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
A conceptual model for site-level ecology of the giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) in the Sacramento Valley, California
Literature review of giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) biology and conservation
Nest-site selection and reproductive success of greater sage-grouse in a fire-affected habitat of northwestern Nevada
Movements of radio-marked California Ridgway's rails during monitoring surveys: Implications for population monitoring
Defining population structure and genetic signatures of decline in the giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas): implications for conserving threatened species within highly altered landscapes
Terrestrial ecology of semi-aquatic giant gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas)
Carryover effects and climatic conditions influence the postfledging survival of greater sage-grouse
Conservation buffer distance estimates for Greater Sage-Grouse: a review
Sea-level rise and refuge habitats for tidal marsh species: Can artificial islands save the California Ridgway's rail?
Landscape alterations influence differential habitat use of nesting buteos and ravens within sagebrush ecosystem: implications for transmission line development
Common raven occurrence in relation to energy transmission line corridors transiting human-altered sagebrush steppe
Dietary mercury exposure to endangered California Clapper Rails in San Francisco Bay
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A conceptual model for site-level ecology of the giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) in the Sacramento Valley, California
Giant gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas) comprise a species of semi-aquatic snakes precinctive to marshes in the Central Valley of California (Hansen and Brode, 1980; Rossman and others, 1996). Because more than 90 percent of their historical wetland habitat has been converted to other uses (Frayer and others, 1989; Garone, 2007), giant gartersnakes have been listed as threatened by the State of CaliAuthorsBrian J. Halstead, Glenn D. Wylie, Michael L. Casazza, Eric C. Hansen, Rick D. Scherer, Laura C. PattersonLiterature review of giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) biology and conservation
This report reviews the available literature on giant gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas) to compile existing information on this species and identify knowledge gaps that, if addressed, would help to inform conservation efforts for giant gartersnakes. Giant gartersnakes comprise a species of semi-aquatic snake precinctive to wetlands in the Central Valley of California. The diversion of surface wateAuthorsBrian J. Halstead, Glenn D. Wylie, Michael L. CasazzaNest-site selection and reproductive success of greater sage-grouse in a fire-affected habitat of northwestern Nevada
Identifying links between micro-habitat selection and wildlife reproduction is imperative to population persistence and recovery. This information is particularly important for landscape species such as greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse). Although this species has been widely studied, because environmental factors can affect sage-grouse populations, local and regional stuAuthorsZachary B. Lockyer, Peter S. Coates, Michael L. Casazza, Shawn Espinosa, David J. DelehantyMovements of radio-marked California Ridgway's rails during monitoring surveys: Implications for population monitoring
The California Ridgway's rail Rallus obsoletus obsoletus (hereafter California rail) is a secretive marsh bird endemic to tidal marshes in the San Francisco Bay (hereafter bay) of California. The California rail has undergone significant range contraction and population declines due to a variety of factors, including predation and the degradation and loss of habitat. Call-count surveys, which inclAuthorsThuy-Vy D. Bui, John Y. Takekawa, Cory T. Overton, Emily R. Schultz, Joshua M. Hull, Michael L. CasazzaDefining population structure and genetic signatures of decline in the giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas): implications for conserving threatened species within highly altered landscapes
Anthropogenic habitat fragmentation can disrupt the ability of species to disperse across landscapes, which can alter the levels and distribution of genetic diversity within populations and negatively impact long-term viability. The giant gartersnake (Thamnophis gigas) is a state and federally threatened species that historically occurred in the wetland habitats of California’s Great Central ValleAuthorsDustin A. Wood, Brian J. Halstead, Michael L. Casazza, Eric C. Hansen, Glenn D. Wylie, Amy G. VandergastTerrestrial ecology of semi-aquatic giant gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas)
Wetlands are a vital component of habitat for semiaquatic herpetofauna, but for most species adjacent terrestrial habitats are also essential. We examined the use of terrestrial environments by Giant Gartersnakes (Thamnophis gigas) to provide behavioral information relevant to conservation of this state and federally listed threatened species. We used radio telemetry data collected 1995–2011 fromAuthorsBrian J. Halstead, Shannon M. Skalos, Glenn D. Wylie, Michael L. CasazzaCarryover effects and climatic conditions influence the postfledging survival of greater sage-grouse
Prebreeding survival is an important life history component that affects both parental fitness and population persistence. In birds, prebreeding can be separated into pre- and postfledging periods; carryover effects from the prefledging period may influence postfledging survival. We investigated effects of body condition at fledging, and climatic variation, on postfledging survival of radio-markedAuthorsErik J. Blomberg, James S. Sedinger, Daniel Gibson, Peter S. Coates, Michael L. CasazzaConservation buffer distance estimates for Greater Sage-Grouse: a review
This report was prepared at the request of the U.S. Department of the Interior and is a compilation and summary of published scientific studies that evaluate the influence of anthropogenic activities and infrastructure on Greater Sage-Grouse(Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, sage-grouse) populations. The purpose of this report is to provide a convenient reference for land managers and others wAuthorsDaniel J. Manier, Zachary H. Bowen, Matthew L. Brooks, Michael L. Casazza, Peter S. Coates, Patricia A. Deibert, Steven E. Hanser, Douglas H. JohnsonSea-level rise and refuge habitats for tidal marsh species: Can artificial islands save the California Ridgway's rail?
Terrestrial species living in intertidal habitats experience refuge limitation during periods of tidal inundation, which may be exacerbated by seasonal variation in vegetation structure, tidal cycles, and land-use change. Sea-level rise projections indicate the severity of refuge limitation may increase. Artificial habitats that provide escape cover during tidal inundation have been proposed as aAuthorsCory T. Overton, John Y. Takekawa, Michael L. Casazza, Thuy-Vy D. Bui, Marcel Holyoak, Donald R. StrongLandscape alterations influence differential habitat use of nesting buteos and ravens within sagebrush ecosystem: implications for transmission line development
A goal in avian ecology is to understand factors that influence differences in nesting habitat and distribution among species, especially within changing landscapes. Over the past 2 decades, humans have altered sagebrush ecosystems as a result of expansion in energy production and transmission. Our primary study objective was to identify differences in the use of landscape characteristics and natuAuthorsPeter S. Coates, Kristy B. Howe, Michael L. Casazza, David J. DelehantyCommon raven occurrence in relation to energy transmission line corridors transiting human-altered sagebrush steppe
Energy-related infrastructure and other human enterprises within sagebrush steppe of the American West often results in changes that promote common raven (Corvus corax; hereafter, raven) populations. Ravens, a generalist predator capable of behavioral innovation, present a threat to many species of conservation concern. We evaluate the effects of detailed features of an altered landscape on the prAuthorsPeter S. Coates, Kristy B. Howe, Michael L. Casazza, David J. DelehantyDietary mercury exposure to endangered California Clapper Rails in San Francisco Bay
California Clapper Rails (Rallus longirostris obsoletus) are an endangered waterbird that forage in tidal-marsh habitats that pose risks from mercury exposure. We analyzed total mercury (Hg) in six macro-invertebrate and one fish species representing Clapper Rail diets from four tidal-marshes in San Francisco Bay, California. Mercury concentrations among individual taxa ranged from lowest at ColmaAuthorsMichael L. Casazza, Mark A. Ricca, Cory T. Overton, John Y. Takekawa, Angela Merritt, Joshua T. Ackerman - Web Tools
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