Kari Veblen
Wildland Resources / Ecology Center
Professor

Contact Information
Office Location: NR 332Phone: (435) 797-3970
Email: kari.veblen@usu.edu
Additional Information:
Educational Background
Awards
Quinney College of Natural Resources Graduate Mentor of the Year, 2023
Quinney College of Natural Resources Undergraduate Mentor of the Year, 2016
Quinney College of Natural Resources Teacher of the Year, 2015
Quinney College of Natural Resources Commencement Speaker, 2014
- Veblen, K.E, Beever, E.A, Pyke, D.A, (2020). Context-dependent effects of livestock grazing in deserts of western North America: Disturbance ecology and biological diversity. Taylor and Francis
- Augustine, D.J, Veblen, K.E, Goheen, J.R, Riginos, C., Young, T.P, (2011). Pathways for positive cattle-wildlife interactions in semi-arid rangelands: Conserving Wildlife in African Landscapes: Kenya’s Ewaso Ecosystem. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press
Publications | Book Chapters
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Fact Sheets
- Bailey, E., Thacker, E., Monaco, T.A, Veblen, K.E, (2024). Mountain Big Sagebrush Restoration in Former Dryland Pasture. USU Extension Fact Sheets
- Veblen, K.E, Thacker, E., Larese-Casanova, M., Nehring, K., Duniway, M., Brungard, C., (2023). Establishing big sagebrush seedlings on the Colorado Plateau. USU Extension Fact Sheets
- Mann, R.K, Monaco, T.A, Veblen, K.E, Thacker, E., Burritt, E., (2020). Shrub management handbook for Utah.
- Duncan, B.L, Hansen, R., Hambrecht, K., Cranney, C., Follstad-Shah, J.J, Veblen, K.E, Kettenring, K., (2019). Cattle grazing for invasive Phragmites australis (common reed) management in northern Utah wetlands. USU Extension Fact Sheets
- Veblen, K.E, Newingham, B., Bates, J., LaMalfa, E.M, Gickelhorn, J., (2015). Post-fire grazing management practices in the Great Basin . Great Basin Factsheet Series no. 7.
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Journal Articles
Academic Journal
- Stahl, M., Veblen, K.E, Avgar, T., (2025). A call for using rangeland-based livestock operations as model systems for studying the movement ecology of terrestrial animals. Movement Ecology
- Koutzoukis, S., Monaco, T.A, Veblen, K.E, (2025). Above- and below-ground microenvironmental attributes cluster to varying degrees around Wyoming Big Sagebrush canopies. Ecosphere
- Harry, W., Kimuyu, D., Veblen, K.E, Young, T., (2025). Megaherbivores suppress precipitation-driven plant irruptions in a tropical savanna. Ecosphere, 16, e70239.
- Riginos, C., Kimuyu, D., Veblen, K.E, Porensky, L., Odadi, W., Sensenig, R., Wells, H., Young, T., (2024). Getting better with age: Lessons from the Kenya Long-term Exclosure Experiment (KLEE) . Ecology Letters, 27, e14466.
- Rohal, C., Duncan, B., Follstad Shah, J., Veblen, K.E, Kettenring, K., (2024). Targeted grazing reduces a widespread wetland invader with minimal nutrient impacts, yet native community recovery is limited . Journal of Environmental Management, 362, 121168.
- Condon, L.A, Rosentreter, R., Veblen, K.E, Coates, P.S, (2024). Season of grazing interacts with soil texture, selecting for associations of biocrust morphogroups. Geoderma
- Bailey, E., Thacker, E., Monaco, T., Veblen, K.E, (2024). Transplanted “wildlings” exhibit higher survival than greenhouse-grown tubelings yet both recruit new plants. BMC Ecology and Evolution
- Koutzoukis, S., Madsen, M., Veblen, K.E, (2024). Under drought conditions, fungicide seed coating does not increase emergence of two native grass species in sagebrush stands of the Intermountain West. Restoration Ecology, e13988.
- Koutzoukis, S., Baggio, J., Pyke, D., Brunson, M.W, C.C, Veblen, K.E, (2023). Goldilocks forbs: survival is highest outside – but not too far outside – of Wyoming big sagebrush canopies . Restoration Ecology, 31, e13919.
