Josh T Ackerman
Dr. Ackerman is a Principal Investigator with USGS and an Associate in the Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology at the University of California-Davis.
His research expertise is in wildlife ecology and ecotoxicology, and his research program focuses on bird ecology, wetland management and restoration, contaminant bioaccumulation in fish and wildlife, and effects of contaminants on animal health and populations.
Education
- Ph.D. 2002, Ecology, University of California-Davis
- B.S. 1997 (Magna Cum Laude), Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California-Davis
Professional Experience
- Research Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, California (2006-present)
- Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, San Francisco Bay Estuary Field Station, Vallejo, California (2004-2006)
- Post-doctoral Researcher, John Muir Institute of the Environment, University of California-Davis (2003-2004)
- Post-doctoral Researcher, Dept. of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California-Davis (2002-2003)
- Teaching Assistant, Ecology and Management of Waterfowl and Game Birds (Spring 2002) and Field Methods in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology (Summer 2001), Dept. of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California-Davis
- Waterfowl Researcher (1999-2000), Crew Leader (Spring 1998, 1999, 2000), and Technician (Spring 1997), California Waterfowl Association, Sacramento, California
- Doctoral Research, Dept. of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California-Davis (1997-2002)
- Biological Technician (Summer 1995) and Biological Aid (Summer 1994), U.S. Forest Service, Tahoe National Forest, Nevada City, California
Selected Publications
2020 Ackerman, JT, MP Herzog, DC Evers, DA Cristol, KP Kenow, GH Heinz, RA Lavoie, RL Brasso, ML Mallory, JF Provencher, BM Braune, A Matz, JA Schmutz, CA Eagles-Smith, LJ Savoy, MW Meyer, and CA Hartman. Synthesis of maternal transfer of mercury in birds: implications for altered toxicity risk. Environmental Science and Technology 54:2878-2891.
2016 Ackerman, JT, CA Eagles-Smith, MP Herzog, CA Hartman, SH Peterson, DC Evers, AK Jackson, JE Elliott, SS Vander Pol, and CE Bryan. Avian mercury exposure and toxicological risk across western North America: a synthesis. Science of the Total Environment 568:749-769.
2014 Ackerman, JT, MP Herzog, GS Yarris, ML Casazza, E Burns, and JM Eadie. Chapter 5: Waterfowl ecology and management in Suisun Marsh: Ecological History and Possible Futures. University of California Press: Berkeley, California.
Science and Products
Dixon Field Station
Monitoring Mercury's Risk to Wildlife in California Lakes
The Impact of Drought on Waterbirds and Their Wetland Habitats in California’s Central Valley
Mercury cycling, bioaccumulation, and risk across western North America: a landscape scale synthesis linking long-term datasets
Egg Morphometric Data Obtained for White-faced Ibis Nesting in Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Great Salt Lake, Utah (2010-2012)
How Mallard and Gadwall Hens Nesting in Grizzly Island Wildlife Area Respond when Flushed (2015 - 2018)
Breeding Waterbird Populations in South San Francisco Bay 2005-2019
Mercury Concentrations in Western Gulls along the West Coast, USA, 2015-2017
Hair and blood total mercury concentrations in raccoons and striped skunks from Suisun Marsh 2016 to 2019
Avian Eggshell Thickness for 12 Species in the Western U.S. from 2014 to 2018
Mercury Bioaccumulation in US National Parks Using Dragonfly Larvae as Biosentinels, 2009-2018
Nest data for white-faced Ibis in Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Great Salt Lake, Utah in summer 2012
Mercury and selenium concentrations in bird eggs at Great Salt Lake, Utah
Temporal Viral Viability Data from Avian Influenza A Viruses Maintained in North American Wetlands Under Experimental and Environmental Conditions
Incubation recess times for mallard and gadwall hens nesting in Grizzly Island Wildlife Area 2015 - 2017
Incubation Constancy, Number of Incubation Recesses, Recess Duration and Mercury Concentrations for Tree Swallows at the Cosumnes River Preserve 2014
Avian influenza antibody prevalence increases with mercury contamination in wild waterfowl
Spatiotemporal changes in influenza A virus prevalence among wild waterfowl inhabiting the continental United States throughout the annual cycle
Mercury contamination and potential health risks to Arctic seabirds and shorebirds
Machine learned daily life history classification using low frequency tracking data and automated modelling pipelines: Application to North American waterfowl
Quantitative meta-analysis reveals no association between mercury contamination and body condition in birds
Pathways for avian influenza virus spread: GPS reveals wild waterfowl in commercial livestock facilities and connectivity with the natural wetland landscape
What are the toxicological effects of mercury in Arctic biota?
