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
Distribution and abundance of Least Bell’s Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus) on the Middle San Luis Rey River, San Diego County, southern California—2017 data summary
Distribution and abundance of Least Bell’s Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus) on the Middle San Luis Rey River, San Diego, southern California—2016 data summary
Monitoring breeding and migration of neotropical migratory birds at Point Loma, San Diego County, California, 5-year summary, 2011–15
Female-biased sex ratio, polygyny, and persistence in the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus)
Conservation genomics reveals multiple evolutionary units within Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii).
Habitat fragmentation in coastal southern California disrupts genetic connectivity in the cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
Monitoring avian productivity and survivorship (MAPS) 5-year summary, Naval Outlying Landing Field, Imperial Beach, southwestern San Diego County, California, 2009-13
First record of interspecific breeding of Least Bell's Vireo and White-eyed Vireo
Landbird migration in the American West: Recent progress and future research directions
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Breeding Site and Territory Summary - 2007
A multiscale analysis of nest predation on Least Bell's Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus)
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Breeding Site and Territory Summary - 2006
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Distribution and abundance of Least Bell’s Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus) on the Middle San Luis Rey River, San Diego County, southern California—2017 data summary
We surveyed for Least Bell’s Vireos (LBVI) (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (SWFL) (Empidonax traillii extimus) along the San Luis Rey River, between College Boulevard in Oceanside and Interstate 15 in Fallbrook, California (middle San Luis Rey River), in 2017. Surveys were conducted from April 13 to July 11 (LBVI) and from May 16 to July 28 (SWFL). We found 146 LBVI terAuthorsLisa D. Allen, Scarlett L. Howell, Barbara E. KusDistribution and abundance of Least Bell’s Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus) on the Middle San Luis Rey River, San Diego, southern California—2016 data summary
Executive SummaryWe surveyed for Least Bell’s Vireos (LBVI) (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (SWFL) (Empidonax traillii extimus) along the San Luis Rey River, between College Boulevard in Oceanside and Interstate 15 in Fallbrook, California (middle San Luis Rey River), in 2016. Surveys were done from March 30 to July 11 (LBVI) and from May 18 to July 30 (SWFL). We foundAuthorsLisa D. Allen, Scarlett L. Howell, Barbara E. KusMonitoring breeding and migration of neotropical migratory birds at Point Loma, San Diego County, California, 5-year summary, 2011–15
Executive SummaryWe operated a bird banding station on the Point Loma peninsula in western San Diego County, California, during spring and summer from 2011 to 2015. The station was established in 2010 as part of a long-term monitoring program for neotropical migratory birds during spring migration and for breeding birds as part of the Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) program.DAuthorsSuellen Lynn, Melanie C. Madden, Barbara E. KusFemale-biased sex ratio, polygyny, and persistence in the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus)
Demographic changes in populations, such as skewed sex ratios, are of concern to conservationists, especially in small populations in which stochastic and other events can produce declines leading to extirpation. We documented a decline in one of the few remaining populations of Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) in southern California, USA, which dropped from 40 to 5 adulAuthorsBarbara E. Kus, Scarlett L. Howell, Dustin A. WoodConservation genomics reveals multiple evolutionary units within Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii).
The Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii) is a widespread North American species of bird that has declined since the mid-1960s primarily due to habitat modification. Throughout its range, Bell’s Vireo populations are regulated under varying degrees of protection; however, the species has never been characterized genetically. Therefore, the current taxonomy used to guide management decisions may misrepresentAuthorsLuke B. Klicka, Barbara E. Kus, Pascal O. Title, Kevin J. BurnsHabitat fragmentation in coastal southern California disrupts genetic connectivity in the cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
Achieving long-term persistence of species in urbanized landscapes requires characterizing population genetic structure to understand and manage the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on connectivity. Urbanization over the past century in coastal southern California has caused both precipitous loss of coastal sage scrub habitat and declines in populations of the cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunAuthorsKelly R. Barr, Barbara E. Kus, Kristine Preston, Scarlett L. Howell, Emily Perkins, Amy G. VandergastMonitoring avian productivity and survivorship (MAPS) 5-year summary, Naval Outlying Landing Field, Imperial Beach, southwestern San Diego County, California, 2009-13
During 2009–13, a Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) banding station was operated at the Naval Outlying Landing Field (NOLF), Imperial Beach, in southwestern San Diego County, California. The station was established as part of a long-term monitoring program of Neotropical migratory bird populations on NOLF and helps Naval Base Coronado (NOLF is a component) meet the goals and obAuthorsSuellen Lynn, Melanie C. Madden, Alexandra Houston, Barbara E. KusFirst record of interspecific breeding of Least Bell's Vireo and White-eyed Vireo
We provide the first known documentation of a male Least Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) breeding with a female White-eyed Vireo (V. griseus) and the first report of a White-eyed Vireo breeding in California at the San Luis Rey River, Oceanside, San Diego County. We discovered the pair building a nest on 12 May 2010. The female laid four eggs, and the pair successfully raised and fledged fourAuthorsMelissa A. Blundell, Barbara E. KusLandbird migration in the American West: Recent progress and future research directions
Our knowledge of avian behaviors during the nonbreeding period still lags behind that of the breeding season, but the last decade has witnessed a proliferation in research that has yielded significant progress in understanding migration patterns of North American birds. And, although historically the great majority of migration research has been conducted in the eastern half of the continent, therAuthorsJ.D. Carlisle, S. K. Skagen, B.E. Kus, Charles van Riper, K.L. Paxton, J.F. KellySouthwestern Willow Flycatcher Breeding Site and Territory Summary - 2007
The Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus; hereafter references to willow flycatcher and flycatcher refer to E.t. extimus, except where specifically noted) is an endangered bird that breeds only in dense riparian habitats in parts of six Southwestern states (Arizona, New Mexico, southern California, extreme southern Nevada, southern Utah, and southwestern Colorado). Since 1993AuthorsScott L. Durst, Mark K. Sogge, Shay D. Stump, Hira A. Walker, Barbara E. Kus, Susan J. SferraA multiscale analysis of nest predation on Least Bell's Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus)
We examined variables influencing nest predation on the endangered Least Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) at three spatial scales to determine what nest-site, habitat, or landscape characteristics affect the likelihood of nest predation and to determine the spatial distribution of predation risk and the variables influencing it. We used MARK to calculate daily survival rates of Least Bell's ViAuthorsBarbara E. Kus, Bonnie L. Peterson, Douglas H. DeutschmanSouthwestern Willow Flycatcher Breeding Site and Territory Summary - 2006
Introduction The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) is an endangered bird that breeds only in dense riparian habitats in six southwestern states (southern California, extreme southern Nevada, southern Utah, southwestern Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico). Since 1993, hundreds of Southwestern Willow Flycatcher surveys have been conducted each year, and many new flycatcheAuthorsScott L. Durst, Mark K. Sogge, Shay D. Stump, Sartor O. Williams, Barbara E. Kus, Susan J. Sferra - News