Peter Coates, PhD
Dr. Peter Coates is a Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey's Western Ecological Research Center.
He is interested in sound science and management practices aimed at restoring wildlife communities and their habitats. He is committed to progressive, scientifically defensible conservation actions in the face of increasing human population size and individual consumption. Abundance and distribution of wild populations often can be linked to changes in their environments caused by human land use practices, but identifying the ecological mechanisms of declining populations are often challenging. Specifically, Dr. Coates is interested in investigating the links between nesting habitat, predator composition, and incubation behavior and success of birds. Additionally, he is interested in the effects of anthropogenic-resource subsidies on the survival and reproduction of predators and how these changes influence demographics and distribution of prey populations. Dr. Coates seeks to develop a broader understanding of how human-caused landscape changes affect communities and aim to identify restoration practices that preserve natural ecological processes. He is also interested in behavioral traits of grouse that affect population establishment and persistence in the face of environmental challenges.
Professional Experience
Wildlife Biologist, U. S. Geological Survey, 2008–present
Postdoctoral Appointment, Idaho State University, 2008
Seasonal Wildlife Biologist, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2007
Graduate Research Assistantship, Idaho State University, 2002–2007
Teaching Assistantship, Idaho State University, 2004–2007
National Science Foundation GK–12 Teaching F, Idaho State University, 2005–2006
Seasonal Biological Specialist, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 2003–2005
Field Research Technician, University of Nevada Reno, 1999
Conservation Biological Technician I, II, and III, Nevada Department of Wildlife, 1996–1998
Education and Certifications
Ph. D., Biology, Idaho State University 2007
M. S., Biology, University of Nevada Reno 2001
B. S., Conservation Biology, University of Nevada Reno 1998
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Ornithologists Union
Cooper Ornithological Society
Jack H. Berryman Institute
Society for Conservation Biology
The Wildlife Society
Science and Products
Conserving the Greater Sage-grouse: A social-ecological systems case study from the California-Nevada region
Importance of regional variation in conservation planning: A rangewide example of the Greater Sage-Grouse
Monitoring and research on the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the Pine Nut Mountains, California and Nevada—Study progress report, 2011–15
Encounters with Pinyon-Juniper influence riskier movements in Greater Sage-Grouse across the Great Basin
Spatially explicit modeling of annual and seasonal habitat for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in Nevada and Northeastern California—An updated decision-support tool for management
Survival of translocated sharp-tailed grouse: Temporal threshold and age effects
Nest survival is influenced by parental behaviour and heterospecifics in a mixed-species colony
Landscape characteristics and livestock presence influence common ravens: Relevance to greater sage-grouse conservation
The effects of heterospecifics and climatic conditions on incubation behavior within a mixed-species colony
The integrated rangeland fire management strategy actionable science plan
Wildfire, climate, and invasive grass interactions negatively impact an indicator species by reshaping sagebrush ecosystems
Integrating spatially explicit indices of abundance and habitat quality: an applied example for greater sage-grouse management
Science and Products
Conserving the Greater Sage-grouse: A social-ecological systems case study from the California-Nevada region
Importance of regional variation in conservation planning: A rangewide example of the Greater Sage-Grouse
Monitoring and research on the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the Pine Nut Mountains, California and Nevada—Study progress report, 2011–15
Encounters with Pinyon-Juniper influence riskier movements in Greater Sage-Grouse across the Great Basin
Spatially explicit modeling of annual and seasonal habitat for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in Nevada and Northeastern California—An updated decision-support tool for management
Survival of translocated sharp-tailed grouse: Temporal threshold and age effects
Nest survival is influenced by parental behaviour and heterospecifics in a mixed-species colony
Landscape characteristics and livestock presence influence common ravens: Relevance to greater sage-grouse conservation
The effects of heterospecifics and climatic conditions on incubation behavior within a mixed-species colony
The integrated rangeland fire management strategy actionable science plan
Wildfire, climate, and invasive grass interactions negatively impact an indicator species by reshaping sagebrush ecosystems
Integrating spatially explicit indices of abundance and habitat quality: an applied example for greater sage-grouse management
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government