Kaweck, M. M., J. P. Severson, and K. L. Launchbaugh. 2018. Impacts of wild horses, cattle, and wildlife on riparian areas in Idaho. Rangelands 40:45–52.
John Severson, Ph.D.
Resource selection, habitat relationships, habitat restoration, space use, movement ecology, population demographics
Biography
Education
Ph.D. 2016 University of Idaho, Moscow, ID Natural Resources/Wildlife
M.S. 2007 Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL Zoology/Wildlife
B.S. 2004 University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, WI Wildlife Ecology and Management
Professional Experience
2019 – Present Wildlife Biologist, USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK
2016 – 2019 Wildlife Biologist, USGS Western Ecological Research Center, Reno, NV
2016 Post-doctoral Researcher University of Idaho, Moscow, ID
2011 – 2016 Graduate Research Assistant, Moscow, ID
2007 – 2011 Various field technician positions
2004 – 2007 Graduate Research Assistant, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
2001 - 2004 Various Field technician positions
Professional Memberships
The Wildlife Society (2004–Present)
TWS Alaska Chapter (2019–Present)
TWS Northwest Section (2019–Present)
TWS Biometrics Working Group (2010–Present)
TWS Wildlife and Habitat Restoration Working Group (2010–Present)
TWS Rangeland Wildlife Working Group (2017–Present)
TWS Spatial Ecology and Telemetry Working Group (2019–Present)
Society of Wetland Scientists (Lifetime Member 2004–Present)
American Society of Mining and Reclamation (2007–Present)
Society of Northwest Vertebrate Biology (2011–Present)
Society for Range Management (2015–Present)
American Ornithological Society (2015–Present)
Science and Products
Year Published: 2021
Spring phenology drives range shifts in a migratory Arctic ungulate with key implications for the future
Annual variation in phenology can have profound effects on the behavior of animals. As climate change advances spring phenology in ecosystems around the globe, it is becoming increasingly important to understand how animals respond to variation in the timing of seasonal events and how their responses may shift in the future. We investigated the...
Severson, John P.; Johnson, Heather E.; Arthur, Stephen M.; Leacock, William; Suitor, MikeAttribution: Western Ecological Research Center, Ecosystems
Year Published: 2019
Population and habitat analyses for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the bi-state distinct population segment—2018 update
Executive SummaryThe Bi-State Distinct Population Segment (Bi-State DPS) of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus, hereinafter “sage-grouse”) represents a genetically distinct and geographically isolated population that straddles the border between Nevada and California. The primary threat to these sage-grouse populations is the expansion...
Coates, Peter S.; Ricca, Mark A.; Prochazka, Brian G.; O'Neil, Shawn T.; Severson, John P.; Mathews, Steven R.; Espinosa, Shawn; Gardner, Scott; Lisius, Sherri; Delehanty, David J.Attribution: Western Ecological Research Center, Ecosystems
View Citation
Coates, P.S., Ricca, M.A., Prochazka, B.G., O’Neil, S,T., Severson, J.P., Mathews, S.R., Espinosa, S., Gardner, S., Lisius, S., and Delehanty, D.J., 2020, Population and habitat analyses for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the bi-state distinct population segment—2018 update: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2019–1149, 122 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20191149.
Year Published: 2019
Estimating sightability of greater sage-grouse at leks using an aerial infrared system and N-mixture models
Counts of grouse present at leks (breeding grounds) during spring are widely used to monitor population numbers and assess trends. However, only a proportion of birds available to count are detected resulting in a biased population index. We designed a study using an aerial integrated infrared imaging system (AIRIS) and experimental pseudo-leks to...
Coates, Peter S.; Wann, Gregory T.; Gillette, Gifford L.; Ricca, Mark A.; Prochazka, Brian G.; Severson, John P.; Andrle, Katie M.; Espinosa, Shawn P.; Casazza, Michael L.; Delehanty, David J.Attribution: Western Ecological Research Center, Ecosystems
Year Published: 2019
Global positioning system tracking devices can decrease Greater Sage-Grouse survival
Reliable demographic estimates hinge on the assumption that marking animals does not alter their behavior, reproduction, or survival. Violations can bias inference and are especially egregious for species of high conservation concern. Global positioning system (GPS) devices represent a recent technological advancement that has contributed greatly...
Severson, John P.; Coates, Peter S.; Prochazka, Brian G.; Ricca, Mark A.; Casazza, Michael L.; Delahunty, David JAttribution: Western Ecological Research Center, Ecosystems
Year Published: 2019
Assessing lek attendance of male greater sage‐grouse using fine‐resolution GPS data: Implications for population monitoring of lek mating grouse
Counts of males displaying on breeding grounds are the primary management tool used to assess population trends in lekking grouse species. Despite the importance of male lek attendance (i.e., proportion of males on leks available for detection) influencing lek counts, patterns of within season and between season variability in attendance rates are...
Wann, Gregory T.; Coates, Peter S.; Prochazka, Brian G.; Severson, John P.; Monroe, Adrian P.; Aldridge, Cameron L.Attribution: Western Ecological Research Center, Ecosystems
Pre-USGS Publications
Severson, J. P., C. A. Hagen, J. D. Tack, J. D. Maestas, D. E. Naugle, J. T. Forbes, and K. P. Reese. 2017. Better living through conifer removal: a demographic analysis of sage-grouse vital rates. PLoS ONE 12:e0174347.
Severson, J. P., C. A. Hagen, J. D. Maestas, D. E. Naugle, J. T. Forbes, and K. P. Reese. 2017. Restoring sage-grouse nesting habitat through removal of early successional conifer. Restoration Ecology 25:1026–1034.
Severson, J. P., C. A. Hagen, J. D. Maestas, D. E. Naugle, J. T. Forbes, and K. P. Reese. 2017. Short-term response of sage-grouse nesting to conifer removal in the northern Great Basin. Rangeland Ecology and Management 70:50–58.
Severson, J. P., C. A. Hagen, J. D. Maestas, D. E. Naugle, J. T. Forbes, and K. P. Reese. 2017. Effects of conifer expansion on greater sage-grouse nesting habitat selection. Journal of Wildlife Management 81:86–95.
Clawson, M. V., J. R. Skalski, J. M. Lady, C. A. Hagen, J. J. Millspaugh, D. Budeau, and J. P. Severson. 2017. Performing statistical population reconstruction using program PopRecon 2.0. Wildlife Society Bulletin 41:581–589.
Baruch-Mordo, S., J. S. Evans, J. P. Severson, D. E. Naugle, J. D. Maestas, J. M. Kiesecker, M. J. Falkowski, C. A. Hagen, and K. P. Reese. 2013. Saving sage-grouse from the trees: a proactive solution to reducing a key threat to a candidate species. Biological Conservation 167:233–241.
Moore, S., J. R. Nawrot, and J. P. Severson. 2009. Wetland-scale habitat determinants influencing least bittern use of created wetlands. Waterbirds 32:16–24.
Severson, J. P., J. R. Nawrot, and M. W. Eichholz. 2009. Shoreline stabilization using riprap breakwaters on a Midwestern reservoir. Lake and Reservoir Management 25:208–216.