Kaggie Orrick

I’ve worked across a number of different landscapes, including but not limited to: small mammal occurrence along a habitat and elevation gradient on a geographically-isolated mountain; feeding ecology and energetics of large carnivores, including cheetah; and community-based monitoring of herbivore communities across the the Okavango Delta.

Theoretical Ecology and Social Science

While I am driven and fueled by field-based research and collaboration across multiple stakeholders, I also have a strong interest in ecological and social theory, particularly how we can use theoretical ecological and social science and individual-based modeling to help bridge the gap between theoretical and applied science.

Applied Social-Ecological Systems

Broadly, I am interested in social-ecological systems. Using ecological and anthropological theories and expand them to examine social-ecological landscapes; thus my work spans across qualitative and quantitative disciplines and methodologies. I am focused on the multi-species and multi-predator interactions and space use in a human-dominated (and livestock-dominated) landscape.

Human-Wildlife Interactions

Inclusively-driven conservation is at the center for my work. In particular, I am interested in how to develop conservation projects which are scientifically rigorous and fit the needs and desires of local communities. Using this approach, I am interested in human-wildlife interactions, which include conflicts.

My Dissertation

The research for my dissertation aims to understand the interplay between wildlife, cattle, and humans and map its resulting coexistence landscape in Central Sub-district of Boteti West between Makgadikgadi Pans National Park (MPNP) and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR), Botswana. The area is predicted to be the highest priority corridor for lions in all of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Area, as well as one of the highest human-wildlife conflict areas in the country. However, there has never been a wildlife survey to confirm the use of this area as a corridor or determine how, when, or where wildlife move through this human-dominated landscape. Specifically, I am interested in the practices of people, of wildlife, and of livestock.

I examine the landscape using three methodologies:

1. Habitat suitability and wildlife occurrence using a combination of camera trap surveys and satellite imagery;
2. Human perceptions of wildlife using household surveys and participatory mapping to understand human land use patterns;
3. Cattle movement and land use through GPS units.
   

This information collectively portrays an inclusive, socio-ecological system that can provide nuanced understanding of how to achieve human-cattle-wildlife coexistence while incorporating participation from local communities in CT8. This work is in partnership and collaboration with the tourism organization Natural Selection, the conservation NGO Round River Conservation Studies, and the University of Botswana’s Okavango Research Institute.

I received a MA in Conservation Biology at Columbia University in 2015 with a thesis focused on anthropogenic features that influence elephant movement. During that time I also developed my spatial analysis skills and love for Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing. I was also a graduate student researcher for Professor Don Melnick conducting preliminary analysis of forest loss using remote sensing and GIS for the Rainforest Standard, a carbon credit program, to determine appropriate protected areas for forest loss evaluation.

Since graduating from Columbia University, I have been affiliated with Round River Conservation Studies’s work in Botswana. From 2015-2018 I managed and led the RRCS US-student abroad program and the development of community-based wildlife monitoring project. This work included herbivore and bird monitoring, community escort guide training and assisting with the Northern Botswana Ecological Assessment and Decision Support Tool. I simultaneously ran the research program while also working with 5 – 9 American undergraduates as part of their abroad program with RRCS. We lived in tents in the field for three months at a time while working with community members, teaching five college-level courses, conducting research and cooking over an open fire.

Since 2018, I’ve been responsible for the design and implementation of research and conservation efforts of RRCS in the Makgadikgadi region of Botswana. I maintain partnerships with the University of Botswana’s Okavango Research Institute and Department of Wildlife and National Parks, assist with grant applications, while also being the main project coordinator on the ground. I have continued partnering with RRCS throughout my PhD and much of my work and my motivation comes from the experiences and knowledge I gained in Botswana.

(In review) Burak, Mary^; Ferraro, Kristy^; Orrick, K. ^; Sommer, Nathalie; Ellis Soto, Diego; Schmitz, Oswald. “Context matters when rewilding for climate change”. People and Nature. Pre-print here ^indicates first-author.

(in review) Orrick, K., Sommer, N., Rowland, F., Ferraro, K. “Disentangling the role of predator hunting mode, spatial domain size, and habitat complexity: An examination of consumptive and nonconsumptive effects”. Ecology.

(in review) Orrick, K., Dove. M., Schmitz, O. “Human-nature relationships: An introduction to social-ecological practice theory for human-wildlife conflict”. Ambio.

Zhou, W. Orrick, K. and Lim, A. and Dove, M.. 2021. “Reframing Conservation and Development Perspectives on Bushmeat.” Environmental Research Letters. Link here

Orrick, K. “Range Size and Drivers of African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) Space Use on Karongwe Private Game Reserve, South Africa.” African Journal of Ecology 56, no. 3 (September 2018): 572–81. Link here

Reports

Orrick, K., Heinemeyer, K., Masunga, G.S., Triska, M. 2021. Community-based Wildlife Monitoring in Selected Concessions of the Okavango Delta, 2013 - 2019.

Heinemeyer, K., Masunga, G.S. Orrick, K., Smith, J., Sinvula, M., Dain-Owens, S. (2016). Community-based wildlife monitoring in selected concessions of Chobe and the Okavango Delta, 2013-2015.

Colby Environmental Assessment Team, Colby College and Problems in Environmental Science course (Biology 493), Colby College. (2009). “A Watershed Analysis of Salmon Lake and McGrath Pond: Implications for Water Quality And Land Use Management”. Colby College Watershed Study: Salmon Lake and McGrath Pond (2009, 1993). 1. Link here

Teaching Fellow / Reading Assistant

Undergraduate Instructor

While in the Okavango Delta of Botswana, I taught students on the Round River Conservation Studies abroad program. I covered five college-level courses which were accredited by the University of Utah State. Each semester from September 2015 – April 2018 I taught 5-8 students while simultaneously running a large-scale conservation project (see ‘Past Research’ to learn more). I taught:

Invited Speaker