Dr Jed Murdoch

I joined WildCRU in 2004 as a doctoral student and completed my studies in 2009.  My research project focused on competition between corsac foxes (Vulpes corsac) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in an arid steppe region of Mongolia.  I developed the project in conjunction with the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and Denver Zoological Foundation and received support from several groups including the Rufford Foundation, Trust for Mutual Understanding, and Earthwatch Institute.  The project resulted in a greater understanding of the interactions between these two fox species and a reduction of carnivore poaching in the study area (Ikh Nart Nature Reserve).

Prior to joining WildCRU, I received a Masters that focused on the behaviour of endangered San Joaquin kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis mutica) in California.  I also studied African wild dogs in Botswana and Ruppell's foxes in United Arab Emirates, and worked for Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program on a variety of biodiversity conservation issues in South America and Africa.

I was recently hired as Assistant Professor of Wildlife Ecology at the University of Vermont – Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, located in my home town of Burlington, Vermont, USA.  The position involves teaching and supervising undergraduate and graduate students and research.  Current research projects include carnivore studies in Zambia, Mongolia, and Vermont.  I also serve as Programme Coordinator for the IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group, headed by Dr Claudio Sillero-Zubiri.

Selected Publications

Murdoch, J., T. Munkhzul, S. Buyandelger, and C. Sillero-Zubiri.  2009.  Survival and cause-specific mortality of corsac and red foxes in Mongolia.  Journal of Wildlife Management, in press.

Murdoch, J., T. Munkhzul, S. Buyandelger, R. Reading, and C. Sillero-Zubiri.  2009.  Seasonal food habits of corsac and red foxes in Mongolia and the potential for competition.  Mammalian Biology, in press.

Murdoch, J., T. Munkhzul, S. Buyandelger, R. Reading, and C. Sillero-Zubiri.  2009.  The Endangered Siberian marmot Marmota sibirica as a keystone species?  Observations and implications of burrow use by corsac foxes Vulpes corsac in Mongolia.  Oryx 43:431-434.

Murdoch, J., S. Buyandelger, and B. Cypher.  2009.  Patterns of seed occurrence in corsac and red fox diets in Mongolia.  Journal of Arid Environments 73:381-384.

Murdoch, J., T. Munkhzul, S. Buyandelger, and R. Reading.  2009.  Body size and sexual dimorphism among a population of corsac and red foxes in central Mongolia.  Mammalia 73:72-75.

Murdoch, J., K. Ralls, B. Cypher, and R. Reading.  2008.  Social interactions among San Joaquin kit foxes before, during, and after the mating season.  Journal of Mammalogy 89:1087-1093.

Murdoch, J., K. Ralls, B. Cypher, and R. Reading.  2008.  Barking vocalizations in San Joaquin kit foxes.  Southwestern Naturalist 53:120-126.

Useful Links

University of Vermont - Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources: http://www.uvm.edu/~envnr/

Canid Specialist Group: http://www.canids.org

Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Mongolia: http://www.ikhnart.com

Carnivore behaviour, ecology, and conservation; competition and intraguild interactions; biodiversity conservation; arid grasslands and deserts.