Sharon A Poessel
I am interested in understanding the movements and habitat use of animals across the landscape and using this knowledge to advance the conservation of wildlife species. I am also interested in urban wildlife ecology and the use of non-lethal methods to resolve wildlife-human conflicts.
Biography
Education
B.S. Colorado State University (2007)
M.S. Colorado State University (2009)
Ph.D. Utah State University (2015)
Specialty
Wildlife Ecology, Conservation Biology, Mammalogy, Ornithology, Animal Movement, Endangered Species
Science and Products
Illegal killing of nongame wildlife and recreational shooting in conservation areas
Illegal killing of nongame wildlife is a global yet poorly documented problem. The prevalence and ecological consequences of illegal killing are often underestimated or completely unknown. We review the practice of legal recreational shooting and present data gathered from telemetry, surveys, and observations on its association with illegal...
Katzner, Todd E.; Carlisle, Jay D.; Poessel, Sharon; Thomason, Eve C.; Pauli, Benjamin P.; Pilliod, David; Belthoff, James R.; Heath, Julie A.; Parker, Kristina J.; Warner, Kevin S.; Hayes, Heather; Aberg, Madeline; Ortiz, Patricia; Amdor, Sandra; Alsup, Steven; Coates, Stephanie E.; Miller, Tricia A.; Duran, Zoe K. T.Learning from real-world experience to understand renewable energy impacts to wildlife
The project team sought to use real-world data to understand adverse effects to wildlife of renewable energy production that is critical to meeting California’s climate and clean energy goals. The project had three main components. First, a systematic literature review studied 20 peer-reviewed publications and 612 reports from other nonreviewed...
Conkling, Tara J; Vander Zanden, Hannah B.; Poessel, Sharon; Loss, Scott R.; Allison, Taber D; Diffendorfer, James E.; Duerr, Adam E.; Nelson, David M.; Yee, Julie L; Katzner, Todd E.Movements and habitat use of loons for assessment of conservation buffer zones in the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska
Oil and gas development in the Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska, may pose threats to wildlife. Management guidelines within the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska dictate buffer zones for coastal wildlife habitat and for breeding and foraging sites of yellow-billed loons (YBLOs; Gavia adamsii), a species of conservation concern. However, few data...
Poessel, Sharon; Uher-Koch, Brian D.; Pearce, John M.; Schmutz, Joel A.; Katzner, Todd E.; Douglas, David C.; von Biela, Vanessa R.; Harrison, Autumn-LynneRemoval of cattle grazing correlates with increases in vegetation productivity and in abundance of imperiled breeding birds
Livestock grazing is the most prevalent land use practice in the western United States and a widespread cause of degradation of riparian vegetation. Riparian areas provide high-quality habitat for many species of declining migratory breeding birds. We analyzed changes in vegetation and bird abundance at a wildlife refuge in southeastern Oregon...
Poessel, Sharon; Hagar, Joan; Haggerty, Patricia; Katzner, Todd E.Post-fledging movements and habitat associations of White-tailed Sea Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) in Central Asia
Behavior of young birds can have important consequences for population dynamics. We investigated the autumnal post-fledging movements of 3 White-tailed Sea Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) hatched in Kazakhstan. All 3 eagles traveled south, flying on average 25–108 km/d. Movement was nonrandom, with eagles generally traveling near mosaics of forest,...
Bragin, Evgeny A.; Poessel, Sharon; Lanzone, Michael J.; Katzner, Todd E.Flight response to spatial and temporal correlates informs risk from wind turbines to the California Condor
Wind power is a fast-growing energy resource, but wind turbines can kill volant wildlife, and the flight behavior of obligate soaring birds can place them at risk of collision with these structures. We analyzed altitudinal data from GPS telemetry of critically endangered California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus) to assess the circumstances...
Poessel, Sharon; Brandt, Joseph; Mendenhall, Laura C.; Braham, Melissa A.; Lanzone, Michael J.; McGann, Andrew J.; Katzner, Todd E.Movements and landscape use of Eastern Imperial Eagles Aquila heliaca in Central Asia
Capsule: We describe ecological factors associated with movements of a globally declining raptor species, the Eastern Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca.Aims: To describe the movements, habitat associations and resource selection of Eastern Imperial Eagles marked in Central Asia.Methods: We used global positioning system (GPS) data...
