Mark Miller
Mark Miller is an RGE-EDGE Senior Scientist with the USGS Office of Science Quality and Integrity (OSQI).
Mark Miller is a broadly trained biologist with a strong background in ecology, genetics, and statistics. He also possesses exceptional computational skills backed by the ability to communicate with both general and technical audiences. Prior to joining OSQI, his research primarily focused on analyses of wildlife and endangered species that are relevant to USGS and other DOI bureaus. Mark has been located in Lakewood, Colorado since 2020.
Education and Certifications
B.S. Auburn University (Zoology)
M.S. Virginia Tech (Biology)
Ph.D. Northern Arizona University (Biology)
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 75
Evidence for population bottlenecks and subtle genetic structure in the yellow rail Evidence for population bottlenecks and subtle genetic structure in the yellow rail
The Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracencis) is among the most enigmatic and least studied North American birds. Nesting exclusively in marshes and wetlands, it breeds largely east of the Rocky Mountains in the northern United States and Canada, but there is an isolated population in southern Oregon once believed extirpated. The degree of connectivity of the Oregon population with the...
Authors
Kenneth J. Popper, Leonard F. Miller, Michael Green, Susan M. Haig, Thomas D. Mullins
Post-fire land treatments and wind erosion -- lessons from the Milford Flat Fire, UT, USA Post-fire land treatments and wind erosion -- lessons from the Milford Flat Fire, UT, USA
We monitored sediment flux at 25 plots located at the northern end of the 2007 Milford Flat Fire (Lake Bonneville Basin, west-central Utah) to examine the effectiveness of post-fire rehabilitation treatments in mitigating risks of wind erosion during the first 3 years post fire. Maximum values were recorded during Mar–Jul 2009 when horizontal sediment fluxes measured with BSNE samplers...
Authors
Mark E. Miller, Matthew A. Bowker, Richard L. Reynolds, Harland L. Goldstein
Associations between forest fragmentation patterns and geneticstructure in Pfrimer’s Parakeet (Pyrrhura pfrimeri), an endangered endemic to central Brazil’s dry forests Associations between forest fragmentation patterns and geneticstructure in Pfrimer’s Parakeet (Pyrrhura pfrimeri), an endangered endemic to central Brazil’s dry forests
When habitat becomes fragmented, populations of species may become increasingly isolated. In the absence of habitat corridors, genetic structure may develop and populations risk reductions in genetic diversity from increased genetic drift and inbreeding. Deforestation of the Cerrado biome of Brazil, particularly of the dry forests within the Parana˜ River Basin, has incrementally...
Authors
Susan M. Haig, Leonard F. Miller, Carlos Bianchi, Thomas D. Mullins
Genetic applications in avian conservation Genetic applications in avian conservation
A fundamental need in conserving species and their habitats is defining distinct entities that range from individuals to species to ecosystems and beyond (Table 1; Ryder 1986, Moritz 1994, Mayden and Wood 1995, Haig and Avise 1996, Hazevoet 1996, Palumbi and Cipriano 1998, Hebert et al. 2004, Mace 2004, Wheeler et al. 2004, Armstrong and Ball 2005, Baker 2008, Ellis et al. 2010, Winker...
Authors
Susan M. Haig, Whitcomb M. Bronaugh, Rachel S. Crowhurst, Jesse D'Elia, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Clinton W. Epps, Brian Knaus, Mark P. Miller, Michael L. Moses, Sara Oyler-McCance, W. Douglas Robinson, Brian Sidlauskas
Occupancy and abundance of wintering birds in a dynamic agricultural landscape Occupancy and abundance of wintering birds in a dynamic agricultural landscape
Assessing wildlife management action requires monitoring populations, and abundance often is the parameter monitored. Recent methodological advances have enabled estimation of mean abundance within a habitat using presence–absence or count data obtained via repeated visits to a sample of sites. These methods assume populations are closed and intuitively assume habitats within sites...
