Charles B Yackulic, Ph.D.
Charles Yackulic is a research statistician with the Southwest Biological Science Center.
Dr. Yackulic's research primarily focuses on developing and fitting statistical models that integrate multiple data sources, link environmental drivers and management actions to population and ecosystem processes, and can be used to make near and long-term forecasting of system dynamics under different management alternatives. Areas of particular interest include species distribution dynamics, population dynamics, interspecific interactions, animal movement, food web dynamics and river metabolism.
Professional Experience
2011-present: Research Statistician, USGS Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ
2010-2011: National Science Foundation (NSF) postdoc in Bioinformatics, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, MD
2009-2010: Postdoctoral Researcher, Columbia University, NY
Education and Certifications
2009 - Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Columbia University, NY
2003 - MSc. in Environmental Change and Management, Oxford University, UK
2001 - B.A. in Biology (major) and Math (minor), Columbia University, NY
Science and Products
Ground-dwelling arthropods along the Colorado River in Arizona, USAData
Count and detection-nondetection survey data of barred owls (Strix varia) in historical breeding territories of Northern Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) in the Oregon Coast Range, 1995-2016
Bioelectrical impedance analysis for an endangered desert fishData
Full Annual Cycle Bioenergetics model of migration applied to Galapagos tortoisesData
Flow management and fish density regulate salmonid recruitment and adult size in tailwaters across western North AmericaData
Quantifying flow and nonflow management impacts on an endangered fish by integrating data, research, and expert opinion
Little bugs, big data, and Colorado River adaptive management: Preliminary findings from the ongoing bug flow experiment at Glen Canyon Dam
Exploring metapopulation-scale suppression alternatives for a global invader in a river network experiencing climate change
Range-wide sources of variation in reproductive rates of northern spotted owls
Southeast Utah Group climate and drought adaptation report: Exposure and perennial grass sensitivity
Experimental reductions in sub-daily flow fluctuations increased gross primary productivity for 425 river kilometers downstream
Water storage decisions and consumptive use may constrain ecosystem management under severe sustained drought
Quantifying the conservation status and abundance trends of wildlife communities with detection-nondetection data
Light and flow regimes regulate the metabolism of rivers
A greener future for the Galapagos: Forecasting ecosystem productivity by finding climate analogs in time
Hydrologic and geomorphic effects on riparian plant species occurrence and encroachment: Remote sensing of 360 km of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon
Incorporating antenna detections into abundance estimates of fish
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 29
Ground-dwelling arthropods along the Colorado River in Arizona, USAData
These data were compiled from pitfall traps deployed at three sites, along a 25 kilometers (km) stretch of the Colorado River, immediately downstream of Glen Canyon Dam, in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Each site had both pre and post-dam riparian habitats present. Sampling for ground-dwelling arthropods using pitfall traps occurred continuously between June 17 and September 9, 2009. The sCount and detection-nondetection survey data of barred owls (Strix varia) in historical breeding territories of Northern Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) in the Oregon Coast Range, 1995-2016
This dataset contains count and detection-nondetection data of Barred Owls from 106 historical breeding territories of Northern Spotted Owl territories (i.e. sites) in the Oregon Coast Ranges from 1995 to 2016. Data collected from 1995 to 2014 are partitioned into 2-week periods from 1 March - 31 August each year, totaling 12 possible sampling periods per year. Data collected from 2015 and 2016 arBioelectrical impedance analysis for an endangered desert fishData
These data were used to examine the effectiveness of a non-lethal tool (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis, "BIA") to estimate the physiological condition of endangered and threatened fishes in the Colorado River Basin. We conducted laboratory trials using hatchery-raised Humpback Chub and Bonytail and wild-captured Roundtail Chub, where fish were subjected to different feeding trials to elucidate aFull Annual Cycle Bioenergetics model of migration applied to Galapagos tortoisesData
