Mark Herzog
Dr. Herzog is a Wildlife Biologist at the Dixon Field Station. His expertise and interests are in quantitative analysis of ecological data with specific emphasis in avian systems and the estimation of demographic parameters. Dr. Herzog also develops statistical tools and programs used in the analysis of demography and life history.
Before joining USGS, Mark was the co-Director of the Informatics Division at PRBO Conservation Science (now Point Blue), where he led the development of quantitative techniques for the analysis of avian data and helped create the highly successful California Avian Data Center.
EDUCATION:
- University of Alaska Fairbanks: Fairbanks, AK, United States
1994 to 2001 | PhD (Wildlife)
- New Mexico State University: Las Cruces, NM, United States
1992 to 1994 | M.S. (Department of Fish and Wildlife)
- University of Arizona: Tucson, AZ, United States
1987 to 1992 | B.S. (Mathematics and Ecology)
RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE:
- U.S. Geological Survey: Dixon, CA, United States
2010 to present | Wildlife Biology (Western Ecological Research Center)
- Point Blue Conservation Science: Petaluma, CA, United States
2004 to 2010 | Director of Informatics
- University of Nevada Reno: Reno, NV, United States
2001 to 2004 | Postdoctoral Researcher (Wildlife)
PUBLICATIONS/PAPERS:
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.
Ackerman, JT, CA Hartman, MP Herzog, JY Takekawa, JA Robinson, LW Oring, JP Skorupa and R Boettcher. American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana), version 1.0, in AF Poole (editor): Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Ithaca, New York. https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/ameavo/cur/introduction
Croston, R, CA Hartman, MP Herzog, SH Peterson, JD Kohl, CT Overton, CL Feldheim, ML Casazza, and JT Ackerman. Interrupted incubation: how dabbling ducks respond when flushed from the nest. Ecology and Evolution accepted.
Croston, R, CA Hartman, MP Herzog, ML Casazza, CL Feldheim, and JT Ackerman. Timing, frequency, and duration of incubation recesses in dabbling ducks. Ecology and Evolution 10:2513-2529.
Herzog, MP, JT Ackerman, CA Hartman, and SP Peterson. Transmitter effects on growth and survival of Forster’s tern chicks. Journal of Wildlife Management 84:891-901.
Herzog, MP, JT Ackerman, CA Hartman, and H Browers. Nesting ecology of white-faced ibis (Plegadis chihi) in Great Salt Lake,
Science and Products
Prey fish returned to Forster’s tern colonies suggest spatial and temporal differences in fish composition and availability
Maternal transfer of mercury to songbird eggs
Season, molt, and body size influence mercury concentrations in grebes
Evaluation of Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) and snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) nesting on modified islands at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California—2016 Annual Report
A critical evaluation of the utility of eggshells for estimating mercury concentrations in avian eggs
Island characteristics within wetlands influence waterbird nest success and abundance
Waterbird nest-site selection is influenced by neighboring nests and island topography
Avian mercury exposure and toxicological risk across western North America: A synthesis
Differentiating sex and species of Western Grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Clark's Grebes (Aechmophorus clarkii) and their eggs using external morphometrics and discriminant function analysis
Evaluation of Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) and snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) nesting on modified islands at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California—2015 Annual Report
It’s what’s inside that counts: Egg contaminant concentrations are influenced by estimates of egg density, egg volume, and fresh egg mass
Estimating mercury exposure of piscivorous birds and sport fish using prey fish monitoring
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 55
Prey fish returned to Forster’s tern colonies suggest spatial and temporal differences in fish composition and availability
Predators sample the available prey community when foraging; thus, changes in the environment may be reflected by changes in predator diet and foraging preferences. We examined Forster’s tern (Sterna forsteri) prey species over an 11-year period by sampling approximately 10,000 prey fish returned to 17 breeding colonies in south San Francisco Bay, California. We compared the species composition amAuthorsSarah H. Peterson, Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Mark P. Herzog, C. Alex HartmanMaternal transfer of mercury to songbird eggs
We evaluated the maternal transfer of mercury to eggs in songbirds, determined whether this relationship differed between songbird species, and developed equations for predicting mercury concentrations in eggs from maternal blood. We sampled blood and feathers from 44 house wren (Troglodytes aedon) and 34 tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) mothers and collected their full clutches (n = 476 eggs) wAuthorsJoshua T. Ackerman, C. Alex Hartman, Mark P. HerzogSeason, molt, and body size influence mercury concentrations in grebes
We studied seasonal and physiological influences on mercury concentrations in western grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Clark's grebes (A. occidentalis) across 29 lakes and reservoirs in California, USA. Additionally, at three of these lakes, we conducted a time series study, in which we repeatedly sampled grebe blood mercury concentrations during the spring, summer, and early fall. Grebe bloAuthorsC. Alex Hartman, Joshua T. Ackerman, Mark P. Herzog, Collin A. Eagles-SmithEvaluation of Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) and snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) nesting on modified islands at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California—2016 Annual Report
