Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Joseph Eisaguirre, Ph.D.

Joe is a Research Wildlife Biologist with the Ecosystem Analytics team at the Alaska Science Center. His research focuses on developing and applying statistical methods to better understand the ecology and inform management of wildlife.

My research generally involves developing and applying Bayesian hierarchical models and other quantitative methods to better understand the ecology and inform management of wildlife, in close collaboration with other Department of Interior agencies and state and local partners. This includes spatiotemporal models of population growth and spread, movement models, resource and habitat selection models.

Professional Experience

  • 2022 - present  Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska

  • 2020 - 2022       Statistician, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management,
                                 Anchorage, Alaska

  • 2020 - 2020      Post doctoral researcher, University of Nevada Reno, Nevada

  • 2020 - 2020      Post doctoral researcher, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska

  • 2015 - 2019       Graduate research and teaching assistant, University of Alaska Fairbanks,
                                Alaska

  • 2013 - 2016       Fish and Wildlife Technician, Alaska Department of Fish and Game,
                                Alaska

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. 2020   Biological Sciences (Wildlife Biology & Conservation),
                          University of Alaska Fairbanks

  • M.S.   2019   Statistics  University of Alaska Fairbanks

  • B.A.   2015    Biology  Colorado College

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • The Wildlife Society

  • The International Biometric Society

  • Raptor Research Foundation

  • American Statistical Association

Honors and Awards

  • 2021 Two STAR Awards (Special Thanks for Achieving Results), US Fish and Wildlife Service

  • Calvin J Lensink Fellowship, University of Alaska Fairbanks

  • Nancy Klamm Award, Wilson Ornithological Society

  • Bergrstrom Memorial Research Award, Association of Field Ornithologists

  • Richard and Reba Beidleman Award, Colorado College

  • James Wilkes Memorial Biology Award, Colorado College

Science and Products

link
Float plane with pilot giving a thumbs up before takeoff in Prince William Sound. Trees and mountains in background.

Chugach Imaq Research Collaborative

Imaq comes from the Sugt’stun language meaning the ocean and the contents within it. The Chugach Imaq Project was founded by Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC) to support Indigenous-led research and harvest management of marine mammals within the Chugach Region, while safeguarding subsistence needs of the Eyak and Sugpiaq tribes.
By
Alaska Science Center
link

Chugach Imaq Research Collaborative

Imaq comes from the Sugt’stun language meaning the ocean and the contents within it. The Chugach Imaq Project was founded by Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC) to support Indigenous-led research and harvest management of marine mammals within the Chugach Region, while safeguarding subsistence needs of the Eyak and Sugpiaq tribes.
Learn More
link
Sampling a stream in the mist in the Akilik River drainage

Ecosystems Analytics

Ecosystems Analytics is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians with a diverse range of expertise and experience (summarized below). We collaborate with internal and external partners to answer challenging ecological questions that are a high priority of the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, sister agencies within the Department of the Interior (DOI), and various...
By
Alaska Science Center
link

Ecosystems Analytics

Ecosystems Analytics is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians with a diverse range of expertise and experience (summarized below). We collaborate with internal and external partners to answer challenging ecological questions that are a high priority of the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, sister agencies within the Department of the Interior (DOI), and various...
Learn More
link
an eagle

Alaska Raptor Group

Thirty-one raptor species, including 18 species of diurnal raptors (Orders Accipitriformes and Falconiformes) and 13 species of owls (Order Strigiformes), have been documented in Alaska, 23 of which are known to breed within the state.
By
Alaska Science Center
link

Alaska Raptor Group

Thirty-one raptor species, including 18 species of diurnal raptors (Orders Accipitriformes and Falconiformes) and 13 species of owls (Order Strigiformes), have been documented in Alaska, 23 of which are known to breed within the state.
Learn More
Aerial survey for Black Brant at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics Program
USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics Program
Aerial survey for Black Brant at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska

USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics Program

USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics Program

The USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics program is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians who provide analytical support to USGS scientists to answer challenging ecological topics and management questions for USGS partners.

By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Alaska Science Center
Aerial survey for Black Brant at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska

USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics Program

USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics Program

The USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics program is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians who provide analytical support to USGS scientists to answer challenging ecological topics and management questions for USGS partners.