Ambient-shade temperature was measured every 4 h with iButton thermochrons (Maxim Integrated Products, Inc., Sunnyville, CA, USA) placed at 1m above-ground level for a previous paper (Blake et al., 2012 DOI 10.1111/1365-2656.12020). The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument (Huete et al. 2002 - http://dx.doi.org/10.10Flow management and fish density regulate salmonid recruitment and adult size in tailwaters across western North AmericaData
This data is a compilation of fishery monitoring data collected by state agencies over several decades in tailwaters downriver of dams in Colorado, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Oregon. Specifically, the data contained herein is summary data used in four generalized linear mixed models that were developed to assess the biological and hydrologic factors that in - Multimedia
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Filter Total Items: 109
Quantifying flow and nonflow management impacts on an endangered fish by integrating data, research, and expert opinion
Managers charged with recovering endangered species in regulated river segments often have limited flexibility to alter flow regimes and want estimates of the expected population benefits associated with both flow and nonflow management actions. Disentangling impacts on different life stages from concurrently applied actions is essential for determining the effectiveness of each action, but difficAuthorsCharles Yackulic, Thomas P Archdeacon, Richard A. Valdez, Monika Hobbs, Michael D. Porter, Joel Lusk, Ashley M. Tanner, Eric J Gonzales, Debbie Y Lee, Grace M HaggertyLittle bugs, big data, and Colorado River adaptive management: Preliminary findings from the ongoing bug flow experiment at Glen Canyon Dam
The undammed Colorado River in Grand Canyon was characterized by spring snow-melt floods that sometimes exceeded 100,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). These were followed by occasional flash floods during summer monsoons, then by low flows from fall through early spring (Figure 1; Topping and others, 2003). This seasonally variable flow regime carried huge loads of sediment and was an important driAuthorsTheodore Kennedy, Anya Metcalfe, Bridget Deemer, Morgan Ford, Cheyenne Maxime Szydlo, Charles Yackulic, Jeffrey MuehlbauerExploring metapopulation-scale suppression alternatives for a global invader in a river network experiencing climate change
Invasive species can dramatically alter ecosystems, but eradication is difficult, and suppression is expensive once they are established. Uncertainties in the potential for expansion and impacts by an invader can lead to delayed and inadequate suppression, allowing for establishment. Metapopulation viability models can aid in planning strategies to improve responses to invaders and lessen invasiveAuthorsBrian D. Healy, Phaedra E. Budy, Charles Yackulic, Brendan P. Murphy, Robert C. Schelly, Mark C. McKinstryRange-wide sources of variation in reproductive rates of northern spotted owls
We conducted a range-wide investigation of the dynamics of site level reproductive rate of northern spotted owls using survey data from 11 study areas across the sub-species geographic range collected during 1993–2018. Our analytical approach accounted for imperfect detection of owl pairs and misclassification of successful reproduction (i.e., at least one young fledged) and contributed further inAuthorsJeremy T. Rockweit, Julianna M Jenkins, James E. Hines, James D. Nichols, Katie Dugger, Alan B. Franklin, Peter C. Carlson, William L. Kendall, Damon B. Lesmeister, Christopher McCafferty, Steven H. Ackers, L. Steven Andrews, Larissa Bailey, Jesse Burgher, Kenneth P. Burnham, Tara E. Chestnut, Mary M Conner, Raymond J. Davis, Krista E. Dilione, Eric D. Forsman, Elizabeth M. Glenn, Scott A. Gremel, Keith A. Hamm, Dale R. Herter, J. Mark Higley, Rob B. Horn, David W Lamphear, Trent L. McDonald, Janice A Reid, Carl J. Schwarz, David C. Simon, Stan G Sovern, James K. Swingle, David Wiens, Heather Wise, Charles B. YackulicSoutheast Utah Group climate and drought adaptation report: Exposure and perennial grass sensitivity
National Park Service (NPS) managers face growing challenges resulting from the effects of climate change. In particular, as temperatures rise in coming decades, natural resource management in the western United States must cope with expectations for elevated severity and frequency of droughts. These challenges are particularly pronounced for vegetation managers in dryland environments. DevelopingAuthorsJohn B. Bradford, Caroline Havrilla, Jessica A. Hartsell, Daniel Rodolphe Schlaepfer, Molly L. McCormick, Seth M. Munson, Charles Yackulic, Terry T Fisk, David Thoma, Dusty Perkins, Dana L. Witwicki, Matt VanScoyoc, Michael C. Duniway, Sasha C. ReedExperimental reductions in sub-daily flow fluctuations increased gross primary productivity for 425 river kilometers downstream
