Derek Lee
Associate Research Professor
Huck Affiliations
Most Recent Publications
Anthropogenic and climatic drivers of population densities in an African savanna ungulate community
Lukas Bierhoff, Monica L. Bond, Arpat Ozgul, Derek E. Lee, 2024, Population Ecology on p. 274-293
Extinction risks and mitigation for a megaherbivore, the giraffe, in a human-influenced landscape under climate change
Monica L. Bond, Derek E. Lee, Maria Paniw, 2023, Global Change Biology on p. 6693-6712
Effect of local climate anomalies on giraffe survival
Monica L. Bond, Arpat Ozgul, Derek E. Lee, 2023, Biodiversity and Conservation on p. 3179-3197
Biofluorescence and predator avoidance in the giraffe
Kin Morandi, Anna K. Lindholm, Derek E. Lee, Monica L. Bond, 2023, African Journal of Ecology on p. 519-522
Masai giraffe population change over 40 years in Arusha National Park
Derek E. Lee, George G. Lohay, James Madeli, Douglas R. Cavener, Monica L. Bond, 2023, African Journal of Ecology on p. 345-353
Genetic evidence of population subdivision among Masai giraffes separated by the Gregory Rift Valley in Tanzania
George G. Lohay, Derek E. Lee, Lan Wu-Cavener, David L. Pearce, Xiaoyi Hou, Monica L. Bond, Douglas R. Cavener, 2023, Ecology and Evolution
Phenotypic matching by spot pattern potentially mediates female giraffe social associations
K. Morandi, A. K. Lindholm, D. E. Lee, M. L. Bond, 2022, Journal of Zoology on p. 147-157
Trophic processes constrain seasonal ungulate distributions at two scales in an East African savanna
Nicholas L. James, Monica L. Bond, Arpat Ozgul, Derek E. Lee, 2022, Journal of Mammalogy on p. 956-969
Forage selection by Masai giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) at multiple spatial scales
Matana Levi, Derek E. Lee, Monica L. Bond, Anna C. Treydte, 2022, Journal of Mammalogy on p. 737-744
Using spot pattern recognition to examine population biology, evolutionary ecology, sociality, and movements of giraffes: a 70-year retrospective
Derek E. Lee, George G. Lohay, Douglas R. Cavener, Monica L. Bond, 2022, Mammalian Biology
Most-Cited Papers
A multi-method approach to delineate and validate migratory corridors
Monica L. Bond, Curtis M. Bradley, Christian Kiffner, Thomas A. Morrison, Derek E. Lee, 2017, Landscape Ecology on p. 1705-1721
Evaluating conservation effectiveness in a Tanzanian community wildlife management area
Derek E. Lee, 2018, Journal of Wildlife Management on p. 1767-1774
Movements and source–sink dynamics of a Masai giraffe metapopulation
Derek E. Lee, Douglas T. Bolger, 2017, Population Ecology on p. 157-168
Occupancy of California Spotted Owl sites following a large fire in the Sierra Nevada, California
Derek Lee, Monica L. Bond, 2015, Condor on p. 228-236
Fission–fusion dynamics of a megaherbivore are driven by ecological, anthropogenic, temporal, and social factors
Monica L. Bond, Derek E. Lee, Arpat Ozgul, Barbara König, 2019, Oecologia on p. 335-347
How many species of giraffe are there?
Fred B. Bercovitch, Philip S.M. Berry, Anne Dagg, Francois Deacon, John B. Doherty, Derek E. Lee, Frédéric Mineur, Zoe Muller, Rob Ogden, Russell Seymour, Bryan Shorrocks, Andy Tutchings, 2017, Current Biology on p. R136-R137
Proximity to humans affects local social structure in a giraffe metapopulation
Monica L. Bond, Barbara König, Derek E. Lee, Arpat Ozgul, Damien R. Farine, 2020, Journal of Animal Ecology
Quantifying the ecological success of a community-based wildlife conservation area in Tanzania
Derek E. Lee, Monica L. Bond, 2018, Journal of Mammalogy on p. 459-464
Spatial variation in giraffe demography: A test of 2 paradigms
Derek E. Lee, Monica L. Bond, Bernard M. Kissui, Yustina A. Kiwango, Douglas T. Bolger, 2016, Journal of Mammalogy on p. 1015-1025
Correlates of home range sizes of giraffes, Giraffa camelopardalis
Mara A. Knüsel, Derek E. Lee, Barbara König, Monica L. Bond, 2019, Animal Behaviour on p. 143-151
News Articles Featuring Derek Lee
Nov 01, 2023
Giraffes could go extinct – the 5 biggest threats they face
Giraffe populations have declined by 40% in the last 30 years, and there are now fewer than 70,000 mature individuals left in the wild
Full Article
Sep 12, 2023
Another rare spotless giraffe found-the first ever seen in the wild
There has been another sighting of spotless giraffes in Namibia
Full Article
Jun 12, 2023
Masai giraffes more endangered than previously thought
Giraffes in eastern Africa may be even more endangered than previously thought. A new study led by researchers at Penn State revealed that populations of Masai giraffes separated geographically by the Great Rift Valley have not interbred — or exchanged genetic material — in more than a thousand years, and in some cases hundreds of thousands of years.
Full Article
Sep 27, 2021
Male giraffes are more socially connected than females
Although female giraffes have closer “friends” than male giraffes, male giraffes have more “acquaintances” than females, according to a new study by an international team that includes a Penn State biologist. The study demonstrates that giraffes form a complex multilevel society that is driven by differences in the social connections among individuals, which could have conservation implications for the endangered giraffes.
Full Article
May 06, 2021
Whole-Genome Data Point to Four Species of Giraffe
The genome sequences of 51 giraffes from all over Africa contribute to the latest attempt in an ongoing pursuit to pin down a species number.
Full Article
Feb 10, 2021
Friends matter: More sociable giraffes live longer
Adult female giraffes that group together with more of their peers live longer than less sociable individuals, according to a five-year study of giraffes in Tanzania.
Full Article
Dec 10, 2020
Could spotted owls benefit from forest fires?
It may seem counterintuitive, but forest fires are actually beneficial to spotted owls, according to Penn State biologist Derek Lee.
Full Article
Jun 09, 2020
Human presence weakens social relationships of wild giraffes
Living in close proximity to human settlements disturbs giraffe social networks, with animals having weaker bonds and fewer interactions with other giraffes, according to a new study by a team including a Penn State biologist.
Full Article
Apr 26, 2020
Wildfires Can Reduce Biodiversity. Can Biodiversity Be Used to Reduce Wildfires?
Over the past several months, wildfires have burned a huge portion of Australia’s natural landscape. We’re talking almost 18 million acres of bushland, forest and national parks. This was not your typical annual wildfire.
Full Article
Mar 18, 2020
Improving success of giraffe translocations
Researchers advise that Giraffes being translocated for conservation purposes should be moved in groups that contain at least 30 females and three males to ensure long-term population success.
Full Article