Oyler-McCance, S.J. 1999. Genetic and habitat factors underlying conservation strategies for Gunnison sage grouse [Dissert]. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University. 162 p.
Sara Oyler-McCance, Ph.D.
Biography
Dr. Sara J. Oyler-McCance is a research geneticist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) at the Fort Collins Science Center (FORT). She has worked for USGS since 1999 as a conservation geneticist leading the Molecular Ecology Lab at FORT. She applies genetic and genomic technologies to address a variety of complex questions and conservation issues facing the management of the Nation's fish and wildlife resources. Current and past studies have provided information to assess taxonomic boundaries, inform listing decisions made under the Endangered Species Act, identify unique or genetically depauperate populations, estimate population size or survival rates, develop management or recovery plans, breed wildlife in captivity, relocate wildlife from one location to another, and assess the effects of environmental change.
Education
- Ph.D. in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, 1999
- M.S. in Wildlife Biology, University of Maine, 1993
- B.S. in Biology, University of Michigan, 1991
Affiliations
- Affiliate Faculty, Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Colorado State University
- Affiliate Faculty, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University
Science and Products
Date published: June 5, 2018
Status: Completed Environmental DNA (eDNA)
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is organismal DNA that can be found in the environment. Environmental DNA originates from cellular material shed by organisms (via skin, excrement, etc.) into aquatic or terrestrial environments that can be sampled and monitored using new molecular methods. Such methodology is important for the early detection of invasive species as well as the detection of rare and...
Attribution: Water Resources
Date published: October 18, 2016
Status: Active Molecular Genetics
The use of molecular genetics has become increasingly important in addressing wildlife conservation issues. In the Fort Collins Science Center Molecular Ecology Lab, scientists answer complex questions and conservation issues facing the management of the Nation's fish and wildlife resources. For example, FORT scientists can now locate genes that may contribute to a species' ability to respond...
Attribution: Energy & Wildlife, Fort Collins Science Center
Date published: August 31, 2016
Incorporating Genetic Data into Spatially-explicit Population Viability Models for Gunnison Sage-grouse
This goal of this study is to develop a spatially explicit habitat-population modeling framework to assess the viability of Gunnison Sage-grouse and each of the seven populations (Gunnison Basin and six satellite populations).
Contacts: Sara Oyler-McCance, Ph.D., Julie Heinrichs, Cameron Aldridge
Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center
Date published: August 10, 2016
Status: Active Molecular Ecology Lab (MEL)
The Molecular Ecology Laboratory applies genetic and genomic technologies to address a variety of complex questions and conservation issues facing the management of the Nation's fish and wildlife resources. Together with our partners, we design and implement studies to document genetic diversity and the distribution of genetic variation among individuals, populations, and species. Information...
Date published: August 9, 2016
Conservation Genomics
Conservation genomics is a new field of science that applies novel whole-genome sequencing technology to problems in conservation biology. Rapidly advancing molecular technologies are revolutionizing wildlife ecology, greatly expanding our understanding of wildlife and their interactions with the environment. In the same way that molecular tools such as microsatellites revolutionized wildlife...
Attribution: Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Fort Collins Science Center
Date published: August 8, 2016
Landscape Genetics
Landscape genetics is a recently developed discipline that involves the merger of molecular population genetics and landscape ecology. The goal of this new field of study is to provide information about the interaction between landscape features and microevolutionary processes such as gene flow, genetic drift, and selection allowing for the understanding of processes that generate genetic...
Contacts: Sara Oyler-McCance, Ph.D., Jennifer Fike
Attribution: Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin, Fort Collins Science Center
Date published: August 7, 2016
Population Genetics
Population genetics is an area of research that examines the distribution of genetic variation and levels of genetic diversity within and between populations. This information provides insights into the level of connectedness of populations throughout a species’ range and can be used to identify unique populations or those with low levels of genetic diversity.
Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center
Date published: August 6, 2016
Molecular Tagging
Molecular tagging is a new application of molecular genetic techniques to traditional mark-recapture methodology designed to address situations where traditional methods fail. In such studies, non-invasively collected samples (such as feces, feathers, or fur) are used as a source of DNA that is then genotyped at multiple loci such that each individual animal can be uniquely identified. Thus,...
Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center
Date published: August 5, 2016
Status: Active Environmental DNA (eDNA)
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is organismal DNA that can be found in the environment. Environmental DNA originates from cellular material shed by organisms (via skin, excrement, etc.) into aquatic or terrestrial environments that can be sampled and monitored using new molecular methods. Such methodology is important for the early detection of invasive species as well as the detection of rare and...
Contacts: Sara Oyler-McCance, Ph.D., Jennifer Fike
Attribution: Invasive Species Program, Fort Collins Science Center
Date published: August 4, 2016
Taxonomic Uncertainty
Taxonomic uncertainty can be assessed using genetic data, along with other lines of evidence (such as morphological and behavioral characteristics). Such data can be used to identify and assess taxonomic boundaries (species, subspecies, hybrids) and in many cases redefine them. Such delineations are highly relevant for species status determinations (endangered, threatened, or at-risk).