Host correlates of avian influenza virus infection in wild waterfowl of the Sacramento Valley, California
Migration stopover ecology of Cinnamon Teal in western North America
Wetland availability and salinity concentrations for breeding waterfowl in Suisun Marsh, California
Breeding waterbird populations have declined in south San Francisco Bay: An assessment over two decades
Informing wetland management with waterfowl movement and sanctuary use responses to human-induced disturbance
Science and Products
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Dixon Field Station
WERC scientists at the Dixon Field Station conduct studies from the San Francisco Bay-Delta in California to the Great Basin spanning California and Nevada.Monitoring Mercury's Risk to Wildlife in California Lakes
USGS scientists sampled grebes in California lakes to compare mercury levels in these predators versus the small fish they prey on—developing a new tool for water quality monitoring.The Impact of Drought on Waterbirds and Their Wetland Habitats in California’s Central Valley
California’s Central Valley is a nexus for water resources in the state, draining the Sacramento and San Joaquin River watersheds. Urban centers, agricultural operations, and the environment all compete for limited water, and demand is expected to only increase as the population grows and agriculture intensifies. At the same time, the water supply is projected to decrease as temperatures rise, preMercury cycling, bioaccumulation, and risk across western North America: a landscape scale synthesis linking long-term datasets
Mercury (Hg) is a serious environmental problem that is impacting ecological and human health on a global scale. However, local and regional processes are largely responsible for producing methylmercury, which drives ecological risk. This is particularly true in western North America where the combination of diverse landscapes, habitat types, climates, and Hg sources may disproportionally impact t - Data
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Egg Morphometric Data Obtained for White-faced Ibis Nesting in Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Great Salt Lake, Utah (2010-2012)
This data consists of egg morphometric data from white-faced ibis. Eggs were collected in the field and then measured and dissected in the lab to obtain estimates of length, width and mass. This data supports the following publication: Herzog, M.P., Ackerman, J.T. and Hartman, C.A., 2021. Egg morphometrics and egg shape coefficients for White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi). The Wilson JournalHow Mallard and Gadwall Hens Nesting in Grizzly Island Wildlife Area Respond when Flushed (2015 - 2018)
This dataset describes responses to flushes by surveyors and predators for mallard and gadwall hens nesting on the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area, Suisun Marsh, California in 2015 through 2018. It includes the start time and duration of recesses, as well as the cause of recess initiation and responses of hens to various trapping activities at the nest site. These data support the following publBreeding Waterbird Populations in South San Francisco Bay 2005-2019
The dataset includes three separate excel spreadsheets which provides waterbird (and predator) observations within individual survey units during the May 2019 breeding waterbird survey of south San Francisco Bay (2019WaterbirdSurveyFullData.xlsx), the total number of American avocets, black-necked stilts, and Forster's terns within each pond unit surveyed during the May 2019 survey (2019WaterbirdSMercury Concentrations in Western Gulls along the West Coast, USA, 2015-2017
We investigated whether foraging habitat, sex, or fidelity to a foraging area effected blood mercury concentrations in western gulls (Larus occidentalis) from three colonies on the west coast of the United States. Dataset includes total mercury concentrations in western gulls from three colony locations and associated foraging habitat of individual gulls. These data support the following publicHair and blood total mercury concentrations in raccoons and striped skunks from Suisun Marsh 2016 to 2019
Total mercury concentrations were determined in hair and whole blood of raccoons and skunks in Suisun Marsh from 2016 to 2019. Individual skunks and raccoons were identified by a unique identifier (Animal_ID) and some animals were sampled multiple times. This dataset includes animal sex, age class, the date the sample was collected, animal body mass, head length, and head-to-torso length. TheAvian Eggshell Thickness for 12 Species in the Western U.S. from 2014 to 2018
