Sarah Peterson
Dr. Sarah Peterson is a Wildlife Biologist at the Dixon Field Station.
She is broadly interested in the ecology and movement of upper trophic level predators, with a focus on birds and mammals. Additionally, she is interested in the interplay between foraging ecology and both contaminant bioaccumulation and toxicological risk. She conducted her PhD at UC Santa Cruz, where she examined how ecology and physiology influence contaminant bioaccumulation (mercury and persistent organic pollutants) in seals and sea lions.
Currently, she works as part of a large collaborative research effort to study ground-nesting waterfowl at the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area. She leads a portion of the study that quantifies survival and movement of ducklings, using VHF radio-telemetry. She also quantifies the space use and movements of raccoons and skunks around duck nests using GPS technology.
Education
- Ph.D. 2015. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. University of California Santa Cruz, CA (UCSC)
- M.Sc. 2008. Marine and Estuarine Science. Dept. of Biology. Western Washington University, WA (WWU)
- B.A. 2005. Biology and Environmental Studies. Whitman College, WA
Professional Research Experience
- Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Western Ecological Research Center (2015–present)
- Doctoral Researcher, Ecology, Physiology & Conservation of Marine Animals Lab, Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCSC (2010–2015)
- Biological Technician (shorebird & seabird research), USGS, Western Ecological Research Center (2010)
- Biological Technician & Volunteer, Yellowstone Gray Wolf Recovery Program, Yellowstone National Park (2008–2009 & 2015)
- Masters Research, Marine Mammal Ecology Lab, Dept. of Biology, WWU (2006–2008)
- Graduate Student Research Assistant, Marine Mammal Ecology Lab, Dept. of Biology, WWU (2007)
- Biological Researcher, Ecological Research Station, Öland, Sweden (2004)
- Field Assistant, Botswana Wild Dog Research Camp, Botswana, Africa (2003)
Outreach and Education
- Graduate Student TA, Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCSC (2011, 2014 & 2015)
- Naturalist & Kayak Guide, CA, WA, & southeast AK (2005–2015)
- Graduate Student TA, Dept. of Biology, WWU (2007–2008)
- GK-12 National Science Foundation Fellow (graduate students in K-12 education), Dept. of Biology, WWU (2006–2007)
- Science Instructor, The Ocean Institute, CA (2005–2006)
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 27
Good prospects: High-resolution telemetry data suggests novel brood-site selection behavior in waterfowl
Breeding success should increase with prior knowledge of the surrounding environment, which is dependent upon an animal’s ability to evaluate habitat. Prospecting for nesting locations and migratory stop-over sites are well-established behaviors among bird species. We assessed whether ducks in Suisun Marsh, California, USA, a brackish marsh, prospect for suitable wetlands in the week prior to broo
Authors
Michael L. Casazza, Fiona McDuie, Austen Lorenz, David A. Keiter, Julie L. Yee, Cory T. Overton, Sarah H. Peterson, Cliff L. Feldheim, Joshua T. Ackerman
Transmitter effects on growth and survival of Forster’s tern chicks
Radio‐telemetry is a commonly used scientific technique that allows researchers to collect detailed movement, habitat use, and survival data of animals; however, evidence indicates that using telemetry can affect behavior and survival. Using multiple breeding colonies and years, we investigated the effects of attached radio‐transmitters on growth and survival of Forster's tern (Sterna forsteri ) c
Authors
Mark P. Herzog, Josh T. Ackerman, C. Alex Hartman, Sarah H. Peterson
Current state of knowledge on biological effects from contaminants on arctic wildlife and fish
Since the last Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) effort to review biological effects of the exposure to organohalogen compounds (OHCs) in Arctic biota, there has been a considerable number of new Arctic effect studies. Here, we provide an update on the state of the knowledge of OHC, and also include mercury, exposure and/or associated effects in key Arctic marine and terrestrial ma
Authors
Rune Dietz, Robert J. Letcher, Jean-Pierre Desforges, Igor Eulaers, Christian Sonne, Simon Wilson, Emilie Andersen-Ranberg, Niladri Basu, Benjamin D. Barst, Jan Ove Bustnes, Jenny Bytingsvik, Tomasz M. Ciesielski, Paul E. Drevnick, Geir W. Gabrielsen, Ane Haarr, Ketil Hylland, Bjørn Munro Jenssen, Milton Levin, Melissa A. McKinney, Rasmus Dyrmose Nørregaard, Kathrine E. Pedersen, Jennifer Provencher, Bjarne Styrishave, Sabrina Tartu, Jon Aars, Joshua T. Ackerman, Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid, Rob Barrett, Anders Bignert, Erik W. Born, Marsha Branigan, Birgit Braune, Colleen E. Bryan, Maria Dam, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Marlene S. Evans, Thomas J. Evans, Aaron T. Fisk, Mary Gamberg, Kim Gustavson, C. Alex Hartman, Björn Helander, Mark P. Herzog, Paul F. Hoekstra, Magali Houde, Katrin Hoydal, Allyson K. Jackson, John Kucklick, Elisabeth Lie, Lisa Loseto, Mark L. Mallory, Cecilie Miljeteig, Anders Mosbech, Derek C.G. Muir, Sanna Túni Nielsen, Elizabeth Peacock, Sara Pedro, Sarah H. Peterson, Anuschka Polder, Frank F. Rigét, Pat Roach, Halvor Saunes, Mikkel-Holger S. Sinding, Janneche U. Skaare, Jens Søndergaard, Garry Stenson, Gary Stern, Gabriele Treu, Stacy S. Schuur, Gísli Víkingsson
Sitting ducklings: Timing of hatch, nest departure, and predation risk for dabbling duck broods
