Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Joseph Eisaguirre, Ph.D.

Joe is a Research Wildlife Biologist with the Ecosystem Analytics team at the Alaska Science Center. His research focuses on developing and applying statistical methods to better understand the ecology and inform management of wildlife.

My research generally involves developing and applying Bayesian hierarchical models and other quantitative methods to better understand the ecology and inform management of wildlife, in close collaboration with other Department of Interior agencies and state and local partners. This includes spatiotemporal models of population growth and spread, movement models, resource and habitat selection models.

Professional Experience

  • 2022 - present  Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska

  • 2020 - 2022       Statistician, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Marine Mammals Management,
                                 Anchorage, Alaska

  • 2020 - 2020      Post doctoral researcher, University of Nevada Reno, Nevada

  • 2020 - 2020      Post doctoral researcher, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Alaska

  • 2015 - 2019       Graduate research and teaching assistant, University of Alaska Fairbanks,
                                Alaska

  • 2013 - 2016       Fish and Wildlife Technician, Alaska Department of Fish and Game,
                                Alaska

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. 2020   Biological Sciences (Wildlife Biology & Conservation),
                          University of Alaska Fairbanks

  • M.S.   2019   Statistics  University of Alaska Fairbanks

  • B.A.   2015    Biology  Colorado College

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • The Wildlife Society

  • The International Biometric Society

  • Raptor Research Foundation

  • American Statistical Association

Honors and Awards

  • 2021 Two STAR Awards (Special Thanks for Achieving Results), US Fish and Wildlife Service

  • Calvin J Lensink Fellowship, University of Alaska Fairbanks

  • Nancy Klamm Award, Wilson Ornithological Society

  • Bergrstrom Memorial Research Award, Association of Field Ornithologists

  • Richard and Reba Beidleman Award, Colorado College

  • James Wilkes Memorial Biology Award, Colorado College

Science and Products

link
Sampling a stream in the mist in the Akilik River drainage

Ecosystems Analytics

Ecosystems Analytics is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians with a diverse range of expertise and experience (summarized below). We collaborate with internal and external partners to answer challenging ecological questions that are a high priority of the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, sister agencies within the Department of the Interior (DOI), and various...
By
Alaska Science Center
link

Ecosystems Analytics

Ecosystems Analytics is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians with a diverse range of expertise and experience (summarized below). We collaborate with internal and external partners to answer challenging ecological questions that are a high priority of the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, sister agencies within the Department of the Interior (DOI), and various...
Learn More
Aerial survey for Black Brant at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska link
USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics Program

Informing management of recovering predators and their prey with ecological diffusion models

The reintroduction and recovery of predators can be ecologically beneficial as well as socially and economically controversial. However, the growth and expansion of predator populations, and thus their ecological, social, and economic impacts, are not static but rather they vary in space and time. We propose a spatiotemporal statistical modeling framework based on ecological diffusion to better in
Authors
Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Perry J. Williams, Xinyi Lu, Michelle L. Kissling, Paul A Schutte, Benjamin P Weitzman, William S. Beatty, George G. Esslinger, Jamie N. Womble, Mevin B. Hooten
By
Alaska Science Center

A hierarchical modelling framework for estimating individual- and population-level reproductive success from movement data

Rapidly advancing animal telemetry technologies paired with new statistical models can provide insight into the behaviour of otherwise unobservable free-living animals. Changes in behaviour apparent from pairing telemetry with statistical models often occur as animals undertake key life-history activities, such as reproduction. For many species that are secretive or occupy remote areas, these life
Authors
Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Perry J. Williams, Julia C. Brockman, Stephen B. Lewis, Christopher P. Barger, Greg A. Breed, Travis L. Booms
By
Alaska Science Center

Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) population abundance and distribution across the southeast Alaska stock, summer 2022

In the summer of 2022, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and partners successfully completed the first single-year, aerial photo survey of sea otters across the entire Southeast stock of northern sea otters. This document presents the latest findings from the 2022 Southeast Alaska Sea Otter Survey, providing up-to-date information regarding occupancy, abundance and carrying capacity. We collected t
Authors
Paul Schuette, Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Benjamin P Weitzman, Collin Power, Evan Wetherington, Jenipher Cate, Jamie N. Womble, Linnea Pearson, Daniel Melody, Chelsea Merriman, Kat Hanks, George G. Esslinger
By
Alaska Science Center

