Michael Casazza
Mike Casazza's research program at the Dixon Field Station focuses on the ecology of waterfowl and wetland management in the Pacific Flyway.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Mike and his team are experts in wildlife telemetry and apply cutting edge tools to answer complex ecological questions. In addition, Mike’s program also focuses on threatened and endangered species in a variety of ecosystems including primary ecological research on the endangered California Ridgway's Rail in SF Bay, the endangered San Francisco Gartersnake, the threatened Giant Gartersnake in the Central Valley of California, the California state-listed Greater Sandhill Crane, and the Greater Sage-Grouse. Mike Casazza's research has targeted studies which provide critical species information to land managers responsible for maintaining diverse and healthy wildlife populations while trying to help recover special status species. Understanding key life history traits of special status species can lead to management options promoting species recovery.
EDUCATION
- 1995 M.S. California State University, Sacramento Thesis: Habitat use and movement of Northern Pintails wintering in Suisun Marsh, CA
- 1988 B.S. Wildlife Biology, U.C. Davis
Science and Products
Abundance and sexual size dimorphism of the giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) in the Sacramento valley of California
Ecological factors influencing nest survival of greater sage-grouse in Mono County, California
Ecology of Greater Sage-Grouse in the Bi-State Planning Area Final Report, September 2007
Using time-dependent models to investigate body condition and growth rate of the giant gartersnake
Temporal and maternal effects on reproductive ecology of the giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas)
Nest site selection by greater sage-grouse in Mono County, California
Sex, season, and time of day interact to affect body temperatures of the Giant Gartersnake
Sexing California Clapper Rails using morphological measurements
Breeding behavior and dispersal of radio-marked California clapper rails
The California Clapper Rail and multispecies recovery planning
Pintail and mallard survival in California relative to habitat, abundance, and hunting
Spring migration of Northern Pintails from Texas and New Mexico, USA
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Abundance and sexual size dimorphism of the giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) in the Sacramento valley of California
The Giant Gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) is restricted to wetlands of the Central Valley of California. Because of wetland loss in this region, the Giant Gartersnake is both federally and state listed as threatened. We conducted markrecapture studies of four populations of the Giant Gartersnake in the Sacramento Valley (northern Central Valley), California, to obtain baseline data on abundance andAuthorsG.D. Wylie, Michael L. Casazza, C.J. Gregory, B.J. HalsteadEcological factors influencing nest survival of greater sage-grouse in Mono County, California
We studied nest survival of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in 5 subareas of Mono County, California, USA, from 2003 to 2005 to 1) evaluate the importance of key vegetation variables for nest success, and 2) to compare nest success in this population with other greater sage-grouse populations. We captured and radiotracked females (n = 72) to identify nest sites and monitor nest sAuthorsEric J. Kolada, Michael L. Casazza, James S. SedingerEcology of Greater Sage-Grouse in the Bi-State Planning Area Final Report, September 2007
Conservation efforts for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), hereafter sage-grouse, are underway across the range of this species. Over 70 local working groups have been established and are implementing on-the-ground sage-grouse oriented conservation projects. Early on in this process, the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) recognized the need to join in these efforts and rAuthorsMichael L. Casazza, Cory T. Overton, Melissa A. Farinha, Alicia Torregrosa, Joseph P. Fleskes, Michael R. Miller, James S. Sedinger, Eric J. KoladaUsing time-dependent models to investigate body condition and growth rate of the giant gartersnake
Identifying links between phenotypic attributes and fitness is a primary goal of reproductive ecology. Differences in within-year patterns of body condition between sexes of gartersnakes in relation to reproduction and growth are not fully understood. We conducted an 11-year field study of body condition and growth rate of the giant gartersnake Thamnophis gigas across 13 study areas in the CentralAuthorsP.S. Coates, G.D. Wylie, B.J. Halstead, Michael L. CasazzaTemporal and maternal effects on reproductive ecology of the giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas)
We used mixed-effects models to examine relationships of reproductive characteristics of the giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) to improve population modeling and conservation planning for this species. Neonates from larger litters had lower mass, and mass of neonates also was affected by random variation among mothers. Length of mother did not affect relative mass of litters; however, our dataAuthorsBrian J. Halstead, Glenn D. Wylie, Michael L. Casazza, Peter S. CoatesNest site selection by greater sage-grouse in Mono County, California
Loss of nesting habitat is believed to be a factor in the decline of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) throughout its range. Few data are available for sage-grouse in Mono County, California, USA, in the most southwestern portion of the species' range. We studied habitat selection of nesting sage-grouse in Mono County, California, from 2003 to 2005 by capturing and radiotracking femaAuthorsEric J. Kolada, James S. Sedinger, Michael L. CasazzaSex, season, and time of day interact to affect body temperatures of the Giant Gartersnake
1.We examined multiple hypotheses regarding differences in body temperatures of the Giant Gartersnake using temperature-sensitive radio telemetry and an information-theoretic analytical approach.2.Giant Gartersnakes selected body temperatures near 30 ??C, and males and females had similar body temperatures most of the year, except during the midsummer gestation period.3.Seasonal differences in theAuthorsG.D. Wylie, Michael L. Casazza, B.J. Halstead, C.J. GregorySexing California Clapper Rails using morphological measurements
California Clapper Rails (Rallus longirostris obsoletus) have monomorphic plumage, a trait that makes identification of sex difficult without extensive behavioral observation or genetic testing. Using 31 Clapper Rails (22 females, 9 males), caught in south San Francisco Bay, CA, and using easily measurable morphological characteristics, we developed a discriminant function to distinguish sex. We tAuthorsCory T. Overton, Michael L. Casazza, John Y. Takekawa, Tobias M. RohmerBreeding behavior and dispersal of radio-marked California clapper rails
No abstract available.AuthorsMichael L. Casazza, Cory T. Overton, John Y. Takekawa, Tobias M. Rohmer, K. NavarreThe California Clapper Rail and multispecies recovery planning
The California clapper rail (Rallus longirostris obsoletus) lives in remnant tidal marshes of San Francisco Bay, where less than 20 percent of the historic tidal wetlands remain. Listed as an endangered species in 1970 by the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), this enigmatic bird faces a myriad of threats, including habitat loss due to urban encroachment, sea-level rise caused by climate change, altAuthorsMichael L. Casazza, Cory T. Overton, Melissa A. Farinha, John Y. Takekawa, Tobias M. RohmerPintail and mallard survival in California relative to habitat, abundance, and hunting
The influence of habitat, waterfowl abundance, and hunting on winter survival of waterfowl is not well understood. We studied late August-March survival of 163 after-hatch-year (AHY) and 128 hatch-year (HY) female mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) radiotagged in Sacramento Valley (SACV) and 885 AHY female northern pintails (A. acuta) radiotagged throughout the Central Valley of California, USA, relatiAuthorsJ. P. Fleskes, J.L. Yee, G.S. Yarris, M. R. Miller, Michael L. CasazzaSpring migration of Northern Pintails from Texas and New Mexico, USA
We used satellite transmitters (platform transmitting terminals or PTTs) during 2002 and 2003 to document spring migration timing, routes, stopover sites, and nesting sites of adult female Northern Pintails (Anas acuta) from major wintering areas of the Gulf Coast (N = 20) and Playa Lakes Regions (PLR, N = 20) in Texas, and the Middle Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico (MRGV, N = 15). Some Pintails tagAuthorsD.A. Haukos, M. R. Miller, D.L. Orthmeyer, John Y. Takekawa, J. P. Fleskes, Michael L. Casazza, W.M. Perry, J.A. Moon - Web Tools
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