Barbara Kus
Dr. Barbara Kus is a Research Ecologist with the Western Ecological Research Center.
Dr. Kus designs and conducts original field research on avian ecology and conservation to support science-based natural resource management in national and international contexts. Dr. Kus interacts closely with federal, state, and local resource managers and regulatory agencies to prioritize research needs, and design and conduct investigations to meet those needs. As a scientist broadly trained in ecology and evolutionary biology, she focuses her research on integrating management, which is typically short-term and threats-driven, with an evolutionary perspective that seeks longer-term sustainability of species and ecosystems through maintenance of evolutionary processes required for persistence. A theme of her research is that it is strategically long-term, yielding unique datasets that incorporate spatial and temporal patterns of response to environmental variability needed for this evolutionary perspective.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Ecology and Conservation of Endangered Riparian Birds
- Response of Riparian Bird Communities to Habitat Restoration
- Ecology and Population Trends of Neotropical Migratory Birds
- Population Genetic Structure of Endangered Birds
- Post-wildfire Recovery of Riparian and Coastal Sage Scrub Bird Communities and Habitats
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 1985
M.S., Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 1980
B.S., Anthropology, University of California, Davis, CA 1977
B.A., Zoology, University of California, Davis, CA 1977
Science and Products
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Factors influencing the incidence of cowbird parasitism of least Bell's vireos
Least Bell's vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) is a federally endangered subspecies of Bell's vireo subject to high levels of brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater). Brood parasitism greatly reduces the reproductive success of the vireo. We examined the relationship of vegetation structure surrounding nests and of activity near the nest to the incidence of brood parasitism by brown
Authors
B.L. Sharp, B.E. Kus
Puncture-ejection of own egg by Least Bell's Vireo and potential implications for anti-parasitism defense
A simple, papillary cystic adenocarcinoma of the mammary gland with metastases to the internal iliac and mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, and spleen was observed in a 12 to 13 year old female black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). Histologically, the tumor was aggressive, and lymphatic invasion was found. Attempts at virus isolation were negative. Other findings were bilateral infarcts in the kidne
Authors
Bryan L. Sharp, Bonnie L. Peterson, Barbara E. Kus
Parasitism, productivity, and population growth: response of Least Bell's Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus) to cowbird (Molothrus spp.) control
Cowbird (Molothrus spp.) control is a major focus of recovery-oriented management of two endangered riparian bird species,the Least Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus). During the past 20 years, annual trapping of cowbirds at Least Bell's Vireo and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher breeding sites has eliminated or reduced parasitism in
Authors
Barbara E. Kus, Mary J. Whitfield
Determining nest predators of the Least Bell's Vireo through point counts, tracking stations, and video photography
We compared three methods to determine nest predators of the Least Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) in San Diego County, California, during spring and summer 2000. Point counts and tracking stations were used to identify potential predators and video photography to document actual nest predators. Parental behavior at depredated nests was compared to that at successful nests to determine whethe
Authors
Bonnie L. Peterson, Barbara E. Kus, Douglas H. Deutschman
Sunrise nest attendance and aggression by least Bell's vireos fail to deter cowbird parasitism
We video-recorded three, natural, brood-parasitism events by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) at nests of Least Bell's Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus). All instances occurred near dawn, during both egg-laying and incubation stages of the nesting cycle. In each case, an adult vireo was on the nest when the female cowbird arrived. Both members of each parasitized pair vigorously attacked the in
Authors
Bryan L. Sharp, Barbara E. Kus
Distribution and characteristics of Southwestern Willow Flycatcher breeding sites and territories: 1993 - 2001
No abstract available.
Authors
Mark K. Sogge, Susan J. Sferra, Tracy McCarthey, Sartor O. Williams, Barbara E. Kus
Southwestern willow flycatcher populations in southern California: distribution, abundance, and potential for conservation
No abstract available.
Authors
B.E. Kus, P.P. Beck, J.M. Wells
Recommendations for cowbird management in recovery efforts for the southwestern willow flycatcher
Three generations of mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) were fed either a control diet or a diet containing 0.5 ppm mercury in the form of methylmercury. The levels of mercury in adult tissues and eggs remained about the same over 3 generations. The methylmercury diet had no effect on adult weights or weight changes during the reproductive season. Females fed a diet containing 0.5 ppm mercury l
Authors
S.I. Rothstein, B.E. Kus, M.J. Whitfield, S.J. Sferra
Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) during the non-breeding season: Spatial segregation on a hemispheric scale
The nonbreeding distribution of Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) was documented using 19 data sets from 13 sites along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the Americas. Western Sandpipers showed latitudinal segregation with regard to sex and age. Females wintered farther south than males. A “U” shaped pattern was found with respect to age, with juveniles occurring at higher proportions at both t
Authors
Silke Nebel, David B. Lank, Patrick D. O'Hara, Guillermo Fernandez, Ben Haase, Francisco Delgado, Felipe A. Estela, Lesley J. Evans Ogden, Brian A. Harrington, Barbara E. Kus, James E. Lyons, Francine Mercier, Brent Ortego, John Y. Takekawa, Nils Warnock, Sarah E. Warnock
Fitness consequences of nest desertion in an endangered host, the least Bell's vireo
Recent analyses of the impact of cowbird parasitism on host productivity suggest that while parasitism reduces productivity on a per-nest basis, the ability of pairs to desert parasitized nests and renest allows them to achieve productivity comparable to that of unparasitized pairs. This has implications for the management of several endangered species that are highly vulnerable to parasitism and
Authors
Barbara E. Kus
Impacts of brown-headed cowbird parasitism on productivity of the endangered least Bell's vireo
No abstract available.
