Sarah A Sonsthagen, PhD
Assistant Unit Leader - Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Dr. Sonsthagen joined the Nebraska Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit in 2020 from the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center where she studied the evolutionary relationships among Arctic vertebrate populations. Dr. Sonsthagen was a post-doctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History and National Zoo, awarded her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from University of Alaska Fairbanks, M.S. in Zoology from Brigham Young University, and B.S. in Biology from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Her research focuses on investigating ecological drivers of connectivity and adaptive capacity of species of conservation concern using both field- and laboratory-based methods. Movement underlies many key processes in ecology and evolution and is critical for species response to environmental change, as such, she applies population and community driven approaches to evaluate genomic and demographic connectivity across the landscape, adaptive capacity, and the influence of species biology in shaping spatial and temporal genomic diversity to inform management decisions. Dr. Sonsthagen has taught Population genetics, Application of genomics in conservation, and Ornithology.
Professional Experience
2013 - 2021 Research Geneticist, USGS Alaska Science Center
2015 - Present Research Associate, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
2014 - Present Affiliate Faculty, Utah State University
2009 - Present Affiliate Faculty, University of Alaska Anchorage
2009 - 2013 Geneticist, USGS Alaska Science Center
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2006 University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK
M.S. 2002 Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
B.S. 2000 University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI
Affiliations and Memberships*
Sea Duck Joint Venture Continental Technical Team Member
Wilson Ornithological Society Research Grants Review Committee Member
Science and Products
Population genetic structure and gene flow of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) breeding throughout the western Antarctic Peninsula
Genomics of Arctic cod
Genetic implications of bottleneck effects of differing severities on genetic diversity in naturally recovering populations: An example from Hawaiian coot and Hawaiian gallinule
Monitoring the welfare of polar bear populations in a rapidly changing Arctic
Intraspecific evolutionary relationships among peregrine falcons in western North American high latitudes
Small-scale genetic structure in an endangered wetland specialist: possible effects of landscape change and population recovery
Development of novel microsatellite markers for the Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) and their utility in cross-species amplification
Recurrent hybridization and recent origin obscure phylogenetic relationships within the ‘white-headed’ gull (Larus sp.) complex
Legacy or colonization? Posteruption establishment of peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) on a volcanically active subarctic island.
Genetic structure and viability selection in the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), a vagile raptor with a Holarctic distribution
Re-colonization by common eiders Somateria mollissima in the Aleutian Archipelago following removal of introduced arctic foxes Vulpes lagopus
High frequency of extra-pair paternity in an urban population of Cooper's Hawks
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
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- Publications
Filter Total Items: 61
Population genetic structure and gene flow of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) breeding throughout the western Antarctic Peninsula
Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) are responding to ocean–climate variability throughout the marine ecosystem of the western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) where some breeding colonies have declined by 80%. Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers were used to understand historical population genetic structure and gene flow given relatively recent and continuing reductions in sea ice habitats aAuthorsKristen B. Gorman, Sandra L. Talbot, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, George K. Sage, Megan C. Gravley, Tony D. Williams, William R. FraserGenomics of Arctic cod
The Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) is an abundant marine fish that plays a vital role in the marine food web. To better understand the population genetic structure and the role of natural selection acting on the maternally-inherited mitochondrial genome (mitogenome), a molecule often associated with adaptations to temperature, we analyzed genetic data collected from 11 biparentally-inherited nucleaAuthorsRobert E. Wilson, George K. Sage, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Megan C. Gravley, Damian M. Menning, Sandra L. TalbotGenetic implications of bottleneck effects of differing severities on genetic diversity in naturally recovering populations: An example from Hawaiian coot and Hawaiian gallinule
The evolutionary trajectory of populations through time is influenced by the interplay of forces (biological, evolutionary, and anthropogenic) acting on the standing genetic variation. We used microsatellite and mitochondrial loci to examine the influence of population declines, of varying severity, on genetic diversity within two Hawaiian endemic waterbirds, the Hawaiian coot and Hawaiian gallinuAuthorsSarah A. Sonsthagen, Robert E. Wilson, Jared G. UnderwoodMonitoring the welfare of polar bear populations in a rapidly changing Arctic
Most programs for monitoring the welfare of wildlife populations support efforts aimed at reaching discrete management objectives, like mitigating conflict with humans. While such programs can be effective, their limited scope may preclude systemic evaluations needed for large-scale conservation initiatives, like the recovery of at-risk species. We discuss select categories of metrics that can beAuthorsTodd C. Atwood, Colleen G. Duncan, Kelly A. Patyk, Sarah A. SonsthagenIntraspecific evolutionary relationships among peregrine falcons in western North American high latitudes
Subspecies relationships within the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) have been long debated because of the polytypic nature of melanin-based plumage characteristics used in subspecies designations and potential differentiation of local subpopulations due to philopatry. In North America, understanding the evolutionary relationships among subspecies may have been further complicated by the introdAuthorsSandra L. Talbot, George K. Sage, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Megan C. Gravley, Ted Swem, Jeffrey C. Williams, Jonathan L. Longmire, Skip Ambrose, Melanie J. Flamme, Stephen B. Lewis, Laura M. Phillips, Clifford Anderson, Clayton M WhiteSmall-scale genetic structure in an endangered wetland specialist: possible effects of landscape change and population recovery
The effects of anthropogenic landscape change on genetic population structure are well studied, but the temporal and spatial scales at which genetic structure can develop, especially in taxa with high dispersal capabilities like birds, are less well understood. We investigated population structure in the Hawaiian gallinule (Gallinula galeata sandvicensis), an endangered wetland specialist bird onAuthorsCharles B. van Rees, J. Michael Reed, Robert E. Wilson, Jared G. Underwood, Sarah A. SonsthagenDevelopment of novel microsatellite markers for the Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) and their utility in cross-species amplification
The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) is a large forest raptor with a Holarctic distribution and, in some portions of its range, a species of conservation concern. To augment previously reported genetic markers, 13 novel polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed to establish individual identification and familial relationships, to assess levels of genetic diversity, and to identify diaAuthorsChristy Haughey, George K. Sage, Gabriel Degange, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Sandra L. TalbotRecurrent hybridization and recent origin obscure phylogenetic relationships within the ‘white-headed’ gull (Larus sp.) complex
Species complexes that have undergone recent radiations are often characterized by extensive allele sharing due to recent ancestry and (or) introgressive hybridization. This can result in discordant evolutionary histories of genes and heterogeneous genomes, making delineating species limits difficult. Here we examine the phylogenetic relationships among a complex group of birds, the white-headed gAuthorsSarah A. Sonsthagen, Robert E. Wilson, Terry Chesser, Jean-Marc Pons, Pierre-Andre Crochet, Amy Driscoll, Carla DoveLegacy or colonization? Posteruption establishment of peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) on a volcanically active subarctic island.
