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John Severson, Ph.D.

Resource selection, habitat relationships, habitat restoration, space use, movement ecology, population demographics.

Professional Experience

  • 2023 – Present: Biologist, Southwest Biological Science Center, Canyonlands Research Station, Moab, UT

  • 2019 – 2023: 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

Education and Certifications

  • 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

Affiliations and 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

No Result Found
No results found.

Global positioning system tracking devices can decrease Greater Sage-Grouse survival 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 to avian ecological studies compared with
Authors
John P. Severson, Peter S. Coates, Brian G. Prochazka, Mark A. Ricca, Michael L. Casazza, David J Delahunty
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Assessing lek attendance of male greater sage‐grouse using fine‐resolution GPS data: Implications for population monitoring of lek mating grouse 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 not well understood. We used high...
Authors
Gregory T. Wann, Peter S. Coates, Brian G. Prochazka, John P. Severson, Adrian P. Monroe, Cameron L. Aldridge
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Population and habitat analyses for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the bi-state distinct population segment—2018 update Population and habitat analyses for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the bi-state distinct population segment—2018 update

Executive Summary The 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 of single-leaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla...
Authors
Peter S. Coates, Mark A. Ricca, Brian G. Prochazka, Shawn T. O’Neil, John P. Severson, Steven R. Mathews, Shawn Espinosa, Scott Gardner, Sherri Lisius, David J. Delehanty
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Non-USGS Publications**

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.
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.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Science and Products

No Result Found
No results found.

Global positioning system tracking devices can decrease Greater Sage-Grouse survival 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 to avian ecological studies compared with
Authors
John P. Severson, Peter S. Coates, Brian G. Prochazka, Mark A. Ricca, Michael L. Casazza, David J Delahunty
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Assessing lek attendance of male greater sage‐grouse using fine‐resolution GPS data: Implications for population monitoring of lek mating grouse 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 not well understood. We used high...
Authors
Gregory T. Wann, Peter S. Coates, Brian G. Prochazka, John P. Severson, Adrian P. Monroe, Cameron L. Aldridge
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Population and habitat analyses for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the bi-state distinct population segment—2018 update Population and habitat analyses for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the bi-state distinct population segment—2018 update

Executive Summary The 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 of single-leaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla...
Authors
Peter S. Coates, Mark A. Ricca, Brian G. Prochazka, Shawn T. O’Neil, John P. Severson, Steven R. Mathews, Shawn Espinosa, Scott Gardner, Sherri Lisius, David J. Delehanty
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC)

Non-USGS Publications**

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.
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.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

*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

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