Department of Fisheries, Wildlife & Conservation Sciences

The Levi Lab

Molecular and quantitative ecology at the interface
of wildlife science, conservation, and human systems

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About the Lab

Basic & Applied Research
Across Three Continents

We apply molecular and quantitative methods to address fundamental and pressing problems in wildlife ecology, biodiversity science, and conservation—from the Neotropics to Alaska to Oregon.

Our work spans environmental genetics, trophic cascades, salmon ecology, disease ecology, and human-wildlife systems. We develop novel molecular tools, statistical models, and AI-assisted approaches to understand and protect the natural world.

140+
Publications
5
Research Areas
10K+
Carnivore Scats Analyzed
20+
Lab Members
Lab field work in old-growth forest
Field research in Pacific Northwest old-growth forests
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Environmental Genetics
eDNA, DNA metabarcoding, noninvasive genotyping, and population genetics applied across aquatic and terrestrial systems.
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Wildlife Ecology & Species Interactions
How do top predators structure ecosystems? We study carnivore communities and their far-reaching indirect effects on prey and habitat.
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Human Livelihoods & Tropical Conservation
Managing Neotropical wildlife to support human livelihoods while conserving biodiversity across hunting landscapes.
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Salmon, Humans & Wildlife
Quantifying salmon's role in ecosystems and the tradeoffs between fishery harvest and wildlife needs from bears to wolves.
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Disease Ecology
Are intact wildlife communities good for our health? We examine how deforestation and biodiversity loss drive zoonotic disease emergence.
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Latest Work

Recent Publications

Our research appears in leading journals including PNAS, Annual Review of EES, Nature Scientific Reports, and Ecology.

View All Publications
2026
Diets, dominance hierarchies, and kleptoparasitism drive asymmetrical interactions between wolves and cougars
Binder, W., Ruprecht, J.S., Rabe, J., Metz, M.C., Hutchinson, R., Stahler, D.R., et al.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 123(6):e2511397123
2026
Comparing accuracy and biases of DNA metabarcoding, hybridization capture, and metagenomic sequencing for quantifying herbivore diets
Eriksson, C.E., Shipley, L., Clark, D.A., Levi, T.
Molecular Ecology Resources 26(5):e70175
2026
Leveraging next-generation tools for genetic assessment and demographic monitoring in threatened and elusive Humboldt martens
Hallerud, M.A., Moriarty, K., Pilgrim, K.L., Quinn, C.B., Eriksson, C.E., Schwartz, M.K., Levi, T.
Evolutionary Applications 19(7):e70277
2026
Drought and growing season phenology over 35 years modulates species interactions among domestic and wild herbivores
Ruprecht, J., Forrester, T.D., Brown, C.L., Mengak, L.F., Wisdom, M.J., Clark, D.A., et al.
Journal of Animal Ecology 95(7):1194
2026
Individual identification of prey in carnivore scats
Eriksson, C.E., Bianco, M., Ruprecht, J., Clark, D.A., Levi, T.
Molecular Ecology Resources 26(5):e70164
Opportunities

Join Our Team

We welcome curious, driven scientists interested in wildlife ecology, conservation genetics, quantitative methods, and beyond.

Prospective Students & Postdocs Meet the Lab