Aaron Pearse, PhD
Dr. Aaron Pearse is a Research Wildlife Biologist at the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center in Jamestown, North Dakota.
I have worked primarily with migratory birds and have addressed needs of natural resource managers by providing answers that lead to science-based management of wildlife species and ecosystems in which they depend. I am responsible for identifying and conducting research relevant to agencies within the Department of the Interior and other partners including the federal government, state governments, and non-governmental organizations. I function as a team leader and primary investigator on projects primarily in three general areas: ecology and management of North American waterfowl and cranes, natural resource survey design and application, and landscape scale studies of upland and wetland habitats in the Prairie Pothole Region.
Professional Experience
Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND , 2007-present
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Mississippi State University, 2007
M.S. University of Idaho, 2002
B.S. Kansas State University, 1998
Affiliations and Memberships*
Adjunct Research Professor, South Dakota State University, 2017-present
Science and Products
Post-fledging movement and habitat selection by mallards in the fall and their effect on spring recruitment
Migration and winter ecology of the Aransas-Wood Buffalo Population of whooping cranes
Ecology and management of midcontinent sandhill cranes
Development of survey methods for spring-migrating waterfowl in the Rainwater Basin
An evaluation of waterfowl breeding ecology in the context of their predator community in eastern South Dakota
Whooping crane stopover habitat use and migration movement data in relation to drought severity, 2010-2022
Mallard migration and regional movement timing, distance, and direction data, 2018–2020
Whooping crane migration habitat selection disturbance data and maps
Whooping crane migration habitat selection data and distance to wind-energy infrastructure, 2010-2016
Location data for whooping cranes of the Aransas-Wood Buffalo Population, 2009-2018
Fecundity data for midcontinent sandhill cranes, 2003-2006
Characterization of whooping crane migrations and stopover sites used in the Central Flyway, 2010-2016
Morphological measurements and subspecies of midcontinent sandhill cranes
Map of whooping crane migration corridor
Spatial data for estimating whooping crane migration corridor
Sandhill crane locations, autumn 2013 migration
Sandhill crane phenology at the Platte River, Nebraska, 2001-2007
Management implications of habitat selection by whooping cranes (Grus americana) on the Texas coast
Developing a photography-based harvest survey to estimate age and subspecies composition of midcontinent sandhill cranes
Factors influencing autumn–winter movements of midcontinent Mallards and consequences for harvest and habitat management
Balancing future renewable energy infrastructure siting and associated habitat loss for migrating whooping cranes
Reassessing perennial cover as a driver of duck nest survival in the Prairie Pothole Region
Space use and site fidelity of wintering whooping cranes on the Texas Gulf Coast
Limited land base and competing land uses force societal tradeoffs when siting energy development
Whooping crane stay length in relation to stopover site characteristics
U.S. Geological Survey migratory bird science, 2020–21
Migrating whooping cranes avoid wind-energy infrastructure when selecting stopover habitat
Identifying sustainable winter habitat for whooping cranes
Population and harvest dynamics of midcontinent sandhill cranes
Science and Products
- Science
Post-fledging movement and habitat selection by mallards in the fall and their effect on spring recruitment
Considerable scientific research has been conducted in North America on nearly all aspects of the annual cycle of mallards, primarily focused on the breeding season. However, the period between when juveniles are capable of flight to their first southward migration remains a vastly understudied time for all waterfowl species. Beginning in 2018, a graduate student from South Dakota State University...Migration and winter ecology of the Aransas-Wood Buffalo Population of whooping cranes
The only self-sustaining population of endangered whooping cranes nests within and near Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada, migrates through the Great Plains, and winters primarily along the Texas Gulf Coast. Our objectives of this collaborative project are to address the entire annual life cycle of this species by advancing knowledge of breeding, wintering, and migration ecology, including...Ecology and management of midcontinent sandhill cranes
