About

Dr. Perry Barboza is a professor at Texas A&M University with a dual appointment in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology and the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management. He joined Texas A&M University in 2015, coming from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. His academic background includes a B.S. in Biochemistry and Zoology from the University of New South Wales in Australia, and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Nutrition from the University of New England in Australia. Dr. Barboza's areas of expertise encompass wildlife nutrition, management, conservation, and policy. He oversees research in the Wildlife Conservation and Policy Lab and contributes to the university's efforts in ecology and conservation biology.

Research topics

• Biology
• Endocrinology
• Ecology
• Animal science
• Botany
• Atmospheric sciences
• Biochemistry
• Zoology
• Environmental science

Selected publications

• <scp>DNA</scp> metabarcoding and video camera collars yield different inferences about the summer diet of an arctic ungulate

  Ecosphere · 2025-07-01 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract The diets of wild ungulates are a foundational component of their ecology, influencing their behavior, body condition, and demography. With changing environmental conditions, there is a significant need to identify important forage items for ungulates, but this has often proved challenging. Declines in several barren‐ground caribou herds across the North American Arctic have raised concerns about the influence of climate change on caribou forage conditions. Shifts in plant phenology, biomass, quality, and composition may be influencing caribou diets and subsequently affecting their body condition and demographic rates. Although forage is a primary driver of barren‐ground caribou behavior and population dynamics, there is limited recent information about the specific foods they consume, and uncertainty about appropriate methods for identifying those foods. Investigators are increasingly using fecal DNA metabarcoding and video camera collars to assess ungulate diets, but comparative studies of these approaches are lacking. To examine the summer diets of barren‐ground caribou, we used both fecal metabarcoding and video camera collars to identify forage used by the Porcupine caribou herd, which spans the Alaska–Yukon border. In 2021, we sampled the diets of adult females by collecting fecal samples and observing collar videos during 4 sampling occasions. We found that caribou consumed very specific forage items, and those items varied markedly across the growing season. Caribou predominantly consumed graminoids and lichens during early summer, and shrubs and forbs later in the season. Metabarcoding and video data provided significantly different estimates of diet for all taxonomic levels we evaluated, and inferences from the two approaches were often disparate. Metabarcoding failed to detect some items frequently consumed in videos, such as lichens, and indicated high use of other items rarely consumed, such as mosses. We found that video data provided greater taxonomic diversity and resolution for vascular plants and lichens, and more closely aligned with past research and biological expectations than data from fecal metabarcoding. Additional research is needed to be able to use these methods to identify the biomass of different forage items consumed.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Great Plains Management of Invasive Alien Species Database

  Open MIND · 2025-01-01

  other

  Initial draft of database for NRCS funded project on invasive alien species management organizations in the Great Plains states. This initial draft consists of a codebook, managed taxa table, organization table, and Multiple Correspondence analysis variable table.

• Great Plains Management of Invasive Alien Species Database

  Texas Digital Library (University of Texas) · 2025-12-22

  datasetOpen access

  Initial draft of database for NRCS funded project on invasive alien species management organizations in the Great Plains states. This initial draft consists of a codebook, managed taxa table, organization table, and Multiple Correspondence analysis variable table.

  PublisherDOI

• A Primer on Stable Isotopes in Ecology By M. FrancescaCotrufo and YaminaPressler, Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. 2023. pp. 128. $50.00 (hardcover). ISBN: 978‐0‐19‐885449‐4

  Journal of Wildlife Management · 2025-05-30

  article1st authorCorresponding

  The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

  PublisherDOI

• Estimating Mineral Requirements of Wild Herbivores: Modelling Arctic Caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) in Summer

  Animals · 2024-03-12 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Mineral requirements are poorly described for most wildlife. Consequently, the role of forage minerals in movement and productivity are poorly understood for sedentary and migratory ungulates, such as reindeer and caribou (Rangifer tarandus). We applied estimates of maintenance, lactation, body mass change, and antler growth to production curves (body mass, daily intake, and milk yield) for female caribou to calculate their mineral requirements over summer. The total requirements (mg or g·d−1) were divided by the daily intake (kg·d−1) to estimate the minimum concentration of minerals required in the diet (mg or g·kg−1) to balance demand. The daily requirements (mg·d−1) of all minerals increased from parturition to the end of summer. The minimum dietary concentrations (mg·kg−1) of macro-minerals (Ca, P, Mg, Na, K) declined as food intake (kg·d−1) increased over summer. The minimum dietary concentrations (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn) were heavily influenced by body mass gain, which increased through late lactation even though food intakes rose. Our modeling framework can be applied to other wild ungulates to assess the impacts of changing forage phenology, plant community compositions, or environmental disturbances on movement and productivity.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Trapped between food, heat, and insects: Movement of moose (<i>Alces alces</i>) and exposure to flies in the boreal forest of Alaska

  Ecology and Evolution · 2024-06-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Moose ( Alces alces ) in the boreal forest habitats of Alaska are unlike other northern ungulates because they tolerate high densities of flies (Diptera) even though flies cause wounds and infections during the warm summer months. Moose move to find food and to find relief from overheating (hyperthermia) but do they avoid flies? We used GPS collars to measure the rate of movement (m⋅h −1 ) and the time spent (min⋅day −1 ) by enclosed moose in four habitats: wetlands, black spruce, early seral boreal forest, and late seral boreal forest. Fly traps were used in each habitat to quantify spatio‐temporal abundance. Average daily air temperatures increased into July when peak biomass of forage for moose was greatest in early seral boreal forest habitats (424.46 vs. 25.15 kg⋅ha −1 on average in the other habitats). Average daily air temperatures were 1.7°C cooler in black spruce than other habitats, but fly abundance was greatest in black spruce (approximately 4‐fold greater on average than the other habitats). Moose increased their movement rate with counts of biting flies (mosquitoes, black flies, horse and deer flies), but not non‐biting flies (coprophagous flies). However, as air temperature increased (above 14.7°C) moose spent more time in fly‐abundant black spruce, than early seral boreal forest, showing great tolerance for mosquitoes. Warm summer temperatures appear to cause moose to trade‐off foraging in fly‐sparse habitats for resting and dissipating heat in shady, wet habitats with abundant flies that adversely affect the fitness of moose.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Robust Responses of Female Caribou to Changes in Food Supply

