Mark T Wiltermuth
My current position is Branch Chief for Biogeographic Science within the Science Synthesis, Analysis and Research Program in USGS Core Science Systems.
Our group focuses on biodiversity and biogeographic analysis and synthesis to provide foundational data and analyses at a national scale. The current portfolio includes overseeing our activities in species occurrence, species range, and habitat distributions modeling, synthesis of biodiversity and conservation information, the Protected Areas Database of the United States, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, and biogeographic information systems.
Education and Certifications
PhD, 2014, Environmental and Conservation Sciences, North Dakota State University
MEd, 2006, Teaching and Learning: concentration on scientific inquiry and constructive learning, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
BAS, 1999, Teaching Life Science, University of Minnesota, Duluth campus
Science and Products
A Bayesian approach for temporally scaling climate for modeling ecological systems
Habitat selection and movements of Piping Plover broods suggest a tradeoff between breeding stages
Landscape selection by piping plovers has implications for measuring habitat and population size
Detection probability of least tern and piping plover chicks in a large river system
The role of landscape features and density dependence in growth and fledging rates of Piping Plovers in North Dakota, USA
Accuracy of the Missouri River Least Tern and Piping Plover Monitoring Program: considerations for the future
Measuring and predicting abundance and dynamics of habitat for piping plovers on a large reservoir
Nest survival of piping plovers at a dynamic reservoir indicates an ecological trap for a threatened population
Selection indicates preference in diverse habitats: A ground-nesting bird (Charadrius melodus) using reservoir shoreline
Nest movement by piping plovers in response to changing habitat conditions
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
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Filter Total Items: 22
A Bayesian approach for temporally scaling climate for modeling ecological systems
With climate change becoming more of concern, many ecologists are including climate variables in their system and statistical models. The Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) is a drought index that has potential advantages in modeling ecological response variables, including a flexible computation of the index over different timescales. However, little development has been mAuthorsMax Post van der Burg, Michael J. Anteau, Lisa A. McCauley, Mark T. WiltermuthHabitat selection and movements of Piping Plover broods suggest a tradeoff between breeding stages
In precocial birds, adults select breeding areas using cues associated with habitat characteristics that are favorable for nesting success and chick survival, but there may be tradeoffs in habitat selection between these breeding stages. Here we describe habitat selection and intra-territory movements of 53 Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) broods (320 observations) during the 2007–2008 breedingAuthorsMark T. Wiltermuth, Michael J. Anteau, Mark H. Sherfy, Aaron T. PearseLandscape selection by piping plovers has implications for measuring habitat and population size
How breeding birds distribute in relation to landscape-scale habitat features has important implications for conservation because those features may constrain habitat suitability. Furthermore, knowledge of these associations can help build models to improve area-wide demographic estimates or to develop a sampling stratification for research and monitoring. This is particularly important for rare sAuthorsMichael J. Anteau, Terry L. Shaffer, Mark T. Wiltermuth, Mark H. SherfyDetection probability of least tern and piping plover chicks in a large river system
Monitoring the abundance and stability of populations of conservation concern is often complicated by an inability to perfectly detect all members of the population. Mark-recapture offers a flexible framework in which one may identify factors contributing to imperfect detection, while at the same time estimating demographic parameters such as abundance or survival. We individually color-marked, reAuthorsErin A. Roche, Terry L. Shaffer, Michael J. Anteau, Mark H. Sherfy, Jennifer H. Stucker, Mark T. Wiltermuth, Colin M. DovichinThe role of landscape features and density dependence in growth and fledging rates of Piping Plovers in North Dakota, USA
For species with precocial young, survival from hatching to fledging is a key factor influencing recruitment. Furthermore, growth rates of precocial chicks are an indicator of forage quality and habitat suitability of brood-rearing areas. We examined how growth and fledging rates of Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) chicks were influenced by landscape features, such as hatchling density (hatchliAuthorsMichael J. Anteau, Mark T. Wiltermuth, Mark H. Sherfy, Terry L. Shaffer, Aaron T. PearseAccuracy of the Missouri River Least Tern and Piping Plover Monitoring Program: considerations for the future
The upper Missouri River system provides nesting and foraging habitat for federally endangered least terns (Sternula antillarum; hereafter “terns”) and threatened piping plovers (Charadrius melodus; hereafter “plovers”). These species are the subject of substantial management interest on the Missouri River for several reasons. First, ecosystem recovery is a goal for management agencies that seek tAuthorsTerry L. Shaffer, Mark H. Sherfy, Michael J. Anteau, Jennifer H. Stucker, Marsha A. Sovada, Erin A. Roche, Mark T. Wiltermuth, Thomas K. Buhl, Colin M. DovichinMeasuring and predicting abundance and dynamics of habitat for piping plovers on a large reservoir
Measuring habitat and understanding habitat dynamics have become increasingly important for wildlife conservation. Using remotely-sensed data, we developed procedures to measure breeding habitat abundance for the federally listed piping plover (Charadrius melodus) at Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota, USA. We also developed a model to predict habitat abundance based on past and projected water levels,AuthorsMichael J. Anteau, Mark T. Wiltermuth, Mark H. Sherfy, Terry L. ShafferNest survival of piping plovers at a dynamic reservoir indicates an ecological trap for a threatened population
In the past 60 years, reservoirs have reshaped riverine ecosystems and transformed breeding habitats used by the threatened piping plover (Charadrius melodus; hereafter plover). Currently, 29% of the Northern Great Plains plover population nests at reservoirs that might function as ecological traps because reservoirs have more diverse habitat features and greater dynamics in water levels than habiAuthorsMichael J. Anteau, Terry L. Shaffer, Mark H. Sherfy, Marsha A. Sovada, Jennifer H. Stucker, Mark T. WiltermuthSelection indicates preference in diverse habitats: A ground-nesting bird (Charadrius melodus) using reservoir shoreline
Animals use proximate cues to select resources that maximize individual fitness. When animals have a diverse array of available habitats, those selected could give insights into true habitat preferences. Since the construction of the Garrison Dam on the Missouri River in North Dakota, Lake Sakakawea (SAK) has become an important breeding area for federally threatened piping plovers (Charadrius melAuthorsMichael J. Anteau, Mark H. Sherfy, Mark T. WiltermuthNest movement by piping plovers in response to changing habitat conditions
Birds that nest along reservoir or river shorelines may face fluctuating water levels that threaten nest survival. On Lake Sakakawea of the upper Missouri River, 37 and 70% of Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) nests found in 2007 and 2008, respectively, were initiated at elevations inundated prior to projected hatch date. We describe eight events at seven nests in which adult Piping Plovers appeaAuthorsMark T. Wiltermuth, Michael J. Anteau, Mark H. Sherfy, Terry L. ShafferNon-USGS Publications**
Wiltermuth, Mark Thomas. Influences of climate variability and landscape modifications on water dynamics, community structure, and amphipod populations in large prairie wetlands: Implications for waterbird conservation. Diss. North Dakota State University, 2014.**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.
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