For ground‐nesting waterfowl, the timing of egg hatch and duckling departure from the nest may be influenced by the risk of predation at the nest and en route to wetlands and constrained by the time required for ducklings to imprint on the hen and be physically able to leave the nest. We determined the timing of hatch, nest departure, and predation on dabbling duck broods using small video cameras
Authors
Sarah H. Peterson, Joshua T. Ackerman, Mark P. Herzog, Christopher Hartman, Rebecca Croston, Cliff L. Feldheim, Michael L. Casazza
Mercury concentrations vary within and among individual bird feathers: A critical evaluation and guidelines for feather use in mercury monitoring programs
Feathers are widely used to represent mercury contamination in birds. Yet, few recommendations exist that provide guidance for using bird feathers in mercury monitoring programs. We conducted a literature review and 5 experiments to show that mercury concentrations vary substantially within (vane >100% higher than calamus) and among (>1000%) individual feathers from the same bird. We developed a r
Authors
Sarah H. Peterson, Joshua T. Ackerman, Matthew Toney, Mark P. Herzog
GPS tracking data reveals daily spatio-temporal movement patterns of waterfowl
BackgroundSpatio-temporal patterns of movement can characterize relationships between organisms and their surroundings, and address gaps in our understanding of species ecology, activity budgets, bioenergetics, and habitat resource management. Highly mobile waterfowl, which can exploit resources over large spatial extents, are excellent models to understand relationships between movements and reso
Authors
Fiona McDuie, Michael L. Casazza, Cory T. Overton, Mark P. Herzog, C. Alex Hartman, Sarah H. Peterson, Cliff L. Feldheim, Joshua T. Ackerman
California gull (Larus californicus) space use and timing of movements in relation to landfills and breeding colonies
Expanding gull (Laridae) populations throughout the world have been attributed to the availability of anthropogenic food subsidies. The influence of landfills on California Gull (Larus californicus) space use and the timing of their movements was evaluated in San Francisco Bay, California, USA. Using radio telemetry, 108 California Gulls were tracked, > 7,000 locations were recorded, and > 1 milli
Authors
Josh T. Ackerman, Sarah H. Peterson, Danika C Tsao, John Y. Takekawa
Duck nest depredation, predator behavior, and female response using video
Depredation plays an important role in determining duck nest success and predator and female duck behavior during nest depredation can influence nest fate. We examined depredation of mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and gadwall (A. strepera) nests in Suisun Marsh, California, USA, in 2015–2016 with continuous infrared video monitoring to identify nest predators and characterize predator and female duc
Authors
Rebecca Croston, Joshua T. Ackerman, Mark P. Herzog, Jeffrey D. Kohl, C. Alex Hartman, Sarah H. Peterson, Cory T. Overton, Cliff L. Feldheim, Michael L. Casazza
Prey fish returned to Forster’s tern colonies suggest spatial and temporal differences in fish composition and availability
Predators sample the available prey community when foraging; thus, changes in the environment may be reflected by changes in predator diet and foraging preferences. We examined Forster’s tern (Sterna forsteri) prey species over an 11-year period by sampling approximately 10,000 prey fish returned to 17 breeding colonies in south San Francisco Bay, California. We compared the species composition am
Authors
Sarah H. Peterson, Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Mark P. Herzog, C. Alex Hartman
Foraging and fasting can influence contaminant concentrations in animals: an example with mercury contamination in a free-ranging marine mammal
Large fluctuations in animal body mass in relation to life-history events can influence contaminant concentrations and toxicological risk. We quantified mercury concentrations in adult northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) before and after lengthy at sea foraging trips (n = 89) or fasting periods on land (n = 27), and showed that mercury concentrations in blood and muscle changed in re
Authors
Sarah H. Peterson, Joshua T. Ackerman, Daniel E. Crocker, Daniel P. Costa
A critical evaluation of the utility of eggshells for estimating mercury concentrations in avian eggs
Eggshells are a potential tool for non-lethally sampling contaminant concentrations in bird eggs, yet few studies have examined their utility to represent mercury exposure. We assessed mercury concentrations in eggshell components for 23 bird species and determined whether they correlated with total mercury (THg) in egg contents. We designed a multi-experiment analysis to examine how THg is partit
Authors
Sarah H. Peterson, Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, C. Alex Hartman, Mark P. Herzog
Mercury contamination and stable isotopes reveal variability in foraging ecology of generalist California gulls
Environmental contaminants are a concern for animal health, but contaminant exposure can also be used as a tracer of foraging ecology. In particular, mercury (Hg) concentrations are highly variable among aquatic and terrestrial food webs as a result of habitat- and site-specific biogeochemical processes that produce the bioaccumulative form, methylmercury (MeHg). We used stable isotopes and total
Authors
Sarah H. Peterson, Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin A. Eagles-Smith
Science and Products
- Data
No Result Found
- Multimedia
No results found.