By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Alaska Science Center

Assessing the population consequences of disturbance and climate change for the Pacific walrus

Climate change and anthropogenic disturbance are increasingly affecting wildlife at a global scale. Predicting how varying types and degrees of disturbance may interact to influence population dynamics is a key management challenge. Population consequences of disturbance (PCoD) models provide a framework to link effects of anthropogenic disturbance on an individual’s behavior and physiology to pop
Authors
Devin L. Johnson, Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Rebecca L. Taylor, Joel L. Garlich-Miller
By
Alaska Science Center

Understanding sea otter population change in southeast Alaska

IntroductionThe Southeast Alaska (SE) stock of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) ranges from Cape Yakataga on the north to the Dixon Entrance on the south. During the maritime fur trade, sea otters were commercially harvested to near extinction in SE for their pelts and were presumed unlikely to naturally repopulate the region.
Authors
Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Toshio D. Matsuoka, George G. Esslinger, Benjamin P Weitzman, Paul A. Schuette, Jamie N. Womble
By
Alaska Science Center

Rayleigh step-selection functions and connections to continuous-time mechanistic movement models

BackgroundThe process known as ecological diffusion emerges from a first principles view of animal movement, but ecological diffusion and other partial differential equation models can be difficult to fit to data. Step-selection functions (SSFs), on the other hand, have emerged as powerful practical tools for ecologists studying the movement and habitat selection of animals.MethodsSSFs typically i
Authors
Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Perry J. Williams, Mevin B. Hooten
By
Alaska Science Center

Informing management of recovering predators and their prey with ecological diffusion models

The reintroduction and recovery of predators can be ecologically beneficial as well as socially and economically controversial. However, the growth and expansion of predator populations, and thus their ecological, social, and economic impacts, are not static but rather they vary in space and time. We propose a spatiotemporal statistical modeling framework based on ecological diffusion to better in
Authors
Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Perry J. Williams, Xinyi Lu, Michelle L. Kissling, Paul A Schutte, Benjamin P Weitzman, William S. Beatty, George G. Esslinger, Jamie N. Womble, Mevin B. Hooten
By
Alaska Science Center

A hierarchical modelling framework for estimating individual- and population-level reproductive success from movement data

Rapidly advancing animal telemetry technologies paired with new statistical models can provide insight into the behaviour of otherwise unobservable free-living animals. Changes in behaviour apparent from pairing telemetry with statistical models often occur as animals undertake key life-history activities, such as reproduction. For many species that are secretive or occupy remote areas, these life
Authors
Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Perry J. Williams, Julia C. Brockman, Stephen B. Lewis, Christopher P. Barger, Greg A. Breed, Travis L. Booms
By
Alaska Science Center

Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) population abundance and distribution across the southeast Alaska stock, summer 2022

In the summer of 2022, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and partners successfully completed the first single-year, aerial photo survey of sea otters across the entire Southeast stock of northern sea otters. This document presents the latest findings from the 2022 Southeast Alaska Sea Otter Survey, providing up-to-date information regarding occupancy, abundance and carrying capacity. We collected t
Authors
Paul Schuette, Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Benjamin P Weitzman, Collin Power, Evan Wetherington, Jenipher Cate, Jamie N. Womble, Linnea Pearson, Daniel Melody, Chelsea Merriman, Kat Hanks, George G. Esslinger
By
Alaska Science Center

Recursive Bayesian computation facilitates adaptive optimal design in ecological studies

Optimal design procedures provide a framework to leverage the learning generated by ecological models to flexibly and efficiently deploy future monitoring efforts. At the same time, Bayesian hierarchical models have become widespread in ecology and offer a rich set of tools for ecological learning and inference. However, coupling these methods with an optimal design framework can become computatio
Authors
Clinton B. Leach, William J. Perry, Joseph M. Eisaguirre, Jamie N. Womble, Michael R. Bower, Mevin Hooten
By
Cooperative Research Units

Diffusion modeling reveals effects of multiple release sites and human activity on a recolonizing apex predator

