Jen. R. Adams

I received a BA in Biology from Hamline University in 1998, MS in Wildlife Resources from the University of Idaho in 2002 and PhD in Natural Resources from the University of Idaho in 2006. I have been active in the field of conservation genetics for the last 18 years. Currently, I manage the Laboratory for Ecological, Evolutionary and Conservation Genetics in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, perform applied research in conservation genetics and mentor both undergraduate and graduate students. My early work included developing the methodology behind detection of hybridization in a small population of red wolves using fecal samples. In addition, my reconstruction of the wild pedigree of red wolves determined that hybridization with coyotes had minimal impact on the red wolf population. More recent work includes looking at gene expression in burbot challenged with temperature fluctuations and genetic analyses of golden eagles looking at population structure. My research interests are focused on the use of molecular tools to aid the conservation and management of imperiled populations and species with a particular interest in pedigree reconstruction, inbreeding and hybridization.

Relevant Publications:

Terrazas MM, Adams JR, Ponerassery S, Cain KD (2017) Effects of diel temperature fluctuation on growth, stress response, and immune function of burbot. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 146, 996-1007.

Craig EH, Adams JR, Waits LP, Fuller MR, Whittington D (2016) Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analyses of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos canadensis) from three areas in western North America; initial results and conservation implications. PLoS ONE, 11, e0164248.

Gese E, Knowlton F, Adams J, Beck K, Fuller T, Murray D, Steury T, Stoskopf M, Waddell W, Waits L (2015) Managing hybridization of a recovering endangered species: the red wolf (Canis rufus) as a case study. Current Zoology, 61, 191-205.

Davidson G, Clark, D, Johnson B, Waits L, Adams J (2014) Estimating cougar densities in northeast Oregon using conservation detection dogs. Journal of Wildlife Management, 78, 1104-1114.

Adams JR, Vucetich LM, Hedrick PH, Peterson RO, Vucetich JA (2011) Genomic sweep and potential genetic rescue during limiting environmental conditions in an isolated wolf population. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences, 278, 3336-3344.

Adams JR, Goldberg CS, Bosworth WR, Rachlow JL, Waits LP (2011) Rapid species identification of pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) from fecal pellet DNA. Molecular Ecology Resources, 11, 808-812.

Adams JR, Lucash C, Schutte L, Waits LP (2007) Locating hybrid individuals in the red wolf (Canis rufus) experimental population area using a spatially targeted sampling strategy and faecal DNA genotyping. Molecular Ecology, 16, 1823-1834.

Grants:

• 2016: Long-term Genetic Consequences of Red Wolf-Coyote Hybridization/Demographics of a Large Canid in Southwest Louisiana, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries with L. Waits and S. Murphy $27,985
• 2016: Examining the Taxonomy and Genetic Distinctiveness of the Red Wolf, US Geological Survey with K. Andrews, L. Waits and P. Hohenlohe $23,585
• 2013: DURIP Equipment Grant, Department of Defense $169,514 (assisted with grant)

Awards:
2016: Outstanding Employee at the University of Idaho

Current Status:
Research Support Scientist

Faculty Affiliation:
Lisette Waits