How populations and communities reassemble following disturbances are affected by a number of factors, with the arrival order of founding populations often having a profound influence on later populations and community structure. Kasatochi Island is a small volcano located in the central Aleutian archipelago that erupted violently August 8, 2008, sterilizing the island of avian biodiversity. PriorAuthorsSarah A. Sonsthagen, J.C. Williams, Gary S. Drew, C.M. White, G. Kevin Sage, Sandra L. TalbotGenetic structure and viability selection in the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), a vagile raptor with a Holarctic distribution
Molecular markers can reveal interesting aspects of organismal ecology and evolution, especially when surveyed in rare or elusive species. Herein, we provide a preliminary assessment of golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) population structure in North America using novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These SNPs included one molecular sexing marker, two mitochondrial markers, 85 putatively nAuthorsJacqueline M. Doyle, Todd E. Katzner, Gary Roemer, James W. Cain III, Brian Millsap, Carol McIntyre, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Nadia B. Fernandez, Maria Wheeler, Zafer Bulut, Peter Bloom, J. Andrew DeWoodyRe-colonization by common eiders Somateria mollissima in the Aleutian Archipelago following removal of introduced arctic foxes Vulpes lagopus
Islands provide refuges for populations of many species where they find safety from predators, but the introduction of predators frequently results in elimination or dramatic reductions in island-dwelling organisms. When predators are removed, re-colonization for some species occurs naturally, and inter-island phylogeographic relationships and current movement patterns can illuminate processes ofAuthorsMargaret R. Petersen, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, Matthew G. SexsonHigh frequency of extra-pair paternity in an urban population of Cooper's Hawks
Raptors exhibit some of the highest rates of intra-pair copulations among birds, perhaps in an attempt by males to reduce the risk of being cuckolded. Indeed, the frequency of extra-pair fertilizations reported in studies of raptors to date is relatively low (0-11.2%). Socially monogamous Cooper's Hawks (Accipiter cooperii) exhibit one of the highest copulation rates among birds, yet there are noAuthorsRobert N. Rosenfield, Sarah A. Sonsthagen, William C. Stout, Sandra L. TalbotNon-USGS Publications**
Pons, J.-M., S.A. Sonsthagen, C. Dove, P.A. Crochet. 2014. Extensive mitochondrial introgression in North American Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus) from the American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) with little nuclear DNA impact. Heredity. 112:226–239. doi:10.1038/hdy.2013.98Wilson, R.E., M.D. Eaton, S.A. Sonsthagen, J.L. Peters, K.P. Johnson, B. Simarra, and K.G. McCracken. 2011. Speciation and subspecies divergence in Cinnamon Teal and Blue-winged Teal. Condor. 13:747–761.Cibois, A., J.S. Beadell, G.R. Graves, E. Pasquet, B. Slika, S.A. Sonsthagen, J.-C. Thibault, and R.C. Fleischer. 2011. Charting the course of reed-warblers across the Pacific islands. Journal of Biogeography. 38:1963–1975.Driskell, A.C., J.A. Norman, S. Pruett-Jones, E. Mangall, S.A. Sonsthagen, L. Christidis. 2011. A multigene phylogeny examining evolutionary and ecological relationships in the Australo-Papuan wrens of the subfamily Malurinae (Aves). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 60:480–485.McCracken, K.G., C.P. Barger, M. Bulgarella, K.P. Johnson, S.A. Sonsthagen, T.H. Valqui, R.E. Wilson, K. Winker, and M.D. Sorenson. 2009. Parallel adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia in the major hemoglobin of eight Andean duck species. Molecular Ecology. 18:3992–4005.Cooper, S.J., and S. Sonsthagen. 2007. Heat production from foraging activity contributes to thermoregulation in Black-capped Chickadees. Condor. 109:446–451.Wilson, R.E., S.A. Sonsthagen, C.P. Barger, and K.G. McCracken. 2007. Asymmetric molt or feather wear in Flying Steamer Ducks (Tachyeres patachonicus) from coastal habitats in Argentina. Ornitologia Neotropical. 18:293–300.Sonsthagen, S.A., R. Rodriguez, and C.M. White. 2006. Satellite telemetry of Northern Goshawks breeding in Utah–I. Annual movements. Studies in Avian Biology. 31:239–251.Sonsthagen, S.A., R. Rodriguez, and C.M. White. 2006. Satellite telemetry of Northern Goshawks breeding in Utah–II. Annual habitats. Studies in Avian Biology. 31:252–259.Gustavson, K.E., S.A. Sonsthagen, R. Crunkilton, and J.M. Harkin. 2000. Groundwater toxicity assessment using bioassay, chemical, and TIE analyses. Environmental Toxicology. 15:421–430.Rosenfield, R.N., J. Bielefeldt, S. Sonsthagen, and T. Booms. 2000. Comparable reproductive success at conifer plantation and non-plantation nest sites for Cooper’s Hawks in Wisconsin. Wilson Bulletin. 112:417–421.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
*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