1992). Reciprocal Allogrooming in Dam-Reared and Hand-Reared Impala Fawns. Ethology. 90: 37-51.
Mooring MS, Rubin ES. (1991). Nursing Behavior and Early Development of Kenyan Impala at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Zoo Biology. 9: 329-339.
Hart BL, Hart LA, Mooring MS. (1990). Differential Foraging of Oxpeckers on Impala in Comparison with Sympatric Antelope Species. African Journal of Ecology. 28: 240-249.
Mooring MS. (1989). Ontogeny of Allogrooming in Mule Deer (Odocoileus Hemionus). Journal of Mammalogy. 70: 434-437.

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