Midcontinent sandhill cranes occupy a large geographic area of central and western North America and northeastern Asia during breeding, winter, and migration. They are a species representing a unique convergence of multiple user groups with an interest in the continued health of this population. Tens of thousands of people view cranes during spring staging at the Platte River Valley in Nebraska...Development of survey methods for spring-migrating waterfowl in the Rainwater Basin
The Rainwater Basin Wetland Complex is a mid-latitude focal point of spring migration for numerous species of birds in the Great Plains. The Rainwater Basin Joint Venture (RWBJV) and partners desire geospatial models to identify characteristics of wetland complexes and understand local and landscape level factors that influence habitat selection of migrating waterfowl. To support this effort, we...An evaluation of waterfowl breeding ecology in the context of their predator community in eastern South Dakota
Population growth in upland-nesting ducks is highly influenced by spatial and temporal variation in nest survival, and mammalian predators are the major cause of nest failure. Beginning in spring 2018, a graduate student from South Dakota State University and co-advised by a NPWRC scientist will study predator communities and their movements in landscapes with varying grassland patch composition... - Data
Whooping crane stopover habitat use and migration movement data in relation to drought severity, 2010-2022
Wildlife species face threats from climate and land use change, which may exacerbate how extreme climatic events influence population persistence and biodiversity. Migratory waterbirds are especially vulnerable to hydrological drought via reduced availability of surface water habitats. We assessed how whooping cranes, an endangered species in the U.S. and Canada, modified habitat use and migrationMallard migration and regional movement timing, distance, and direction data, 2018–2020
The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is an abundant and wide-spread duck species that exhibits considerable variation in migratory behavior due to a relatively large body size and behavioral plasticity in habitat use. Understanding migration and other movements of mallards has societal interest in a wildlife management context because mallards are a preferred species of waterfowl by hunters and have tWhooping crane migration habitat selection disturbance data and maps
These data and maps were developed to support an effort to understand how whooping cranes (Grus americana) select stopover habitat in the presence of human infrastructure. Location and associated data came from whooping cranes from the Aransas-Wood Buffalo Population, 2010–2016. We marked a sample of 57 whooping cranes with leg-mounted transmitters that acquired locations via the global positioninWhooping crane migration habitat selection data and distance to wind-energy infrastructure, 2010-2016
These data were developed to support an effort to understand how whooping cranes select stopover habitat in the presence of wind-energy infrastructure. Location and associated data came from whooping cranes from the Aransas-Wood Buffalo Population, 2010-2016. We marked a sample of 57 whooping cranes with leg-mounted transmitters that acquired locations via the global positioning system (GPS) netwoLocation data for whooping cranes of the Aransas-Wood Buffalo Population, 2009-2018
Location and associated data came from whooping cranes from the Aransas-Wood Buffalo Population, 2009-2018. We marked a sample of 68 whooping cranes with leg-mounted transmitters that acquired locations via the global positioning system (GPS) network and transmitted those data through the Argos satellite system. Cranes were captured either at their natal areas in and adjacent to Wood Buffalo NatioFecundity data for midcontinent sandhill cranes, 2003-2006
Midcontinent sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) are the most abundant management population of cranes in the world and have a broad breeding range. Four breeding segments of midcontinent sandhill cranes have been designated based on spatial and temporal distributions throughout the year, including Western Alaska-Siberia (WA-S), Northern Canada-Nunavut (NC-N), West-central Canada-Interior AlaskaCharacterization of whooping crane migrations and stopover sites used in the Central Flyway, 2010-2016
These data were developed to support an effort to characterize migration strategies in the U.S. Great Plains and Canadian Prairies and to explore sources of heterogeneity in their migration strategy, including space use, timing, and performance. Data come from locations and other information related to 58 marked Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) from 2010-2016. These data represent basic informatioMorphological measurements and subspecies of midcontinent sandhill cranes