Poessel, Sharon; Bragin, Evgeny A.; Sharpe, Peter B.; Garcelon, David K.; Bartoszuk, Kordian; Katzner, Todd E.Improving estimation of flight altitude in wildlife telemetry studies
Altitude measurements from wildlife tracking devices, combined with elevation data, are commonly used to estimate the flight altitude of volant animals. However, these data often include measurement error. Understanding this error may improve estimation of flight altitude and benefit applied ecology.There are a number of different approaches that...
Poessel, Sharon; Duerr, Adam E.; Hall, Jonathan C.; Braham, Melissa A.; Katzner, Todd E.Lack of observed movement response to lead exposure of California condors
Lead poisoning is an important conservation concern for wildlife, and scavenging birds are especially at risk from consumption of carcasses of animals killed with lead ammunition. Because current methods to identify lead exposure require animal capture and blood collection, management would benefit from the development of a less costly and...
Poessel, Sharon; Brandt, Joseph; Uyeda, Linda; Astell, Molly; Katzner, Todd E.Meteorological and environmental variables affect flight behaviour and decision-making of an obligate soaring bird, the California Condor Gymnogyps californianus
The movements of animals are limited by evolutionary constraints and ecological processes and are strongly influenced by the medium through which they travel. For flying animals, variation in atmospheric conditions is critically influential in movement. Obligate soaring birds depend on external sources of updraft more than do other flying species...
Poessel, Sharon; Brandt, Joseph; Miller, Tricia A.; Katzner, Todd E.Age- and season-specific variation in local and long-distance movement behavior of golden eagles
Animal movements can determine the population dynamics of wildlife. We used telemetry data to provide insight into the causes and consequences of local and long-distance movements of multiple age classes of conservation-reliant golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the foothills and mountains near Tehachapi, California. We estimated size and...
Poessel, Sharon; Bloom, Peter H.; Braham, Melissa A.; Katzner, Todd E.Roads influence movement and home ranges of a fragmentation-sensitive carnivore, the bobcat, in an urban landscape
Roads in urbanized areas can impact carnivore populations by constraining their movements and increasing mortality. Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are felids capable of living in urban environments, but are sensitive to habitat fragmentation and, thus, useful indicators of landscape connectivity; in particular, bobcat habitat selection, movement, and...
Poessel, Sharon A; Boydston, Erin E.; Lyren, Lisa M.; Fisher, Robert N.; Burdett, Christopher L.; Alonso, Robert S.; Crooks, Kevin R.Pre-USGS Publications
Illegal Killing of Non-Game Wildlife and Recreational Shooting in Conservation Areas
Illegal killing of non-game wildlife is a global yet poorly documented problem.
Learning From Real-World Experience to Understand Renewable Energy Impacts to Wildlife
A comprehensive analysis of how renewable energy facilities affect wildlife could inform efforts to predict and reduce these impacts. A team of researchers was asked to gain a better understanding of the actual environmental impacts of renewable energy generation on sensitive species and habitats in California.
Movements and Habitat Use of Loons for Assessment of Conservation Buffer Zones in the Arctic Coastal Plain of Northern Alaska
Few data exist to assess the value of National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska management buffer zones for conservation-reliant yellow-billed loons or sympatrically breeding red-throated and Pacific loons.
Excluding Grazing has Positive Effects on Riparian Vegetation, Migratory Birds
Livestock grazing can degrade riparian vegetation, altering habitat for many species of declining migratory breeding birds. At Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in southeastern Oregon, cattle were removed from riparian areas in 1990 after 120 years of grazing.
White-tailed Sea Eagle Movements in Central Asia
Behavior of young birds can have important consequences for population dynamics. To study movements and habitat associations of white-tailed sea eagles hatched in a National Nature Reserve in north-central Kazakhstan, researchers telemetered three juvenile sea eagles to track their autumnal post-fledging movements.
Movements and Landscape Use of Eastern Imperial Eagles in Central Asia
In recent decades, Eastern Imperial Eagle populations have declined throughout their range