Shaffer SA, Clatterbuck CA, Kelsey EC, Naiman AD, Young LC, VanderWerf EA, et al. (2014) As the Egg Turns: Monitoring Egg Attendance Behavior in Wild Birds Using Novel Data Logging Technology. PLoS ONE9(6): e97898. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0097898
Emily (Emma) Kelsey
Biography
Emily (Emma) Kelsey is a wildlife biologist with focuses on marine conservation biology and seabird ecology. Emma is interested in seabirds’ role in the marine ecosystem as upper trophic level predators and how they affect, and are affected by, natural and anthropogenic changes in the marine environment. Currently, she is involved in research investigating the potential impacts of offshore wind energy infrustructure on seabirds in the California Current System and the Main Hawaiian Islands. Emma is also part of several collaborations in database construction and implementation of long-term seabird studies used to inform conservation and management decisions.
EDUCATION
MSc, Ecology and Conservation Biology, San Jose State University 2014
BS, Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Puget Sound 2010
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Marine Conservation
- Seabird Ecology
- Renewable energy infrastructure, wildlife interactions
- Telemetry
Science and Products
Date published: January 6, 2020
Status: Completed Assessing Mammalian Predator Control to Protect Endangered Birds at Haleakalā National Park
USGS researchers assessed trends in non-native mammalian predator trapping methods designed to protect endangered ʻuaʻu and nēnē at Haleakalā National Park, Hawaiʻi.
Contacts: Josh Adams, Emily (Emma) Kelsey
Attribution: Ecosystems, Western Ecological Research Center
Date published: September 4, 2019
Status: Active Seabird Vulnerability Assessment for Renewable Energy Projects
The WERC seabird studies team has developed a new framework for quantifying seabird species vulnerability to wind infrastructure in the California Current region of the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf. This tool supports marine resource-use planning by identifying sites where seabirds are most vulnerable and predicts how different species may be affected by wind-energy infrastructure.
Date published: June 29, 2018
Status: Active Breeding Seabirds of the Main Hawaiian Islands
The seabird research team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is working with many partners to map the terrestrial and marine distributions of breeding seabirds of the main Hawaiian islands.
Attribution: Energy & Wildlife, Western Ecological Research Center
Date published: October 30, 2017
Status: Active Ashy Storm-Petrel Range and Colony Attendance Behavior
Together with Federal and non-profit partners, WERC's Josh Adams and team are using cutting-edge technology to study the range and colony attendance patterns of the Ashy Storm-Petrel, an elusive seabird native to offshore rocks and islands along the California coast. Their research informs management and conservation for this threatened seabird species.
Attribution: Western Ecological Research Center
Date published: October 30, 2017
Status: Active Seabird Health and Adaptive Management
Dr. Josh Adams and his science team at WERC study seabird health and support adaptive management by quantifying abundance patterns and behaviors associated with habitats at sea, where seabirds spend the overwhelming majority of their lives. Adams’s team also employs conservation science to support resource managers on land, where seabirds are obligated to nest. His group provides scientific...
Contacts: Josh Adams
Date published: October 30, 2017
Status: Active Seabird Ecology and Marine Planning
Seabirds are Department of the Interior (DOI) Trust Species and are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Act. To support science-based decision capacity and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) among U.S. Government resource managers, Dr. Josh Adams and the WERC seabird team have partnered with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,...
Contacts: Josh Adams
Attribution: Energy & Wildlife, Western Ecological Research Center
Date published: February 24, 2017
Status: Active Santa Cruz Field Station
Scientists at the Santa Cruz Field Station study sea otters and seabirds in their environment. The USGS Western Ecological Research Center has two research missions based in the Santa Cruz region:
Attribution: Western Ecological Research Center
Year Published: 2020
Population estimates for selected breeding seabirds at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Kauaʻi, in 2019
Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (KPNWR) is an important seabird breeding site located at the northeastern tip of Kauaʻi in the main Hawaiian Islands. Despite the regional significance of KPNWR as one of the most important breeding sites for red-tailed tropicbirds (Phaethon rubricauda), red-footed boobies (Sula sula), and wedge-tailed...
