Daniel R Ruthrauff, Ph.D.
Reproductive and migration ecology of shorebirds; shorebird population demography
My career in Alaska began in 1996, working as a seasonal technician on various bird studies. Today, my research broadly investigates the biotic and abiotic factors that affect bird populations. My projects primarily focus on shorebirds as study subjects, but I also have extensive experience studying landbirds and waterfowl. My work focuses on documenting the status and distribution of shorebirds, studying the migration ecology of shorebirds, and assessing the reproductive ecology of Alaska-breeding shorebirds. Because most of Alaska's shorebirds are migratory, I collaborate on international efforts on many of these same topics. My current research focuses on the interactive effects of climate change and rapidly expanding goose populations on shorebirds, landbirds, and their breeding habitats in Arctic Alaska.
Professional Experience
2015 - Present Research Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center
2002 - 2015 Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center
1999 - 2001 Biological Technician, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, Bethel, Alaska
1996 - 1999 Biological Technician, U.S. Geological Survey / Alaska Science Center
1995 - 1996 Volunteer Field Assistant, various projects
1995 Groundfish Observer, National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska
1991 - 1992 Freshwater Fisheries Extension Agent, United States Peace Corps, Togo, West Africa
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2014 University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands Animal Ecology
M.S. 2002 Humboldt State University Arcata, California Wildlife Management
B.A. 1991 University of Colorado, Boulder Environmental, Population, and Organismic Biology
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Ornithological Society
Wader Study Group
Science and Products
Intercontinental migratory connectivity and population structuring of Dunlins from western Alaska
Identical metabolic rate and thermal conductance in Rock Sandpiper (Calidris ptilocnemis) subspecies with contrasting nonbreeding life histories
Small population size of Pribilof Rock Sandpipers confirmed through distance-sampling surveys in Alaska
Paired serologic and polymerase chain reaction analyses of avian influenza prevalence in Alaskan shorebirds
Geographic variation in morphology of Alaska-breeding Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica) is not maintained on their nonbreeding grounds in New Zealand
Coelomic implantation of satellite transmitters in the bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) and the bristle-thighed curlew (Numenius tahitiensis) using propofol, bupivacaine, and lidocaine
Ecological factors regulating brood attendance patterns of the western sandpiper calidris mauri
Inventory of montane-nesting birds in Katmai and Lake Clark national parks and preserves
The blind men and the elephant: Concerns about the use of juvenile proportion data
Inventory of montane-nesting birds in the Arctic Network of National Parks, Alaska
Shorebird avoidance of nearshore feeding and roosting areas at night correlates with presence of a nocturnal avian predator
Survival of Western Sandpiper broods on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska
Science and Products
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Intercontinental migratory connectivity and population structuring of Dunlins from western Alaska
The Dunlin (Calidris alpina) is a polytypic shorebird with complex patterns of distribution and migration throughout its holarctic range. We analyzed mark-re sighting data obtained between 1977 and 2010 from birds captured at two major staging areas in western Alaska to test the hypothesis that the migration patterns of Alaskan populations are a mixture of parallel and chain, similar to those of DAuthorsRobert E. Gill, Colleen M. Handel, Daniel R. RuthrauffIdentical metabolic rate and thermal conductance in Rock Sandpiper (Calidris ptilocnemis) subspecies with contrasting nonbreeding life histories
Closely related species or subspecies can exhibit metabolic differences that reflect site-specific environmental conditions. Whether such differences represent fixed traits or flexible adjustments to local conditions, however, is difficult to predict across taxa. The nominate race of Rock Sandpiper (Calidris ptilocnemis) exhibits the most northerly nonbreeding distribution of any shorebird in theAuthorsDaniel R. Ruthrauff, Anne Dekinga, Robert E. Gill, Theunis PiersmaSmall population size of Pribilof Rock Sandpipers confirmed through distance-sampling surveys in Alaska
The Rock Sandpiper (Calidris ptilocnemis) is endemic to the Bering Sea region and unique among shorebirds in the North Pacific for wintering at high latitudes. The nominate subspecies, the Pribilof Rock Sandpiper (C. p. ptilocnemis), breeds on four isolated islands in the Bering Sea and appears to spend the winter primarily in Cook Inlet, Alaska. We used a stratified systematic sampling design andAuthorsDaniel R. Ruthrauff, T. Lee Tibbitts, Robert E. Gill, Maksim N. Dementyev, Colleen M. HandelPaired serologic and polymerase chain reaction analyses of avian influenza prevalence in Alaskan shorebirds
