Author

J. M. Alston

Listed by name: these papers carry no ORCID for this author, so different people with the same name may be mixed together.

Biology Disciplines

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Ecology· 5

Signature Assays, Organisms & Methods

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Research Focus:ecology & biodiversity· 4 Approach:statistical model· 4 Research Focus:benchmarking· 1 Approach:experimental assay· 1 Research Focus:host-pathogen & immune response· 1 Research Focus:metabolism & bioenergetics· 1 Organism:mouse· 1 Organism:multiple species· 1

Frequent Co-Authors

J. R. Goheen· 3 shared C. H. Fleming· 2 shared D. A. Keinath· 2 shared A. C. Markham· 1 shared A. H. Ali· 1 shared A. Sergiel· 1 shared A. T. Ford· 1 shared B. D. Patterson· 1 shared

Activity by Year

2021-2026 · peak 2/yr

Co-Author Collaboration Network

10 top collaborators · 29 mutual co-author links

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3 shared papersEcology

J. R. Goheen

Mutual co-authors in cluster

Author profile →

5 papers

Recent·Most cited

Clarifying space use concepts in ecology: range vs. occurrence distributions

J. M. Alston, C. H. Fleming, M. J. Noonan, M. A. Tucker, I. Silva, C. Folta, T. S. Akre, A. H. Ali, J. L. Belant, D. Beyer, N. Blaum, K. Boehning-Gaese, R. Cunha de Paula, J. Dekker, J. Drescher-Lehman, , W. F. Fagan

This paper distinguishes between range and occurrence distributions in ecology, showing that conflating them can lead to incorrect ecological inferences and conservation practices.

Ecology · Mar 7, 2026Peer-reviewedEcology

Symbiotic acacia ants drive nesting behavior by birds in an African savanna

E. Lujan, R. Nielsen, Z. Short, S. Wicks, W. N. Watetu, L. M. Khasoha, T. M. Palmer, J. R. Goheen, J. M. Alston

The paper investigates whether acacia ants influence tree-nesting birds' nest site selection in an African savanna by assessing ant defense behavior against browsing mammals.

bioRxiv · Mar 6, 2023 · PreprintEcology

Mitigating pseudoreplication and bias in resource selection functions with autocorrelation-informed weighting

J. M. Alston, C. H. Fleming, R. Kays, J. P. Streicher, C. T. Downs, T. Ramesh, J. M. Calabrese

This paper introduces a method to improve resource selection functions by weighting animal locations based on autocorrelation, reducing bias and improving confidence intervals in ecological studies.

bioRxiv · Apr 21, 2022Ecology

Environmental drivers of body size in North American bats

J. M. Alston, D. A. Keinath, C. K. R. Willis, C. L. Lausen, J. M. O'Keefe, J. Tyburec, H. G. Broders, P. R. Moosman, T. C. Carter, C. L. Chambers, E. H. Gillam, K. Geluso, T. J. Weller, D. Burles, Q. E. Fletcher, , J. R. Goheen

This study examines spatio-temporal variation in bat body size across North America, finding that temperature correlates with spatial body mass variation and net primary productivity with temporal variation.

bioRxiv · Jul 28, 2021Ecology

Daily torpor reduces the energetic consequences of habitat selection for a widespread bat

J. M. Alston, M. E. Dillon, D. A. Keinath, I. M. Abernethy, J. R. Goheen

This study examines how daily torpor affects energy expenditure and roost temperature selection in heterothermic bats, finding that torpor allows bats to use a wider range of microhabitats without increasing energy costs.

bioRxiv · Mar 6, 2021 · PreprintEcology