Maria C Dzul, PhD
Maria develops models to estimate abundance and assess environmental drivers of fish population dynamics in the Grand Canyon ecosystem.
Maria’s research interests include: 1) evaluating links between floods, temperature, and life history of fishes, 2) developing approaches for integrating detections from autonomous PIT antennas into mark-recapture models to improve estimation of survival, movement, and abundance, 3) using population models to guide decision making, and 4) alternative life history strategies and partial migration in fishes.
Professional Experience
Current: Fish Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center
Education and Certifications
2003 – B.S., Biology, University of Michigan
2011 – M.S., Wildlife Ecology, Iowa State University
2021 – PhD, Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 20
A need for speed in Bayesian population models: A practical guide to marginalizing and recovering discrete latent states A need for speed in Bayesian population models: A practical guide to marginalizing and recovering discrete latent states
Bayesian population models can be exceedingly slow due, in part, to the choice to simulate discrete latent states. Here, we discuss an alternative approach to discrete latent states, marginalization, that forms the basis of maximum likelihood population models and is much faster. Our manuscript has two goals: 1) to introduce readers unfamiliar with marginalization to the concept and...
Authors
Charles B. Yackulic, Michael J. Dodrill, Maria C. Dzul, Jamie S. Sanderlin, Janice A. Reid
Inferring species interactions through joint mark–recapture analysis Inferring species interactions through joint mark–recapture analysis
Introduced species are frequently implicated in declines of native species. In many cases, however, evidence linking introduced species to native declines is weak. Failure to make strong inferences regarding the role of introduced species can hamper attempts to predict population viability and delay effective management responses. For many species, mark–recapture analysis is the more...
Authors
Charles B. Yackulic, Josh Korman, Michael D. Yard, Maria C. Dzul
Estimating disperser abundance using open population models that incorporate data from continuous detection PIT arrays Estimating disperser abundance using open population models that incorporate data from continuous detection PIT arrays
Autonomous passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag antenna systems continuously detect individually marked organisms at one or more fixed points over long time periods. Estimating abundance using data from autonomous antennae can be challenging, because these systems do not detect unmarked individuals. Here we pair PIT antennae data from a tributary with mark-recapture sampling data in...
Authors
Maria C. Dzul, Charles B. Yackulic, Josh Korman
Incorporating temporal heterogeneity in environmental conditions into a somatic growth model Incorporating temporal heterogeneity in environmental conditions into a somatic growth model
Evaluating environmental effects on fish growth can be challenging because environmental conditions may vary at relatively fine temporal scales compared to sampling occasions. Here we develop a Bayesian state-space growth model to evaluate effects of monthly environmental data on growth of fish that are observed less frequently (e.g., from mark-recapture data where time between captures...
Authors
Maria C. Dzul, Charles B. Yackulic, Josh Korman, Michael D. Yard, Jeffrey D. Muehlbauer
Survival, growth, and movement of subadult humpback chub, Gila cypha, in the Little Colorado River, Arizona Survival, growth, and movement of subadult humpback chub, Gila cypha, in the Little Colorado River, Arizona
Ecologists estimate vital rates, such as growth and survival, to better understand population dynamics and identify sensitive life history parameters for species or populations of concern. Here, we assess spatiotemporal variation in growth, movement, density, and survival of subadult humpback chub living in the Little Colorado River, Grand Canyon, AZ from 2001–2002 and 2009–2013. We...
Authors
Maria C. Dzul, Charles B. Yackulic, Dennis M. Stone, David R. Van Haverbeke
Using variance components to estimate power in a hierarchically nested sampling design improving monitoring of larval Devils Hole pupfish Using variance components to estimate power in a hierarchically nested sampling design improving monitoring of larval Devils Hole pupfish
We used variance components to assess allocation of sampling effort in a hierarchically nested sampling design for ongoing monitoring of early life history stages of the federally endangered Devils Hole pupfish (DHP) (Cyprinodon diabolis). Sampling design for larval DHP included surveys (5 days each spring 2007–2009), events, and plots. Each survey was comprised of three counting events...
