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National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) |
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Dr. Bruce A. Kimball, Research Chemist |
Beginning in 1988, Dr. Bruce Kimball has served in a variety of roles with the USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) as analytical chemist and chemical ecologist. Currently, Dr. Kimball conducts his research from the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, PA. His research focuses on animal behavior and the chemical signals that identify friend, foe, and food. The goals of his research are increased understanding of wildlife behavior and development of practical tools to minimize wildlife damage to agricultural resources. Current research topics include: 1) plant chemistry and herbivore foraging; 2) odors associated immune responses; 3) mechanisms of herbivore repellents; and 4) improved bait palatability.
Dr. Kimball is Project Leader of the NWRC Analytical Chemistry Project (ACP). The ACP laboratory, located in Fort Collins, CO, is equipped with state-of-the-art chromatographic and mass spectrometric instrumentation. The ACP provides method development research and analytical services to NWRC and other customers.
Expertise Keywords
Chemical ecology, diet selection, foraging behavior, repellents, attractants, analytical chemistry
Taxonomic Groups of Interest:
Black bears, coyotes, deer, rodents, blackbirds
Current Research
Recent research suggests that many assaults on the immune systems of animals may result in diagnostic chemical signals detectable by trained sensor animals. Detection of chemical signals indicative of disease or vaccination holds tremendous promise for evaluating infection rates in wildlife populations and monitoring abatement programs. Currently, Dr. Kimball and colleagues at the Monell Chemical Senses Center are investigating chemosensory detection of diseases and vaccines by biosentinel detector animals.
Products/Techniques Developed or Tested
- Deer repellents
- M-44 attractants
- Silvicultural manipulation
- Conditioned aversion
Education
- Ph.D., Colorado State University, Ecology, Chemical ecology of vascular tissue foraging of black bears
- M.S., Arizona State University, Chemistry, Determination of formic acid in chondritic meteorites
- B.S., Adams State College, Chemistry
International Experience
Canada (deer browsing)
Contact Information
- Address: Wildlife Services, NWRC, c/o Monell Chemical Senses Center, 3500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Telephone: 267-519-4930
- Fax: 215-898-2084
- E-mail: bruce.a.kimball@aphis.usda.gov
NWRC Research Projec: Development of Chemistry-, Biochemistry-, and Computational-based
Tools for Wildlife Damage Management
NWRC Exploratory Chemical Research