- Calzado Martinez, C., Brunson, M.W, Koutzoukis, S., Baggio, J., Veblen, K.E, (2023). Addressing barriers to proactive restoration of at-risk sagebrush communities: A causal layered analysis. Restoration Ecology, doi: 10.1111/rec.13897
- Riginos, C., Veblen, K.E, Gunnell, K., Thacker, E., Monaco, T.A, (2023). Resistance and resilience framework predicts vegetation responses to shrub reduction treatments in the sagebrush ecosystem. Rangeland Ecology & Management
- Veblen, K.E, Nehring, K., Duniway, M., Knight, A., Fick, S., Monaco, T., Schupp, E.W, Boettinger, J.L, Villalba, J., Brungard, C., Thacker, E., (2022). Soil depth and precipitation moderate soil textural effects on survival of sagebrush plantings on the Colorado Plateau . Restoration Ecology, 30, e13700.
- Ebel, C., Case, M., Werner, C., Porensky, L., Veblen, K.E, Wells, H., Kimuyu, D., Langendorf, R., Young, R., Hallett, L., (2022). Herbivory and drought reduce the temporal stability of herbaceous cover by increasing synchrony in a semi-arid savanna . Frontiers in ecology and evolution, 10
- Wells, H., Porensky, L., Veblen, K.E, Riginos, C., Young, T., Stringer, L.C, Dougill, A.J, (2022). At high stocking rates, cattle do not functionally replace wild herbivores in shaping savanna understory community composition . Ecological Applications, 32, e2520.
- Pilliod, D., Beck, J., Duchardt, C., Rachlow, J., Veblen, K.E, (2022). Leveraging vegetation monitoring data for wildlife: from concept to practice. Rangelands, 44, 87-98.
- Brungard, C., Nauman, T., Duniway, M., Veblen, K.E, Nehring, K.C, White, D., Salley, S., Anchang, J., (2021). Regional ensemble modeling reduces uncertainty for digital soil mapping . Geoderma, 397, 114998.
- Shackelford, N., Paterno, G.B, Winkler, D.E, Erickson, T.E, Leger, E.A, Svejcar, L.N, Breed, M.F, Faist, A.M, Harrison, P.A, Curran, M.F, Guo, Q., Kirmer, A., Law, D.J, Mganga, K.Z, Munson, S.M, Porensky, L.M, Quiroga, R.E, Török, P., Wainwright, C.E, Abdullahi, A., Bahm, M.A, Ballenger, E.A, Barger, N., Baughman, O.W, Becker, C., Lucas-Borja, M.E, Boyd, C.S, Burton, C.M, Burton, P.J, Calleja, E., Carrick, P.J, Caruana, A., Clements, C.D, Davies, K.W, Deák, B., Drake, J., Dullau, S., Eldridge, J., Espeland, E., Farrell, H.L, Fick, S.E, Garbowski, M., de la Riva, Enrique G., , Golos, P.J, Grey, P.A, Heydenrych, B., Holmes, P.M, James, J.J, Jonas-Bratten, J., Kiss, R., Kramer, A.T, Larson, J.E, Lorite, J., Mayence, C.E, Merino-Martín, L., Miglécz, T., Milton, S.J, Monaco, T.A, Montalvo, A.M, Navarro-Cano, J.A, Paschke, M.W, Peri, P.L, Pokorny, M.L, Rinella, M.J, Saayman, N., Schantz, M.C, Parkhurst, T., Seabloom, E.W, Stuble, K.L, Uselman, S.M, Valkó, O., Veblen, K.E, Wilson, S., Wong, M., Xu, Z., Suding, K.L, (2021). Drivers of seedling establishment success in dryland restoration efforts. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 5, 1283--1290.
- LaMalfa, E.M, Riginos, C., Veblen, K.E, (2021). Browsing wildlife and heavy grazing indirectly facilitate sapling recruitment in an East African savanna . Ecological Applications, 31, e02399.