  Ecological and Evolutionary Physiology · 2024-01-01 · 7 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding

  ) of those respective requirements during lactation. Robust responses to changes in food supply allow caribou to sustain reproduction, which would buffer demographic response. However, herds may decline when thresholds of behavioral resistance and physiological tolerance are frequently exceeded. Therefore, the challenge for managing declining populations of caribou and other robust species is to identify declines in robustness before their response becomes fragile.

  PublisherDOI

• The effect of size and density on the mean retention time of particles in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

  Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A Molecular & Integrative Physiology · 2024-03-05 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Particle passage from the reticulorumen (RR) depends on particle density and size. A classic way of assessing these effects is the use of plastic markers of varying density and size that are recovered in the faeces. Here, we report results of an experiment where four fistulated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus, 96 ± 12 kg) were fed two different diets (browse, voluntary dry matter intake [DMI] 70 ± 10 g/kg0.75/d; or a pelleted diet, DMI 124 ± 52 g/kg0.75/d) and dosed via fistula with 8 different particle types combining densities of 1.03, 1.22 and 1.44 g/ml and sizes of 1, 10 and 20 mm. Generally, particles that passed the digestive tract intact (not ruminated) did so relatively early after marker dosing, and therefore had shorter mean retention times (MRT) than ruminated particles. On the higher intake, the overall mean retention time (MRT) of particles was shorter, but this was not an effect of shorter MRT for either intact or ruminated particles, but due to a higher proportion of intact particles at the higher intake. This supports the concept that ruminants do not adjust chewing behaviour depending on intake, but that a lower proportion of digesta is submitted to rumination due to pressure-driven escape from the forestomach at higher gut fills. Compared to cattle (Bos primigenius taurus), muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) and moose (Alces alces) that had received the same markers, reindeer had a lower proportion of 1 mm particles that passed intact. Our results support the concept that the critical size threshold for particles leaving the ruminant forestomach is dependent on body size. While the results likely do not represent findings peculiar for reindeer, they indicate fundamental mechanisms operating in the forestomach of ruminants.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Wounded but unstressed: Moose tolerate injurious flies in the boreal forest

  Journal of Mammalogy · 2024-08-07 · 4 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Moose (Alces alces) in boreal habitats feed and rest where they are exposed to Dipteran flies and the parasites they carry. We collected 31,905 flies during the summer from 12 habituated moose on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. Moose flies, Haematobosca alcis (Snow), Diptera: Muscidae—a species that completes its entire life cycle on or around moose—accounted for 91% of flies collected; the reminder of the flies collected included mosquitoes (Culicidae), black flies (Simuliidae), and deer flies (Tabanidae). Flies impose physiological costs for moose, e.g., vectors for parasites such as Legworm (Onchocerca spp.) which causes sores on the hind legs of moose. We found that the number of sores present on the hind legs of moose is positively correlated with body fat, which suggests a correlation between gains of energy and damage from flies. We also found that the number of sores is negatively correlated with serum albumin, which is indicative of an inflammatory response and body protein being used to repair injuries from flies and parasites. The number or type of flies present on a Moose were not correlated with the concentration of corticosteroids in saliva or feces. Flies do not elicit a stress response in moose even though the costs of repairing wounds and resisting infections of those wounds likely reduce gains of protein from summer foraging. Moose can tolerate the injuries from biting flies with regular gains from summer foraging but exposure to insect-borne parasites poses a risk to reproduction and survival.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Sores of boreal moose reveal a previously unknown genetic lineage of parasitic nematode within the genus Onchocerca

  PLoS ONE · 2023-01-11 · 11 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Long-standing reports of open sores on the hind legs of moose ( Alces alces ) have been recorded in Alaska (as well as Canada, Europe, and Michigan), eliciting concerns about causes and infection. We used histological and genomic methods to investigate the sores from 20 adult moose on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. We paired this with thermal imagery and molt scoring of adult moose to further describe sore formation and understand its timing. Severe, ulcerative and eosinophilic dermatitis was found in all moose with sores present, and microfilariae within intraepidermal pustules were additionally found in four samples. Genetic analysis of sores from moose revealed a previously unknown genetic lineage of Onchocerca . Adult moose molt and lose their barrier of protection against flies in June and July during peak fly activity, leaving them vulnerable and allowing the development of sores. In summary, our results indicate that the cause for the sores on the hindleg of moose is a previously unknown genetic lineage of Onchocerca , probably transmitted by black flies, in timing with the molt cycle of adult moose. These sores leave moose exposed to pathogens, making them vulnerable, and challenging their health and fitness.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• David D. Gustine

  United States Fish and Wildlife Service

  26 shared

• Daniel P. Thompson

  15 shared

• Katherine L. Parker

  13 shared

• Layne G. Adams

  U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center

  13 shared

• Danielle Mason

  Jacksonville College

  13 shared

• Rachel D. Shively

  12 shared

• Jeff M. Martin

  Whitworth University

  11 shared

• David H. Ward

  United States Geological Survey

  11 shared

Education

• B.S., Biochemistry and Zoology (Hons)

  University of New South Wales (Australia)

• Ph.D., Biochemistry, Microbiology and Nutrition

  University of New England (Australia)