Authors
Mark W. Miller, Elise V. Pearlstine, Robert M. Dorazio, Frank J. Mazzotti
Alternative states of a semiarid grassland ecosystem: implications for ecosystem services Alternative states of a semiarid grassland ecosystem: implications for ecosystem services
Ecosystems can shift between alternative states characterized by persistent differences in structure, function, and capacity to provide ecosystem services valued by society. We examined empirical evidence for alternative states in a semiarid grassland ecosystem where topographic complexity and contrasting management regimes have led to spatial variations in levels of livestock grazing...
Authors
Mark E. Miller, R. Travis Belote, Matthew A. Bowker, Steven L. Garman
Non-USGS Publications**
Safner, T., Miller, M.P., McRae, B.H., Fortin, M., Manel, S., 2011, Comparison of Bayesian clustering andedge detection methods for inferring boundaries in landscape genetics: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, v. 12, p. 865-889.
Fernandes, E., Keyser, C.A., Chong, J.P., Rangel, D., Miller, M.P., Roberts, D.W., 2010, Characterization of Metarhiziumspecies and varieties based on molecular analysis, heat tolerance and cold activity: Journal of Applied Microbiology, v. 108, p. 115-128.
Fernandes, E., Moraes, A.L., Pacheco, R.S., Rangel, D., Miller, M.P., Bittencourt, V., Roberts, D.W., 2009, Genetic diversity among Brazilian isolates of Beauveria bassiana - comparisons with non-Brazilian isolates and other Beauveria species: Journal of Applied Microbiology, v. 107, p. 760-774.
Schultheis, A.S., Booth, J.Y., Vinson, M.R., Miller, M.P., 2008, Genetic evidence for cohort splitting in the merovoltine stonefly Pteronarcys californica (Newport) in Blacksmith Fork, Utah: Aquatic Insects, v. 30, no. 3, p. 187-195.
Miller, M.P., Vincent, R., 2008, Rapid natural selection for resistance to an introduced parasite of rainbow trout: Evolutionary Applications, v. 1, p. 336-341.
Barni, F., Berti, A., Pianese, A., Boccellino, A., Miller, M.P., Caperna, A., Lago, G., 2007, Allele frequencies of 15 autosomal STR loci in the Iraq population with comparisons to other populations from the middle-eastern region: Forensic Science International, v. 167, p. 87-92.
Wagner, E.J., Wilson, C., Arndt, R., Goddard, P., Miller, M.P., Hodgson, A., Vincent, R., Mock, K., 2006, Evaluation of disease resistance of the Fish Lake–DeSmet, Wounded Man, and Harrison Lake strains of rainbow trout exposed to Myxobolus cerebralis: Journal of Aquatic Animal Health, v. 18, p. 128-135.
Miller, M.P., Weigel, D.E., Mock, K., Roth, B., 2006, Evidence for an outcrossing reproductive strategy in the hermaphroditic heterobranch gastropod Valvata utahensis (Valvatidae), with notes on the genetic differentiation of V. utahensis and V. humeralis: Journal of Molluscan Studies, v. 72, p. 397-403.
Miller, M.P., Weigel, D.E., Mock, K., 2006, Patterns of genetic structure in the endangered aquatic gastropod Valvata utahensis (Mollusca - Valvatidae) at small and large spatial scales: Freshwater Biology, v. 51, p. 2362-2375.
Miller, M.P., 2005, Alleles In Space (AIS) - Computer software for the joint analysis of interindividual spatial and genetic information: Journal of Heredity, v. 96, no. 6, p. 722-724.
Mock, K., Miller, M.P., 2005, Patterns of molecular diversity in naturally occurring and refugial populations of the least chub: Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, v. 134, p. 267-278.
