Anna Widén

My research focuses on human–wildlife interactions, plant–herbivore interactions, and the human dimensions of wildlife management. I am interested in understanding how ecological and social processes interact to shape wildlife behavior, ecosystem impacts, and management outcomes.

My previous research has examined the drivers of ungulate behavior and landscape use, with a particular focus on their impacts on forest and agricultural ecosystems and the interactions between these land-use systems. By combining behavioral ecology, landscape ecology, and applied wildlife management, I have investigated how factors such as food availability and quality, predation risk, climate, and human activities influence habitat selection, space use, and foraging behavior in large herbivores.

A central theme throughout my work is understanding and mitigating human–wildlife conflicts. Through large-scale field studies, landscape experiments, and interdisciplinary collaborations, I have explored how ecological knowledge can contribute to more effective and sustainable wildlife management. I have also studied how human values, attitudes, and decision-making influence wildlife management practices and shape the landscapes that wildlife inhabit.

In my current postdoctoral research, I investigate how attitudes, values, and motivations influence hunting behavior across a range of species, including small game, cervids, and seals. By integrating social and ecological data, I aim to better understand the socio-ecological systems in which wildlife and people coexist.