- Charles, G.k, Riginos, C., Veblen, K.E, Kimuyu, D.M, Young, T.P, (2021). Termite mound cover and abundance respond to herbivore-mediated biotic changes in an African savanna . Ecology and Evolution, 11, 7226-7238. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7445
- Werner, C.M, Kimuyu, D.M, Veblen, K.E, Sensenig, R., LaMalfa, E.M, Young, T.P, (2021). Synergistic effects of herbivores and previous fire on spatial heterogeneity of prescribed grassland burns. Ecology, 102, e03270.
- Liu, L., Veblen, K.E, Monaco, T., (2020). Shrub size modulates resource heterogeneity in a sagebrush-steppe ecosystem. Western North American Naturalist
- Werner, C.M, Kimuyu, D., Veblen, K.E, Sensenig, R.L, Lamalfa, E., Young, T.P, (2020). Synergistic effects of long-term herbivory and previous fire on fine-scale heterogeneity of prescribed grassland burns. Ecology
- Riginos, C., Monaco, T.A, Veblen, K.E, Gunnell, K., Thacker, E., Dahlgren, D., Messmer, T.A, (2019). Potential for post-fire recovery of Greater Sage-grouse habitat. Ecosphere, 10:11, e02870.
- Veblen, K.E, Porensky, L.M, (2019). Thresholds are in the eye of the beholder: plants and wildlife respond differently to short-term cattle corrals . Ecological Applications
- Paschke, M., Perkins, L., Veblen, K.E, (2019). Restoration for multiple use. Restoration Ecology, 27, 701-704.
- Wilder, L.E, Veblen, K.E, Schupp, E.W, Monaco, T., (2019). Seedling emergence patterns of six restoration species in soils from two big sagebrush plant communities. Western North American Naturalist, 79, 233-246.
- Riginos, C., Veblen, K.E, Gunnell, K., Thacker, E., Monaco, T., (2019). Disturbance type and sagebrush community affect plant community structure following sagebrush reduction. Rangeland Ecology and Management, 72, 619-631.
- LaMalfa, E.M, Kimuyu, D.M, Sensenig, R.L, Riginos, C., Young, T.P, Veblen, K.E, (2019). Tree resprout dynamics following fire depend on herbivory by wild ungulate herbivores. Journal of Ecology, 107, 2493-2502.
- Eldridge, D., Travers, S.K, Val, J., Zaja, A., Veblen, K.E, (2019). Activity of feral horses is associated with degraded subalpine grasslands and reduced animal habitat. Rangeland Ecology and Management, 72, 467-473.
- Wilder, L., Veblen, K.E, Gunnell, K.L, Monaco, T.A, (2019). Influence of fire and mechanical sagebrush reduction treatments on restoration seedings in Utah. Restoration Ecology, 27, 308-319.
- Goheen, J.R, Augustine, D.J, Veblen, K.E, Kimuyu, D.M, Palmer, T.M, Porensky, L.M, Pringle, R.M, Ratnam, J., Riginos, C., Sankaran, M., Ford, A., Hassan, A.A, Jakopak, R., Kartzinel, T., Kurukura, S., Louthan, A.M, Odadi, W.O, Otieno, T.O, Wambua, A.M, Young, H.S, Young, T.P, (2018). Conservation lessons from large-mammal manipulations in East African savannas: the KLEE, UHURU, and GLADE experiments. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences , 1429, 31-49.
- Koerner, S., Smith, ., Burkepile, D., Hanan, N., Avolio, M., Collins, S., Knapp, A., Lemoine, N., Beard, K.H, Kulmatiski, A., Veblen, K.E, (2018). Change in dominance determines herbivore effects on plant biodiversity. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 2:12, 1925-1932.
- Adler, P., Smull, D., Beard, K.H, Choi, R.T, Furniss, T., Kulmatiski, A., Meiners, J., Tredennick, A.T, Veblen, K.E, (2018). Competition and coexistence in plant communities: intraspecific competition is stronger than interspecific competition. Ecology Letters, 21:9, 1319–1329. doi: 10.1111/ele.13098
- Young, T.P, Porensky, L.M, Riginos, C., Veblen, K.E, Odadi, W.O, Kimuyu, D.M, Charles, G.K, Young, H.S, (2018). Relationships between cattle and diversity in a multi-use landscape revealed by the Kenya Long-term Exclosure Experiment (KLEE). Rangeland Ecology and Management, 71, 281-291.