Shuster, S.M., Miller, M.P., Lang, B.K., Zorich, N., Huynh, L., Keim, P., 2005, The effects of controlled propagation on an endangered species - genetic differentiation and divergence in body size among native and captive populations of the Socorro Isopod (Crustacea- Flabellifera): Conservation Genetics, v. 6, p. 355-368.
Mock, K., Brim-Box, J.C., Miller, M.P., Downing, M.E., Hoeh, W.R., 2004, Genetic diversity and divergence among freshwater mussel (Anodonta) populations in the Bonneville Basin of Utah: Molecular Ecology, v. 13, p. 1085-1098.
Miller, M.P., Parker, J.D., Kumar, S., 2003, Quantifying the intragenic distribution of human disease mutations: Annals of Human Genetics, v. 67, p. 567-579.
Miller, M.P., Blinn, D.W., Keim, P., 2002, Correlations between observed dispersal capabilities and patterns of genetic differentiation in populations of four aquatic insect species from the Arizona White Mountains, USA: Freshwater Biology, v. 47, p. 1660-1673.
Miller, M.P., Kumar, S., 2001, Understanding human disease mutations through the use of interspecific genetic variation: Human Molecular Genetics, v. 10, no. 21, p. 2319-2328.
Miller, M.P., Stevens, L.E., Busch, J., Sorensen, J.A., Keim, P., 2000, Amplified fragment length polymorphism and mitochondrial sequence data detect genetic differentiation and relationships in endangered southwestern USA ambersnails (Oxyloma spp.): Canadian Journal of Zoology, v. 78, p. 1845-1854.
Busch, J., Miller, M.P., Paxton, E.H., Sogge, M.K., Keim, P., 2000, Genetic variation in the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher: Auk, v. 117, no. 3, p. 586-595.
Miller, M.P., 1999, MANTEL-STRUCT- A program for the detection of population structure via mantel tests: Journal of Heredity, v. 90, no. 1, p. 258-259.
Miller, M.P., Kimberling, D.N., Keim, P., 1999, Re-analysis of genetic structure among populations of Rana pipiens in Arizona and Utah: The Southwest Naturalist, v. 44, no. 4, p. 527-530.
Miller, M.P., Hendricks, A.C., 1996, Zinc resistance in Chironomus riparius - Evidence for physiological and genetic components: Journal of the North American Benthological Society, v. 15, no. 1, p. 106-116.
**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: 75
Evidence for population bottlenecks and subtle genetic structure in the yellow rail Evidence for population bottlenecks and subtle genetic structure in the yellow rail
The Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracencis) is among the most enigmatic and least studied North American birds. Nesting exclusively in marshes and wetlands, it breeds largely east of the Rocky Mountains in the northern United States and Canada, but there is an isolated population in southern Oregon once believed extirpated. The degree of connectivity of the Oregon population with the...
Authors
Kenneth J. Popper, Leonard F. Miller, Michael Green, Susan M. Haig, Thomas D. Mullins
Post-fire land treatments and wind erosion -- lessons from the Milford Flat Fire, UT, USA Post-fire land treatments and wind erosion -- lessons from the Milford Flat Fire, UT, USA
We monitored sediment flux at 25 plots located at the northern end of the 2007 Milford Flat Fire (Lake Bonneville Basin, west-central Utah) to examine the effectiveness of post-fire rehabilitation treatments in mitigating risks of wind erosion during the first 3 years post fire. Maximum values were recorded during Mar–Jul 2009 when horizontal sediment fluxes measured with BSNE samplers...
Authors
Mark E. Miller, Matthew A. Bowker, Richard L. Reynolds, Harland L. Goldstein
Associations between forest fragmentation patterns and geneticstructure in Pfrimer’s Parakeet (Pyrrhura pfrimeri), an endangered endemic to central Brazil’s dry forests Associations between forest fragmentation patterns and geneticstructure in Pfrimer’s Parakeet (Pyrrhura pfrimeri), an endangered endemic to central Brazil’s dry forests
When habitat becomes fragmented, populations of species may become increasingly isolated. In the absence of habitat corridors, genetic structure may develop and populations risk reductions in genetic diversity from increased genetic drift and inbreeding. Deforestation of the Cerrado biome of Brazil, particularly of the dry forests within the Parana˜ River Basin, has incrementally...
