Julia Ersan
Biography
Julia Ersan is passionate about contributing to applied research, particularly that which can help mitigate human-caused modification of the environment that has negative consequences for underrepresented wildlife populations. Julia finds behavioral adaption to anthropogenic alteration particularly fascinating. While at the USGS, her focal species has been the giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas). After learning about its basic ecology and serving as a field technician for a few years, Julia was able to develop her own project ideas and pursue a Master’s of Science while fostered at the USGS. Julia's graduate research focused on diet, prey preference and prey selection of the giant gartersnake. Currently, Julia manages USGS WERC's giant gartersnake field crew and helps work toward achieving project goals.
EDUCATION
- Master of Science, Biology, 2015, California State University, East Bay (Ecology and Conservation emphasis)
- Bachelor of Science, Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, 2010, University of California, Davis (Behavioral Ecology specialization)
Science and Products
Findings from a preliminary investigation of the effects of aquatic habitat (water) availability on giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) demography in the Sacramento Valley, California, 2014–17
The giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) is a semi-aquatic species of snake precinctive to the Central Valley of California. Because the Central Valley has experienced a substantial loss of wetland habitat, giant gartersnake populations are largely found in aquatic habitats associated with rice agriculture. In dry years, less water may be...
Rose, Jonathan P.; Ersan, Julia S. M.; Reyes, Gabriel A.; Gustafson, K. Benjamin; Fulton, Alexandria M.; Fouts, Kristen J.; Wack, Raymund F.; Wylie, Glenn D.; Casazza, Michael L.; Halstead, Brian J.
Construction and analysis of a giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) population projection model
The giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) is a state and federally threatened species precinctive to California. The range of the giant gartersnake has contracted in the last century because its wetland habitat has been drained for agriculture and development. As a result of this habitat alteration, giant gartersnakes now largely persist in and...
Rose, Jonathan P.; Ersan, Julia S. M.; Wylie, Glenn D.; Casazza, Michael L.; Halstead, Brian J.
Behavioral response of giant gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas) to the relative availability of aquatic habitat on the landscape
Most extant giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) populations persist in an agro-ecosystem dominated by rice, which serves as a surrogate to the expansive marshes lost to flood control projects and development of the Great Central Valley of California. Knowledge of how giant gartersnakes use the rice agricultural landscape, including how they...
Reyes, Gabriel A.; Halstead, Brian J.; Rose, Jonathan P.; Ersan, Julia S. M.; Jordan, Anna C.; Essert, Allison M.; Fouts, Kristen J.; Fulton, Alexandria M.; Gustafson, K. Benjamin; Wack, Raymund F.; Wylie, Glenn D.; Casazza, Michael L.