Bruce Schulte, Ph.D. SUNY-ESF
Department Head of Biology
Office: TCNW 201
Phone: 270-745-4856
Email: bruce.schulte@wku.edu
Courses
BIOL334 Animal Behavior
BIOL 532 Behavioral Ecology
Research
Communication and social behavior of herbivorous mammals, such as elephants, manatees, beavers and horses
Our research group examines the development of social and reproductive behaviors as well as the mechanisms, especially chemical that mediate these interactions. In recent years, we have taken more of a conservation behavior approach, as we work to reduce human-wildlife conflict by studying the behavioral ecology of these species, specifically their modes of communication, reproductive patterns and social systems. Thus, applications of our research hope to use an understanding of behavior to facilitate positive human-animal interactions.
For more information, please see my lab webpage (under construction).
Bio
Doctorate of Philosophy in Biology (1993). State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY.
Master of Science in Biology. University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Bachelor of Science in Biology. College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA.
Publications
Freeman, E.W., Meyer, J.M., Putman, S., Schulte, B.A. & Brown, J.L. 2011. Using a simplified field progestagen method to assess ovarian activity in female African elephants. Biological Conservation, 144, 2105-2111.
Castelda, S., Napora, E., Nasseri, N., Vyas, D. & Schulte, B.A. 2011. Diurnal co-occurrence of African elephants and other mammals at a Tanzanian waterhole. African Journal of Ecology, in press. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2010.01249.x
Nasseri, N.A., McBrayer, L.A. & Schulte, B.A. 2011. The impact of tree modification by African elephant (Loxodonta africana) on herpetofaunal species richness in northern Tanzania. African Journal of Ecology, in press. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2010.01238.x Note - Covered by BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11607299
Freeman, E.W., Schulte, B.A. & Brown, J.L. 2010. Using behavioral observations and keeper questionnaires to assess social relationships among captive female African elephants. Zoo Biology, 29, 140-153. 10.1002/zoo.20249.
Freeman, E.W., Schulte, B.A. & Brown, J.L. 2010. Investigating the impact of rank and ovarian activity on the social behavior of captive female African elephants. Zoo Biology, 29, 154-167. 10.1002/zoo.20235
Freeman, E.W., Abbondanza, F.N., Meyer, J.M., Schulte, B.A. & Brown, J.L. 2010. A simplified method for monitoring progestagens in African elephants under field conditions. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 1, 86-91. doi: 10.1111/j.2041-210X.2009.00004.x
Riddle, H.S., Schulte, B.A., Desai, A.A. & van der Meer, L. 2010. Elephants – a conservation overview. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 2, 653-661.
Merte, C.E., Goodwin, T.E. & Schulte, B.A. 2010. Male and female developmental differences in chemosensory investigations by African elephants (Loxodonta africana) approaching waterholes. Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology, 64, 401-408. DOI 10.1007/s00265-009-0856-9.
Merte, C.E., Gough, K.F. & Schulte, B.A. 2009. Investigation of a fresh African elephant carcass by conspecifics. Pachyderm, 45, 124-126.
Goodwin, T.E. & Schulte, B.A. 2009. Prospecting for mammalian chemical signals via solventless extraction techniques: an elephantine task. ChemoSense 11(2), 9-15.
Brzyski, J.R. & Schulte, B.A. 2009. Beaver (Castor canadensis) impacts on herbaceous and woody vegetation in southeastern Georgia. American Midland Naturalist, 162, 81-93.
Loizi, H., Goodwin, T.E., Rasmussen, L.E.L., Whitehouse, A.M. & Schulte, B.A. 2009. Sexual dimorphism in the performance of chemosensory investigatory behaviours by African elephants (Loxodonta africana). Behaviour, 146, 373-392.
Slade-Cain, B.E., Rasmussen, L.E.L. & Schulte, B.A. 2008. Estrous state influences on investigative, aggressive, and tail flicking behavior in captive female Asian elephants. Zoo Biology, 27, 167-180.
Meyer, J.M., Goodwin, T.E. & Schulte, B.A. 2008. Intrasexual chemical communication and social responses of captive female African elephants, Loxodonta africana. Animal Behaviour, 76, 163-174.
Schulte, B.A., Freeman, E., Goodwin, T.E., Hollister-Smith, J. & Rasmussen, L.E.L. 2007. Honest signaling through chemicals by elephants with applications for conservation and care. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 102, 344-363.
Schulte, Bruce A., Bagley, Kathryn R., Groover, Matthew, Loizi, Helen, Merte, Christen, Meyer, Jordana M., Napora, Erek , Stanley, Lauren, Vyas, Dhaval K., Wollett, Kimberly, Goodwin, Thomas E. & Rasmussen, Lois E.L. 2007. Comparisons of state and likelihood of performing chemosensory event behaviors in two populations of African elephants (Loxodonta africana). In: Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 11 (Eds J.L. Hurst, R.J. Beynon, S.C. Roberts & T.D. Wyatt), pp. 81-90. Springer, New York.
Goodwin, T.E., Broederdorf, L.J., Burkert, B.A., Hirwa, H.H., Mark, D.B., Waldrip, Z.J., Kopper, R.A., Sutherland, M.V. , Freeman, E.W., Hollister-Smith, J.A., and Schulte, B.A. 2012. Chemical signals of elephant musth: I. Temporal aspects of microorganism-mediated modifications. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 38, 81-87 (DOI 10.1007/s10886-011-0056-8).
Wisniewska, M., Pridgen, L., Eldridge, J., Yates, J., Hook, M., Kem, D. & Schulte, B.A. 2012. Review of A Primer of Conservation Behavior. Biological Conservation, 148, 219-221.