Authors
Susan M. Haig, Leonard F. Miller, Carlos Bianchi, Thomas D. Mullins
Genetic applications in avian conservation Genetic applications in avian conservation
A fundamental need in conserving species and their habitats is defining distinct entities that range from individuals to species to ecosystems and beyond (Table 1; Ryder 1986, Moritz 1994, Mayden and Wood 1995, Haig and Avise 1996, Hazevoet 1996, Palumbi and Cipriano 1998, Hebert et al. 2004, Mace 2004, Wheeler et al. 2004, Armstrong and Ball 2005, Baker 2008, Ellis et al. 2010, Winker...
Authors
Susan M. Haig, Whitcomb M. Bronaugh, Rachel S. Crowhurst, Jesse D'Elia, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Clinton W. Epps, Brian Knaus, Mark P. Miller, Michael L. Moses, Sara Oyler-McCance, W. Douglas Robinson, Brian Sidlauskas
Occupancy and abundance of wintering birds in a dynamic agricultural landscape Occupancy and abundance of wintering birds in a dynamic agricultural landscape
Assessing wildlife management action requires monitoring populations, and abundance often is the parameter monitored. Recent methodological advances have enabled estimation of mean abundance within a habitat using presence–absence or count data obtained via repeated visits to a sample of sites. These methods assume populations are closed and intuitively assume habitats within sites...
Authors
Mark W. Miller, Elise V. Pearlstine, Robert M. Dorazio, Frank J. Mazzotti
Alternative states of a semiarid grassland ecosystem: implications for ecosystem services Alternative states of a semiarid grassland ecosystem: implications for ecosystem services
Ecosystems can shift between alternative states characterized by persistent differences in structure, function, and capacity to provide ecosystem services valued by society. We examined empirical evidence for alternative states in a semiarid grassland ecosystem where topographic complexity and contrasting management regimes have led to spatial variations in levels of livestock grazing...
Authors
Mark E. Miller, R. Travis Belote, Matthew A. Bowker, Steven L. Garman
Non-USGS Publications**
Safner, T., Miller, M.P., McRae, B.H., Fortin, M., Manel, S., 2011, Comparison of Bayesian clustering andedge detection methods for inferring boundaries in landscape genetics: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, v. 12, p. 865-889.
Fernandes, E., Keyser, C.A., Chong, J.P., Rangel, D., Miller, M.P., Roberts, D.W., 2010, Characterization of Metarhiziumspecies and varieties based on molecular analysis, heat tolerance and cold activity: Journal of Applied Microbiology, v. 108, p. 115-128.
Fernandes, E., Moraes, A.L., Pacheco, R.S., Rangel, D., Miller, M.P., Bittencourt, V., Roberts, D.W., 2009, Genetic diversity among Brazilian isolates of Beauveria bassiana - comparisons with non-Brazilian isolates and other Beauveria species: Journal of Applied Microbiology, v. 107, p. 760-774.
Schultheis, A.S., Booth, J.Y., Vinson, M.R., Miller, M.P., 2008, Genetic evidence for cohort splitting in the merovoltine stonefly Pteronarcys californica (Newport) in Blacksmith Fork, Utah: Aquatic Insects, v. 30, no. 3, p. 187-195.
Miller, M.P., Vincent, R., 2008, Rapid natural selection for resistance to an introduced parasite of rainbow trout: Evolutionary Applications, v. 1, p. 336-341.
Barni, F., Berti, A., Pianese, A., Boccellino, A., Miller, M.P., Caperna, A., Lago, G., 2007, Allele frequencies of 15 autosomal STR loci in the Iraq population with comparisons to other populations from the middle-eastern region: Forensic Science International, v. 167, p. 87-92.
