Ben Luukkonen

Ben Luukkonen

Contact Me

Ph.D. Student
Department of Fisheries and Wildlife

Cellphone:
517-230-3386

Email:

Major Advisor:

Scott Winterstein


Background:

Ben grew up hunting, fishing, and spending time outdoors in Michigan. His fascination and appreciation of wildlife led him to pursue a career where he can contribute to science-based conservation. While completing his undergraduate degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology and Management at Michigan State University he worked for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division and gained an interest in research. He continued his education at Iowa State University where he studied movement and survival of Canada geese in urban and rural areas. This research directly informed policy and management decisions to increase opportunity for waterfowl hunters while using harvest to contribute to reducing human-wildlife conflict associated with abundant Canada geese in urban areas. After receiving his M.S. degree from Iowa State University, Ben came back to Michigan State to complete a doctoral degree.

Ben is currently pursuing a PhD degree in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife with co-advisors Dr. Scott Winterstein and Dr. Dan Hayes. This is a collaborative research project among five states examining movement, survival, habitat selection, and productivity of Great Lakes mallards. Mallards are the most abundant and commonly harvested duck species in the Mississippi Flyway, and as a generalist species serve as an indicator of wetland quantity and quality. Mallards nesting in the Great Lakes region are locally important to waterfowl hunters and other stakeholders, but the Great Lakes mallard population has declined in recent years. Thus, Ben’s research aims to identify factors contributing to declines in mallard abundance and make harvest and habitat management recommendations to recover mallards and benefit other wetland wildlife.

Ben’s research interests include population dynamics, movement ecology, human-wildlife conflict, and waterfowl ecology and management. His career goal is to become a wildlife research biologist whose work informs science-based policies and management for successful wildlife conservation.