Breadcrumb
Research Associate • • Animal ecology • Pikas
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Bio
Chris Ray studies and models the dynamics of plant and animal populations, focusing especially on threatened species with fragmented populations. Recent projects include hierarchical modeling of point count data on birds in western national parks, analyzing the role of metacommunity dynamics in the assembly of vernal pool plant communities, and modeling the spatial and temporal dynamics of plague in prairie ecosystems. Her long-term project involves research on the American pika, aimed at understanding climatic influences on pre-historic and recent local extinctions of this species throughout western North America.
Awards
- Denver Zoological Conservation Award, Denver Zoo, 2018
Research
My work centers on population biology, with applications in conservation. I like data analysis and modeling but I also like fieldwork, especially at high elevations. In support of long-term research and student mentoring, I have maintained an annual study of pika demography since 1988.
Publications
For additional publications, see Chris's Google Scholar profile.
Stress-associated metabolites vary with both season and habitat across populations of a climate sentinel species
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Whipple AL; Ray C; Varner J; Kitchens JN; Hove AA; Castillo Vardaro JA; Wilkening JL
Published in: Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine ResearchPublication Date: 2022-12-31
Type: Journal Article
Revisiting talus and free-air temperatures after 50 years of change at an American pika (Ochotona princeps) study site in the Southern Rockies
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Monk EM; Ray C
Publication Date: 2022-07-14Type: Journal Article
Assessing trends and vulnerabilities in the mutualism between whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) and Clark's nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) in national parks of the SierraCascade region
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Published in: PLoS OneRay C; Rochefort RM; Ransom JI; Nesmith JCB; Haultain SA; Schaming TD; Boetsch JR; Holmgren ML; Wilkerson RL; Siegel RB...
- Ray C
- Rochefort RM
- Ransom JI
- Nesmith JCB
- Haultain SA
- Schaming TD
- Boetsch JR
- Holmgren ML
- Wilkerson RL
- Siegel RB
Publication Date: 2020-10-14
Type: Journal Article
Alternatives to genetic affinity as a context for within-species response to climate
CU Boulder Authors:
Doak, Daniel F.; Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Published in: Nature Climate ChangeSmith AB; Beever EA; Kessler AE; Johnston AN; Ray C; Epps CW; Lanier HC; Klinger RC; Rodhouse TJ; Varner J...
- Smith AB
- Beever EA
- Kessler AE
- Johnston AN
- Ray C
- Epps CW
- Lanier HC
- Klinger RC
- Rodhouse TJ
- Varner J
Publication Date: 2019-10-01
Type: Journal Article
Patterns of woodboring beetle activity following fires and bark beetle outbreaks in montane forests of California, USA
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Ray C; Cluck DR; Wilkerson RL; Siegel RB; White AM; Tarbill GL; Sawyer SC; Howell CA
Published in: Fire EcologyPublication Date: 2019-07-05
Type: Journal Article
Trends in Landbird Density at Two National Parks in Fragmented, Mixed-Use Landscapes of the Pacific Northwest
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Ray C; Holmgren ML; Wilkerson RL; Siegel RB; Boetsch JR; Jenkins KJ; Ransom JI
Published in: Northwestern Naturalist: a journal of vertebrate biologyPublication Date: 2019-02-01
Type: Journal Article
Identification of a contact zone and hybridization for two subspecies of the American pika (Ochotona princeps) within a single protected area
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Vardaro JAC; Epps CW; Frable BW; Ray C
Published in: PLoS OnePublication Date: 2018-07-11
Type: Journal Article
Landbird population trends in mountain and historical parks of the North Coast and Cascades Network: 2005–2016 synthesis
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Publication Date: 2018-01-01Ray C; Saracco JF; Holmgren ML; Wilkerson RL; Siegel RB; Jenkins KJ; Ransom JI; Happe PJ; Boetsch JR; Huff MH...
- Ray C
- Saracco JF
- Holmgren ML
- Wilkerson RL
- Siegel RB
- Jenkins KJ
- Ransom JI
- Happe PJ
- Boetsch JR
- Huff MH
Type: Journal Article
Ochotona princeps (Richardson, 1828) American pika
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Smith AT; Beever EA; Ray C
Publication Date: 2018-01-01Type: Chapter
Rodent-Pika Parasite Spillover in Western North America
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Foley P; Roth T; Foley J; Ray C
Published in: Journal of Medical EntomologyPublication Date: 2017-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Recent stability of resident and migratory landbird populations in National Parks of the Pacific Northwest
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Published in: EcosphereRay C; Saracco JF; Holmgren ML; Wilkerson RL; Siegel RB; Jenkins KJ; Ransom JI; Happe PJ; Boetsch JR; Huff MH...