Contacts: Sara Oyler-McCance, Ph.D., Jennifer Fike
Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center
Date published: August 3, 2016
Family Relationships and Mating Systems
Family relationships and mating systems can be investigated and defined using genetic data. This information is potentially important for conservation and management as it may influence effective population size and levels of genetic diversity.
Contacts: Sara Oyler-McCance, Ph.D., Jennifer Fike
Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center
Date published: January 1, 2011
Status: Completed Contribution of Landscape Characteristics and Vegetation Shifts from Global Climate Change to Long-Term Viability of Greater Sage-grouse
Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act because of population and habitat fragmentation combined with inadequate regulatory mechanisms to control development in critical areas. In addition to the current threats to habitat, each 1 degree celsius increase in temperature due to climate change is expected to result in an...
Contacts: Sara Oyler-McCance, Ph.D.
Year Published: 2019
Characterizing range-wide population divergence in an alpine-endemic bird: A comparison of genetic and genomic approaches
The delineation of intraspecific units that are evolutionarily and demographically distinct is an important step in the development of species-specific management plans. Neutral genetic variation has served as the primary data source for delineating “evolutionarily significant units,” but with recent advances in genomic technology, we now have an...
Langin, Kathryn; Aldridge, Cameron L.; Fike, Jennifer A.; Cornman, Robert S.; Martin, Kathy M; Wann, Greg T; Seglund, Amy E; Schroeder, Michael A; Benson, David P; Fedy, Brad C.; Young, Jessica R.; Wilson, Scott D.; Wolfe, Don H; Braun, Clait E.; Oyler-McCance, Sara J.Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center, Ecosystems
Year Published: 2019
Conservation genomics in the sagebrush sea: Population divergence, demographic history, and local adaptation in sage-grouse (Centrocercus spp.)
Sage-grouse are two closely related iconic species of the North American West, with historically broad distributions across sagebrush-steppe habitat. Both species are dietary specialists on sagebrush during winter, with presumed adaptations to tolerate the high concentrations of toxic secondary metabolites that function as plant chemical defenses...
Oh, Kevin P; Aldridge, Cameron L.; Forbey, Jennifer S.; Dadabay, Carolyn; Oyler-McCance, Sara J.Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center, Ecosystems
Year Published: 2019
Mismatches between breeding phenology and resource abundance of resident alpine ptarmigan negatively affect chick survival
1. Phenological mismatches – defined here as the difference in reproductive timing of an individual relative to the availability of its food resources – occur in many avian species. Mistiming breeding activities in environments with constrained breeding windows may have severe fitness costs due to reduced opportunities for repeated breeding...
Wann, Gregory T; Aldridge, Cameron L.; Seglund, Amy E; Oyler-McCance, Sara J.; Kondratieff, Boris C.; Braun, Clait E.Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center, Ecosystems
Year Published: 2018
Post-release breeding of translocated sharp-tailed grouse and an absence of artificial insemination effects
Context: Translocation has become a widely used method to restore wildlife populations following extirpation. For some species, such as lekking grouse, which breed at traditional mating grounds, reproduction is linked to culturally established geographic locations. Cultural centres are lost upon extirpation, making restoration into otherwise...
Mathews, Steven R.; Coates, Peter S.; Fike, Jennifer A.; Schneider, Helena; Fischer, Dominik; Oyler-McCance, Sara J.; Lierz, Michael; Delehanty, David J.
Year Published: 2018
An experimental comparison of composite and grab sampling of stream water for metagenetic analysis of environmental DNA
Use of environmental DNA (eDNA) to assess distributions of aquatic and semi-aquatic macroorganisms is promising, but sampling schemes may need to be tailored to specific objectives. Given the potentially high variance in aquatic eDNA among replicate grab samples, compositing smaller water volumes collected over a period of time may be more...
Cornman, Robert S.; McKenna, James E.; Fike, Jennifer A.; Oyler-McCance, Sara J.; Johnson, RobinAttribution: Fort Collins Science Center, Ecosystems
Year Published: 2018
Quantifying functional connectivity: The role of breeding habitat, abundance, and landscape features on range‐wide gene flow in sage‐grouse
Functional connectivity, quantified using landscape genetics, can inform conservation through the identification of factors linking genetic structure to landscape mechanisms. We used breeding habitat metrics, landscape attributes, and indices of grouse abundance, to compare fit between structural connectivity and genetic differentiation within...