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 27
Good prospects: High-resolution telemetry data suggests novel brood-site selection behavior in waterfowl
Breeding success should increase with prior knowledge of the surrounding environment, which is dependent upon an animal’s ability to evaluate habitat. Prospecting for nesting locations and migratory stop-over sites are well-established behaviors among bird species. We assessed whether ducks in Suisun Marsh, California, USA, a brackish marsh, prospect for suitable wetlands in the week prior to brooAuthorsMichael L. Casazza, Fiona McDuie, Austen Lorenz, David A. Keiter, Julie L. Yee, Cory T. Overton, Sarah H. Peterson, Cliff L. Feldheim, Joshua T. AckermanTransmitter effects on growth and survival of Forster’s tern chicks
Radio‐telemetry is a commonly used scientific technique that allows researchers to collect detailed movement, habitat use, and survival data of animals; however, evidence indicates that using telemetry can affect behavior and survival. Using multiple breeding colonies and years, we investigated the effects of attached radio‐transmitters on growth and survival of Forster's tern (Sterna forsteri ) cAuthorsMark P. Herzog, Josh T. Ackerman, C. Alex Hartman, Sarah H. PetersonCurrent state of knowledge on biological effects from contaminants on arctic wildlife and fish
Since the last Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) effort to review biological effects of the exposure to organohalogen compounds (OHCs) in Arctic biota, there has been a considerable number of new Arctic effect studies. Here, we provide an update on the state of the knowledge of OHC, and also include mercury, exposure and/or associated effects in key Arctic marine and terrestrial maAuthorsRune Dietz, Robert J. Letcher, Jean-Pierre Desforges, Igor Eulaers, Christian Sonne, Simon Wilson, Emilie Andersen-Ranberg, Niladri Basu, Benjamin D. Barst, Jan Ove Bustnes, Jenny Bytingsvik, Tomasz M. Ciesielski, Paul E. Drevnick, Geir W. Gabrielsen, Ane Haarr, Ketil Hylland, Bjørn Munro Jenssen, Milton Levin, Melissa A. McKinney, Rasmus Dyrmose Nørregaard, Kathrine E. Pedersen, Jennifer Provencher, Bjarne Styrishave, Sabrina Tartu, Jon Aars, Joshua T. Ackerman, Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid, Rob Barrett, Anders Bignert, Erik W. Born, Marsha Branigan, Birgit Braune, Colleen E. Bryan, Maria Dam, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Marlene S. Evans, Thomas J. Evans, Aaron T. Fisk, Mary Gamberg, Kim Gustavson, C. Alex Hartman, Björn Helander, Mark P. Herzog, Paul F. Hoekstra, Magali Houde, Katrin Hoydal, Allyson K. Jackson, John Kucklick, Elisabeth Lie, Lisa Loseto, Mark L. Mallory, Cecilie Miljeteig, Anders Mosbech, Derek C.G. Muir, Sanna Túni Nielsen, Elizabeth Peacock, Sara Pedro, Sarah H. Peterson, Anuschka Polder, Frank F. Rigét, Pat Roach, Halvor Saunes, Mikkel-Holger S. Sinding, Janneche U. Skaare, Jens Søndergaard, Garry Stenson, Gary Stern, Gabriele Treu, Stacy S. Schuur, Gísli VíkingssonSitting ducklings: Timing of hatch, nest departure, and predation risk for dabbling duck broods
For ground‐nesting waterfowl, the timing of egg hatch and duckling departure from the nest may be influenced by the risk of predation at the nest and en route to wetlands and constrained by the time required for ducklings to imprint on the hen and be physically able to leave the nest. We determined the timing of hatch, nest departure, and predation on dabbling duck broods using small video camerasAuthorsSarah H. Peterson, Joshua T. Ackerman, Mark P. Herzog, Christopher Hartman, Rebecca Croston, Cliff L. Feldheim, Michael L. CasazzaMercury concentrations vary within and among individual bird feathers: A critical evaluation and guidelines for feather use in mercury monitoring programs
Feathers are widely used to represent mercury contamination in birds. Yet, few recommendations exist that provide guidance for using bird feathers in mercury monitoring programs. We conducted a literature review and 5 experiments to show that mercury concentrations vary substantially within (vane >100% higher than calamus) and among (>1000%) individual feathers from the same bird. We developed a rAuthorsSarah H. Peterson, Joshua T. Ackerman, Matthew Toney, Mark P. HerzogGPS tracking data reveals daily spatio-temporal movement patterns of waterfowl
