Tourani Quantitative Ecology Lab

Smithsonian ecologists are returning to Lewis and Clark’s historic route, installing camera traps to document wildlife across those same landscapes. The project will unite scientists and the public by providing detailed information about the abundance, distribution, and behavior of wildlife. The resulting data will support land managers, researchers, and community scientists in understanding long-term changes in American biodiversity and informing conservation efforts along this nationally significant corridor.

University of Montana student Bella Wengappuly recently was named a 2026-27 Goldwater Scholar, earning one of the nation’s most prestigious undergraduate honors for students pursuing research careers in science, engineering and mathematics.

In a world where threats of cataclysmic extinction loom and sustainable harvest approaches are essential, applied population ecology has never been more crucial. Conservation of Wildlife Populations, 3rd Edition provides evidence-based insight into how extinctions and human-wildlife conflicts can be minimized. L. Scott Mills, Andrew Whiteley, and Mahdieh Tourani blend rigorous science with practical solutions to illuminate paths where science and action can bring hope.

UM’s Mahdieh Tourani, alongside Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, uses camera traps to monitor wildlife populations in northwest Montana, like these white-tailed deer.