Row, Jeffery R.; Doherty, Kevin E.; Cross, Todd B.; Schwartz, Michael K.; Oyler-McCance, Sara J.; Naugle, Dave E.; Knick, Steven T.; Fedy, Bradley C.Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center, Ecosystems
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Row, J., Doherty, K., Cross, T., Schwartz, M.K., Oyler-McCance, S.J., Naugle, D., Knick, S.T., and B.C. Fedy. 2018. Quantifying functional connectivity: the role of breeding habitat, abundance, and landscape features on range-wide gene flow in sage-grouse. Evolutionary Applications 11:1305-1321.
Year Published: 2018
Genetic mark–recapture improves estimates of maternity colony size for Indiana bats
Genetic mark–recapture methods are increasingly being used to estimate demographic parameters in species where traditional techniques are problematic or imprecise. The federally endangered Indiana bat Myotis sodalis has declined dramatically and threats such as white-nose syndrome continue to afflict this species. To date, important...
Oyler-McCance, Sara J.; Fike, Jennifer A.; Lukacs, Paul M.; Sparks, Dale W.; O'Shea, Thomas J.; Whitaker, John O.View Citation
Oyler-McCance SJ, Fike JA, Lukacs PM, Sparks DW, O’Shea TJ, Whitaker, Jr. JO. 2018. Genetic mark–recapture improves estimates of maternity colony size for Indiana bats. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 9(1):25–35;e1944-687X. doi:10.3996/122016-JFWM-093
Year Published: 2018
The genetic network of greater sage-grouse: Range-wide identification of keystone hubs of connectivity
Genetic networks can characterize complex genetic relationships among groups of individuals, which can be used to rank nodes most important to the overall connectivity of the system. Ranking allows scarce resources to be guided toward nodes integral to connectivity. The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is a species of conservation...
Cross, Todd B.; Schwartz, Michael D.; Naugle, David; Fedy, Brad C.; Row, Jeff R; Oyler-McCance, Sara J.Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center, Ecosystems
Year Published: 2018
Long-term persistence of horse fecal DNA in the environment makes equids particularly good candidates for non-invasive sampling
Fecal DNA collected noninvasively can provide valuable information about genetic and ecological characteristics. This approach has rarely been used for equids, despite the need for conservation of endangered species and management of abundant feral populations. We examined factors affecting the efficacy of using equid fecal samples for...
King, Sarah R.B.; Schoenecker, Kathryn A.; Fike, Jennifer A.; Oyler-McCance, Sara J.Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center, Ecosystems
Year Published: 2018
Extensive shared polymorphism at non-MHC immune genes in recently diverged North American prairie grouse
Gene polymorphisms shared between recently diverged species are thought to be widespread and most commonly reflect introgression from hybridization or retention of ancestral polymorphism through incomplete lineage sorting. Shared genetic diversity resulting from incomplete lineage sorting is usually maintained for a relatively short period of time...
Minias, Piotr; Bateson, Zachary W.; Whittingham, Linda A.; Johnson, Jeff A.; Oyler-McCance, Sara J.; Dunn, Peter O.Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center, Ecosystems
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Minias, P., Z. W. Bateson, L. A. Whittingham, J. A. Johnson, S. J. Oyler-McCance, and P. O. Dunn. 2017. Extensive shared polymorphism at non-MHC immune genes in recently diverged North American prairie grouse. Immuogenetics. DOI 10.1007/s00251-017-1024-4
Year Published: 2017
Sage grouse
Sage grouse are a group of chicken-sized birds with a unique breeding behavior and dependence on sagebrush shrubs (genus Artemisia) for food and shelter throughout their life cycle. In the last century, human population expansion throughout western North America has reduced the amount of sagebrush and degraded and fragmented the remaining areas....
Zimmerman, Shawna; Timmer, Jennifer M.; Aldridge, Cameron L.; Oyler-McCance, Sara J.; Braun, Clait E.; Young, Jessica R.Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center, Ecosystems
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Shawna J. Zimmerman, Jennifer M. Timmer, Cameron L. Aldridge, Sara J. Oyler-McCance, Clait E. Braun and Jessica R. Young, "Sage grouse," Colorado Encyclopedia, last modified October 21, 2017, http://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/sage-grouse.
Year Published: 2017
Developing approaches for linear mixed modeling in landscape genetics through landscape-directed dispersal simulations
Dispersal can impact population dynamics and geographic variation, and thus, genetic approaches that can establish which landscape factors influence population connectivity have ecological and evolutionary importance. Mixed models that account for the error structure of pairwise datasets are increasingly used to compare models relating genetic...
Row, Jeffrey R.; Knick, Steven T.; Oyler-McCance, Sara J.; Lougheed, Stephen C.; Fedy, Bradley C.Attribution: Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC), Ecosystems, Sage-grouse & Sagebrush Ecosystem, United States of America
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Row JR, Knick ST, Oyler-McCance SJ, Lougheed SC, Fedy BC. Developing approaches for linear mixed modeling in landscape genetics through landscape-directed dispersal simulations. Ecol Evol. 2017;00:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2825