BackgroundReintroducing predators is a promising conservation tool to help remedy human-caused ecosystem changes. However, the growth and spread of a reintroduced population is a spatiotemporal process that is driven by a suite of factors, such as habitat change, human activity, and prey availability. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are apex predators of nearshore marine ecosystems that had declined n
Authors
Joseph M. Eisaguirre, Perry J. Willliams, Xinyi Lu, Michelle L. Kissling, William S. Beatty, George G. Esslinger, Jamie N. Womble, Mevin Hooten
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center

Rayleigh Step-Selection Functions

This project aimed to find connections between step-selection functions (SSFs) and partial differential equation models of animal movement and, in doing so, improve the flexibility of SSFs. Please see the associated manuscript cited above for further details.
By
Alaska Science Center

Reproductive Success from Movement Data

This software release includes code to conduct analyses presented in the manuscript titled: A hierarchical modeling framework for estimating individual- and population-level reproductive success from movement data
By
Alaska Science Center

Science and Products

link
Float plane with pilot giving a thumbs up before takeoff in Prince William Sound. Trees and mountains in background.

Chugach Imaq Research Collaborative

Imaq comes from the Sugt’stun language meaning the ocean and the contents within it. The Chugach Imaq Project was founded by Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC) to support Indigenous-led research and harvest management of marine mammals within the Chugach Region, while safeguarding subsistence needs of the Eyak and Sugpiaq tribes.
By
Alaska Science Center
link

Chugach Imaq Research Collaborative

Imaq comes from the Sugt’stun language meaning the ocean and the contents within it. The Chugach Imaq Project was founded by Chugach Regional Resources Commission (CRRC) to support Indigenous-led research and harvest management of marine mammals within the Chugach Region, while safeguarding subsistence needs of the Eyak and Sugpiaq tribes.
Learn More
link
Sampling a stream in the mist in the Akilik River drainage

Ecosystems Analytics

Ecosystems Analytics is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians with a diverse range of expertise and experience (summarized below). We collaborate with internal and external partners to answer challenging ecological questions that are a high priority of the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, sister agencies within the Department of the Interior (DOI), and various...
By
Alaska Science Center
link

Ecosystems Analytics

Ecosystems Analytics is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians with a diverse range of expertise and experience (summarized below). We collaborate with internal and external partners to answer challenging ecological questions that are a high priority of the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, sister agencies within the Department of the Interior (DOI), and various...
Learn More
link
an eagle

Alaska Raptor Group

Thirty-one raptor species, including 18 species of diurnal raptors (Orders Accipitriformes and Falconiformes) and 13 species of owls (Order Strigiformes), have been documented in Alaska, 23 of which are known to breed within the state.
By
Alaska Science Center
link

Alaska Raptor Group

Thirty-one raptor species, including 18 species of diurnal raptors (Orders Accipitriformes and Falconiformes) and 13 species of owls (Order Strigiformes), have been documented in Alaska, 23 of which are known to breed within the state.
Learn More
Aerial survey for Black Brant at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics Program
USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics Program
Aerial survey for Black Brant at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska

USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics Program

USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics Program

The USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics program is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians who provide analytical support to USGS scientists to answer challenging ecological topics and management questions for USGS partners.

By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Alaska Science Center
Aerial survey for Black Brant at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska

USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics Program

USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics Program

The USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics program is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians who provide analytical support to USGS scientists to answer challenging ecological topics and management questions for USGS partners.

By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Alaska Science Center

Assessing the population consequences of disturbance and climate change for the Pacific walrus

Climate change and anthropogenic disturbance are increasingly affecting wildlife at a global scale. Predicting how varying types and degrees of disturbance may interact to influence population dynamics is a key management challenge. Population consequences of disturbance (PCoD) models provide a framework to link effects of anthropogenic disturbance on an individual’s behavior and physiology to pop
Authors
Devin L. Johnson, Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Rebecca L. Taylor, Joel L. Garlich-Miller
By
Alaska Science Center

Understanding sea otter population change in southeast Alaska

IntroductionThe Southeast Alaska (SE) stock of northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) ranges from Cape Yakataga on the north to the Dixon Entrance on the south. During the maritime fur trade, sea otters were commercially harvested to near extinction in SE for their pelts and were presumed unlikely to naturally repopulate the region.
Authors
Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Toshio D. Matsuoka, George G. Esslinger, Benjamin P Weitzman, Paul A. Schuette, Jamie N. Womble
By
Alaska Science Center