Diffusion modeling reveals effects of multiple release sites and human activity on a recolonizing apex predator

BackgroundReintroducing predators is a promising conservation tool to help remedy human-caused ecosystem changes. However, the growth and spread of a reintroduced population is a spatiotemporal process that is driven by a suite of factors, such as habitat change, human activity, and prey availability. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are apex predators of nearshore marine ecosystems that had declined n
Authors
Joseph M. Eisaguirre, Perry J. Willliams, Xinyi Lu, Michelle L. Kissling, William S. Beatty, George G. Esslinger, Jamie N. Womble, Mevin Hooten
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center

Reproductive Success from Movement Data

This software release includes code to conduct analyses presented in the manuscript titled: A hierarchical modeling framework for estimating individual- and population-level reproductive success from movement data
By
Alaska Science Center

Science and Products

  • Science
    link
    Sampling a stream in the mist in the Akilik River drainage

    Ecosystems Analytics

    Ecosystems Analytics is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians with a diverse range of expertise and experience (summarized below). We collaborate with internal and external partners to answer challenging ecological questions that are a high priority of the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, sister agencies within the Department of the Interior (DOI), and various...
    By
    Alaska Science Center
    link

    Ecosystems Analytics

    Ecosystems Analytics is a group of quantitative biologists and research statisticians with a diverse range of expertise and experience (summarized below). We collaborate with internal and external partners to answer challenging ecological questions that are a high priority of the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center, sister agencies within the Department of the Interior (DOI), and various...
    Learn More
  • Multimedia
    Aerial survey for Black Brant at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska link
    USGS Alaska Science Center Ecosystems Analytics Program
  • Publications

    Informing management of recovering predators and their prey with ecological diffusion models

    The reintroduction and recovery of predators can be ecologically beneficial as well as socially and economically controversial. However, the growth and expansion of predator populations, and thus their ecological, social, and economic impacts, are not static but rather they vary in space and time. We propose a spatiotemporal statistical modeling framework based on ecological diffusion to better in
    Authors
    Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Perry J. Williams, Xinyi Lu, Michelle L. Kissling, Paul A Schutte, Benjamin P Weitzman, William S. Beatty, George G. Esslinger, Jamie N. Womble, Mevin B. Hooten
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    A hierarchical modelling framework for estimating individual- and population-level reproductive success from movement data

    Rapidly advancing animal telemetry technologies paired with new statistical models can provide insight into the behaviour of otherwise unobservable free-living animals. Changes in behaviour apparent from pairing telemetry with statistical models often occur as animals undertake key life-history activities, such as reproduction. For many species that are secretive or occupy remote areas, these life
    Authors
    Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Perry J. Williams, Julia C. Brockman, Stephen B. Lewis, Christopher P. Barger, Greg A. Breed, Travis L. Booms
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) population abundance and distribution across the southeast Alaska stock, summer 2022

    In the summer of 2022, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and partners successfully completed the first single-year, aerial photo survey of sea otters across the entire Southeast stock of northern sea otters. This document presents the latest findings from the 2022 Southeast Alaska Sea Otter Survey, providing up-to-date information regarding occupancy, abundance and carrying capacity. We collected t
    Authors
    Paul Schuette, Joseph Michael Eisaguirre, Benjamin P Weitzman, Collin Power, Evan Wetherington, Jenipher Cate, Jamie N. Womble, Linnea Pearson, Daniel Melody, Chelsea Merriman, Kat Hanks, George G. Esslinger
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Diffusion modeling reveals effects of multiple release sites and human activity on a recolonizing apex predator

    BackgroundReintroducing predators is a promising conservation tool to help remedy human-caused ecosystem changes. However, the growth and spread of a reintroduced population is a spatiotemporal process that is driven by a suite of factors, such as habitat change, human activity, and prey availability. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are apex predators of nearshore marine ecosystems that had declined n
    Authors
    Joseph M. Eisaguirre, Perry J. Willliams, Xinyi Lu, Michelle L. Kissling, William S. Beatty, George G. Esslinger, Jamie N. Womble, Mevin Hooten
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center
  • Software

    Reproductive Success from Movement Data

    This software release includes code to conduct analyses presented in the manuscript titled: A hierarchical modeling framework for estimating individual- and population-level reproductive success from movement data
    By
    Alaska Science Center

*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