Qualifications & Memberships
Research Interests
I focus on better understanding the interactions between wildlife and people, especially in human-dominated systems like farms and cities, which I see as critical frontiers in wildlife conservation. My hope is to provide applied science that supports sustainable farms and vibrant cities; and I take a collaborative approach to design research questions alongside land managers, community groups, and industry.
Our lab works on these topics in a variety of animals (invertebrates, birds, mammals) and in
- Understanding the role of restoration plantings in farmland and urban systems in supporting native biodiversity.
- Methods to attract beneficial species and deter detrimental species.
- The ecology of common raptor species in Aotearoa.
I am also committed to education and welcome enquiries from teachers in the Christchurch area- get in touch if your class is interested in these topics!
Recent Publications
- Bourbour RP., Martinico BL., Phillips EM., Schlarbaum JN., Hawkins MG., Hull JM. and Kross SM. (2022) Banding records of nestling barn owls reveal optimal timing for nest box maintenance in California. Journal of Wildlife Management 86(7) http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22278.
- Levin MO., Meek JB., Boom B., Kross SM. and Eskew EA. (2022) Using publicly available data to conduct rapid assessments of extinction risk. Conservation Science and Practice 4(3) http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12628.
- Schlarbaum JN., Hull JM. and Kross SM. (2022) Management of European Starlings in an American Kestrel Nest Box Program. Journal of Raptor Research 57(2) http://dx.doi.org/10.3356/jrr-22-08.
- Byerly H., Kross SM., Niles MT. and Fisher B. (2021) Applications of behavioral science to biodiversity management in agricultural landscapes: conceptual mapping and a California case study. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 193 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08815-z.
- Hagani JS., Kross SM., Clark M., Wynn-Grant R. and Blair M. (2021) Mapping and modeling human-black bear interactions in the Catskills region of New York using resource selection probability functions. PLoS ONE 16(9 September) http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257716.