Felis, Jonathan J.; Kelsey, Emily C.; Adams, Josh; Stenske, Jennilyn G.; White, Laney M.Attribution: Western Ecological Research Center, Ecosystems
View Citation
Felis, J.J., Kelsey, E.C., Adams, J., Stenske, J.G., and White, L.M., 2020, Population estimates for selected breeding seabirds at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Kauaʻi, in 2019: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 1130, 32 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ds1130.
Year Published: 2020
Abundance and productivity of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) off central California during the 2019 breeding season
Marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) have been listed as “endangered” by the State of California and “threatened” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1992 in California, Oregon, and Washington. Information regarding marbled murrelet abundance, distribution, population trends, and habitat associations is critical for risk assessment...
Felis, Jonathan J.; Kelsey, Emily C.; Adams, Josh; Horton, Cheryl; White, Laura (Laney)Attribution: Western Ecological Research Center, Ecosystems
View Citation
Felis, J.J., Kelsey, E.C., Adams, J., Horton, C., and White, L., 2020, Abundance and productivity of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) off central California during the 2019 breeding season: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 1123, 13 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ds 1123.
Year Published: 2019
Trends in mammalian predator control trapping events intended to protect ground-nesting, endangered birds at Haleakalā National Park, Hawaiʻi: 2000–14
Predation and habitat degradation by non-native species are principal terrestrial threats to the federally endangered Hawaiian Petrel (ʻuaʻu, Pterodroma sandwichensis) and Hawaiian Goose (nēnē, Branta sandvicensis) within Haleakalā National Park (HALE), Maui, Hawaiʻi. Since 1981, HALE has maintained a network of live traps to control invasive...
Kelsey, Emily C.; Adams, Josh; Czapanskiy, Max F.; Felis, Jonathan J.; Yee, Julie L.; Kaholoaa, Raina L.; Bailey, Cathleen NatividadAttribution: Western Ecological Research Center, Ecosystems
View Citation
Kelsey, E.C., Adams, J., Czapanskiy, M.F., Felis, J.J., Yee, J.L., Kaholoaa R.L., and Bailey, C.N., 2019, Trends in mammalian predator control trapping events intended to protect ground-nesting, endangered birds at Haleakalā National Park, Hawaiʻi: 2000–14: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2019–1122, 27 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20191122.
Year Published: 2019
Synopsis of research programs that can provide baseline and monitoring information for offshore energy activities in the Pacific region: Seabird and marine mammal surveys in the Pacific region
We assembled and tabulated information about marine bird and mammal research and monitoring programs that could provide data needed to support environmental risk assessments. This included identifying ongoing or completed research programs that contain information on species and habitats sensitive to offshore energy activities and that could...
Adams, Josh; Lafferty, Kevin D.; Kelsey, Emily C.; Johnston, Cora A.Attribution: Western Ecological Research Center, Ecosystems
View Citation
Adams, J., Lafferty, K.D., Kelsey, E.C., and Johnston, C.A. 2019. Synopsis of Research Programs that can Provide Baseline and Monitoring Information for Offshore Energy Activities in the Pacific Region: Seabird and Marine Mammal Surveys in the Pacific Region. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific OCS Region, Camarillo, CA. OCS Study BOEM 2019-042. 14 Figures, 20 Tables, 54 p.
Year Published: 2019
Abundance and productivity of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) off central California during the 2018 breeding season
Executive SummaryMarbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) have been listed as “endangered” by the State of California and “threatened” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1992 in California, Oregon, and Washington. Information regarding marbled murrelet abundance, distribution, population trends, and habitat associations is critical...
Felis, Jonathan J.; Kelsey, Emily C.; Adams, JoshAttribution: Western Ecological Research Center, Ecosystems
View Citation
Felis, J.J., Kelsey, E.C., and Adams, J., 2019, Abundance and productivity of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) off central California during the 2018 breeding season: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 1107, 10 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ds1107.
Year Published: 2018
Collision and displacement vulnerability to offshore wind energy infrastructure among marine birds of the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf
Marine birds are vulnerable to collision with and displacement by offshore wind energy infrastructure (OWEI). Here we present the first assessment of marine bird vulnerability to potential OWEI in the California Current System portion of the U.S. Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (POCS). Using population size, demography, life history,...
Kelsey, Emily C.; Felis, Jonathan J.; Czapanskiy, Max; Peresksta, David M.; Adams, JoshView Citation
Emma C. Kelsey, Jonathan J. Felis, Max Czapanskiy, David M. Pereksta, Josh Adams,
Collision and displacement vulnerability to offshore wind energy infrastructure among marine birds of the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf, Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 227,
2018, Pages 229-247, ISSN 0301-4797, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.08.051.