Authors
B.E. Kus
Use of restored riparian habitat by the endangered least Bell's vireo
No abstract available.
Authors
B.E. Kus
Science and Products
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- Publications
Filter Total Items: 67
Factors influencing the incidence of cowbird parasitism of least Bell's vireos
Least Bell's vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) is a federally endangered subspecies of Bell's vireo subject to high levels of brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater). Brood parasitism greatly reduces the reproductive success of the vireo. We examined the relationship of vegetation structure surrounding nests and of activity near the nest to the incidence of brood parasitism by brownAuthorsB.L. Sharp, B.E. KusPuncture-ejection of own egg by Least Bell's Vireo and potential implications for anti-parasitism defense
A simple, papillary cystic adenocarcinoma of the mammary gland with metastases to the internal iliac and mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, and spleen was observed in a 12 to 13 year old female black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). Histologically, the tumor was aggressive, and lymphatic invasion was found. Attempts at virus isolation were negative. Other findings were bilateral infarcts in the kidneAuthorsBryan L. Sharp, Bonnie L. Peterson, Barbara E. KusParasitism, productivity, and population growth: response of Least Bell's Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus) to cowbird (Molothrus spp.) control
Cowbird (Molothrus spp.) control is a major focus of recovery-oriented management of two endangered riparian bird species,the Least Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus). During the past 20 years, annual trapping of cowbirds at Least Bell's Vireo and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher breeding sites has eliminated or reduced parasitism inAuthorsBarbara E. Kus, Mary J. WhitfieldDetermining nest predators of the Least Bell's Vireo through point counts, tracking stations, and video photography
We compared three methods to determine nest predators of the Least Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) in San Diego County, California, during spring and summer 2000. Point counts and tracking stations were used to identify potential predators and video photography to document actual nest predators. Parental behavior at depredated nests was compared to that at successful nests to determine whetheAuthorsBonnie L. Peterson, Barbara E. Kus, Douglas H. DeutschmanSunrise nest attendance and aggression by least Bell's vireos fail to deter cowbird parasitism
We video-recorded three, natural, brood-parasitism events by Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) at nests of Least Bell's Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus). All instances occurred near dawn, during both egg-laying and incubation stages of the nesting cycle. In each case, an adult vireo was on the nest when the female cowbird arrived. Both members of each parasitized pair vigorously attacked the inAuthorsBryan L. Sharp, Barbara E. KusDistribution and characteristics of Southwestern Willow Flycatcher breeding sites and territories: 1993 - 2001
No abstract available.AuthorsMark K. Sogge, Susan J. Sferra, Tracy McCarthey, Sartor O. Williams, Barbara E. KusSouthwestern willow flycatcher populations in southern California: distribution, abundance, and potential for conservation
No abstract available.AuthorsB.E. Kus, P.P. Beck, J.M. WellsRecommendations for cowbird management in recovery efforts for the southwestern willow flycatcher
Three generations of mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) were fed either a control diet or a diet containing 0.5 ppm mercury in the form of methylmercury. The levels of mercury in adult tissues and eggs remained about the same over 3 generations. The methylmercury diet had no effect on adult weights or weight changes during the reproductive season. Females fed a diet containing 0.5 ppm mercury lAuthorsS.I. Rothstein, B.E. Kus, M.J. Whitfield, S.J. SferraWestern Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) during the non-breeding season: Spatial segregation on a hemispheric scale
The nonbreeding distribution of Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) was documented using 19 data sets from 13 sites along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the Americas. Western Sandpipers showed latitudinal segregation with regard to sex and age. Females wintered farther south than males. A “U” shaped pattern was found with respect to age, with juveniles occurring at higher proportions at both tAuthorsSilke Nebel, David B. Lank, Patrick D. O'Hara, Guillermo Fernandez, Ben Haase, Francisco Delgado, Felipe A. Estela, Lesley J. Evans Ogden, Brian A. Harrington, Barbara E. Kus, James E. Lyons, Francine Mercier, Brent Ortego, John Y. Takekawa, Nils Warnock, Sarah E. WarnockFitness consequences of nest desertion in an endangered host, the least Bell's vireo
Recent analyses of the impact of cowbird parasitism on host productivity suggest that while parasitism reduces productivity on a per-nest basis, the ability of pairs to desert parasitized nests and renest allows them to achieve productivity comparable to that of unparasitized pairs. This has implications for the management of several endangered species that are highly vulnerable to parasitism andAuthorsBarbara E. KusImpacts of brown-headed cowbird parasitism on productivity of the endangered least Bell's vireo
No abstract available.AuthorsB.E. KusUse of restored riparian habitat by the endangered least Bell's vireo
No abstract available.AuthorsB.E. Kus - News