Peter Bugoni is a Wildlife and Range Ecologist with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes National Bison Range. He started his career in invasive plant ecology in 2000, after earning a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Montana. After working for nearly a decade managing invasive plants along the Bitterroot Divide, he returned to U of M and focused on analyzing timberland divestment patterns, elk migration routes, and invasive plant establishment earning a Master of Science in 2009.  In 2018 he began pursuing a Doctorate in Ecology from Montana State University with a central focus on plant community ecology, facilitating habitats resilient to the effects of climate change, and uncovering the mysteries of the soil microbiome. His expected completion date is spring 2023.

Peter’s duties include collection and analysis of key rangeland health indicators at the National Bison Range. Assessing and implementing land management techniques that encourage resilient plant communities. Partnering with universities and other land management agencies on experimental projects to further understand ecological interactions that drive healthy ecosystems and community outreach to educate and involve the next generation of potential scientists.