Aquatic primary production is the foundation of many river food webs. Dams change the physical template of rivers, often driving food webs toward greater reliance on aquatic primary production. Nonetheless, the effects of regulated flow regimes on primary production are poorly understood. Load following is a common dam flow management strategy that involves sub-daily changes in water releases propAuthorsBridget Deemer, Charles Yackulic, Robert O Hall Jr., Michael Dodrill, Theodore Kennedy, Jeffrey Muehlbauer, David Topping, Nicholas Voichick, Mike YardWater storage decisions and consumptive use may constrain ecosystem management under severe sustained drought
Drought has impacted the Colorado River basin for the past 20 years and is predicted to continue. In response, decisions about how much water should be stored in large reservoirs and how much water can be consumptively used will be necessary. These decisions have the potential to limit riverine ecosystem management options through the effect water-supply decisions have on reservoir elevations. WeAuthorsLindsey Ann Bruckerhoff, Kevin Wheeler, Kimberly L. Dibble, B.A. Mihalevich, B.T. Nielson, J. Wang, Charles Yackulic, J.C. SchmidtQuantifying the conservation status and abundance trends of wildlife communities with detection-nondetection data
Effective conservation requires understanding species' abundance patterns and demographic rates across space and time. Ideally, such knowledge should be available for whole communities, as variation in species' dynamics can elucidate factors leading to biodiversity losses. However, collecting data to simultaneously estimate abundance and demographic rates is often prohibitively time-intensive andAuthorsMatthew T Farr, Timothy O O'Brien, Charles Yackulic, Elise F. ZipkinLight and flow regimes regulate the metabolism of rivers
Mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation drive much of the variation in productivity across Earth's terrestrial ecosystems but do not explain variation in gross primary productivity (GPP) or ecosystem respiration (ER) in flowing waters. We document substantial variation in the magnitude and seasonality of GPP and ER across 222 US rivers. In contrast to their terrestrial counterparts,AuthorsEmily. S Bernhardt, Philip R. Savoy, Michael J Vlah, Alison Paige Appling, Lauren E Koenig, Robert O Hall Jr., Maite Arroita, Joanna Blaszczak, Alice M. Carter, Matthew J. Cohen, Judson Harvey, James B. Heffernan, Ashley M. Helton, J.D. Hosen, Lily Kirk, William H. McDowell, Emily H. Stanley, Charles Yackulic, Nancy B. GrimmA greener future for the Galapagos: Forecasting ecosystem productivity by finding climate analogs in time
Forecasting ecosystem response to climate change is critical for guiding policymaking but challenging due to: complicated relationships between microclimates and regional climates; species’ responses that are driven by extremes rather than averages; the multifaceted nature of species’ interactions; and the lack of historical analogs to future climates. Given these challenges, even model systems suAuthorsNoah D. Charney, Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau, Charles Yackulic, Stephen Blake, James P. GibbsHydrologic and geomorphic effects on riparian plant species occurrence and encroachment: Remote sensing of 360 km of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon
A common impact on riparian ecosystem function following river regulation is the expansion and encroachment of riparian plant species in the active river channels and floodplain, which reduces flow of water and suspended sediment between the river, riparian area, and upland ecosystems. We characterized riparian plant species occurrence and quantified encroachment within the dam-regulated ColoradoAuthorsLaura E. Durning, Joel B. Sankey, Charles Yackulic, Paul Grams, Bradley J. Butterfield, Temuulen T. SankeyIncorporating antenna detections into abundance estimates of fish
Autonomous passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag antennas are commonly used to detect fish marked with PIT tags but cannot detect unmarked fish, creating challenges for abundance estimation. Here we describe an approach to estimate abundance from paired physical capture and antenna detection data in closed and open mark-recapture models. Additionally, for open models, we develop an approach thaAuthorsMaria C. Dzul, Charles Yackulic, William L. Kendall, Dana L. Winkelman, Mary M Conner, Mike Yard - Web Tools
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