Authors
Maria C. Dzul, Philip M. Dixon, Michael C. Quist, Stephen J. Dinsomore, Michael R. Bower, Kevin P. Wilson, D. Bailey Gaines
Non-USGS Publications**
**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
Filter Total Items: 20
A need for speed in Bayesian population models: A practical guide to marginalizing and recovering discrete latent states A need for speed in Bayesian population models: A practical guide to marginalizing and recovering discrete latent states
Bayesian population models can be exceedingly slow due, in part, to the choice to simulate discrete latent states. Here, we discuss an alternative approach to discrete latent states, marginalization, that forms the basis of maximum likelihood population models and is much faster. Our manuscript has two goals: 1) to introduce readers unfamiliar with marginalization to the concept and...
Authors
Charles B. Yackulic, Michael J. Dodrill, Maria C. Dzul, Jamie S. Sanderlin, Janice A. Reid
Inferring species interactions through joint mark–recapture analysis Inferring species interactions through joint mark–recapture analysis
Introduced species are frequently implicated in declines of native species. In many cases, however, evidence linking introduced species to native declines is weak. Failure to make strong inferences regarding the role of introduced species can hamper attempts to predict population viability and delay effective management responses. For many species, mark–recapture analysis is the more...
Authors
Charles B. Yackulic, Josh Korman, Michael D. Yard, Maria C. Dzul
Estimating disperser abundance using open population models that incorporate data from continuous detection PIT arrays Estimating disperser abundance using open population models that incorporate data from continuous detection PIT arrays
Autonomous passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag antenna systems continuously detect individually marked organisms at one or more fixed points over long time periods. Estimating abundance using data from autonomous antennae can be challenging, because these systems do not detect unmarked individuals. Here we pair PIT antennae data from a tributary with mark-recapture sampling data in...
Authors
Maria C. Dzul, Charles B. Yackulic, Josh Korman
Incorporating temporal heterogeneity in environmental conditions into a somatic growth model Incorporating temporal heterogeneity in environmental conditions into a somatic growth model
Evaluating environmental effects on fish growth can be challenging because environmental conditions may vary at relatively fine temporal scales compared to sampling occasions. Here we develop a Bayesian state-space growth model to evaluate effects of monthly environmental data on growth of fish that are observed less frequently (e.g., from mark-recapture data where time between captures...
Authors
Maria C. Dzul, Charles B. Yackulic, Josh Korman, Michael D. Yard, Jeffrey D. Muehlbauer
Survival, growth, and movement of subadult humpback chub, Gila cypha, in the Little Colorado River, Arizona Survival, growth, and movement of subadult humpback chub, Gila cypha, in the Little Colorado River, Arizona
Ecologists estimate vital rates, such as growth and survival, to better understand population dynamics and identify sensitive life history parameters for species or populations of concern. Here, we assess spatiotemporal variation in growth, movement, density, and survival of subadult humpback chub living in the Little Colorado River, Grand Canyon, AZ from 2001–2002 and 2009–2013. We...
Authors
Maria C. Dzul, Charles B. Yackulic, Dennis M. Stone, David R. Van Haverbeke
Using variance components to estimate power in a hierarchically nested sampling design improving monitoring of larval Devils Hole pupfish Using variance components to estimate power in a hierarchically nested sampling design improving monitoring of larval Devils Hole pupfish
We used variance components to assess allocation of sampling effort in a hierarchically nested sampling design for ongoing monitoring of early life history stages of the federally endangered Devils Hole pupfish (DHP) (Cyprinodon diabolis). Sampling design for larval DHP included surveys (5 days each spring 2007–2009), events, and plots. Each survey was comprised of three counting events...
Authors
Maria C. Dzul, Philip M. Dixon, Michael C. Quist, Stephen J. Dinsomore, Michael R. Bower, Kevin P. Wilson, D. Bailey Gaines
Non-USGS Publications**
**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.