The midcontinent population of sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) has historically been classified into three putative subspecies, but genetic analyses have identified only two genetically distinct subspecies. Previous studies have successfully used morphometrics in combination with an individual's sex to differentiate subspecies of sandhill cranes that had been inferred based on breeding area,Map of whooping crane migration corridor
The whooping crane (Grus americana) is a listed endangered species in North America, protected under federal legislation in the United States and Canada. The only self-sustaining and wild population of Whooping Cranes nests at and near Wood Buffalo National Park near the provincial border of Northwest Territories and Alberta, Canada. Birds from this population migrate through the Great Plains of NSpatial data for estimating whooping crane migration corridor
The whooping crane (Grus americana) is a bird species in North America currently protected under federal endangered species legislation in the United States and Canada. The only self-sustaining and wild population of whooping cranes nests in and around Wood Buffalo National Park near the provincial border of Northwest Territories and Alberta, Canada. Cranes from this population migrate through theSandhill crane locations, autumn 2013 migration
Sandhill cranes are a long-lived bird species found in wetland-rich landscapes across North America. This dataset includes locations of 5 cranes during a single autumn migration from their breeding areas in northeastern Asia and south through Alaska, central Canada, and the Great Plains. The migration ends in northern Texas and northern Mexico. These data were used as a case study to highlight theSandhill crane phenology at the Platte River, Nebraska, 2001-2007
The central Platte River Valley represents a key mid-latitude stopover. This dataset supports a contemporary analysis of spring migration phenology at the Platte River during 2001-2007. We recorded timing of sandhill crane arrivals and departures from the Platte River. - Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 48
Management implications of habitat selection by whooping cranes (Grus americana) on the Texas coast
Effective habitat management for rare and endangered species requires a thorough understanding of their specific habitat requirements. Although machine learning models have been increasingly used in the analyses of habitat use by wildlife, the primary focus of these models has been on generating spatial predictions. In this study, we used machine learning models in combination with simulated managAuthorsSarah E. Lehnen, Steven E. Sesnie, Matthew J. Butler, Aaron T. Pearse, Kristine L. MetzgerDeveloping a photography-based harvest survey to estimate age and subspecies composition of midcontinent sandhill cranes
Midcontinent sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) are managed as a single population, but hunting regulations are structured so harvest is targeted towards the more numerous lesser sandhill cranes (A. c. canadensis). However, research indicates that greater sandhill cranes (A. c. tabida) have been disproportionally exposed to harvest at a rate exceeding their proportion within the midcontinent poAuthorsAndrew J. Dinges, Jay Alan VonBank, Aaron T. Pearse, David A. BrandtFactors influencing autumn–winter movements of midcontinent Mallards and consequences for harvest and habitat management
Annual phenology and distributions of migratory wildlife have been noticeably influenced by climate change, leading to concerns about sustainable populations. Recent studies exploring conditions influencing autumn migration departure have provided conflicting insights regarding factors influencing the movements of Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), a popular game species. We determined factors affectiAuthorsAaron T. Pearse, M. Szymanski, Cynthia A. Anchor, Michael J. Anteau, Rocco Murano, David A. Brandt, Joshua D. StaffordBalancing future renewable energy infrastructure siting and associated habitat loss for migrating whooping cranes
The expansion of human infrastructure has contributed to novel risks and disturbance regimes in most ecosystems, leading to considerable uncertainty about how species will respond to altered landscapes. A recent assessment revealed that whooping cranes (Grus americana), an endangered migratory waterbird species, avoid wind-energy infrastructure during migration. However, uncertainties regarding coAuthorsKristen S. Ellis, Aaron T. Pearse, David A. Brandt, Mark T. Bidwell, Wade C. Harrell, Matthew J. Butler, Max Post van der BurgReassessing perennial cover as a driver of duck nest survival in the Prairie Pothole Region
