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
Local and landscape associations between wintering dabbling ducks and wetland complexes in Mississippi
Spring snow goose hunting influences body composition of waterfowl staging in Nebraska
Model of whooping crane energetics as foundation for development of a method to assess potential take during migration
Changes in nutrient dynamics of midcontinent greater white-fronted geese during spring migration
Spring-migration ecology of Northern Pintails in south-central Nebraska
Evaluation of an aerial survey to estimate abundance of wintering ducks in Mississippi
Factors associated with hunter success for ducks on state-owned lands in Illinois, USA
Conserving waste rice for wintering waterfowl in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley
Moist-soil seed abundance in managed wetlands in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley
Evaluation of an aerial survey to estimate abundance of wintering ducks in Mississippi
Estimation and correction of visibility bias in aerial surveys of wintering ducks
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 47
Local and landscape associations between wintering dabbling ducks and wetland complexes in Mississippi
Landscape features influence distribution of waterbirds throughout their annual cycle. A conceptual model, the wetland habitat complex, may be useful in conservation of wetland habitats for dabbling ducks (Anatini). The foundation of this conceptual model is that ducks seek complexes of wetlands containing diverse resources to meet dynamic physiological needs. We included flooded croplands, wetAuthorsAaron T. Pearse, Richard M. Kaminski, Kenneth J. Reinecke, Stephen J. DinsmoreSpring snow goose hunting influences body composition of waterfowl staging in Nebraska
A spring hunt was instituted in North America to reduce abundance of snow geese (Chen caerulescens) by increasing mortality of adults directly, yet disturbance from hunting activities can indirectly influence body condition and ultimately, reproductive success. We estimated effects of hunting disturbance by comparing body composition of snow geese and non-target species, greater white-fronted geesAuthorsAaron T. Pearse, Gary L. Krapu, Robert R. CoxModel of whooping crane energetics as foundation for development of a method to assess potential take during migration
A whooping crane energetic model was developed as a component of a larger effort to ascertain potential take, as defined by the Endangered Species Act, of whooping cranes from proposed development of wind-energy infrastructure in the Great Plains of North America. The primary objectives of this energetic model were to (1) predict extra flight energy that whooping cranes may require to find suitablAuthorsAaron T. Pearse, Sarena M. SelboChanges in nutrient dynamics of midcontinent greater white-fronted geese during spring migration
Waterfowl and other migratory birds commonly store nutrients at traditional staging areas during spring for later use during migration and reproduction. We investigated nutrient‐storage dynamics in the midcontinent population of greater white‐fronted geese (Anser albifrons; hereafter white‐fronted geese) at spring staging sites in the Rainwater Basin of Nebraska during February–April and in southeAuthorsAaron T. Pearse, Ray T. Alisauskas, Gary L. Krapu, Robert R. CoxSpring-migration ecology of Northern Pintails in south-central Nebraska
Spring-migration ecology of staging Northern Pintails, Anas acuta, was investigated in south-central Nebraska, USA. Habitat associations, local movements, settling patterns, arrival dates, residency times and survival were estimated from 71 radiomarked pintails during spring 2001, 2003 and 2004, and diet determined from 130 females collected during spring 1998 and 1999. Seventy-two percent of pintAuthorsAaron T. Pearse, Gary L. Krapu, Robert R. Cox, Bruce E. DavisEvaluation of an aerial survey to estimate abundance of wintering ducks in Mississippi
Researchers have successfully designed aerial surveys that provided precise estimates of wintering populations of ducks over large physiographic regions, yet few conservation agencies have adopted these probability-based sampling designs for their surveys. We designed and evaluated an aerial survey to estimate abundance of wintering mallards {Anas platyrhynchos), dabbling ducks (tribe Anatini) otAuthorsA.T. Pearse, S.J. Dinsmore, R.M. Kaminski, K. J. ReineckeFactors associated with hunter success for ducks on state-owned lands in Illinois, USA
Factors that influence hunter success for waterfowl are subject to varying levels of control by managers. The relative influence of these factors is poorly understood, but such information may be valuable to guide management actions intended to promote successful hunting and communicate management decisions to constituents. We used bag-check data to investigate factors influencing hunter success fAuthorsJoshua D. Stafford, Aaron T. Pearse, Christopher S. Hine, Aaron P. Yetter, Michelle M. HorathConserving waste rice for wintering waterfowl in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley
Rice lost before or during harvest operations (hereafter waste rice) provides important food for waterfowl in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, USA, but >70% of waste rice is lost during autumn. We conducted experiments in 19 production rice fields in Arkansas and Mississippi during autumns 2003 and 2004 to evaluate the ability of common postharvest practices (i.e., burn, mow, roll, disk, or standAuthorsJ.P. Kross, R.M. Kaminski, K. J. Reinecke, A.T. PearseMoist-soil seed abundance in managed wetlands in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley
Managed moist-soil units support early succession herbaceous vegetation that produces seeds, tubers, and other plant parts used by waterfowl in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV), USA. We conducted a stratified multi-stage sample survey on state and federal lands in the MAV of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri during autumns 2002?2004 to generate a contemporary estimate of combineAuthorsJ. Kross, R.M. Kaminski, K. J. Reinecke, E.J. Penny, A.T. PearseEvaluation of an aerial survey to estimate abundance of wintering ducks in Mississippi
Researchers have successfully designed aerial surveys that provided precise estimates of wintering populations of ducks over large physiographic regions, yet few conservation agencies have adopted these probability-based sampling designs for their surveys. We designed and evaluated an aerial survey to estimate abundance of wintering mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), dabbling ducks (tribe Anatini) othAuthorsAaron T. Pearse, Stephen J. Dinsmore, Richard M. Kaminski, Kenneth J. ReineckeEstimation and correction of visibility bias in aerial surveys of wintering ducks
Incomplete detection of all individuals leading to negative bias in abundance estimates is a pervasive source of error in aerial surveys of wildlife, and correcting that bias is a critical step in improving surveys. We conducted experiments using duck decoys as surrogates for live ducks to estimate bias associated with surveys of wintering ducks in Mississippi, USA. We found detection of decoy gAuthorsA.T. Pearse, P.D. Gerard, S.J. Dinsmore, R.M. Kaminski, K. J. Reinecke - 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