Year Published: 2018
Abundance and productivity of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) off central California during the 2017 breeding season
Marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) have been listed as “Endangered” by the State of California and “Threatened” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1992 in California, Oregon, and Washington. Information regarding marbled murrelet abundance, distribution, population trends, and habitat associations is critical for risk assessment...
Felis, Jonathan J.; Adams, Josh; Kelsey, Emily C.Attribution: Western Ecological Research Center, Ecosystems
View Citation
Felis, J.J., Adams, J., and Kelsey, E.C.., 2018, Abundance and productivity of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) off central California during the 2017 breeding season: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 1093, 12 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ds1093.
Year Published: 2017
Population-level plasticity in foraging behavior of western gulls (Larus occidentalis)
BackgroundPlasticity in foraging behavior among individuals, or across populations may reduce competition. As a generalist carnivore, western gulls (Larus occidentalis) consume a wide range of marine and terrestrial foods. However, the foraging patterns and habitat selection (ocean or land) of western gulls is not well understood, despite their...
Shaffer, Scott A.; Cockerham, Sue; Warzybok, Peter; Bradley, Russell W.; Jahncke, Jaime; Clatterbuck, Corey A.; Lucia, Magali; Jelincic, Jennifer A.; Cassell, Anne L.; Kelsey, Emily; Adams, JoshAttribution: Western Ecological Research Center, Ecosystems
View Citation
Shaffer, SA, S Cockerham, P Warzybok, RW Bradley, J Jahncke, CA Clatterbuck, M Lucia, JA Jelincic, AL Cassell, EC Kelsey, J Adams. 2017. Population-level plasticity in foraging behavior of western gulls (Larus occidentalis). Movement Ecology 5(27): 1-13. doi: 10.1186/s40462-017-0118-9
Year Published: 2016
Data for calculating population, collision and displacement vulnerability among marine birds of the California Current System associated with offshore wind energy infrastructure
The U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center (USGS-WERC) was requested by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to create a database for marine birds of the California Current System (CCS) that would allow quantification and species ranking regarding vulnerability to offshore wind energy infrastructure (OWEI...
Adams, Josh; Kelsey, Emily; Felis, Jonathan J.; Pereksta, David M.Attribution: Western Ecological Research Center
View Citation
Adams, J., Kelsey, E.C., Felis J.J., and Pereksta, D.M., 2016, Data for calculating population, collision and displacement vulnerability among marine birds of the California Current System associated with offshore wind energy infrastructure: U.S. Geological Survey data release, http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F79C6VJ0
Year Published: 2016
Collision and displacement vulnerability among marine birds of the California Current System associated with offshore wind energy infrastructure
With growing climate change concerns and energy constraints, there is an increasing need for renewable energy sources within the United States and globally. Looking forward, offshore wind-energy infrastructure (OWEI) has the potential to produce a significant proportion of the power needed to reach our Nation’s renewable energy goal. Offshore wind...
Adams, Josh; Kelsey, Emily C.; Felis, Jonathan J.; Pereksta, David M.View Citation
Adams, J., Kelsey, E.C., Felis, J.J., and Pereksta, D.M., 2017, Collision and displacement vulnerability among marine birds of the California Current System associated with offshore wind energy infrastructure (ver. 1.1, July 2017): U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016-1154, 116 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161154.
Pre-USGS Publications
Kelsey, E C, R W Bradley, P Warzybok, J Jahncke, S A Shaffer. (2015) Environmental temperatures, artificial nests, and incubation of Cassin's auklet
Date published: April 11, 2019
WERC Scientists Combine Bird Calls and Artificial Intelligence to Keep Tabs on the Elusive Ashy-Storm Petrel (Audubon magazine)
CALIFORNIA COAST – Artificial intelligence and acoustic sensors help scientists monitor seabirds
Date published: April 13, 2018
A Day in the Life of a WERC Seabird Scientist
In the featured photo, WERC scientists search for potential nesting habitat of seabirds like the Ashy Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma homochroa) on False Klamath Rock off the coast of California.
Attribution: Ecosystems, Western Ecological Research Center