Conservation plans designed to sustain North American duck populations prominently feature a key hypothesis stating that the amount of the landscape in perennial cover surrounding upland duck nests positively influences nest survival rates. Recent conflicting research testing this hypothesis creates ambiguity regarding which management actions to pursue and where to prioritize conservation deliverAuthorsAaron T. Pearse, Michael J. Anteau, Max Post van der Burg, Mark H. Sherfy, Thomas K. Buhl, Terry L. ShafferSpace use and site fidelity of wintering whooping cranes on the Texas Gulf Coast
The Aransas-Wood Buffalo population (the only non-reintroduced, migratory population) of endangered whooping cranes (Grus americana) overwinters along the Texas Gulf Coast, USA. Understanding whooping crane space use on the wintering grounds reveals essential aspects of this species' ecology, which subsequently assists with conservation. Using global positioning system telemetry data from marked wAuthorsMatthew J Butler, David R. Stewart, Grant M Harris, Mark T. Bidwell, Aaron T. PearseLimited land base and competing land uses force societal tradeoffs when siting energy development
As human populations grow, decisions regarding use of the world's finite land base become increasingly complex. We adopted a land use–conflict scenario involving renewable energy to illustrate one potential cause of these conflicts and resulting tradeoff decisions. Renewable energy industries wishing to expand operations in the United States are limited by multijurisdictional regulations in findinAuthorsJill A. Shaffer, Neal D. Niemuth, Charles R. Loesch, Clayton E. Derby, Aaron T. Pearse, Kevin W. Barnes, Terry L. Shaffer, Adam J. RybaWhooping crane stay length in relation to stopover site characteristics
Whooping crane (Grus americana) migratory stopovers can vary in length from hours to more than a month. Stopover sites provide food resources and safety essential for the completion of migration. Factors such as weather, climate, demographics of migrating groups, and physiological condition of migrants influence migratory movements of cranes (Gruidae) to varying degrees. However, little research hAuthorsAndrew J. Caven, Aaron T. Pearse, David A. Brandt, Mary J. Harner, Greg D. Wright, David M. Baasch, Emma M. Brinley Buckley, Kristine L. Metzger, Matthew R Rabbe, Anne E LacyU.S. Geological Survey migratory bird science, 2020–21
Bird conservation as an endeavor engages a broad range of partners and a coordinated effort across State and Federal agencies, nongovernment organizations, universities and, at times, international partnerships. To understand information needs and respond to the many challenges in bird conservation, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists participate in Flyway committees, on Joint Venture boardAuthorsAaron T. Pearse, Mark H. Sherfy, Mark Wimer, Mona Khalil, Mark T. WiltermuthMigrating whooping cranes avoid wind-energy infrastructure when selecting stopover habitat
Electricity generation from renewable-energy sources has increased dramatically worldwide in recent decades. Risks associated with wind-energy infrastructure are not well understood for endangered whooping cranes or other vulnerable crane populations. From 2010 to 2016, we monitored 57 whooping cranes with remote-telemetry devices in the United States Great Plains to determine potential changes inAuthorsAaron T. Pearse, Kristine L. Metzger, David A. Brandt, Jill A. Shaffer, Mark T. Bidwell, Wade C. HarrellIdentifying sustainable winter habitat for whooping cranes
The only self-sustaining population of endangered whooping cranes (Grus americana) requires a network of conservation lands for wintering along the Texas Gulf Coast (USA), so that this increasing population can reach downlisting under the Endangered Species Act (1,000 birds). We identify locations providing the highest quality and most sustainable wintering habitat for these whooping cranes througAuthorsKristine L. Metzger, Sarah E. Lehnen, Steven E Sesnie, Matthew J Butler, Aaron T. Pearse, Grant HarrisPopulation and harvest dynamics of midcontinent sandhill cranes
Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) inhabiting the midcontinent of North America have been hunted since the 1960s under management goals of maintaining abundance, retaining geographic distribution, and maximizing sustainable harvest. Some biologists have raised concerns regarding harvest sustainability because sandhill cranes have lower reproductive rates than other game birds. We summarized demAuthorsAaron T. Pearse, Glen A. Sargeant, Gary Krapu, David A. Brandt - News
*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