Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Steven M Matsuoka

My research identifies 1) the terrestrial birds in Alaska that are most at-risk to environmental change and 2) the key habitats and resources these at-risk species require across their annual cycles and ranges to adapt to change.

I research the ecology and population dynamics of terrestrial birds (landbirds) in arctic and boreal ecosystems of Alaska and Canada. This large, yet poorly studied group of Federal Trust Species includes 142 breeding bird species in Alaska alone. My research produces information on status, trends, resource use, and limiting factors to identify 1) the landbird species most at risk to environmental change and 2) the key habitats and resources these species require to adapt to change. This information is used by resource managers in Alaska and Canada to prioritize limited resources for the species and habitats most in need of conservation. Many of my studies address bird populations at large spatial scales such as the state of Alaska, the western boreal forest biome, or entire species’ migratory ranges. These studies require considerable coordination among U.S. and Canadian collaborators to collect the data and often involve new approaches to analyze data compiled across multiple studies.

 

Professional Experience

  • 2015 - Present Research Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska

  • 2012 - Present Research Associate, University of Alberta, Boreal Avian Modelling Project, Edmonton, Alberta

  • 2010 - 2012 Quantitative Ecologist, University of Alberta, Boreal Avian Modelling Project, Edmonton, Alberta

  • 2002 - 2015 Supervisor Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird Management, Anchorage, Alaska

  • 1996 - 2002 Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska

  • 1993 - 1996 Cooperative Education Student, National Biological Service, Alaska Biological Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska

  • 1992 - 1993 Biological Technician, USFWS, Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center, Anchorage, Alaska

  • 1989 - 1992 Various volunteer and technical field positions in avian monitoring, fisheries management, plant ecology, and environmental impact assessment

Education and Certifications

  • M.S. 1996 University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska Wildlife Biology

  • B.S. 1992 California State University, Hayward, California Biology

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • American Ornithological Society

  • International Rusty Blackbird Working Group

  • Partners in Flight

Science and Products

link
Small bird in a bush

Meeting and Project Summaries for Boreal Partners in Flight

Information on topics discussed by Boreal Partners in Flight (BPIF) working groups organized by year.
By
Alaska Science Center
link

Meeting and Project Summaries for Boreal Partners in Flight

Information on topics discussed by Boreal Partners in Flight (BPIF) working groups organized by year.
Learn More
link
Small bird in a hand

About Boreal Partners in Flight

Boreal Partners in Flight is a coalition of individuals who are working together to help conserve bird populations throughout boreal regions of North America. Boreal Partners in Flight is the official Alaska state working group of the international Partners in Flight program. We also have many members from Canada because we share many of the same species, habitats, and problems. The international...
By
Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
link

About Boreal Partners in Flight

Boreal Partners in Flight is a coalition of individuals who are working together to help conserve bird populations throughout boreal regions of North America. Boreal Partners in Flight is the official Alaska state working group of the international Partners in Flight program. We also have many members from Canada because we share many of the same species, habitats, and problems. The international...
Learn More
link
A Black-capped Chickadee with a severely deformed beak where the upper beak is elongated and curved down while the lower beak is

Landbird Research in Alaska

On this page, learn about USGS work on Beak Deformities and Boreal Partners in Flight.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
link

Landbird Research in Alaska

On this page, learn about USGS work on Beak Deformities and Boreal Partners in Flight.
Learn More

Data for Estimating McKay's Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus) Population Change on St. Matthew and Hall Islands, Alaska

This dataset consists of three tables relating to (1) detections of adult McKay's Buntings from line transect with distance estimation surveys on St. Matthew and Hall islands in Alaska between May 30 and June 29, 2003 and June 6 and 11, 2018, (2) environmental covariates associated with detections of adult McKay's Buntings in less than or equal to 250-m long contiguous transect segments, and (3) e
By
Alaska Science Center

Arthropod Abundance and Shrub Cover and Height on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, 2015-2016

This data set contains information (in three tables) with numbers and biomass of invertebrates (primarily arthropods) collected in pitfall-trap arrays and sweep-net samples on a series of plots (n = 13 total) at one coastal and one interior study site on the Seward Peninsula in northwestern Alaska during the summers of 2015 and 2016. Associated data on the horizontal cover and height of shrub vege
By
Alaska Science Center

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) Genetic Data, North America

This data set provides NCBI accession numbers for nucleotide sequence data derived from a mitochondrial DNA locus (control region) and double digest restriction-site associated DNA (ddRAD).
By
Alaska Science Center, Molecular Ecology Laboratory
Misty pine trees overlaid with photo of man with short black hair wearing hiking gear on snowy landscape. link
Misty pine trees overlaid with photo of man with short black hair wearing hiking gear on snowy landscape. AD version. link
Three scientists with backpacks in low shrubs searing for landbird nests in Denali National Park. Mountains in background.
link
Small bird in a hand
link
Filter Total Items: 22