- Gonzales, J.B, Petipas, R.H, Franken, O., Kiers, E.T, Veblen, K.E, Brody, A.K, (2018). Herbivore removal reduces influence of arbuscular mycorrhizae on plant growth and tolerance in an East African savanna. Oecologia, 187, 123-133.
- Germain, S., Mann, R.K, Monaco, T.A, Veblen, K.E, (2018). Short-term regeneration dynamics of Wyoming big sagebrush at two sites in northern Utah. Western North American Naturalist, 78, 7-16.
- Riginos, C., Porensky, L.M, Veblen, K.E, Young, T.P, (2018). Herbivory and drought generate short-term stochasticity and long-term stability in a savanna understory community. Ecological Applications, 28, 323-335.
- Veblen, K.E, Holmes, K.A, Young, T.P, (2017). Response of one-year-old planted native grasses to controlled burns (California). Ecological Restoration, 25, 50-51.
- Hulvey, K., Leger, E., Porensky, L., Roche, L., Veblen, K.E, Fund, A., Shaw, J., Gornish, E., (2017). Restoration islands: a tool for efficiently restoring dryland ecosystems. Restoration Ecology
- Young, H.S, McCauley, D.J, Dirzo, R., Nunn, C.L, Campana, M.G, Agwanda, B., Otarola-Castillo, E.R, Castillo, E.R, Pringle, R.M, Veblen, K.E, Salkeld, D.J, Stewardson, K., Fleischer, R., Lambin, E.F, Palmer, T.M, Helgen, K.M, (2017). Interacting effects of land use and climate on rodent-borne pathogens in central Kenya. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 372:1722
- Odadi, W.O, Kimuyu, D.M, Sensenig, R.L, Veblen, K.E, Riginos, C., Young, T.P, (2017). Fire-induced negative nutritional outcomes for cattle when sharing habitat with native ungulates in an African savanna. Journal of Applied Ecology, 54:3, 935-944.
- Monroe, A.P, Aldridge, C.L, Assal, T.J, Veblen, K.E, Pyke, D.A, Casazza, M.L, (2017). Patterns in Greater Sage-grouse population dynamics correspond with public grazing records at broad scales. Ecological Applications, 27:4, 1096-1107.
- Sensenig, R.L, Kimuyu, D.M, Ruiz-Guajardo, J.C, Veblen, K.E, Riginos, C., Young, T.P, (2017). Fire disturbance disrupts an acacia ant-plant mutualism in favor of a subordinate ant species. Ecology, 98, 1455-1464.
- Kimuyu, D.M, Veblen, K.E, Riginos, C., Chira, R.M, Githaiga, J.M, Young, T.P, (2017). Influence of cattle on browsing and grazing wildlife varies with rainfall and presence of megaherbivores. Ecological Applications, 27:3, 786-798.
- Charles, G.K, Porensky, L.M, Riginos, C., Veblen, K.E, Young, T.P, (2017). Herbivore effects on herbaceous productivity vary by guild: cattle increase mean productivity while wildlife reduce variability . Ecological Applications, 27, 143-155.
- Veblen, K.E, Porensky, L.M, Riginos, C., Young, T.P, (2016). Are cattle surrogate wildlife? Savanna plant community composition explained by total herbivory more than herbivore type. Ecological Applications, 26, 1610-1623.
- Veblen, K.E, Holthuijzen, M.F, (2016). Grazing effects on precipitation-driven associations between sagebrush and perennial grasses. Western North American Naturalist, 76, 313-325.
- Young, H.S, Dirzo, R., Helgen, K., McCauley, D.J, Nunn, C., Snyder, P., Veblen, K.E, Zhao, S., Ezenwa, V.O, (2016). Large wildlife removal drives redistribution of immune defenses in rodents . Functional Ecology, 30, 799-807.