Executive SummaryIn order to address the 2008/10 and Supplemental 2014 NOAA Fisheries Biological Opinion for operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) developed and have begun implementation of Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) management plans. This implementation includes redistribution of the CaspiaAuthorsC. Alex Hartman, Joshua T. Ackerman, Mark P. Herzog, Cheryl Strong, David Trachtenbarg, Crystal A. ShoreA critical evaluation of the utility of eggshells for estimating mercury concentrations in avian eggs
Eggshells are a potential tool for non-lethally sampling contaminant concentrations in bird eggs, yet few studies have examined their utility to represent mercury exposure. We assessed mercury concentrations in eggshell components for 23 bird species and determined whether they correlated with total mercury (THg) in egg contents. We designed a multi-experiment analysis to examine how THg is partitAuthorsSarah H. Peterson, Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, C. Alex Hartman, Mark P. HerzogIsland characteristics within wetlands influence waterbird nest success and abundance
Coastal waterbird populations are threatened by habitat loss and degradation from urban and agricultural development and forecasted sea level rise associated with climate change. Remaining wetlands often must be managed to ensure that waterbird habitat needs, and other ecosystem functions, are met. For many waterbirds, the availability of island nesting habitat is important for conserving breedingAuthorsC. Alex Hartman, Joshua T. Ackerman, Mark P. HerzogWaterbird nest-site selection is influenced by neighboring nests and island topography
Avian nest-site selection is influenced by factors operating across multiple spatial scales. Identifying preferred physical characteristics (e.g., topography, vegetation structure) can inform managers to improve nesting habitat suitability. However, social factors (e.g., attraction, territoriality, competition) can complicate understanding physical characteristics preferred by nesting birds. We siAuthorsC. Alex Hartman, Joshua T. Ackerman, John Y. Takekawa, Mark P. HerzogAvian mercury exposure and toxicological risk across western North America: A synthesis
Methylmercury contamination of the environment is an important issue globally, and birds are useful bioindicators for mercury monitoring programs. The available data on mercury contamination of birds in western North America were synthesized. Original data from multiple databases were obtained and a literature review was conducted to obtain additional mercury concentrations. In total, 29219 origiAuthorsJoshua T. Ackerman, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Mark P. Herzog, C. Alex Hartman, Sarah H. Peterson, David C. Evers, Allyson K. Jackson, John E. Elliott, Stacy S. Vander Pol, Colleen E. BryanDifferentiating sex and species of Western Grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Clark's Grebes (Aechmophorus clarkii) and their eggs using external morphometrics and discriminant function analysis
In birds where males and females are similar in size and plumage, sex determination by alternative means is necessary. Discriminant function analysis based on external morphometrics was used to distinguish males from females in two closely related species: Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Clark's Grebe (A. clarkii). Additionally, discriminant function analysis was used to evaluate morAuthorsC. Alex Hartman, Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Mark P. HerzogEvaluation of Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) and snowy plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) nesting on modified islands at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, California—2015 Annual Report
Executive Summary In order to address the 2008/10 NOAA Fisheries Biological Opinion for operation of the Federal Columbia River Power System, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) have developed and begun implementation of Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) management plans. This implementation includes relocating nesting Caspian terns out of the ColumAuthorsC. Alex Hartman, Joshua T. Ackerman, Mark P. Herzog, Cheryl Strong, David Trachtenbarg, Kimberley A. Sawyer, Crystal A. ShoreIt’s what’s inside that counts: Egg contaminant concentrations are influenced by estimates of egg density, egg volume, and fresh egg mass
In egg contaminant studies, it is necessary to calculate egg contaminant concentrations on a fresh wet weight basis and this requires accurate estimates of egg density and egg volume. We show that the inclusion or exclusion of the eggshell can influence egg contaminant concentrations, and we provide estimates of egg density (both with and without the eggshell) and egg-shape coefficients (used to eAuthorsMark P. Herzog, Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, C. Alex HartmanEstimating mercury exposure of piscivorous birds and sport fish using prey fish monitoring
Methylmercury is a global pollutant of aquatic ecosystems, and monitoring programs need tools to predict mercury exposure of wildlife. We developed equations to estimate methylmercury exposure of piscivorous birds and sport fish using mercury concentrations in prey fish. We collected original data on western grebes (Aechmophorus occidentalis) and Clark’s grebes (Aechmophorus clarkii) and summarizeAuthorsJoshua T. Ackerman, C. Alex Hartman, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Mark P. Herzog, Jay Davis, Gary Ichikawa, Autumn Bonnema