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Abby Powell, PhD

Unit Leader - Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit 

Research Interests

  • Conservation Biology
  • Avian Ecology
  • Endangered Species Biology and Management

Teaching Interests

  • Conservation Biology
  • Endangered Species Management
  • Avian Ecology
  • Scientific Writing

Education and Certifications

  • Ph D University of Minnesota 1992

  • MS San Diego State University 1986

  • BS Cornell University 1980

Science and Products

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Image: Red Knots at Delaware Bay

Red Knot Migration and Population Ecology

Eastern Ecological Science Center biologists are studying migration and population ecology of the rufa red knot, a bird species that is dependent on horseshoe crab eggs to complete its trans-hemispheric migration. The birds' spring migration is timed with spawning of horseshoe crabs because the eggs are the perfect food for a migrating red knot.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Red Knot Migration and Population Ecology

Eastern Ecological Science Center biologists are studying migration and population ecology of the rufa red knot, a bird species that is dependent on horseshoe crab eggs to complete its trans-hemispheric migration. The birds' spring migration is timed with spawning of horseshoe crabs because the eggs are the perfect food for a migrating red knot.
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A flock of Steller's Eiders in the Izembek Lagoon. Isanotski Volcano in the background

Developing a Coordinated, Multi-Region Effort to Understand the Effects of Climate Change on Migratory Birds

Birds are appreciated and enjoyed by thousands of people and also play important roles in the ecosystem as predators, prey, and pollinators. Alaska provides important breeding ground for hundreds of migratory bird species that travel thousands of miles in their annual migrations between breeding and wintering spots. Understanding how climate and land use changes affect migratory bird populations
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Climate Adaptation Science Centers
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Developing a Coordinated, Multi-Region Effort to Understand the Effects of Climate Change on Migratory Birds

Birds are appreciated and enjoyed by thousands of people and also play important roles in the ecosystem as predators, prey, and pollinators. Alaska provides important breeding ground for hundreds of migratory bird species that travel thousands of miles in their annual migrations between breeding and wintering spots. Understanding how climate and land use changes affect migratory bird populations
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Pacific common eider (Somateria mollissima v-nigrum) nest records, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, 1991-2004

This data are a single table of nest records from a multi-year study of Pacific Common Eider (Somateria mollissima v-nigrum) biology that was conducted along the lower Kashunuk River, Kigigak Island, and the mouth of the Tutakoke River on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta from 1991-2004.
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Alaska Science Center

Nesting Habitat and Nest Survival Data for American (Pluvialis dominica) and Pacific (P. fulva) Golden-Plovers on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, 2012-2013

This data set contains information (in two tables) on nesting habitat and nest survival for American (Pluvialis dominica) and Pacific (P. fulva) Golden-Plovers monitored at seven study sites across an elevational gradient (28-416 m) on the Seward Peninsula in northwestern Alaska during the summers of 2012 and 2013. We used principal components analysis to reduce habitat measurements into two compo
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Alaska Science Center

Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri) Microsatellite and Mitochondrial DNA Data, 2014-2018, Alaska and Russia

This data set describes nuclear microsatellite genotypes derived from ten autosomal loci (Aph8, Aph16, Cmo7, Cmo9, Hhi5, Sfi10, Smo4, Smo6, Smo8, Smo12) and nucleotide sequence data derived from one mitochondrial DNA locus (control region). A total of 262 Spectacled Eiders were examined for this study. Samples were collected at Indigirka and Chaun River Deltas, Russia, and Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, U
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Alaska Science Center, Molecular Ecology Laboratory
Filter Total Items: 30

An invasive prey provides long-lasting silver spoon effects for an endangered predator

The natal environment can have long-term fitness consequences for individuals, particularly via ‘silver spoon’ or ‘environmental matching’ effects. Invasive species could alter natal effects on native species by changing species interactions, but this potential remains unknown. Using 17 years of data on 2588 individuals across the entire US breeding range of the endangered snail kite (Rostrhamus s
Authors
Caroline L. Poli, Ellen P. Robertson, Julien Martin, Abby Powell, Robert J. Fletcher Jr.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

The Southeastern U.S. as a complex of use sites for nonbreeding rufa Red Knots: Fifteen years of band-encounter data

Shorebirds have been banded for decades and monitoring programs have helped to accumulate large band-encounter datasets from across the globe; however, many of these datasets are left largely unused, particularly those collected by citizen scientists. These datasets can provide valuable insight into the migration and movement strategies of shorebirds and the threats they face throughout their migr
Authors
M.E. Tuma, Abby Powell
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Cooperative Research Units

Loss of coastal islands along Florida’s Big Bend region: Implications for breeding American oystercatchers

Many coastal-dependent species have undergone large-scale population declines due to impacts from habitat loss, including American oystercatchers (Haematopus palliatus). Islands along the Big Bend region of Florida’s Gulf Coast provide important nesting habitat for oystercatchers, but reproductive success here is low and habitat degradation and loss are a major concern. To determine rates and char
Authors
N. Vitale, J. Brush, Abby Powell
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Cooperative Research Units

Does habitat partitioning by sympatric plovers affect nest survival?