Wagner, E.J., Wilson, C., Arndt, R., Goddard, P., Miller, M.P., Hodgson, A., Vincent, R., Mock, K., 2006, Evaluation of disease resistance of the Fish Lake–DeSmet, Wounded Man, and Harrison Lake strains of rainbow trout exposed to Myxobolus cerebralis: Journal of Aquatic Animal Health, v. 18, p. 128-135.
Miller, M.P., Weigel, D.E., Mock, K., Roth, B., 2006, Evidence for an outcrossing reproductive strategy in the hermaphroditic heterobranch gastropod Valvata utahensis (Valvatidae), with notes on the genetic differentiation of V. utahensis and V. humeralis: Journal of Molluscan Studies, v. 72, p. 397-403.
Miller, M.P., Weigel, D.E., Mock, K., 2006, Patterns of genetic structure in the endangered aquatic gastropod Valvata utahensis (Mollusca - Valvatidae) at small and large spatial scales: Freshwater Biology, v. 51, p. 2362-2375.
Miller, M.P., 2005, Alleles In Space (AIS) - Computer software for the joint analysis of interindividual spatial and genetic information: Journal of Heredity, v. 96, no. 6, p. 722-724.
Mock, K., Miller, M.P., 2005, Patterns of molecular diversity in naturally occurring and refugial populations of the least chub: Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, v. 134, p. 267-278.
Shuster, S.M., Miller, M.P., Lang, B.K., Zorich, N., Huynh, L., Keim, P., 2005, The effects of controlled propagation on an endangered species - genetic differentiation and divergence in body size among native and captive populations of the Socorro Isopod (Crustacea- Flabellifera): Conservation Genetics, v. 6, p. 355-368.
Mock, K., Brim-Box, J.C., Miller, M.P., Downing, M.E., Hoeh, W.R., 2004, Genetic diversity and divergence among freshwater mussel (Anodonta) populations in the Bonneville Basin of Utah: Molecular Ecology, v. 13, p. 1085-1098.
Miller, M.P., Parker, J.D., Kumar, S., 2003, Quantifying the intragenic distribution of human disease mutations: Annals of Human Genetics, v. 67, p. 567-579.
Miller, M.P., Blinn, D.W., Keim, P., 2002, Correlations between observed dispersal capabilities and patterns of genetic differentiation in populations of four aquatic insect species from the Arizona White Mountains, USA: Freshwater Biology, v. 47, p. 1660-1673.
Miller, M.P., Kumar, S., 2001, Understanding human disease mutations through the use of interspecific genetic variation: Human Molecular Genetics, v. 10, no. 21, p. 2319-2328.
Miller, M.P., Stevens, L.E., Busch, J., Sorensen, J.A., Keim, P., 2000, Amplified fragment length polymorphism and mitochondrial sequence data detect genetic differentiation and relationships in endangered southwestern USA ambersnails (Oxyloma spp.): Canadian Journal of Zoology, v. 78, p. 1845-1854.
Busch, J., Miller, M.P., Paxton, E.H., Sogge, M.K., Keim, P., 2000, Genetic variation in the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher: Auk, v. 117, no. 3, p. 586-595.
Miller, M.P., 1999, MANTEL-STRUCT- A program for the detection of population structure via mantel tests: Journal of Heredity, v. 90, no. 1, p. 258-259.
Miller, M.P., Kimberling, D.N., Keim, P., 1999, Re-analysis of genetic structure among populations of Rana pipiens in Arizona and Utah: The Southwest Naturalist, v. 44, no. 4, p. 527-530.
Miller, M.P., Hendricks, A.C., 1996, Zinc resistance in Chironomus riparius - Evidence for physiological and genetic components: Journal of the North American Benthological Society, v. 15, no. 1, p. 106-116.
**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.