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The School of Biological Sciences

Charles T. Robbins

Charles Robbins

Field of Study: Ecology and nutrition
Title: Professor
Degrees: Ph.D., Wildlife Biology, Cornell University
Homepage: Homepage/Lab Web Site Link
Google Scholar:  Google Scholar
Office: 373 Eastlick
Email: ctrobbins@wsu.edu
Phone: 509-335-1119
Fax: nan
Mailing Address: School of Biological Sciences
Washington State University
PO Box 644236
Pullman,WA 99164-4236

RESEARCH INTERESTS

We study the nutritional ecology of captive and free-ranging bears. The research is focused on identifying important food resources and the impact of changes in those food resources. Many of our studies combine studies on both captive and wild bears to provide as much insight and knowledge as possible.

Representative Publications:

  • Deacy, W. W., J. A. Erlenbach, W. B. Leacock, J. A. Stanford, C. T. Robbins, and J. B. Armstrong. 2018. Phenological tracking associated with increased salmon consumption by brown bears. Scientific Reports 8:11008. 9pp.
  • Robbins, C.T., Woodford, N.L., G.G. Clyde, C. Minor, O.L. Nelson, M.M. Brewer, P.H. Khalife, and J. R. Hawley. 2018. Salmon poisoning disease in grizzly bears with population recovery implications. Journal of Wildlife Management 82:1396-1402.
  • Pagano, A.M., A.M. Carnahan, C.T. Robbins, M.A. Owen, T. Batson, N. Wagner, A. Cutting, N. Nicassio-Hiskey, A. Hash, and T.M. Williams. 2018. Energetic costs of locomotion in bears: Is plantigrade locomotion energetically economical? Journal of Experimental Biology 221:doi:10.1242/jeb.175372.
  • Deacy, W., J.B. Armstrong, W.B. Leacock, C.T. Robbins, D.D. Gustine, E.J. Ward, J.A. Erlenbach, and J.A. Stanford. 2017. Phenological synchronization disrupts trophic interactions between Kodiak brown bears and salmon. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114:10432-10437.
  • Shine, C.L., C.T. Robbins, O.L. Nelson, and C.P. McGowan. 2017. Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) locomotion: forelimb joint mechanics across speed in the sagittal and frontal planes. Journal of Experimental Biology 220:1322-1329.
  • Ware, J.V., K.D. Rode, J.F. Bromaghin, D. Douglas, R.R. Wilson, E.V. Regehr, S.C. Amstrup, G. Durner, A. Pagano, J. Olson, C.T. Robbins, and H.T. Jansen. 2017. Habitat degradation affects the summer activity of polar bears. Oecologia 184:87-99.
  • Pagano, A.M., K.D. Rode, A. Cutting, M.A. Owen, S. Jensen, J.V. Ware, C.T. Robbins, G.M. Durner, T.C. Atwood, M.E. Obbard, K.R. Middel, G.W. Thiemann, and T.M. Williams. 2017. Using tri-axial accelerometers to identify wild polar bear behaviors. Endangered Species Research 32:19-33.
  • Rigano, K.S., J.L. Gehring, B.D. Evans-Hutzenbiler, A.V. Chen, O.L. Nelson, C.A. Vella, C.T. Robbins, and H.T. Jansen. 2017. Life in the fat lane: Seasonal regulation of insulin sensitivity, food intake, and adipose biology in brown bears. Journal of Comparative Physiology 187:649-676.
  • Jansen, H., T. Leise, G. Stenhouse, K. Pigeon, W. Kasworm, J. Teisberg, T. Radant, R. Dallmann, S. Brown, and C.T. Robbins. 2016. The bear circadian clock doesn’t sleep in hibernation. Frontiers in Zoology 13: Article Number: 42, DOI: 10.1186/s12983-016-0173-x.
  • Rode, K.D., C.A. Stricker, J. Erlenbach, C.T. Robbins, S.C. Cherry, S.D. Newsome, A. Cutting, S. Jensen, G. Stenhouse, M. Brooks, A. Hash, and N. Nicassio. 2016. Isotopic incorporation and the effects of fasting and dietary lipid content on isotopic discrimination in large carnivorous mammals. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 89:182-197.