Oregon State University

McComb, Brenda

Professor and Department Head

Office Location: 
321B Richardson Hall
Phone: 
541-737-6583
Fax: 
541-737-5814
Email Address: 
Specialty: 

Forest and Wildlife Ecology

Educational Background: 
  • B.S., 1974, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
  • M.S., 1976, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
  • Ph.D., 1979, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Research Interests: 

Quantifying the effects of land management practices on the abundance and distribution of vertebrates as a result of habitat change. Land management activities including forest management and development have local effects and can have cumulative impacts on habitat availability for terrestrial vertebrates. Considering the potential impacts on biodiversity prior to taking a management action can help to minimize adverse effects of management and identify key areas for habitat restoration.

Current/Recent Programs: 
  1. Monitoring changes in habitat and populations of forest floor vertebrates in thinned stands of the Oregon Cascades
  2. Assessing patterns of habitat availability for vertebrates in western Oregon and eastern Washington
  3. Habitat patterns and trends for focal wildlife species under current land policies in the Oregon Coast Range
  4. Assessing animal associations with watershed condition in Oregon
Selected Publications: 
  1. Betts, M.G., Hagar, J., Rivers, J. Alexander, J. McGarigal, K. and McComb, B.C. In Press. Thresholds in songbird occurrence in relation to early seral broadleaf forest. Ecological Applications.
  2. McComb, B.C., B. Zuckerberg, D.G. Vesely, and C. A. Jordan. 2010. Monitoring Animal Populations and Their Habitats: A Practitioner’s Guide. Taylor and Francis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL. 277 pp.
  3. Mueller-Warrant, G.W., G.W. Whittaker, S.M. Griffith, G.M. Banowetz, B.D. Dugger, T.S..Garcia, G. Giannico, K.L. Boyer, and B.C. McComb. 2010. Remote sensing classification of grass seed cropping practices in western Oregon. International Journal of Remote Sensing (in press).
  4. Duncan, S.L., B.C. McComb and K. N. Johnson. 2010. Integrating ecological and social ranges of variability in conservation of biodiversity: past, present, and future. Ecology and Society 15(1): 5. [online] URL: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol15/iss1/art5/
  5. Thompson, R.L., C. L. Chambers and B.C. McComb 2009. Home Range and Habitat of Western Red-backed Voles in the Oregon Cascades. Northwest Science 82: 83(1): 46-56
  6. McComb, B. C., T. A. Spies, and K. A. Olsen 2007. Sustaining biodiversity in the Oregon Coast Range: potential effects of forest policies in a multi- ownership province. Ecology and Society 12(2): 29.
  7. Johnson, K.N., S. Gordon, S. Duncan, D. Lach, B. McComb, and K. Reynolds. 2007. Conserving creatures of the forest: a guide to decision making and decision models for forest biodiversity. National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry Final report. NCSSF, Washington, DC
  8. McComb, B.C., and S. Duncan. 2007. Biodiversity Conservation in Contemporary Landscapes, Stressors, and Ranges of Variability: Scientific and Social Views. National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry Final report. NCSSF, Washington, DC
  9. McComb, B. C. 2007. Wildlife habitat management: Concepts and applications in forestry. Taylor and Francis Publishers, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 319 Pages.
  10. Spies, T. A., B. C. McComb, R. Kennedy, M. McGrath, K. Olsen, R. J. Pabst. 2007. Potential effects of forest policies on biodiversity in a multi-ownership province. Ecological Applications 17(1):48-65.
  11. Vesely, D., B. C. McComb, B.C., C. D. Vojta, L. H. Suring, J. Halaj, R. S. Holthausen, B. Zuckerberg, and P. M. Manley. 2006. Development of Protocols To Inventory or Monitor Wildlife, Fish, or Rare Plants. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-72. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 100 p.