The vertical structure and composition of vegetation can influence the quantity and quality of potential nesting sites for birds. Interspecific competition for high-quality nesting habitat may force some individuals into suboptimal habitat and lead to reduced reproductive success, eventually leading to changes in distribution or abundance. Large climate-mediated shifts in vegetation, including the
Authors
Kelly S Overduijn, Colleen M. Handel, Abby Powell
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Temporal variation in genetic structure within the threatened spectacled eider

We examined the genetic structure of the threatened spectacled eider 14–18 years after the initial assessment to evaluate the influence of population recovery on diversity. Concordant with the initial assessment, spectacled eiders were highly structured at mitochondrial (mt) DNA and lacked differentiation at microsatellite loci. The degree and spatial pattern of structure has changed at mtDNA; a
Authors
Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Christy Haughey, Matthew G. Sexson, Diana V Solovyeva, Margaret R. Petersen, Abby Powell
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Molecular Ecology Laboratory

Energy intake rate influences survival of Black Oystercatcher Haematopus bachmani broods

Black Oystercatchers Haematopus bachmani, a species of conservation concern, depend on marine intertidal prey resources. We examined diet, feeding rates, growth, and survival of Black Oystercatcher broods in southcentral Alaska, 2013-2014. To determine the importance of diet on brood survival, we modeled daily survival rates of broods as a function of energy intake rate and other ecological factor
Authors
B.H. Robinson, L.M. Phillips, Abby Powell
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Cooperative Research Units

Population trends of king and common eiders from spring migration counts at Point Barrow, Alaska between 1994 and 2016

Most king (Somateria spectabilis) and common eiders (S. mollissima v-nigra) breeding in the northwestern Nearctic migrate past Point Barrow, Alaska. Spring migration counts have been conducted there since 1953; during 1976–1996, both species declined > 50% for unknown reasons. To evaluate population trends, counts in 2003, 2004, 2015, and 2016 were compared to earlier counts. King eider estimates
Authors
R. McGuire, R. Suydam, L. Quakenbush, Abby Powell
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Cooperative Research Units

Will increased storm surge frequency impact food availability for Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) at the beginning of fall migration?

Hatch-year Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) use river deltas along the Beaufort Sea as their first stops during fall migration. However, these sites are subject to extreme changes in water levels that affect available foraging habitat. We examined relationships between timing of fall migration and storm surges, with respect to forage availability, using different water level scenarios to
Authors
R.T. Churchwell, S. Kendall, S.C. Brown, Abby Powell
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Cooperative Research Units

Migration trends for king and common eiders and yellow-billed loons past Point Barrow in a rapidly changing environment

Most of the king (Somateria spectabilis) and common eiders (S. mollissima v-nigra) nesting in northern Alaska and northwestern Canada migrate past Point Barrow, Alaska, during the spring and fall migration. Yellow-billed loons (Gavia adamsii) also migrate past Point Barrow and are a species of international conservation concern. Spring migration counts of eiders have been conducted approximately e
Authors
Abby Powell, R. Bentzen, R. Suydam
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Cooperative Research Units

Are prey remains accurate indicators of chick diet? A comparison of diet quantification techniques for Black Oystercatchers

The quantification of prey remains is a common method for estimating the diet of a variety of birds. However, these estimates may be subject to biases based on prey body type, nesting habitat, and collection date. To better understand biases and limitations associated with this method, we compared it with two others commonly used to characterize diet: direct observation of parents feeding young an
Authors
B.H. Robinson, H.A. Coletti, L.M. Phillips, Abby Powell
By
Cooperative Research Units

The first hop: Use of Beaufort Sea deltas by hatch-year semipalmated sandpipers

River deltas along Alaska’s Beaufort Sea coast are used by hatch-year semipalmated sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) after leaving their terrestrial natal sites, but the drivers of their use of these stopover sites on the first “hop” of fall migration are unknown. We quantified sandpiper temporal distribution and abundance as related to food resources at three river deltas during the beginning of thei
Authors
Roy T. Churchwell, Steve J. Kendall, Stephen C. Brown, Arny L. Blanchard, Tuula E. Hollmen, Abby Powell
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Cooperative Research Units

Nest-site selection and nest success of an Arctic-breeding passerine, Smith's Longspur, in a changing climate

Despite changes in shrub cover and weather patterns associated with climate change in the Arctic, little is known about the breeding requirements of most passerines tied to northern regions. We investigated the nesting biology and nest habitat characteristics of Smith's Longspurs (Calcarius pictus) in 2 study areas in the Brooks Range of Alaska, USA. First, we examined variation in nesting phenolo
Authors
Heather R. McFarland, Steve J. Kendall, Abby Powell
By
Cooperative Research Units

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