Surveillance has revealed low prevalence of avian influenza viruses (AIV) in shorebirds except Ruddy Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) on the North American Atlantic coast. Similarly, of five species of shorebirds surveyed in Alaska in 2010, Ruddy Turnstones had the highest AIV antibody prevalence; prevalence of AIV RNA was low or zero.AuthorsJohn M. Pearce, Daniel R. Ruthrauff, Jeffrey S. HallGeographic variation in morphology of Alaska-breeding Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica) is not maintained on their nonbreeding grounds in New Zealand
Among scolopacid shorebirds, Bar-tailed Godwits (Limosa lapponica) have unusually high intra- and intersexual differences in size and breeding plumage. Despite historical evidence for population structure among Alaska-breeding Bar-tailed Godwits (L. l. baueri), no thorough analysis, or comparison with the population's nonbreeding distribution, has been undertaken. We used live captures, field photAuthorsJesse R. Conklin, Phil F. Battley, Murray A. Potter, Daniel R. RuthrauffCoelomic implantation of satellite transmitters in the bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica) and the bristle-thighed curlew (Numenius tahitiensis) using propofol, bupivacaine, and lidocaine
Intravenous propofol was used as a general anesthetic with a 2∶1 (mg∶mg) adjunctive mixture of lidocaine and bupivacaine as local anesthetics infiltrated into the surgical sites for implantation of satellite transmitters into the right abdominal air sac of 39 female and 4 male bar-tailed godwits (Limosa lapponica baueri and Limosa lapponica menzbeiri) and 11 female and 12 male bristle-thighed curlAuthorsDaniel M. Mulcahy, Brett D. Gartrell, Robert E. Gill, T. Lee Tibbitts, Daniel R. RuthrauffEcological factors regulating brood attendance patterns of the western sandpiper calidris mauri
Parental brood attendance patterns vary greatly among shorebird species. For monogamous calidridine species, biparental care with female-first brood departure is most common. It is believed that adult sandpipers balance potential individual survival costs associated with extended parental care against the benefit gained by their brood of prolonged parental care. These costs and benefits are difficAuthorsDaniel R. Ruthrauff, J.N. Keller, D.J. RizzoloInventory of montane-nesting birds in Katmai and Lake Clark national parks and preserves
As part of the National Park Service’s Inventory and Monitoring Program, biologists from the U. S. Geological Survey’s Alaska Science Center conducted an inventory of birds in montane regions of Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks and Preserves during 2004–2006. We used a stratified random survey design to allocate samples by ecological subsection. To survey for birds, we conducted counts at 468AuthorsDaniel R. Ruthrauff, T. Lee Tibbitts, Robert E. Gill, Colleen M. HandelThe blind men and the elephant: Concerns about the use of juvenile proportion data
Juvenile proportion data in shorebirds are being used with increasing frequency to estimate recruitment and even breeding success. Although this area of investigation holds great promise, flaws in current study designs preclude great confidence in the broad-scale inferences being drawn. We present data from our own investigations on juvenile proportions in Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica in AlAuthorsBrian J. McCaffery, Colleen M. Handel, Robert E. Gill, Daniel R. RuthrauffInventory of montane-nesting birds in the Arctic Network of National Parks, Alaska
The Alaska Science Center of the U.S. Geological Survey conducted an inventory of birds in montane areas of the four northern parks in the Arctic Network of National Parks, Alaska. This effort represents the first comprehensive assessment of breeding range and habitat associations for the majority of avian species in the Arctic Network. Ultimately, these data provide a framework upon which to desiAuthorsT. Lee Tibbitts, Daniel R. Ruthrauff, Robert E. Gill, Colleen M. HandelShorebird avoidance of nearshore feeding and roosting areas at night correlates with presence of a nocturnal avian predator
We here report two anecdotes about avianinteractions relevant to the interpretation of differences in shorebirdhabitat use between day and night. Several studies have reported that shorebirds avoid feeding and roosting along nearshore areasat night yet commonly use these sites during daytime. This suggests that nighttime avoidance of nearshore places is a response to increased danger of predation.AuthorsTheunis Piersma, Robert E. Gill, Petra de Goeij, Anne Dekinga, Marnie Shepherd, Daniel R. Ruthrauff, T. Lee TibbittsSurvival of Western Sandpiper broods on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska
The rate of chick growth in high-latitude breeding shorebirds is rapid, but little is known about the effect of chick mass, growth, and brood movements on subsequent brood survival. To address these topics, we monitored chick growth patterns, daily brood movements, and survival of Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska. We assessed the effect of chick age, mass, aAuthorsDaniel R. Ruthrauff, Brian J. McCaffery - 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