- Braithwaite, H., Bateman, T.M, Veblen, K.E, Thacker, E., Villalba, J., (2016). Identification of elk preferences for different diet supplements. The Wildlife Society Bulletin, 40, 368-374.
- Holthuijzen, M.F, Veblen, K.E, (2015). Grass-shrub spatial associations over a precipitation gradient and their implications for restoration in the Great Basin, USA . PLOS One, 10:12, e0143170. doi: doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0143170
- Pringle, R.M, Kimuyu, D.M, Sensenig, R.L, Palmer, T.M, Riginos, C., Veblen, K.E, Young, T.P, (2015). Synergistic effects of fire and elephants on arboreal animals in an African savannah. Journal of Animal Ecology, 84, 1637-1645.
- Porensky, L.M, Veblen, K.E, (2015). Generation of ecosystem hotspots using short-term cattle corrals in an African savanna . Rangeland Ecology and Management, 68, 131-141.
- Munson, S.M, Webb, R.H, Housman, D., Veblen, K.E, Nussear, K.E, Beever, E.A, Hartney, K.B, Miriti, M.N, Phillips, S.L, Fulton, R.E, Tallent, N.G, (2015). Long-term plant responses to climate are moderated by biophysical attributes in a North American desert. Journal of Ecology, 103, 657-668.
- Young, T.P, Veblen, K.E, (2015). Strong recruitment from sparse plug plantings of native California bunchgrasses . Grasslands, 25, 9-11.
- Veblen, K.E, Nehring, K.C, McGlone, C.M, Ritchie, M.E, (2015). Contrasting effects of different mammalian herbivores on sagebrush plant communities. PLoS ONE, 10:2, e0118016. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118016
- Kimuyu, D.M, Sensenig, R.L, Riginos, C., Veblen, K.E, Young, T.P, (2014). Native and domestic browsers and grazers reduce fuels, firetemperatures, and acacia ant mortality in an African savanna. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS, 24:4, 741-749.
- Veblen, K.E, Pyke, D., Aldridge, C., Casazza, M., Assal, T., Farinha, M., (2014). Monitoring of livestock grazing effects on Bureau of Land Management land . Rangeland Ecology and Management, 67, 68-77.
- Veblen, K.E, (2013). Impacts of traditional livestock corrals on woody plant communities in an East African savanna. Rangeland Journal, 35, 349-353.
- Porensky, L.M, Bucher, S.F, Veblen, K.E, Treydte, A.C, Young, T.P, (2013). Megaherbivores and cattle alter edge effects around ecosystem hotspots in an African savanna . Journal of Arid Environments, 96, 55-63.
- Riginos, C., Porensky, L., Veblen, K.E, Odadi, W., Sensenig, R., Kimuyu, D., Keesing, F., Wilkerson, M., Young, T.P, (2012). Lessons on the relationship between livestock husbandry and biodiversity from the Kenya Long-term Exclosure Experiment (KLEE). Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice, 2:10, 1-22.
- Porensky, L.M, Veblen, K.E, (2012). Grasses and browsers reinforce landscape heterogeneity by excluding trees from ecosystem hotspots. Oecologia, 168, 749-759.
- Veblen, K.E, (2012). Savanna glade hotspots: plant community development and synergy with large herbivores. Journal of Arid Environments, 78, 119-127.
- Holmes, K.A, Veblen, K.E, Young, T.P, Berry, A.M, (2011). Effects of prescribed fires on young valley oak trees at a research restoration site in the Sacramento Valley. Restoration Ecology, 19, 118-125.
