Wildlife research at ACCS focuses on mapping habitat and nutrition for herbivores in Alaska. We are particularly interested in understanding how vegetation and food resources are distributed on the landscape and affect movement, survival, and productivity. As part of the state’s Natural Heritage Program, we also maintain long-term datasets and conduct research on species of concern including small mammals, bats, and pollinators.
Research Areas
Resources
People
Amanda Droghini, M.Sc.
Lead Wildlife Ecologist | 907-786-6388 | adroghini (at) alaska.edu | 
Amanda’s Publications
Amanda Droghini received a M.Sc. in Ecology from the University of Alberta and a B.Sc. in Environmental Biology from McGill University. Her thesis, Snowfall, travel speed, and seismic lines: The effects of snow conditions on wolf movement paths in boreal Alberta, resulted in publications in the Canadian Journal of Zoology and PLoS ONE. Her research interests include northern ecosystems, small mammal conservation, and movement ecology. She has expertise in R, Python, GIS, data management, and scientific writing. She is currently serving a two-year term as Secretary-Treasurer for the Alaska Chapter of The Wildlife Society.
Timm Nawrocki, M.S.
Terrestrial Ecologist | 907-786-6359 | twnawrocki (at) alaska.edu | Timm’s Publications
Timm Nawrocki received a B.S. in Biology from the University of Virginia and a M.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Alaska Anchorage. He specializes in spatial analyses of terrestrial vegetation, soils, and wildlife; remote sensing; and identification of vascular and non-vascular plants. He is fluent in Python, R, SQL, Javascript, geographic information systems (GIS), and web development including a variety of frameworks, platforms, and languages.
Jessica J. Rykken, Ph.D.
Entomologist | jjrykken (at) alaska.edu
Jessica received a B.A. in Biology from Smith College, an M.S. in the Field Naturalist Program at the University of Vermont, and a Ph.D. in Entomology at Oregon State University. She has a broad background in applied insect ecology and biodiversity studies across New England, the Pacific Northwest, and Alaska. For the last 10 years she has focused primarily on investigating pollinator diversity, phenology, habitat, and floral associations throughout Alaska. Jessica also has a keen interest in generating enthusiasm for insects through public outreach.
Affiliates
Paul Schuette, Ph.D., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Wildlife Ecologist | paul_schuette (at) fws.gov
Paul Schuette focuses on sea otters as part of the Marine Mammal Management Program at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He received a B.S. in Biology from Truman State University, a M.S. in Ecology from San Diego State University, and a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Montana State University. He held postdoctoral research positions with Montana State University / Zambian Carnivore Programme and the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF). He has investigated a variety of topics related to predator-prey dynamics, competition, resource selection, foraging ecology, and human-wildlife interactions, with a focus on carnivores, ungulates, and small mammals. He has conducted research in the United States, Kenya, and Zambia in areas spanning a gradient of protection and human land use.