Matthew Solensky is a Wildlife Biologist at the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center in Jamestown, North Dakota.
I have coordinated the research at the Cottonwood Lake Study Area (CLSA) since 2011. At CLSA we have been conducting research for over 30 years. The main topics of research are amphibian surveys, breeding bird surveys, aquatic-macroinvertebrate surveys, wetland monitoring and water chemistry.
Professional Experience
Wildlife Biologist, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, North Dakota
Education and Certifications
M.S., Biology, 1997, The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Eau Claire, WI.
B.S., Biology, 1993, Northland College, Ashland, WI.
Science and Products
Lessons learned from wetlands research at the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota, 1967–2021
Depressional wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America have a long history of investigation owing to their importance in maintaining migratory-bird populations, especially waterfowl. One area of particularly intensive study is the Cottonwood Lake study area in Stutsman County, North Dakota. Studies at the Cottonwood Lake study area began in 1967 and continue through the present (2022
Authors
David M. Mushet, Ned H. Euliss, Donald O. Rosenberry, James W. LaBaugh, Sheel Bansal, Zeno F. Levy, Owen P. McKenna, Kyle I. McLean, Christopher T. Mills, Brian P. Neff, Richard D. Nelson, Matthew J. Solensky, Brian Tangen
Chemical connectivity and multi-element composition of groundwater in depressional wetlands
Little is known about the element composition of groundwater along flow paths between wetlands. What is known is based on a few major elements, such as Na and Ca. We examined the spatial and temporal variation of elements in a depressional-wetland, groundwater-flow system in the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota, USA. Wetlands of the region are characterized by their occurrence in hydrologica
Authors
Yuxiang Yuan, Xiaoyan Zhu, David M. Mushet, Matthew J. Solensky, Marinus L. Otte
Temporal gamma-diversity meets spatial alpha-diversity in dynamically varying ecosystems
Community measures collected at a single instance or over a short temporal period rarely provide a complete accounting of biological diversity. The gap between such “snapshot” measures of diversity and actual diversity can be especially large in systems that undergo great temporal variation in environmental conditions. To adequately quantify diversity in these temporally varying ecosystems, indivi
Authors
David M. Mushet, Matthew J. Solensky, Shay F. Erickson
Abundant carbon substrates drive extremely high sulfate reduction rates and methane fluxes in Prairie Pothole Wetlands
Inland waters are increasingly recognized as critical sites of methane emissions to the atmosphere, but the biogeochemical reactions driving such fluxes are less well understood. The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North America is one of the largest wetland complexes in the world, containing millions of small, shallow wetlands. The sediment pore waters of PPR wetlands contain some of the highest
Authors
Paula Martins, David W. Hoyt, Sheel Bansal, Christopher T. Mills, Malak Tfaily, Brian Tangen, Raymond Finocchiaro, Michael D. Johnston, Brandon C. McAdams, Matthew J. Solensky, Garrett J. Smith, Yu-Ping Chin, Michael J. Wilkins
Fall migration routes, timing, and wintering sites of North American ospreys as determined by satellite telemetry
Satellite telemetry was used to determine fall migratory movements of Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) breeding in the United States. Study areas were established along the lower Columbia River between Oregon and Washington; in north-central Minnesota; on Shelter Island, New York; and in southern New Jersey. Seventy-four adults (25 males, 49 females) were tracked from 1995 through 1999. Migration route
Authors
M.S. Martell, Charles J. Henny, P. Nye, Matthew J. Solensky
Migration strategies and wintering areas of North American ospreys as revealed by satellite telemetry
Since 1995 we have trapped and tagged 110 Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) from 12 study sites in 8 states (Fig. 1). This total includes 71 females, 32 males and 7 juveniles. Our study areas encompass the major Osprey population concentrations found in the United States including the Western States, the Great Lakes region and the Eastern Seaboard.Tagging of nesting pairs along with three complete famil
Authors
Mark S. Martell, Charles J. Henny, P. Nye, Matthew J. Solensky
Filter Total Items: 17
Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Water Surface Elevations (ver. 2.0)
This dataset contains water surface elevations for the wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota.
Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Specific Conductance (ver. 2.0)
This dataset contains the specific conductance values of water for all wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota.
Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Groundwater Elevations (ver. 2.0)
This dataset contains discrete groundwater elevation measurements for wells in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota.
Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Breeding Birds (ver. 2.0)
This dataset contains the number of breeding pairs of bird species surveyed in all Cottonwood Lake Study Area wetlands.
Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Amphibians (ver. 2.0)
This dataset contains the number of captured individuals recorded for each amphibian species surveyed in all wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota. While amphibians were the target of the surveys, reptiles (i.e., turtles, snakes) were also captured over the course of the surveys and are included in the data file.
Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Invertebrate Counts (ver. 2.0)
This dataset contains macroinvertebrate sampling data for the wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota.
Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Invertebrate Weights (ver. 2.0)
This dataset contains macroinvertebrate sampling data (weights) for wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota.
Adult aquatic insect emergence, insect pesticide concentrations and water chemistry of wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region, North Dakota, USA, 2015-16
This data release includes sampling location data, field-collected wetland attribute data, field-collected water chemistry data, laboratory-processed water chemistry data (anions, cations, alkalinity, nutrients, chlorophyll a concentrations, dissolved organic carbon, and specific ultraviolet absorbance, pesticide concentrations), dry mass of adult aquatic insects emerging from the surface of the w
Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Invertebrate Counts - 1992 to 2019
This dataset contains macroinvertebrate sampling data for the wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota.
Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Breeding Birds - 1992 to 2019
This dataset contains the number of breeding pairs of bird species surveyed in all Cottonwood Lake Study Area wetlands.
Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Amphibians - 1992 to 2019
This dataset contains the number of captured individuals recorded for each amphibian species surveyed in all wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota. While amphibians were the target of the surveys, reptiles (i.e., turtles, snakes) were also sometimes captured over the course of the surveys and are included in the data file.
Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Invertebrate Weights - 1992-2019
This dataset contains macroinvertebrate sampling data (weights) for wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota.
Science and Products
- Publications
Lessons learned from wetlands research at the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota, 1967–2021
Depressional wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America have a long history of investigation owing to their importance in maintaining migratory-bird populations, especially waterfowl. One area of particularly intensive study is the Cottonwood Lake study area in Stutsman County, North Dakota. Studies at the Cottonwood Lake study area began in 1967 and continue through the present (2022AuthorsDavid M. Mushet, Ned H. Euliss, Donald O. Rosenberry, James W. LaBaugh, Sheel Bansal, Zeno F. Levy, Owen P. McKenna, Kyle I. McLean, Christopher T. Mills, Brian P. Neff, Richard D. Nelson, Matthew J. Solensky, Brian TangenChemical connectivity and multi-element composition of groundwater in depressional wetlands
Little is known about the element composition of groundwater along flow paths between wetlands. What is known is based on a few major elements, such as Na and Ca. We examined the spatial and temporal variation of elements in a depressional-wetland, groundwater-flow system in the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota, USA. Wetlands of the region are characterized by their occurrence in hydrologicaAuthorsYuxiang Yuan, Xiaoyan Zhu, David M. Mushet, Matthew J. Solensky, Marinus L. OtteTemporal gamma-diversity meets spatial alpha-diversity in dynamically varying ecosystems
Community measures collected at a single instance or over a short temporal period rarely provide a complete accounting of biological diversity. The gap between such “snapshot” measures of diversity and actual diversity can be especially large in systems that undergo great temporal variation in environmental conditions. To adequately quantify diversity in these temporally varying ecosystems, indiviAuthorsDavid M. Mushet, Matthew J. Solensky, Shay F. EricksonAbundant carbon substrates drive extremely high sulfate reduction rates and methane fluxes in Prairie Pothole Wetlands