Rayleigh step-selection functions and connections to continuous-time mechanistic movement models

BackgroundThe process known as ecological diffusion emerges from a first principles view of animal movement, but ecological diffusion and other partial differential equation models can be difficult to fit to data. Step-selection functions (SSFs), on the other hand, have emerged as powerful practical tools for ecologists studying the movement and habitat selection of animals.MethodsSSFs typically i
Authors
Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Perry J. Williams, Mevin B. Hooten
By
Alaska Science Center

Informing management of recovering predators and their prey with ecological diffusion models

The reintroduction and recovery of predators can be ecologically beneficial as well as socially and economically controversial. However, the growth and expansion of predator populations, and thus their ecological, social, and economic impacts, are not static but rather they vary in space and time. We propose a spatiotemporal statistical modeling framework based on ecological diffusion to better in
Authors
Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Perry J. Williams, Xinyi Lu, Michelle L. Kissling, Paul A Schutte, Benjamin P Weitzman, William S. Beatty, George G. Esslinger, Jamie N. Womble, Mevin B. Hooten
By
Alaska Science Center

A hierarchical modelling framework for estimating individual- and population-level reproductive success from movement data

Rapidly advancing animal telemetry technologies paired with new statistical models can provide insight into the behaviour of otherwise unobservable free-living animals. Changes in behaviour apparent from pairing telemetry with statistical models often occur as animals undertake key life-history activities, such as reproduction. For many species that are secretive or occupy remote areas, these life
Authors
Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Perry J. Williams, Julia C. Brockman, Stephen B. Lewis, Christopher P. Barger, Greg A. Breed, Travis L. Booms
By
Alaska Science Center

Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) population abundance and distribution across the southeast Alaska stock, summer 2022

In the summer of 2022, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and partners successfully completed the first single-year, aerial photo survey of sea otters across the entire Southeast stock of northern sea otters. This document presents the latest findings from the 2022 Southeast Alaska Sea Otter Survey, providing up-to-date information regarding occupancy, abundance and carrying capacity. We collected t
Authors
Paul Schuette, Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Benjamin P Weitzman, Collin Power, Evan Wetherington, Jenipher Cate, Jamie N. Womble, Linnea Pearson, Daniel Melody, Chelsea Merriman, Kat Hanks, George G. Esslinger
By
Alaska Science Center

Recursive Bayesian computation facilitates adaptive optimal design in ecological studies

Optimal design procedures provide a framework to leverage the learning generated by ecological models to flexibly and efficiently deploy future monitoring efforts. At the same time, Bayesian hierarchical models have become widespread in ecology and offer a rich set of tools for ecological learning and inference. However, coupling these methods with an optimal design framework can become computatio
Authors
Clinton B. Leach, William J. Perry, Joseph M. Eisaguirre, Jamie N. Womble, Michael R. Bower, Mevin Hooten
By
Cooperative Research Units

Diffusion modeling reveals effects of multiple release sites and human activity on a recolonizing apex predator

BackgroundReintroducing predators is a promising conservation tool to help remedy human-caused ecosystem changes. However, the growth and spread of a reintroduced population is a spatiotemporal process that is driven by a suite of factors, such as habitat change, human activity, and prey availability. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are apex predators of nearshore marine ecosystems that had declined n
Authors
Joseph M. Eisaguirre, Perry J. Willliams, Xinyi Lu, Michelle L. Kissling, William S. Beatty, George G. Esslinger, Jamie N. Womble, Mevin Hooten
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center

Rayleigh Step-Selection Functions

This project aimed to find connections between step-selection functions (SSFs) and partial differential equation models of animal movement and, in doing so, improve the flexibility of SSFs. Please see the associated manuscript cited above for further details.
By
Alaska Science Center

Reproductive Success from Movement Data

This software release includes code to conduct analyses presented in the manuscript titled: A hierarchical modeling framework for estimating individual- and population-level reproductive success from movement data
By
Alaska Science Center

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government

Was this page helpful?