Point count offsets for estimating population sizes of north American landbirds

Bird monitoring in North America over several decades has generated many open databases, housing millions of structured and semi-structured bird observations. These provide the opportunity to estimate bird densities and population sizes, once variation in factors such as underlying field methods, timing, land cover, proximity to roads, and uneven spatial coverage are accounted for. To facilitate i
Authors
B.P.M. Edwards, A.C. Smith, T.D.S. Docherety, M.A. Gahbauer, C.R. Gillespie, A.R. Grinde, T. Harmer, D. Iles, Steven M. Matsuoka, N.L. Michel, N.L. Murray, G. Niemi, J. Pasher, D. Pavlacky, B. Robinson, B. Ryder, P. Solymos, D. Stralberg, E.J. Zlonis
By
Alaska Science Center

Revealing migratory path, important stopovers and non-breeding areas of a boreal songbird in steep decline

The Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) is a steeply declining aerial insectivore with one of the longest migrations of any North American passerine. We deployed light-level geolocators and archival GPS tags on breeders in boreal Alaska to determine migratory routes, important stopovers and non-breeding locations. Data from 16 individuals revealed a median 23,555 km annual journey (range: 19
Authors
Julie C Hagelin, Michael T. Hallworth, Christopher P Barger, James A. Johnson, Kristin A DuBour, Grey W Pendelton, Lucas H. DeCicco, Laura A McDuffie, Steven M. Matsuoka, Marian A Snively, Peter P. Marra
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Alaska Landbird Conservation Plan

Alaska is a land of extremes. The diversity of its avifauna reflects the heterogeneity of its landscape, with more than 500 species of birds recorded in the state. Species inhabiting primarily terrestrial habitats, known collectively as landbirds, constitute the largest and most ecologically diverse component of the Alaska avifauna. Habitats used by landbirds range from temperate rainforests in so
Authors
Travis L. Booms, Melissa N. Cady, Cheryl A. Carrothers, Lucas H. DeCicco, Maureen L. de Zeeuw, Melanie J. Flamme, Julie Hagelin, Colleen M. Handel, James A. Johnson, Matthew D. Kirchoff, Michelle L. Kissling, Stephen B. Lewis, Steven M. Matsuoka, Debora A. Nigro, Deborah E. Perkins, Heather M. Renner, Susan E. Savage, Kristine M. Sowl, Susan M. Sharbaugh, Iain J Stenhouse, Caroline R. Van Hemert
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Alaska landbird montoring survey: Alaska regional protocol framework for monitoring landbirds using point counts

Alaska provides habitat for 143 species of landbirds that occur regularly in the state, about half of which breed predominantly north of the border between the contiguous United States and Canada. The road-based North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) provides some data on population trends in Alaska, but most northern populations are inadequately monitored by this program because of a paucity o
Authors
Colleen M. Handel, Steven M. Matsuoka, Melissa N. Cady, Diane A. Granfors
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Implications of historical and contemporary processes on genetic differentiation of a declining boreal songbird: The rusty blackbird

The arrangement of habitat features via historical or contemporary events can strongly influence genomic and demographic connectivity, and in turn affect levels of genetic diversity and resilience of populations to environmental perturbation. The rusty blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) is a forested wetland habitat specialist whose population size has declined sharply (78%) over recent decades. The s
Authors
Robert E. Wilson, Steven M. Matsuoka, Luke L. Powell, James A. Johnson, Dean W. Demarest, Diana Stralberg, Sarah A. Sonsthagen
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Climate-change refugia in boreal North America: What, where, and for how long?

TThe vast boreal biome plays an important role in the global carbon cycle but is experiencing particularly rapid climate warming, threatening the integrity of valued ecosystems and their component species. We developed a framework and taxonomy to identify climate‐change refugia potential in the North American boreal region, summarizing current knowledge regarding mechanisms, geographic distributio
Authors
Diana Stralberg, Dominique Arseneault, Jennifer Baltzer, Quinn Barber, Erin Bayne, Yan Boulanger, Carissa Brown, Hilary Cooke, Kevin Devito, Jason Edwards, Cesar Estevo, Nadele Flynn, Lee Frelich, E. H. (T.) Hogg, Mark Johnston, Travis Logan, Steven M. Matsuoka, Paul Moore, Toni Lyn Morelli, Julienne Morissette, Elizabeth Nelson, Hedvig Nenzén, Scott Nielsen, Marc-André Parisien, John Pedlar, David Price, Fiona Schmiegelow, Stuart Slattery, Oliver Sonnentag, Daniel Thompson, Ellen Whitman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Wildland Fire Science

At the end of the road: Lessons learned from comparing model- and design-based approaches to estimate population sizes of boreal birds in Alberta, Canada

Estimating population abundance is a challenging task complicated by the amount, type, and quality of available data. Conservationists have relied on design-based estimates from Partners in Flight (PIF), which primarily uses roadside data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) to estimate populations sizes. However, the BBS was not designed to estimate population sizes. We developed mo
Authors
Peter Solymos, Judith D Toms, Steven M. Matsuoka, Steven G. Cumming, Nicole K. S. Barker, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Diana Stralberg, Andrew D. Crosby, Francisco V Denes, Samuel Hache, C Lisa Mahon, Fiona K A Schmiegelow, Erin M. Bayne
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Further information on the avifauna of St. Matthew and Hall Islands, Bering Sea, Alaska

In June and July 2018 and July 2019 we surveyed birds on St. Matthew and Hall islands, isolated in the central Bering Sea. Our surveys were focused on the McKay’s Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus), Rock Sandpiper (Calidris ptilocnemis ptilocnemis), and Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) but encompassed all birds and yielded 13 species and four subspecies new to the islands’ avifaunal li
Authors
Bryce W. Robinson, Jack J. Withrow, Rachel M. Richardson, Steven M. Matsuoka, Robert E. Gill, Andrew S. Johnson, Irby J. Lovette, James A. Johnson, Anthony R. DeGange, Marc D. Romano
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Weak effects of geolocators on small birds: a meta‐analysis controlled for phylogeny and publication bias

Currently, the deployment of tracking devices is one of the most frequently used approaches to study movement ecology of birds. Recent miniaturisation of light‐level geolocators enabled studying small bird species whose migratory patterns were widely unknown. However, geolocators may reduce vital rates in tagged birds and may bias obtained movement data.There is a need for a thorough assessment of
Authors
Vojtěch Brlík, Jaroslav Koleček, Malcolm Burgess, Steffen Hahn, Diana Humple, Milos Krist, Janne Ouwehand, Emily L. Weiser, Peter Adamik, José A. Alves, Debora Arlt, Sanja Barišić, Detlef Becker, Eduardo J. Belda, Vaclav Beran, Christiaan Both, Susana P. Bravo, Martins Briedis, Chutný Bohumír, Davor Ćiković, Nathan W. Cooper, Joana S. Costa, Víctor R. Cueto, Tamara Emmenegger, Kevin Fraser, Olivier Gilg, Marina Guerrero, Michael T. Hallworth, Chris Hewson, Frédéric Jiguet, James Johnson, Tosha Kelly, Dmitry Kishkinev, Michel Leconte, Terje Lislevand, Simeon Lisovski, Cosme López, Kent P. McFarland, Peter P. Marra, Steven M. Matsuoka, Matyjasiak. Piotr, Christoph M. Meier, Benjamin Metzger, Juan S. Monrós, Roland Neumann, Amy Newman, Ryan Norris, Tomas Pärt, Václav Pavel, Noah Perlut, Markus Piha, Jeroen Reneerkens, Christopher C. Rimmer, Amélie Roberto-Charro, Chiara Scandolara, Natalia Sokolova, Makiko Takenaka, Dirk Tolkmitt, Herman van Oosten, Arndt H. J. Wellbrock, Hazel Wheeler, Jan van der Winden, Klaudia Witte, Brad Woodworth, Petr Procházka
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Evaluating time-removal models for estimating availability of boreal birds during point count surveys: Sample size requirements and model complexity

We used conventional and finite mixture removal models with and without time-varying covariates to evaluate availability given presence for 152 bird species using data from point counts in boreal North America. We found that the choice of model had an impact on the estimability of unknown model parameters and affected the bias and variance of corrected counts. Finite mixture models provided better
Authors
Peter Solymos, Steven M. Matsuoka, Steven G. Cumming, Diana Stralberg, Patricia C. Fontaine, Fiona K. A. Schmiegelow, Samantha J. Song, Erin M. Bayne
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Phylogeny and species traits predict bird detectability

Avian acoustic communication has resulted from evolutionary pressures and ecological constraints. We therefore expect that auditory detectability in birds might be predictable by species traits and phylogenetic relatedness. We evaluated the relationship between phylogeny, species traits, and field‐based estimates of the two processes that determine species detectability (singing rate and detection
Authors
Peter Solymos, Steven M. Matsuoka, Diana Stralberg, Nicole K. S. Barker, Erin M. Bayne
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Biogeography of boreal passerine range dynamics in western North America: past, present, and future

Many of the Neotropical migrant bird species that breed throughout the Canadian boreal region are not found in the Alaskan boreal region, separated by the northwestern cordilleran mountains, despite the presence of climatically suitable habitat. We asked whether biological or climatic factors constrain certain species from crossing this geographic barrier. Analyzing a comprehensive dataset for 80
Authors
Diana Stralberg, Steven M. Matsuoka, Colleen M. Handel, Fiona K.A. Schmiegelow, Andreas Hamann, Erin M. Bayne
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Wright, A. L., G. D. Hayward, S. M. Matsuoka, and P. H. Hayward. 2020. Townsend's Warbler (Setophaga townsendi), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (P. G. Rodewald, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.towwar.01
Matsuoka, S. M., J. C. Hagelin, M. A. Smith, T. F. Paragi, A. L. Sesser, and M. A. Ingle. 2019. Pathways for avian science, conservation, and management in boreal Alaska. Avian Conservation and Ecology 14(1):15. https://doi.org/10.5751/ACE-01347-140115
Stralberg, D., S. M. Matsuoka, A. Hamann, E. M. Bayne, P. Sólymos, F. K. A. Schmiegelow, X. Wang, S. G. Cumming, and S. J. Song. 2015. Projecting boreal bird responses to climate change: the signal exceeds the noise. Ecological Applications 25:52–69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/13-2289
Mahon, C. L., E. M. Bayne, P. Sólymos, S. M. Matsuoka, M. Carlson, E. Dzus, F. K. A. Schmiegelow, S. G. Cumming, and S. J. Song. 2014. Does expected future landscape condition support proposed population objectives for boreal birds? Forest Ecology and Management 312:28–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.10.025
Matsuoka, S. M., C. L. Mahon, C. M. Handel, P. Sólymos, E. M. Bayne, P. C. Fontaine, and C. J. Ralph. 2014. Reviving common standards in point-count surveys for broad inference across studies. The Condor: Ornithological Applications 116:599–608. https://doi.org/10.1650/CONDOR-14-108.1
Sólymos, P., S. M. Matsuoka, E. M. Bayne, S. R. Lele, P. Fontaine, S. G. Cumming, D. Stralberg, F. K. A. Schmiegelow, and S. J. Song. 2013. Calibrating indices of avian density from non-standardized survey data: making the most of a messy situation. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 4:1047–1058. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.12106
Johnson, J. A., L. H. DeCicco, S. M. Matsuoka, and A. L. Sowls. 2013. Nesting ecology of McKay’s Buntings on St. Matthew Island, Alaska. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 125:376–384. https://doi.org/10.1676/12-139.1
Johnson, J. A., S. M. Matsuoka, D. F. Tessler, R. Greenberg, and J. W. Fox. 2012. Identifying migratory pathways used by Rusty Blackbirds breeding in southcentral Alaska. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 124:698–703. https://doi.org/10.1676/1559-4491-124.4.698
Matsuoka, S. M., E. M. Bayne, P. Sólymos, P. C. Fontaine, S. G. Cumming, F. K. A. Schmiegelow, and S. J. Song. 2012. Using binomial distance-sampling models to estimate the effective detection radius of point-count surveys across boreal Canada. Auk 129:268–282. https://doi.org/10.1525/auk.2012.11190
Matsuoka, S. M., J. A. Johnson, and D. A. DellaSala. 2012. Succession of bird communities in young-temperate rainforests following thinning. Journal of Wildlife Management 76:919–931. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.363
Greenberg, R., D. W. Demarest, S. M. Matsuoka, C. Mettke-Hofmann, M. L. Avery, P. J. Blancher, D. Evers, P. B. Hamel, K. A. Hobson, J. Luscier, D. K. Niven, L. L. Powell, and D. Shaw. 2011. Understanding declines in Rusty Blackbirds. Studies in Avian Biology 41:107–125
Barnard, W. H., C. Mettke-Hofmann, and S. M. Matsuoka. 2010. Prevalence of hematozoa infections among breeding and wintering Rusty Blackbirds. Condor 112:849–853. https://doi.org/10.1525/cond.2010.100143
Greenberg, R., and S. M. Matsuoka. 2010. Rusty Blackbird: mysteries of a species in decline. Condor 112:770–777. https://doi.org/10.1525/cond.2010.100153
Matsuoka, S. M., and R. Greenberg (editors). 2010. Special section: Range-wide ecology of the declining Rusty Blackbird. Condor 112:770–861
Matsuoka, S. M., D. Shaw, and J. A. Johnson. 2010. Estimating the abundance of nesting Rusty Blackbirds in relation to wetland habitats in Alaska. Condor 112:825–833. https://doi.org/10.1525/cond.2010.100148
Matsuoka, S. M., D. Shaw, P. H. Sinclair, J. A. Johnson, R. M. Corcoran, N. C. Dau, P. M. Meyers, and N. A. Rojek. 2010. Nesting ecology of Rusty Blackbirds in Alaska and Canada. Condor 112:810–824. https://doi.org/10.1525/cond.2010.100149
Matsuoka, S. M., and J. A. Johnson. 2008. Using a multimodel approach to estimate the population size of McKay’s Buntings. Condor 110:371–376. https://doi.org/10.1525/cond.2008.8492
Berg, E. E., J. D. Henry, C. L. Fastie, A. D. De Volder, and S. M. Matsuoka. 2006. Spruce beetle outbreaks on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska and Kluane National Park and Reserve, Yukon Territory: relationship to summer temperatures and regional differences in disturbance regimes. Forest Ecology and Management 227:219–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.02.038
Handel, C. M., L. M. Pajot, S. M. Matsuoka, K. A. Trust, J. M. Stotts, J. Terenzi, and S. L. Talbot. 2006. Potential role of environmental contaminants in the pathology of beak deformities among Black-capped Chickadees in south-central Alaska. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Project ID: 1130-7F22. USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska. 147 p. plus Appendices. https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/Reference/Profile/23314
Matsuoka, S. M., E. H. Holsten, M. E. Shephard, R. A. Werner, and R. E. Burnside (editors). 2006. Spruce beetles and forest ecosystems in south-central Alaska. Forest Ecology and Management 227:193–283
Matsuoka, S. M., E. H. Holsten, M. E. Shephard, R. A. Werner, and R. E. Burnside. 2006. Preface: Spruce beetles and forest ecosystems in south-central Alaska. Forest Ecology and Management 227:193–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.02.037
Werner, R. A., E. H. Holsten, S. M. Matsuoka, and R. E. Burnside. 2006. Spruce beetles and forest ecosystems in south-central Alaska: a review of 30 years of research. Forest Ecology and Management 227:195–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.02.050

**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.

link

New Alaska Landbird Conservation Plan and Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey Protocol

Alaska, where four major migratory flyways converge, hosts a diverse array of globally important avian habitats, ranging from towering rainforests to...

Read Article
link

Video of Rare Birds Breeding on St. Matthew Island, Alaska

A video produced by Andy Johnson with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology highlights collaborative research conducted on St. Matthew Island, in the Alaska...

Read Article
link

Story Map on the Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey

A creative story map showcasing the Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey (ALMS) has recently been developed by the Alaska Migratory Bird Management of...

Read Article

Science and Products

  • Science
    link
    Small bird in a bush

    Meeting and Project Summaries for Boreal Partners in Flight

    Information on topics discussed by Boreal Partners in Flight (BPIF) working groups organized by year.
    By
    Alaska Science Center
    link

    Meeting and Project Summaries for Boreal Partners in Flight

    Information on topics discussed by Boreal Partners in Flight (BPIF) working groups organized by year.
    Learn More
    link
    Small bird in a hand

    About Boreal Partners in Flight

    Boreal Partners in Flight is a coalition of individuals who are working together to help conserve bird populations throughout boreal regions of North America. Boreal Partners in Flight is the official Alaska state working group of the international Partners in Flight program. We also have many members from Canada because we share many of the same species, habitats, and problems. The international...
    By
    Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
    link

    About Boreal Partners in Flight

    Boreal Partners in Flight is a coalition of individuals who are working together to help conserve bird populations throughout boreal regions of North America. Boreal Partners in Flight is the official Alaska state working group of the international Partners in Flight program. We also have many members from Canada because we share many of the same species, habitats, and problems. The international...
    Learn More
    link
    A Black-capped Chickadee with a severely deformed beak where the upper beak is elongated and curved down while the lower beak is

    Landbird Research in Alaska

    On this page, learn about USGS work on Beak Deformities and Boreal Partners in Flight.
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center
    link

    Landbird Research in Alaska

    On this page, learn about USGS work on Beak Deformities and Boreal Partners in Flight.
    Learn More
  • Data

    Data for Estimating McKay's Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus) Population Change on St. Matthew and Hall Islands, Alaska

    This dataset consists of three tables relating to (1) detections of adult McKay's Buntings from line transect with distance estimation surveys on St. Matthew and Hall islands in Alaska between May 30 and June 29, 2003 and June 6 and 11, 2018, (2) environmental covariates associated with detections of adult McKay's Buntings in less than or equal to 250-m long contiguous transect segments, and (3) e
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Arthropod Abundance and Shrub Cover and Height on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska, 2015-2016

    This data set contains information (in three tables) with numbers and biomass of invertebrates (primarily arthropods) collected in pitfall-trap arrays and sweep-net samples on a series of plots (n = 13 total) at one coastal and one interior study site on the Seward Peninsula in northwestern Alaska during the summers of 2015 and 2016. Associated data on the horizontal cover and height of shrub vege
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) Genetic Data, North America

    This data set provides NCBI accession numbers for nucleotide sequence data derived from a mitochondrial DNA locus (control region) and double digest restriction-site associated DNA (ddRAD).
    By
    Alaska Science Center, Molecular Ecology Laboratory
  • Multimedia
    Misty pine trees overlaid with photo of man with short black hair wearing hiking gear on snowy landscape. link
    Misty pine trees overlaid with photo of man with short black hair wearing hiking gear on snowy landscape. AD version. link
    Three scientists with backpacks in low shrubs searing for landbird nests in Denali National Park. Mountains in background.
    link
    Small bird in a hand
    link
  • Publications
    Filter Total Items: 22

    Point count offsets for estimating population sizes of north American landbirds

    Bird monitoring in North America over several decades has generated many open databases, housing millions of structured and semi-structured bird observations. These provide the opportunity to estimate bird densities and population sizes, once variation in factors such as underlying field methods, timing, land cover, proximity to roads, and uneven spatial coverage are accounted for. To facilitate i
    Authors
    B.P.M. Edwards, A.C. Smith, T.D.S. Docherety, M.A. Gahbauer, C.R. Gillespie, A.R. Grinde, T. Harmer, D. Iles, Steven M. Matsuoka, N.L. Michel, N.L. Murray, G. Niemi, J. Pasher, D. Pavlacky, B. Robinson, B. Ryder, P. Solymos, D. Stralberg, E.J. Zlonis
    By
    Alaska Science Center

    Revealing migratory path, important stopovers and non-breeding areas of a boreal songbird in steep decline

    The Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) is a steeply declining aerial insectivore with one of the longest migrations of any North American passerine. We deployed light-level geolocators and archival GPS tags on breeders in boreal Alaska to determine migratory routes, important stopovers and non-breeding locations. Data from 16 individuals revealed a median 23,555 km annual journey (range: 19
    Authors
    Julie C Hagelin, Michael T. Hallworth, Christopher P Barger, James A. Johnson, Kristin A DuBour, Grey W Pendelton, Lucas H. DeCicco, Laura A McDuffie, Steven M. Matsuoka, Marian A Snively, Peter P. Marra
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Alaska Landbird Conservation Plan

    Alaska is a land of extremes. The diversity of its avifauna reflects the heterogeneity of its landscape, with more than 500 species of birds recorded in the state. Species inhabiting primarily terrestrial habitats, known collectively as landbirds, constitute the largest and most ecologically diverse component of the Alaska avifauna. Habitats used by landbirds range from temperate rainforests in so
    Authors
    Travis L. Booms, Melissa N. Cady, Cheryl A. Carrothers, Lucas H. DeCicco, Maureen L. de Zeeuw, Melanie J. Flamme, Julie Hagelin, Colleen M. Handel, James A. Johnson, Matthew D. Kirchoff, Michelle L. Kissling, Stephen B. Lewis, Steven M. Matsuoka, Debora A. Nigro, Deborah E. Perkins, Heather M. Renner, Susan E. Savage, Kristine M. Sowl, Susan M. Sharbaugh, Iain J Stenhouse, Caroline R. Van Hemert
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Alaska landbird montoring survey: Alaska regional protocol framework for monitoring landbirds using point counts

    Alaska provides habitat for 143 species of landbirds that occur regularly in the state, about half of which breed predominantly north of the border between the contiguous United States and Canada. The road-based North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) provides some data on population trends in Alaska, but most northern populations are inadequately monitored by this program because of a paucity o
    Authors
    Colleen M. Handel, Steven M. Matsuoka, Melissa N. Cady, Diane A. Granfors
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Implications of historical and contemporary processes on genetic differentiation of a declining boreal songbird: The rusty blackbird

    The arrangement of habitat features via historical or contemporary events can strongly influence genomic and demographic connectivity, and in turn affect levels of genetic diversity and resilience of populations to environmental perturbation. The rusty blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) is a forested wetland habitat specialist whose population size has declined sharply (78%) over recent decades. The s
    Authors
    Robert E. Wilson, Steven M. Matsuoka, Luke L. Powell, James A. Johnson, Dean W. Demarest, Diana Stralberg, Sarah A. Sonsthagen
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Climate-change refugia in boreal North America: What, where, and for how long?

    TThe vast boreal biome plays an important role in the global carbon cycle but is experiencing particularly rapid climate warming, threatening the integrity of valued ecosystems and their component species. We developed a framework and taxonomy to identify climate‐change refugia potential in the North American boreal region, summarizing current knowledge regarding mechanisms, geographic distributio
    Authors
    Diana Stralberg, Dominique Arseneault, Jennifer Baltzer, Quinn Barber, Erin Bayne, Yan Boulanger, Carissa Brown, Hilary Cooke, Kevin Devito, Jason Edwards, Cesar Estevo, Nadele Flynn, Lee Frelich, E. H. (T.) Hogg, Mark Johnston, Travis Logan, Steven M. Matsuoka, Paul Moore, Toni Lyn Morelli, Julienne Morissette, Elizabeth Nelson, Hedvig Nenzén, Scott Nielsen, Marc-André Parisien, John Pedlar, David Price, Fiona Schmiegelow, Stuart Slattery, Oliver Sonnentag, Daniel Thompson, Ellen Whitman
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Wildland Fire Science

    At the end of the road: Lessons learned from comparing model- and design-based approaches to estimate population sizes of boreal birds in Alberta, Canada

    Estimating population abundance is a challenging task complicated by the amount, type, and quality of available data. Conservationists have relied on design-based estimates from Partners in Flight (PIF), which primarily uses roadside data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) to estimate populations sizes. However, the BBS was not designed to estimate population sizes. We developed mo
    Authors
    Peter Solymos, Judith D Toms, Steven M. Matsuoka, Steven G. Cumming, Nicole K. S. Barker, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Diana Stralberg, Andrew D. Crosby, Francisco V Denes, Samuel Hache, C Lisa Mahon, Fiona K A Schmiegelow, Erin M. Bayne
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Further information on the avifauna of St. Matthew and Hall Islands, Bering Sea, Alaska

    In June and July 2018 and July 2019 we surveyed birds on St. Matthew and Hall islands, isolated in the central Bering Sea. Our surveys were focused on the McKay’s Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus), Rock Sandpiper (Calidris ptilocnemis ptilocnemis), and Pelagic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus) but encompassed all birds and yielded 13 species and four subspecies new to the islands’ avifaunal li
    Authors
    Bryce W. Robinson, Jack J. Withrow, Rachel M. Richardson, Steven M. Matsuoka, Robert E. Gill, Andrew S. Johnson, Irby J. Lovette, James A. Johnson, Anthony R. DeGange, Marc D. Romano
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Weak effects of geolocators on small birds: a meta‐analysis controlled for phylogeny and publication bias