- Ray C
- Saracco JF
- Holmgren ML
- Wilkerson RL
- Siegel RB
- Jenkins KJ
- Ransom JI
- Happe PJ
- Boetsch JR
- Huff MH
Publication Date: 2017-07-01
Type: Journal Article
Individual-based analysis of hair corticosterone reveals factors influencing chronic stress in the American pika
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Waterhouse MD; Sjodin B; Ray C; Erb L; Wilkening J; Russello MA
Published in: Ecology and EvolutionPublication Date: 2017-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Multilocus approaches reveal underestimated species diversity and inter-specific gene flow in pikas (Ochotona) from southwestern China
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Koju NP; He K; Chalise MK; Ray C; Chen Z; Zhang B; Wan T; Chen S; Jiang X
Published in: Molecular Phylogenetics and EvolutionPublication Date: 2017-02-01
Type: Journal Article
Characterizing predictors of survival in the American pika (Ochotona princeps)
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Wilkening JL; Ray C
Published in: Journal of MammalogyPublication Date: 2016-09-27
Type: Journal Article
Replicated landscape genetic and network analyses reveal wide variation in functional connectivity for American pikas
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Castillo JA; Epps CW; Jeffress MR; Ray C; Rodhouse TJ; Schwalm D
Published in: Ecological ApplicationsPublication Date: 2016-09-01
Type: Journal Article
Distribution of a climate-sensitive species at an interior range margin
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Ray C; Beever EA; Rodhouse TJ
Published in: EcospherePublication Date: 2016-06-01
Type: Journal Article
Habitat availability and gene flow influence diverging local population trajectories under scenarios of climate change: a place-based approach
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Schwalm D; Epps CW; Rodhouse TJ; Monahan WB; Castillo JA; Ray C; Jeffress MR
Published in: Global Change BiologyPublication Date: 2016-04-01
Type: Journal Article
When can we measure stress noninvasively? Postdeposition effects on a fecal stress metric confound a multiregional assessment
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Wilkening JL; Ray C; Varner J
Published in: Ecology and EvolutionPublication Date: 2016-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Of plants and pikas: evidence for a climate-mediated decline in forage and cache quality
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Bhattacharyya S; Ray C
Published in: Plant Ecology and DiversityPublication Date: 2015-11-02
Type: Journal Article
Children's book series and associated curricula support elementary education and outreach in water resources
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris; McKnight, Diane Marie
All Authors:
Ray C; McKnight DM; Bidwell MD; Fourment T; Pritz CF; Rinehart AH
Published in: Plant Ecology and DiversityPublication Date: 2015-11-02
Type: Journal Article
Alpine biodiversity and assisted migration: the case of the American pika (Ochotona princeps)
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Wilkening JL; Ray C; Ramsay N; Klingler K
Published in: BiodiversityPublication Date: 2015-10-02
Type: Journal Article
Relating Sub-Surface Ice Features to Physiological Stress in a Climate Sensitive Mammal, the American Pika (Ochotona princeps)
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Wilkening JL; Ray C; Varner J
Published in: PLoS OnePublication Date: 2015-03-24
Type: Journal Article
Parks, pikas, and physiological stress: implications for long-term monitoring of an NPS climate-sensitive sentinel species
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Wilkening J; Ray C
Published in: Park SciencePublication Date: 2015-01-01
Type: Journal Article
Quantifying the dominance of local control and the sources of regional control in the assembly of a metacommunity
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Ray C; Collinge SK
Published in: EcologyPublication Date: 2014-08-01
Type: Journal Article
Determinants of pika population density vs. occupancy in the Southern Rocky Mountains
CU Boulder Authors:
Ray, Chris
All Authors:
Erb LP; Ray C; Guralnick R
Published in: Ecological ApplicationsPublication Date: 2014-04-01
Type: Journal Article
Pages
Teaching
Current course
- EBIO 3990: Introduction to EBIO Honors
- Course for undergraduates in independent studies moving toward the goal of graduating with Honors in EBIO. Projects focus on collection and analysis of data on the ecology of a microhabitat specialist, the American pika, including field studies and a literature review complimented by statistical analyses.
Outreach
Citizen science
I am involved in two citizen science projects observing pika in Colorado:
The Front Range Pika Project is a citizen science effort in conservation research on the American pika. You can find more information about the project on the CU Outreach & Engagement web site.
PikaNet monitors pikas in the San Juan Mountains through citizen involvement.
Field courses for local nonprofits
I teach courses to benefit local conservation efforts. Examples include courses for the Rocky Mountain Conservancy, the Boulder County Nature Association, and Rocky Mountain Wild.