- Veblen, K.E, Young, T.P, (2010). Contrasting effects of cattle and wildlife on the vegetation development of a savanna landscape mosaic. Journal of Ecology, 98:5, 993--1001. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2745.2010.01705.x
- Chang, A.L, Grossman, J.D, Spezio, T.S, Weiskel, H.W, Blum, J.C, Burt, J.W, Muir, A.A, Piovia-Scott, J., Veblen, K.E, Grosholz, E.D, (2009). Tackling aquatic invasions: risks and opportunities for the aquarium fish industry. Biological Invasions, 11:4, 773--785. doi: 10.1007/s10530-008-9292-4
- Veblen, K.E, Young, T.P, (2009). A California grasslands alkali specialist, Hemizonia pungens ssp. pungens , prefers non-alkali soil. Journal of Vegetation Science, 20:1, 170--176. doi: 10.1111/j.1654-1103.2009.05537.x
- Holmes, K., Veblen, K.E, Young, T.P, Berry, A., (2008). California oaks and fire: a review and case study. In: Proceedings of the sixth California oak symposium: today's challenges, tomorrow's opportunities. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-217. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 677 p, 217, doi: 10.2737/PSW-GTR-217
- Veblen, K.E, (2008). SEASON- AND HERBIVORE-DEPENDENT COMPETITION AND FACILITATION IN A SEMIARID SAVANNA. Ecology, 89:6, 1532--1540. doi: 10.1890/07-0973.1
- Burt, J.W, Muir, A.A, Piovia-Scott, J., Veblen, K.E, Chang, A.L, Grossman, J.D, Weiskel, H.W, (2007). Preventing horticultural introductions of invasive plants: potential efficacy of voluntary initiatives. Biological Invasions, 9:8, 909--923. doi: 10.1007/s10530-007-9090-4
- Dawson, K., Veblen, K.E, Young, T.P, (2007). Experimental evidence for an alkali ecotype of Lolium multiflorum, an exotic invasive annual grass in the Central Valley, CA, USA. Biological Invasions, 9:3, 327--334. doi: 10.1007/s10530-006-9036-2
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Technical Reports
Research Reports
- McAvoy, D., Veblen, K.E, Van Miegroet, H., Ryel, R.J, Duncan, B., Stickney, S., (2014). Monitoring effects of PJ harvest and utilization, Final Report to USFS. *
- Veblen, K.E, Pyke, D.A, Aldridge, C.L, Casazza, M.L, Assal, T.J, Farinha, M.A, (2011). Range-wide assessment of livestock grazing across the sagebrush biome. US Geological Survey Open-File Report
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Other
Bulletins
- Veblen, K.E, Porensky, L., (2020). Thresholds are in the eye of the beholder: plants and wildlife respond differently to short-term cattle corrals. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America *
Newsletter
- Mann, R., Monaco, T., Veblen, K.E, Williams, J., (2015). Utah Shrubland Management Newsletter Volume 5. *
- Mann, R., Monaco, T., Veblen, K.E, Williams, J., (2015). Utah Shrubland Management Newsletter Volume 4. *
- Mann, R., Monaco, T., Veblen, K.E, Williams, J., (2014). Utah Shrubland Management Newsletter Volume 3. *
- Young, T.P, Sensenig, R.L, Kimuyu, D.M, Riginos, C., Veblen, K.E, (2013). Livestock and wildlife reduce fire intensity. (KLEE Corner #18) . Laikipia Wildlife Forum Newsletter *
- Mann, R., Monaco, T., Veblen, K.E, Williams, J., (2013). Utah Shrubland Management Newsletter Volume 2. *
- Mann, R., Monaco, T., Veblen, K.E, Williams, J., (2013). Utah Shrubland Management Newsletter Volume 1 . *
- Porensky, L.M, Veblen, K.E, Young, T.P, (2011). What is so special about glade edges? . Laikipia Wildlife Forum Newsletter *
- Veblen, K.E, Porensky, L.M, (2011). To move or not to move: optimizing the benefits of mobile bomas. Mpala Research Centre Newsletter *
- Veblen, K.E, Young, T.P, (2011). Plants helping plants in defense against cattle and wildlife. Laikipia Wildlife Form Newsletter *
Other
- Veblen, K.E, Porensky, L., Young, T., (2019). Ecological Restoration. Encyclopaedia Brittanica *
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Teaching
Graduate Students Mentored
Graduate Students
Maria Stahl - PhD
Spencer Good - MS
McKenna Delton - MS
Brittany Johnson - MS
Alex Stosich - MS
Josh Day - PhD
Courses
WILD 4750 - Monitoring and Assessment in Natural Resource and Environmental Management
WILD 6700 - Restoration Ecology