Eggshell thickness was measured at the egg equator and poles (sharp pole and blunt pole) for 12 avian species. Eggshell thickness was related to egg morphometrics (egg length and width), embryonic development, egg status, and mercury contamination. Individual eggshells each have up to 3 thickness measurements, linked by the eggshell identification. Each measurement has the corresponding egg lengthMercury Bioaccumulation in US National Parks Using Dragonfly Larvae as Biosentinels, 2009-2018
Comma-separated values (.csv) files containing data related to a National-scale assessment of mercury bioaccumulation in the US National Parks using dragonfly larvae as biosentinels through a citizen science framework.Nest data for white-faced Ibis in Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Great Salt Lake, Utah in summer 2012
Nest monitoring data of white-faced ibis. Data were collected at seven day intervals and provide information on success and failure of the nest during that interval. Summary vegetation and habitat data were also collected at the nest. These data support the following publication: Mark P. Herzog, Ackerman, Joshua T., Hartman, C. Alex, and Browers, Howard, 2020, Nesting ecology of White-facedMercury and selenium concentrations in bird eggs at Great Salt Lake, Utah
These metadata provide data used to examine mercury and selenium concentrations in eggs of birds breeding in wetlands of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem, Utah, particularly at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. Eggs were salvaged during 2010 - 2012 and include 33 species of birds. These data support the following publication: Ackerman, J.T., Herzog, M.P., Hartman, C.A., Isanhart, J., Herring,Temporal Viral Viability Data from Avian Influenza A Viruses Maintained in North American Wetlands Under Experimental and Environmental Conditions
Data sets containing: (1) sample collection and influenza A virus (IAV) screening information for wild ducks, (2) water temperature data for six North American wetlands, (3) water quality measurement from those wetlands, (4) laboratory-based study of viral viability using Minnesota wetland water, (5) naive mallards challenged experimentally with IAVs identified from the field experiment, and (6) gIncubation recess times for mallard and gadwall hens nesting in Grizzly Island Wildlife Area 2015 - 2017
This dataset describes incubation recess timing for mallard and gadwall hens nesting in Grizzly Island Wildlife Area in breeding seasons 2015-2017. It includes the start time, end time, and duration of recesses. This data supports the following publication: Croston, R., Hartman, C.A., Herzog, M.P., Casazza, M.L., Feldheim, C.L. and Ackerman, J.T., 2020. Timing, frequency, and duration of iIncubation Constancy, Number of Incubation Recesses, Recess Duration and Mercury Concentrations for Tree Swallows at the Cosumnes River Preserve 2014
These metadata provide data used to examine tree swallow incubation behavior in relation to egg mercury concentration and maternal blood mercury concentration. These data were collected from tree swallows nesting in artificial wooden nest boxes at the Cosumnes River Preserved in California's Central Valley in 2014. Included are two datasets. One dataset provides daily incubation constancy (the pro - Multimedia
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Avian influenza antibody prevalence increases with mercury contamination in wild waterfowl
Environmental contamination is widespread and can negatively impact wildlife health. Some contaminants, including heavy metals, have immunosuppressive effects, but prior studies have rarely measured contamination and disease simultaneously, which limits our understanding of how contaminants and pathogens interact to influence wildlife health. Here, we measured mercury concentrations, influenza infAuthorsClaire Stewart Teitelbaum, Josh T. Ackerman, Mason A. Hill, Jaqueline M. Satter, Michael L. Casazza, Susan E. W. De La Cruz, Walter M. Boyce, Evan James Buck, John M. Eadie, Mark P. Herzog, Elliott Matchett, Cory T. Overton, Sarah H. Peterson, Magdalena Plancarte, Andrew M. Ramey, Jeffery D. Sullivan, Diann ProsserSpatiotemporal changes in influenza A virus prevalence among wild waterfowl inhabiting the continental United States throughout the annual cycle