Inland waters are increasingly recognized as critical sites of methane emissions to the atmosphere, but the biogeochemical reactions driving such fluxes are less well understood. The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North America is one of the largest wetland complexes in the world, containing millions of small, shallow wetlands. The sediment pore waters of PPR wetlands contain some of the highestAuthorsPaula Martins, David W. Hoyt, Sheel Bansal, Christopher T. Mills, Malak Tfaily, Brian Tangen, Raymond Finocchiaro, Michael D. Johnston, Brandon C. McAdams, Matthew J. Solensky, Garrett J. Smith, Yu-Ping Chin, Michael J. WilkinsFall migration routes, timing, and wintering sites of North American ospreys as determined by satellite telemetry
Satellite telemetry was used to determine fall migratory movements of Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) breeding in the United States. Study areas were established along the lower Columbia River between Oregon and Washington; in north-central Minnesota; on Shelter Island, New York; and in southern New Jersey. Seventy-four adults (25 males, 49 females) were tracked from 1995 through 1999. Migration routeAuthorsM.S. Martell, Charles J. Henny, P. Nye, Matthew J. SolenskyMigration strategies and wintering areas of North American ospreys as revealed by satellite telemetry
Since 1995 we have trapped and tagged 110 Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) from 12 study sites in 8 states (Fig. 1). This total includes 71 females, 32 males and 7 juveniles. Our study areas encompass the major Osprey population concentrations found in the United States including the Western States, the Great Lakes region and the Eastern Seaboard.Tagging of nesting pairs along with three complete familAuthorsMark S. Martell, Charles J. Henny, P. Nye, Matthew J. Solensky - Data
Filter Total Items: 17
Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Water Surface Elevations (ver. 2.0)
This dataset contains water surface elevations for the wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota.Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Specific Conductance (ver. 2.0)
This dataset contains the specific conductance values of water for all wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota.Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Groundwater Elevations (ver. 2.0)
This dataset contains discrete groundwater elevation measurements for wells in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota.Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Breeding Birds (ver. 2.0)
This dataset contains the number of breeding pairs of bird species surveyed in all Cottonwood Lake Study Area wetlands.Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Amphibians (ver. 2.0)
This dataset contains the number of captured individuals recorded for each amphibian species surveyed in all wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota. While amphibians were the target of the surveys, reptiles (i.e., turtles, snakes) were also captured over the course of the surveys and are included in the data file.Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Invertebrate Counts (ver. 2.0)
This dataset contains macroinvertebrate sampling data for the wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota.Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Invertebrate Weights (ver. 2.0)
This dataset contains macroinvertebrate sampling data (weights) for wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota.Adult aquatic insect emergence, insect pesticide concentrations and water chemistry of wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region, North Dakota, USA, 2015-16
This data release includes sampling location data, field-collected wetland attribute data, field-collected water chemistry data, laboratory-processed water chemistry data (anions, cations, alkalinity, nutrients, chlorophyll a concentrations, dissolved organic carbon, and specific ultraviolet absorbance, pesticide concentrations), dry mass of adult aquatic insects emerging from the surface of the wCottonwood Lake Study Area - Invertebrate Counts - 1992 to 2019
This dataset contains macroinvertebrate sampling data for the wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota.Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Breeding Birds - 1992 to 2019
This dataset contains the number of breeding pairs of bird species surveyed in all Cottonwood Lake Study Area wetlands.Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Amphibians - 1992 to 2019
This dataset contains the number of captured individuals recorded for each amphibian species surveyed in all wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota. While amphibians were the target of the surveys, reptiles (i.e., turtles, snakes) were also sometimes captured over the course of the surveys and are included in the data file.Cottonwood Lake Study Area - Invertebrate Weights - 1992-2019
This dataset contains macroinvertebrate sampling data (weights) for wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota.