Brett Dickson

About

Dr. Brett Dickson is an Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Lab of Landscape Ecology and Conservation Biology in the School of Earth and Sustainability at Northern Arizona University, where he has been a faculty member since 2014. He is also affiliated with the Lab of Conservation Ecology at NAU.

Research Interests

Landscape Ecology and Connectivity

• Development of innovative approaches to connectivity modeling using circuit theory
• Landscape-scale spatial analysis of ecological conditions and processes
• Habitat connectivity modeling for wide-ranging species
• Large-scale ecosystem restoration strategies

Conservation Biology

• Applied conservation research with stakeholder partnerships
• Conservation and management of resources in the American Southwest
• Integration of ecological science with conservation practice
• Landscape-scale conservation planning

Statistical Ecology

• Development of new analytical methods for ecological data
• Spatial modeling of ecological processes
• Quantitative approaches to conservation planning

Education

• Ph.D. Ecology/Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis
• M.S. Wildlife Biology, University of Montana
• B.S. Wildlife Biology, University of Montana

Research Accomplishments

Dr. Dickson has made significant contributions to the field of landscape ecology, particularly in developing circuit theory applications for modeling ecological connectivity. His work has introduced a new class of ecological connectivity models that offer distinct advantages over traditional analytic connectivity models.

Awards and Recognition

• David H. Smith Conservation Research Fellow - Two-year post-doctoral fellowship supporting early-career scientists in applied conservation biology

Research Partnerships

Field Research Experience

• Extensive work on the Kaibab Plateau in Arizona developing new data and approaches for restoring native ecosystems
• Collaboration with Grand Canyon Trust, Grand Canyon National Park, and Kaibab National Forest

Stakeholder Engagement

• Development of landscape-scale spatial datasets for stakeholder-based conservation efforts
• Integration of scientific research with management applications
• Partnerships with federal and state land management agencies

Key Research Contributions

Circuit Theory in Ecology

• Co-authored groundbreaking research on using circuit theory to model connectivity in ecology, evolution, and conservation
• Developed innovative analytical frameworks for understanding landscape connectivity
• Advanced methodological approaches to connectivity modeling

Landscape-Scale Conservation

• Created comprehensive spatial datasets describing vegetation composition and structure
• Developed models for large fire risk assessment
• Designed habitat connectivity models for wide-ranging species

Graduate Student Supervision

Dr. Dickson mentors graduate students in:

• Landscape ecology field and analytical methods
• Conservation biology research design
• Statistical and spatial modeling techniques
• Professional development in applied conservation science

Professional Service

• Co-Director of the Lab of Landscape Ecology and Conservation Biology
• Collaborator with regional land management agencies
• Contributor to landscape-scale conservation initiatives
• Reviewer for ecological and conservation journals