Avian influenza viruses can pose serious risks to agricultural production, human health, and wildlife. An understanding of viruses in wild reservoir species across time and space is important to informing surveillance programs, risk models, and potential population impacts for vulnerable species. Although it is recognized that influenza A virus prevalence peaks in reservoir waterfowl in late summeAuthorsCody M. Kent, Andrew M. Ramey, Josh T. Ackerman, Justin Bahl, Sarah N. Bevins, Andrew S. Bowman, Walter Boyce, Carol Cardona, Michael L. Casazza, Troy D. Cline, Susan E. W. De La Cruz, Jeffrey S. Hall, Nichola J. Hill, Hon S. Ip, Scott Krauss, Jennifer M. Mullinax, Jacqueline M. Nolting, Magdalena Plancarte, Rebecca L. Poulson, Jonathan A. Runstadler, Richard D. Slemons, David E. Stallknecht, Jeffery D. Sullivan, John Y. Takekawa, Richard J. Webby, Robert G. Webster, Diann J. ProsserMercury contamination and potential health risks to Arctic seabirds and shorebirds
Since the last Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) effort to review biological effects of mercury (Hg) on Arctic biota in 2011 and 2018, there has been a considerable number of new Arctic bird studies. This review article provides contemporary Hg exposure and potential health risk for 36 Arctic seabird and shorebird species, representing a larger portion of the Arctic than during preAuthorsOlivier Chastel, Jérôme Fort, Josh T. Ackerman, Céline Albert, Frédéric Angelier, Niladri Basu, Pierre Blévin, Maud Brault-Favrou, Jan O. Bustnes, Paco Bustamante, Jóhannis Danielsen, Sébastien Descamps, Rune Dietz, Kjell Einar Erikstad, Igor Eulaers, Alexey Ezhov, Abram B Fleishman, Geir W. Gabrielsen, Maria Gavrilo, Grant Gilchrist, Olivier Gilg, Sindri Gíslason, Elena Golubova, Aurélie Goutte, David Grémillet, Gunnar T. Hallgrimsson, Erpur S Hansen, Sveinn A Hanssen, Scott Hatch, Nicholas P Huffeldt, Dariusz Jakubas, Jón Einar Jónsson, Alexander S Kitaysky, Yann Kolbeinsson, Yuri Krasnov, Robert J. Letcher, Jannie F Linnebjerg, Mark L. Mallory, Flemming R Merkel, Børge Moe, William J Montevecchi, Anders Mosbech, Bergur Olsen, Rachael A Orben, Jennifer F Provencher, Sunna B. Ragnarsdottir, Tone K Reiertsen, Nora A. Rojek, Marc Romano, Jens Søndergaard, Hallvard Strøm, Akinori Takahashi, Sabrina Tartu, Thorkell L Thórarinsson, Jean-Baptiste Thiebot, Alexis P Will, Simon Wilson, Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas, Glenn YannicMachine learned daily life history classification using low frequency tracking data and automated modelling pipelines: Application to North American waterfowl
BackgroundIdentifying animal behaviors, life history states, and movement patterns is a prerequisite for many animal behavior analyses and effective management of wildlife and habitats. Most approaches classify short-term movement patterns with high frequency location or accelerometry data. However, patterns reflecting life history across longer time scales can have greater relevance to species biAuthorsCory T. Overton, Michael L. Casazza, Joseph Bretz, Fiona McDuie, Elliott Matchett, Desmond Alexander Mackell, Austen Lorenz, Andrea Mott, Mark P. Herzog, Josh T. AckermanQuantitative meta-analysis reveals no association between mercury contamination and body condition in birds
Mercury contamination is a major threat to the global environment, and is still increasing in some regions despite international regulations. The methylated form of mercury is hazardous to biota, yet its sublethal effects are difficult to detect in wildlife. Body condition can vary in response to stressors, but previous studies have shown mixed effects of mercury on body condition in wildlife. UsiAuthorsAlice Carravieri, Orsolya Vincze, Paco Bustamante, Josh T. Ackerman, Evan M. Adams, Frédéric Angelier, Olivier Chastel, Yves Cherel, Olivier Gilg, Elena Golubova, Alexander Kitaysky, Katelyn Luff, Chad L. Seewagen, Hallvard Strøm, Alexis P. Will, Glenn Yannic, Mathieu Giraudeau, Jérôme FortPathways for avian influenza virus spread: GPS reveals wild waterfowl in commercial livestock facilities and connectivity with the natural wetland landscape
Zoonotic diseases are of considerable concern to the human population and viruses such as avian influenza (AIV) threaten food security, wildlife conservation and human health. Wild waterfowl and the natural wetlands they use are known AIV reservoirs, with birds capable of virus transmission to domestic poultry populations. While infection risk models have linked migration routes and AIV outbreaks,AuthorsFiona McDuie, Elliott Matchett, Diann Prosser, John Y. Takekawa, Maurice E. Pitesky, Austen Lorenz, Madeline M McCuen, Cory T. Overton, Josh T. Ackerman, Susan E. W. De La Cruz, Michael L. CasazzaWhat are the toxicological effects of mercury in Arctic biota?
