Texas A&M-Commerce - James Cain

Assistant Professor
Curriculum Vitae

Education

Ph.D. Wildlife and Fisheries Science, University of Arizona 2006
M.S. Biological Conservation, California State University-Sacramento 2001
B.S. Biological Science, Colorado State University 1997

Research

My research interests are primarily in wildlife-habitat relationships, population ecology, and the influence of management practices on native wildlife species. I am interested in using a rigorous scientific approach to address applied questions related to wildlife conservation and management.

Research interests:

Effects of environmental heterogeneity on habitat selection, resource use, movements and the landscape-level distribution of large mammals. Specifically I am interested in how spatial and temporal variation in habitat characteristics, resources and constraints on resource use (e.g., predation risk) influence the movement, habitat selection and distribution of large mammals at multiple spatial scales.
Influence of habitat characteristics and resources on demographic rates and the subsequent influence on population ecology
Impact of natural resource management activities on wildlife populations

Current research projects:

Influence of ecosystem heterogeneity and predation risk by lions on multi-scale habitat selection and resource use of wildebeest and zebra in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Comparative habitat selection of puku and lechwe antelope in Chobe National Park, Botswana.
Conservation and management of declining populations of rare antelope in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.
The influence of precipitation and El Niño events on the population dynamics of desert bighorn sheep in Arizona and California.
Severe drought and nutritional content of desert bighorn sheep forage.
Nesting ecology and multi-scale habitat selection of Black-capped vireos in the Devil’s River area of Texas

Current graduate students:

Abraham Nqabutho Dabengwa, M.S. student, School of Animal, Plant, and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Thesis: Assessing the role of woody cover in resource selection by sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) in northern Kruger National Park.
Joseph Lewis. M.S. student. Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Texas A&M University-Commerce. Thesis: Population status, habitat selection and seasonal activity of an inland alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) population at the Fort Worth Nature Center.
Ryan O’Shaughnessy, M.S. student, School of Animal, Plant, and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Thesis: Comparative diet and habitat selection of puku (Kobus vardonii) and lechwe (Kobus leche) antelope on the Chobe River Floodplain, Botswana.
Kathryn N. Smith. M.S. student, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Texas A&M University-Commerce. Thesis: Nesting ecology and multi-scale habitat selection of Black-capped vireos (Vireo atricapilla) in the Devil’s River area of Texas.
Morgan Vance. M.S. student. Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Texas A&M University-Commerce. Thesis: Influence of ecosystem heterogeneity and predation risk on habitat selection, resource use, and movements of formerly migratory wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) and zebra (Equus burchelli) in Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Teaching

Ag/BSc 335 Wildlife Management I (Syllabus)
BSc 337 Field Methods in Wildlife and Conservation science (Syllabus)
BSc 412 Quantitative Biology (Syllabus)
BSc 417 Geospatial Mapping (Syllabus)
BSc 504 Graduate Quantitative Biology (Syllabus)
BSc 597 Wildlife-habitat Relationships (Syllabus)

Professional Memberships

The Wildlife Society
American Society of Mammalogists
Association of Field Ornithologists
Cooper Ornithological Society
Desert Bighorn Council
South African Wildlife Management Association

Selected Publications

Flesch, A.D., C.W. Epps, J.W. Cain, III, M. Clark, P.R. Krausman, and J.R. Morgart. 2010. Potential effects of the United States-Mexico Border fence on wildlife. Conservation Biology 24:171-181.

Smith, S. M. and J. W. Cain, III. 2009. Foraging efficiency and vigilance behaviour of impala: the influence of herd size and neighbor density. African Journal of Ecology 47:109-118.

Marshal, J. P., J. W. Cain, III, V. C. Bleich, and S. S. Rosenstock. 2009. Intrinsic and extrinsic sources of variation
in the dynamics of large herbivore populations. Canadian Journal of Zoology 87:103-111.

Cain, J. W., III, P. R. Krausman, J. R. Morgart, B. D. Jansen, and M. B. Pepper. 2008. Responses of desert bighorn sheep to the removal of water sources. Wildlife Monographs 171.

Cain, J. W., III, B. D. Jansen, R. R. Wilson, and P. R. Krausman. 2008. Potential thermoregulatory advantages of shade use by desert bighorn sheep. Journal of Arid Environments 72:1518-1525.

Magome, H., J. W. Cain, III, N. Owen-Smith, and S. R. Henley. 2008. Forage selection of sable antelope in Pilanesberg Game Reserve, South Africa. South African Journal of Wildlife Research 38:35-41.

Owen-Smith, N. and J. W. Cain, III. 2007. Indicators of adaptive responses in home range utilization and movement patterns by a large mammalian herbivore. Israel Journal of Ecology & Evolution 53:423-438.

Krausman, P. R., L. K. Harris, R. R. Wilson, J. W. Cain, III, K. K. G. Koenen. 2007. Bombing and Sonoran pronghorn: a clear and present danger? Journal of Wildlife Management 71:2820-2823.

Cain, J. W., III, P. R. Krausman, S. S. Rosenstock, and J. C. Turner. 2006. Thermoregulation and water balance in desert ungulates. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34:570-581.

Cain, J. W., III, K. S. Smallwood, H. L. Loffland, and M. L. Morrison. 2006. Influence of mammal activity on nesting success of passerines. Journal of Wildlife Management 70:522-531.

Cain, J. W., III, H. E. Johnson, and P. R. Krausman. 2005. Wildfire and desert bighorn sheep habitat, Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona. Southwestern Naturalist 50:506-513.

Cain, J. W., III, P. R. Krausman, B. D. Jansen, and J. R. Morgart. 2005. Influence of topography and GPS fix interval on GPS collar performance. Wildlife Society Bulletin 33:926-934.

Krausman, P. R., J. R. Morgart, L. K. Harris, C. S. O’Brien, J. W. Cain, III, S. S. Rosenstock. 2005. Introduction: Management for the survival of Sonoran pronghorn in the United States. Wildlife Society Bulletin 33:5-7.

Cain, J. W., III, D. M. Queheillalt, M. L. Morrison, and K. Christopherson. 2004. Bird habitat use and bird-aircraft strikes at Beale Air Force Base, California. Transactions of the Western Section of the Wildlife Society 40:90-100.

Cain III, J. W., and M. L. Morrison. 2003. Reproductive ecology of dusky flycatchers in montane meadows of the central Sierra Nevada. Western North American Naturalist 63:507-512.

Cain, J. W., III, M. L. Morrison, and H. L. Bombay. 2003. Influence of predator activity on the nest success of willow flycatchers and yellow warblers. Journal of Wildlife Management 67:600-610.

Queheillalt, D. M., J. W. Cain, III, D. E. Taylor, M. L. Morrison, S. L. Hoover, N. Tuatoo-Bartley, L. Rugge, K. Christopherson, M. D. Hulst, M. R. Harris, and H. L. Keough. 2002. The exclusion of rare species from community level analyses. Wildlife Society Bulletin 30:756-759.