Chris Ray

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.

A Long-Term Comparison of Hydrology and Plant Community Composition in Constructed Versus Naturally Occurring Vernal Pools

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Collinge SK; Ray C; Marty JT

Published in: Restoration Ecology
Publication Date: 2013-11-01
Type: Journal Article

The idiosyncrasies of place: geographic variation in the climate-distribution relationships of the American pika

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Jeffress MR; Rodhouse TJ; Ray C; Wolff S; Epps CW

Published in: Ecological Applications
Publication Date: 2013-06-01
Type: Journal Article

Process-based models are required to manage ecological systems in a changing world

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Cuddington K; Fortin M-J; Gerber LR; Hastings A; Liebhold A; O'Connor M; Ray C

Published in: Ecosphere
Publication Date: 2013-02-01
Type: Journal Article

Stress hormone concentration in Rocky Mountain populations of the American pika (Ochotona princeps)

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Wilkening JL; Ray C; Sweazea KL

Published in: Conservation Physiology
Publication Date: 2013-01-01
Type: Journal Article

Connectivity of prairie dog colonies in an altered landscape: inferences from analysis of microsatellite DNA variation

CU Boulder Authors: Martin, Andrew; Ray, Chris

All Authors: Sackett LC; Cross TB; Jones RT; Johnson WC; Ballare K; Ray C; Collinge SK; Martin AP

Published in: Conservation Genetics
Publication Date: 2012-04-01
Type: Journal Article

Retreat of the American pika: up the mountain or into the void?

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Ray C; Beever E; Loarie S

Publication Date: 2012-01-01
Type: Chapter

On the generality of a climate-mediated shift in the distribution of the American pika (Ochotona princeps)

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Erb LP; Ray C; Guralnick R

Published in: Ecology
Publication Date: 2011-09-01
Type: Journal Article

Long-term dynamics of biotic and abiotic resistance to exotic species invasion in restored vernal pool plant communities

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Collinge SK; Ray C; Gerhardt F

Published in: Ecological Applications
Publication Date: 2011-09-01
Type: Journal Article

Contemporary climate change alters the pace and drivers of extinction

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Beever EA; Ray C; Wilkening JL; Brussard PF; Mote PW

Published in: Global Change Biology
Publication Date: 2011-06-01
Type: Journal Article

Spread of Plague Among Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs Is Associated With Colony Spatial Characteristics

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Johnson TL; Cully JF; Collinge SK; Ray C; Frey CM; Sandercock BK

Published in: Journal of Wildlife Management
Publication Date: 2011-02-01
Type: Journal Article

Modeling contemporary range retraction in Great Basin pikas (Ochotona princeps) using data on microclimate and microhabitat

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Wilkening JL; Ray C; Beever EA; Brussard PF

Published in: Quaternary International
Publication Date: 2011-01-01
Type: Journal Article

Effects of disease on keystone species, dominant species and their communities

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: COLLINGE SK; Ray C; Cully JF

Publication Date: 2010-12-16
Type: Chapter

Distribution of American pikas in a low-elevation lava landscape: conservation implications from the range periphery

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Rodhouse TJ; Beever EA; Garrett LK; Irvine KM; Jeffress MR; Munts M; Ray C

Published in: Journal of Mammalogy
Publication Date: 2010-10-01
Type: Journal Article

Spatial variation in keystone effects: small mammal diversity associated with black-tailed prairie dog colonies

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Cully JF; Collinge SK; VanNimwegen RE; Ray C; Johnson WC; Thiagarajan B; Conlin DB; Holmes BE

Published in: Ecography: pattern and diversity in ecology
Publication Date: 2010-09-01
Type: Journal Article

PLAGUE IN URBAN PRAIRIE DOG COLONIES

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Colman RE; Brinkerhoff RJ; Ray C; Keim P; Collinge SK; Wagner DM

Published in: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases
Publication Date: 2010-02-01
Type: Journal Article

Rodent and Flea Abundance Fail to Predict a Plague Epizootic in Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Brinkerhoff RJ; Collinge SK; Ray C; Gage KL

Published in: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases
Publication Date: 2010-02-01
Type: Journal Article

Sin Nombre Virus Infection in Field Workers, Colorado, USA

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Torres-Perez F; Wilson L; Collinge SK; Harmon H; Ray C; Medina RA; Hjelle B

Published in: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Publication Date: 2010-02-01
Type: Journal Article

Disease Limits Populations: Plague and Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Cully JF; Johnson TL; Collinge SK; Ray C

Published in: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases
Publication Date: 2010-02-01
Type: Journal Article

Testing alternative models of climate-mediated extirpations

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Beever EA; Ray C; Mote PW; Wilkening JL

Published in: Ecological Applications
Publication Date: 2010-01-01
Type: Journal Article

Transient patterns in the assembly of vernal pool plant communities

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Collinge SK; Ray C

Published in: Ecology
Publication Date: 2009-12-01
Type: Journal Article

Are Carnivores Universally Good Sentinels of Plague?

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Brinkerhoff RJ; Collinge SK; Bai Y; Ray C

Published in: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases
Publication Date: 2009-10-01
Type: Journal Article

Prairie dog presence affects occurrence patterns of disease vectors on small mammals

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Brinkerhoff RJ; Ray C; Thiagarajan B; Collinge SK; Cully JF; Holmes B; Gage KL

Published in: Ecography: pattern and diversity in ecology
Publication Date: 2008-10-01
Type: Journal Article

Temporal and spatial patterns of Bartonella infection in black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus)

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Bai Y; Kosoy MY; Ray C; Brinkerhoff RJ; Collinge SK

Published in: Microbial Ecology: an international journal
Publication Date: 2008-08-01
Type: Journal Article

Characterization of Bartonella strains isolated from black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus)

CU Boulder Authors: Martin, Andrew; Ray, Chris

All Authors: Bai Y; Kosoy M; Martin A; Ray C; Sheff K; Chalcraft L; Collinge SK

Published in: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases
Publication Date: 2008-03-01
Type: Journal Article

Climate-driven spatial dynamics of plague among prairie dog colonies

CU Boulder Authors: Ray, Chris

All Authors: Snall T; O'Hara RB; Ray C; Collinge SK

Published in: The American Naturalist
Publication Date: 2008-02-01
Type: Journal Article

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.

News

Pika on a talus slope, by Derek Ryder via Unsplash

CU Boulder study finds climate change impacts in mountain microclimates (Broomfield Leader)

Sept. 7, 2022

Some effects of climate change are dramatic and visible, like wildfires and extreme weather, but a new study led by Chris Ray found that climate change can impact even hidden places and some of the state’s smallest residents: pikas.

Pika enthusiasts unite under a common theme (LTER Network)

Oct. 30, 2021

Harnessing the power of community science partnered with LTER research to understand human climate effects on pika distributions.

This adorable rabbit relative sounds an alarm for global warming (National Geographic)

Aug. 27, 2021

Each summer, the volunteer Pika Patrol is roaming the Rockies in service to the tiny, climate-threatened pika. You may need to enter your email address to read the article.

More Ray news >

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Chris Ray

Bio

Awards

Research

Publications

Retreat of the American pika: up the mountain or into the void?

Effects of disease on keystone species, dominant species and their communities

PLAGUE IN URBAN PRAIRIE DOG COLONIES

Pages

Teaching

Current course

Outreach

Citizen science

Field courses for local nonprofits

News