No abstract available.AuthorsRune Dietz, Robert J. Letcher, Josh T. Ackerman, Benjamin D. Barst, Niladri Basu, Olivier Chastel, John Chételat, Sam Dastnai, Jean-Pierre Desforges, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Igor Eulaers, Jérôme Fort, Jacob Nabe-Nielsen, Feiyue Wang, Simon WilsonHost correlates of avian influenza virus infection in wild waterfowl of the Sacramento Valley, California
Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are distributed globally in members of the family Anatidae (waterfowl), and significant disease may occur when these viruses infect commercial poultry or humans. Early detection of AIV through surveillance of wild waterfowl is one measure to prevent future disease outbreaks. Surveillance efforts that are designed to account for host and environmental determinants ofAuthorsElizabeth A. Bianchini, Raymond J. Bogiatto, Robin A. Donatello, Michael L. Casazza, Josh T. Ackerman, Susan E. W. De La Cruz, Troy D. ClineMigration stopover ecology of Cinnamon Teal in western North America
Identifying migration routes and fall stopover sites of Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera septentrionalium) can provide a spatial guide to management and conservation efforts, and address vulnerabilities in wetland networks that support migratory waterbirds. Using high spatiotemporal resolution GPS-GSM transmitters, we analyzed 61 fall migration tracks across western North America during our threeAuthorsDesmond Alexander Mackell, Michael L. Casazza, Cory T. Overton, J. Patrick Donnelly, David Olson, Fiona McDuie, Josh T. Ackerman, John M. EadieWetland availability and salinity concentrations for breeding waterfowl in Suisun Marsh, California
Availability of wetlands with low salinities during the breeding season can influence waterfowl reproductive success and population recruitment. Salinities as low as 2 ppt (3.6 mScm–1) can impair duckling growth and influence behavior, with mortality occurring above 9 ppt (14.8 mScm–1). We used satellite imagery to quantify the amount of available water, and sampled surface water salinity at GrizzAuthorsCarley Rose Schacter, Sarah H. Peterson, Mark P. Herzog, C. Alex Hartman, Michael L. Casazza, Josh T. AckermanBreeding waterbird populations have declined in south San Francisco Bay: An assessment over two decades
In south San Francisco Bay, former salt ponds now managed as wildlife habitat support large populations of breeding waterbirds. In 2006, the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project began the process of converting 50% to 90% of these managed pond habitats into tidal marsh. We compared American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) and Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) abundance in south San FranAuthorsC. Alex Hartman, Josh T. Ackerman, Carley Rose Schacter, Mark P. Herzog, Max Tarjan, Yiwei Wang, Cheryl Strong, Rachel Tertes, Nils WarnockInforming wetland management with waterfowl movement and sanctuary use responses to human-induced disturbance
Long-term environmental management to prevent waterfowl population declines is informed by ecology, movement behavior and habitat use patterns. Extrinsic factors, such as human-induced disturbance, can cause behavioral changes which may influence movement and resource needs, driving variation that affects management efficacy. To better understand the relationship between human-based disturbance anAuthorsFiona McDuie, Austen Lorenz, Robert C. Klinger, Cory T. Overton, Cliff L. Feldheim, Josh T. Ackerman, Michael L. Casazza - Web Tools
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