BackgroundSpatio-temporal patterns of movement can characterize relationships between organisms and their surroundings, and address gaps in our understanding of species ecology, activity budgets, bioenergetics, and habitat resource management. Highly mobile waterfowl, which can exploit resources over large spatial extents, are excellent models to understand relationships between movements and resoAuthorsFiona McDuie, Michael L. Casazza, Cory T. Overton, Mark P. Herzog, C. Alex Hartman, Sarah H. Peterson, Cliff L. Feldheim, Joshua T. AckermanCalifornia gull (Larus californicus) space use and timing of movements in relation to landfills and breeding colonies
Expanding gull (Laridae) populations throughout the world have been attributed to the availability of anthropogenic food subsidies. The influence of landfills on California Gull (Larus californicus) space use and the timing of their movements was evaluated in San Francisco Bay, California, USA. Using radio telemetry, 108 California Gulls were tracked, > 7,000 locations were recorded, and > 1 milliAuthorsJosh T. Ackerman, Sarah H. Peterson, Danika C Tsao, John Y. TakekawaDuck nest depredation, predator behavior, and female response using video
Depredation plays an important role in determining duck nest success and predator and female duck behavior during nest depredation can influence nest fate. We examined depredation of mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and gadwall (A. strepera) nests in Suisun Marsh, California, USA, in 2015–2016 with continuous infrared video monitoring to identify nest predators and characterize predator and female ducAuthorsRebecca Croston, Joshua T. Ackerman, Mark P. Herzog, Jeffrey D. Kohl, C. Alex Hartman, Sarah H. Peterson, Cory T. Overton, Cliff L. Feldheim, Michael L. CasazzaPrey fish returned to Forster’s tern colonies suggest spatial and temporal differences in fish composition and availability
Predators sample the available prey community when foraging; thus, changes in the environment may be reflected by changes in predator diet and foraging preferences. We examined Forster’s tern (Sterna forsteri) prey species over an 11-year period by sampling approximately 10,000 prey fish returned to 17 breeding colonies in south San Francisco Bay, California. We compared the species composition amAuthorsSarah H. Peterson, Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Mark P. Herzog, C. Alex HartmanForaging and fasting can influence contaminant concentrations in animals: an example with mercury contamination in a free-ranging marine mammal
Large fluctuations in animal body mass in relation to life-history events can influence contaminant concentrations and toxicological risk. We quantified mercury concentrations in adult northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) before and after lengthy at sea foraging trips (n = 89) or fasting periods on land (n = 27), and showed that mercury concentrations in blood and muscle changed in reAuthorsSarah H. Peterson, Joshua T. Ackerman, Daniel E. Crocker, Daniel P. CostaA critical evaluation of the utility of eggshells for estimating mercury concentrations in avian eggs
Eggshells are a potential tool for non-lethally sampling contaminant concentrations in bird eggs, yet few studies have examined their utility to represent mercury exposure. We assessed mercury concentrations in eggshell components for 23 bird species and determined whether they correlated with total mercury (THg) in egg contents. We designed a multi-experiment analysis to examine how THg is partitAuthorsSarah H. Peterson, Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, C. Alex Hartman, Mark P. HerzogMercury contamination and stable isotopes reveal variability in foraging ecology of generalist California gulls
Environmental contaminants are a concern for animal health, but contaminant exposure can also be used as a tracer of foraging ecology. In particular, mercury (Hg) concentrations are highly variable among aquatic and terrestrial food webs as a result of habitat- and site-specific biogeochemical processes that produce the bioaccumulative form, methylmercury (MeHg). We used stable isotopes and totalAuthorsSarah H. Peterson, Joshua T. Ackerman, Collin A. Eagles-Smith - Web Tools
- News