A5107791451- Avian ecology and behavior
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Economic and Environmental Valuation
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Forest ecology and management
- Ocean Acidification Effects and Responses
- Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Seedling growth and survival studies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Survey Sampling and Estimation Techniques
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
2013-2022
Utah State University
2014
Migratory behavior in ungulates has declined globally and understanding the causative factors (environmental change vs. human mediated) is needed to formulate effective management strategies. In Jackson elk herd of northwest Wyoming, demographic differences between summer (Cervus elaphus) population segments have led changes migratory patterns over a 35-year time period. The proportion short-distance migrants (SDM) increased long-distance (LDM) concurrently declined. probability...
The decision to breed influences an individual's current and future reproduction, the proportion of individuals that is important determinant population dynamics. Age, experience, individual quality, environmental conditions have all been demonstrated influence breeding propensity. To elucidate which these factors exerts greatest on propensity in a temperate waterfowl, we studied female Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) southwestern Montana. Females were captured during seasons 2007–2009, status...
Abstract Effective wildlife habitat management and conservation requires understanding the factors influencing distribution abundance of plant species. Field studies, however, have documented observation errors in visually estimated cover including measurements which differ from true value (measurement error) not observing a species that is present within plot (detection error). Unlike rapid expansion occupancy N‐mixture models for analysing surveys, development statistical accounting error...
Pre‐breeding body condition is an important determinant of reproductive success in birds, largely through its influence on timing breeding. Declines clutch size and recruitment probability within breeding seasons indicate a tradeoff may exist between the number young (clutch size) quality (recruitment probability). We explored local drivers pre‐breeding tested predictions cost‐of‐delay hypothesis female lesser scaup Aythya affinis . Yearling females arrived study site lower than older...
Habitat selection studies of postbreeding waterfowl have rarely focused on within‐wetland attributes such as water depth, escape cover, and food availability. Flightless must balance habitat between avoiding predation risks feeding. Reproductively successful female ducks face the greatest challenges because they begin definitive prebasic molt at or near end brood rearing, when their body condition is a low point. We assessed relative importance group effects in by lesser scaup Aythya affinis...
Stable isotopes derived from the claws of birds could be used to determine migratory origins if time periods represented in excised sections were known. We investigated new keratin growth adult female Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) by estimating equilibration rates stable (δ13C, δ15N, and δ2H) breeding grounds into 1 mm claw tips. sampled on their ground through found that it took approximately 3–3.5 months for isotope values most tips equilibrate reflected those present environment grounds....
Studies of how birds mobilize nutrients to eggs have traditionally considered a continuum possible allocation strategies ranging from income breeding (rely on food sources found the grounds) capital body reserves stored prior season). For breeding, can be acquired either or away grounds, but it has been difficult quantify relative contribution each, precluding identification key habitats for acquiring clutch formation. During 2006–2009, we explored importance spring‐staging versus...
ABSTRACT Annual variation in juvenile recruitment is an important component of duck population dynamics, yet little known about the factors affecting probability surviving and breeding first year life. Two hypothesized mechanisms to explain annual variability are indirect carry‐over effects (COEs) from conditions experienced during prefledging period direct climatic postfledging period. We used Cormack‐Jolly‐Seber models estimate apparent survival detection rates 643 female lesser scaup (...
ABSTRACT Nasal discs have been used to identify ducks in studies of survival and reproduction. To date, there has not a comprehensive assessment nasal‐disc effects on the vital rates wild ducks. We applied nasal 603 juvenile 784 adult lesser scaup ( Aythya affinis ) females from population breeding southwest Montana, USA, released 1,399 71 wearing only metal leg bands between June 2005 September 2016. Using resighting, recapture, hunter‐recovery data collected those individuals, we estimated...
Hypoxia is common to shallow ice-covered lakes during the winter season, and restorative actions prevent impacts aquatic ecosystems are desired yet untested in remote settings. The use of a solar photovoltaic circulator was investigated for reoxygenation hypoxic lake northern Rocky Mountains. During fall 2019, powered (SolarBee SB10000LH; hereinafter circulator) installed near center Upper Red Rock Lake, Montana USA (latitude 44° 36’N) dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, turbidity, changes...