    Currently, the deployment of tracking devices is one of the most frequently used approaches to study movement ecology of birds. Recent miniaturisation of light‐level geolocators enabled studying small bird species whose migratory patterns were widely unknown. However, geolocators may reduce vital rates in tagged birds and may bias obtained movement data.There is a need for a thorough assessment of
    Authors
    Vojtěch Brlík, Jaroslav Koleček, Malcolm Burgess, Steffen Hahn, Diana Humple, Milos Krist, Janne Ouwehand, Emily L. Weiser, Peter Adamik, José A. Alves, Debora Arlt, Sanja Barišić, Detlef Becker, Eduardo J. Belda, Vaclav Beran, Christiaan Both, Susana P. Bravo, Martins Briedis, Chutný Bohumír, Davor Ćiković, Nathan W. Cooper, Joana S. Costa, Víctor R. Cueto, Tamara Emmenegger, Kevin Fraser, Olivier Gilg, Marina Guerrero, Michael T. Hallworth, Chris Hewson, Frédéric Jiguet, James Johnson, Tosha Kelly, Dmitry Kishkinev, Michel Leconte, Terje Lislevand, Simeon Lisovski, Cosme López, Kent P. McFarland, Peter P. Marra, Steven M. Matsuoka, Matyjasiak. Piotr, Christoph M. Meier, Benjamin Metzger, Juan S. Monrós, Roland Neumann, Amy Newman, Ryan Norris, Tomas Pärt, Václav Pavel, Noah Perlut, Markus Piha, Jeroen Reneerkens, Christopher C. Rimmer, Amélie Roberto-Charro, Chiara Scandolara, Natalia Sokolova, Makiko Takenaka, Dirk Tolkmitt, Herman van Oosten, Arndt H. J. Wellbrock, Hazel Wheeler, Jan van der Winden, Klaudia Witte, Brad Woodworth, Petr Procházka
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Evaluating time-removal models for estimating availability of boreal birds during point count surveys: Sample size requirements and model complexity

    We used conventional and finite mixture removal models with and without time-varying covariates to evaluate availability given presence for 152 bird species using data from point counts in boreal North America. We found that the choice of model had an impact on the estimability of unknown model parameters and affected the bias and variance of corrected counts. Finite mixture models provided better
    Authors
    Peter Solymos, Steven M. Matsuoka, Steven G. Cumming, Diana Stralberg, Patricia C. Fontaine, Fiona K. A. Schmiegelow, Samantha J. Song, Erin M. Bayne
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Phylogeny and species traits predict bird detectability

    Avian acoustic communication has resulted from evolutionary pressures and ecological constraints. We therefore expect that auditory detectability in birds might be predictable by species traits and phylogenetic relatedness. We evaluated the relationship between phylogeny, species traits, and field‐based estimates of the two processes that determine species detectability (singing rate and detection
    Authors
    Peter Solymos, Steven M. Matsuoka, Diana Stralberg, Nicole K. S. Barker, Erin M. Bayne
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Biogeography of boreal passerine range dynamics in western North America: past, present, and future

    Many of the Neotropical migrant bird species that breed throughout the Canadian boreal region are not found in the Alaskan boreal region, separated by the northwestern cordilleran mountains, despite the presence of climatically suitable habitat. We asked whether biological or climatic factors constrain certain species from crossing this geographic barrier. Analyzing a comprehensive dataset for 80
    Authors
    Diana Stralberg, Steven M. Matsuoka, Colleen M. Handel, Fiona K.A. Schmiegelow, Andreas Hamann, Erin M. Bayne
    By
    Ecosystems Mission Area, Alaska Science Center

    Non-USGS Publications**

    Wright, A. L., G. D. Hayward, S. M. Matsuoka, and P. H. Hayward. 2020. Townsend's Warbler (Setophaga townsendi), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (P. G. Rodewald, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.towwar.01
    Matsuoka, S. M., J. C. Hagelin, M. A. Smith, T. F. Paragi, A. L. Sesser, and M. A. Ingle. 2019. Pathways for avian science, conservation, and management in boreal Alaska. Avian Conservation and Ecology 14(1):15. https://doi.org/10.5751/ACE-01347-140115
    Stralberg, D., S. M. Matsuoka, A. Hamann, E. M. Bayne, P. Sólymos, F. K. A. Schmiegelow, X. Wang, S. G. Cumming, and S. J. Song. 2015. Projecting boreal bird responses to climate change: the signal exceeds the noise. Ecological Applications 25:52–69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/13-2289
    Mahon, C. L., E. M. Bayne, P. Sólymos, S. M. Matsuoka, M. Carlson, E. Dzus, F. K. A. Schmiegelow, S. G. Cumming, and S. J. Song. 2014. Does expected future landscape condition support proposed population objectives for boreal birds? Forest Ecology and Management 312:28–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.10.025
    Matsuoka, S. M., C. L. Mahon, C. M. Handel, P. Sólymos, E. M. Bayne, P. C. Fontaine, and C. J. Ralph. 2014. Reviving common standards in point-count surveys for broad inference across studies. The Condor: Ornithological Applications 116:599–608. https://doi.org/10.1650/CONDOR-14-108.1
    Sólymos, P., S. M. Matsuoka, E. M. Bayne, S. R. Lele, P. Fontaine, S. G. Cumming, D. Stralberg, F. K. A. Schmiegelow, and S. J. Song. 2013. Calibrating indices of avian density from non-standardized survey data: making the most of a messy situation. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 4:1047–1058. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.12106
    Johnson, J. A., L. H. DeCicco, S. M. Matsuoka, and A. L. Sowls. 2013. Nesting ecology of McKay’s Buntings on St. Matthew Island, Alaska. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 125:376–384. https://doi.org/10.1676/12-139.1
    Johnson, J. A., S. M. Matsuoka, D. F. Tessler, R. Greenberg, and J. W. Fox. 2012. Identifying migratory pathways used by Rusty Blackbirds breeding in southcentral Alaska. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 124:698–703. https://doi.org/10.1676/1559-4491-124.4.698
    Matsuoka, S. M., E. M. Bayne, P. Sólymos, P. C. Fontaine, S. G. Cumming, F. K. A. Schmiegelow, and S. J. Song. 2012. Using binomial distance-sampling models to estimate the effective detection radius of point-count surveys across boreal Canada. Auk 129:268–282. https://doi.org/10.1525/auk.2012.11190
    Matsuoka, S. M., J. A. Johnson, and D. A. DellaSala. 2012. Succession of bird communities in young-temperate rainforests following thinning. Journal of Wildlife Management 76:919–931. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.363
    Greenberg, R., D. W. Demarest, S. M. Matsuoka, C. Mettke-Hofmann, M. L. Avery, P. J. Blancher, D. Evers, P. B. Hamel, K. A. Hobson, J. Luscier, D. K. Niven, L. L. Powell, and D. Shaw. 2011. Understanding declines in Rusty Blackbirds. Studies in Avian Biology 41:107–125
    Barnard, W. H., C. Mettke-Hofmann, and S. M. Matsuoka. 2010. Prevalence of hematozoa infections among breeding and wintering Rusty Blackbirds. Condor 112:849–853. https://doi.org/10.1525/cond.2010.100143
    Greenberg, R., and S. M. Matsuoka. 2010. Rusty Blackbird: mysteries of a species in decline. Condor 112:770–777. https://doi.org/10.1525/cond.2010.100153
    Matsuoka, S. M., and R. Greenberg (editors). 2010. Special section: Range-wide ecology of the declining Rusty Blackbird. Condor 112:770–861
    Matsuoka, S. M., D. Shaw, and J. A. Johnson. 2010. Estimating the abundance of nesting Rusty Blackbirds in relation to wetland habitats in Alaska. Condor 112:825–833. https://doi.org/10.1525/cond.2010.100148
    Matsuoka, S. M., D. Shaw, P. H. Sinclair, J. A. Johnson, R. M. Corcoran, N. C. Dau, P. M. Meyers, and N. A. Rojek. 2010. Nesting ecology of Rusty Blackbirds in Alaska and Canada. Condor 112:810–824. https://doi.org/10.1525/cond.2010.100149
    Matsuoka, S. M., and J. A. Johnson. 2008. Using a multimodel approach to estimate the population size of McKay’s Buntings. Condor 110:371–376. https://doi.org/10.1525/cond.2008.8492
    Berg, E. E., J. D. Henry, C. L. Fastie, A. D. De Volder, and S. M. Matsuoka. 2006. Spruce beetle outbreaks on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska and Kluane National Park and Reserve, Yukon Territory: relationship to summer temperatures and regional differences in disturbance regimes. Forest Ecology and Management 227:219–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.02.038
    Handel, C. M., L. M. Pajot, S. M. Matsuoka, K. A. Trust, J. M. Stotts, J. Terenzi, and S. L. Talbot. 2006. Potential role of environmental contaminants in the pathology of beak deformities among Black-capped Chickadees in south-central Alaska. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Project ID: 1130-7F22. USGS Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska. 147 p. plus Appendices. https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/Reference/Profile/23314
    Matsuoka, S. M., E. H. Holsten, M. E. Shephard, R. A. Werner, and R. E. Burnside (editors). 2006. Spruce beetles and forest ecosystems in south-central Alaska. Forest Ecology and Management 227:193–283
    Matsuoka, S. M., E. H. Holsten, M. E. Shephard, R. A. Werner, and R. E. Burnside. 2006. Preface: Spruce beetles and forest ecosystems in south-central Alaska. Forest Ecology and Management 227:193–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.02.037
    Werner, R. A., E. H. Holsten, S. M. Matsuoka, and R. E. Burnside. 2006. Spruce beetles and forest ecosystems in south-central Alaska: a review of 30 years of research. Forest Ecology and Management 227:195–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.02.050

    **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.

  • News
    link

    New Alaska Landbird Conservation Plan and Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey Protocol

    Alaska, where four major migratory flyways converge, hosts a diverse array of globally important avian habitats, ranging from towering rainforests to...

    Read Article
    link

    Video of Rare Birds Breeding on St. Matthew Island, Alaska

    A video produced by Andy Johnson with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology highlights collaborative research conducted on St. Matthew Island, in the Alaska...

    Read Article
    link

    Story Map on the Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey

    A creative story map showcasing the Alaska Landbird Monitoring Survey (ALMS) has recently been developed by the Alaska Migratory Bird Management of...

    Read Article

*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