Terry Chesser, Ph.D.
Terry is a Research Zoologist at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in Laurel, MD.
Having previously held positions with the American Museum of Natural History (New York) and the Australian National Wildlife Collection (Canberra), as well as an adjunct position with the US National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian). Terry's research focuses on the systematics, diversity, conservation, and management of birds.
He uses genetic and genomic techniques to study the systematics, diversity, conservation, and management of birds. His contributions to avian taxonomy and conservation also include chairmanship of the AOS Committee on Classification and Nomenclature (North America), which provides a standardized avian taxonomy for use by public agencies and private individuals and organizations.
Current projects include studies of:
- genomic variation in Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) and Hutton’s Vireo (Vireo huttoni) on the Channel Islands, as part of a larger project informing management of Channel Islands National Park and private lands on multiple scientific issues
- genomic variation in the Akikiki (Oreomystis bairdi) and Akekee (Loxops caeruleirostris), two critically endangered birds endemic to Kauai, so that genetically diverse, viable captive breeding programs can be established
- population structure and migration ecology of two Pacific populations of the endangered Red Knot (Calidris canutus), as well as population structure more broadly in the Americas
- genetics of Red Knot (Calidris canutus), Sanderling (Calidris alba), and Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) at Delaware Bay, three species reliant on migration stopovers there
- genomics of US and Caribbean populations of the endangered Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii), to assess current and past gene flow between these populations
- phylogenetic relationships and species status of Procellariiformes seabirds, which include the albatrosses, petrels, and shearwaters, many of which are endangered or otherwise of conservation interest
- genetic variation and phylogeography of selected seabirds (non-Procellariiformes) breeding in the Caribbean and Pacific regions, to determine the conservation status of geographically isolated populations and understand factors promoting genetic isolation in marine environments
- phylogenetic relationships among all species of birds (the OpenWings project), to provide the foundation for future classification and ecological and evolutionary comparative research on birds
- a comprehensive revision of the subspecific taxonomy of the birds of North America, for use by policy makers and wildlife managers as well as by scientists and NGOs
- the systematics, biogeography, and evolution of hyper-diverse suboscine birds, to understand the systematics and taxonomy of the group and the processes that contributed to its radiation in the Americas
- comparative genetic, vocal, and morphological variation in Neotropical antbirds, to understand patterns of speciation and determine species diversity in cryptic groups of birds
- effect of anthropogenic noise on
Professional Experience
Research Zoologist, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD: 2005-present
Curator of Birds and Adjunct Scientist, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC: 2005-2018
Director (Curator-in-Charge), Australian National Wildlife Collection, Canberra, Australia: 2000-2005
Curatorial Associate, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY: 1999-2000
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ: 1997-1999
Postdoctoral Fellow, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY: 1995-1997
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., 1995, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
Affiliations and Memberships*
Research Associate, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
Science and Products
Earth history and the passerine superradiation
Evidence for a duplicated mitochondrial region in Audubon’s shearwater based on MinION sequencing
Molecular systematics of swifts of the genus Chaetura (Aves: Apodiformes: Apodidae)
Spatial organization of the gastrointestinal microbiota in urban Canada geese
Fifty-eighth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union: Check-list of North American Birds
Comparative cophylogenetics of Australian phabine pigeons and doves (Aves: Columbidae) and their feather lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera)
Isotopic niches support the resource breadth hypothesis
Recurrent hybridization and recent origin obscure phylogenetic relationships within the ‘white-headed’ gull (Larus sp.) complex
Fifty-seventh supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds
A replacement name for Asthenes wyatti perijanus Phelps 1977
Taxonomic revision of Phascogale tapoatafa (Meyer, 1793) (Dasyuridae; Marsupialia), including descriptions of two new subspecies and confirmation of P. pirata Thomas, 1904 as a ‘Top End’ endemic
A further note on the scientific name of Bullocks’ Oriole
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 55
Earth history and the passerine superradiation
Avian diversification has been influenced by global climate change, plate tectonic movements, and mass extinction events. However, the impact of these factors on the diversification of the hyperdiverse perching birds (passerines) is unclear because family level relationships are unresolved and the timing of splitting events among lineages is uncertain. We analyzed DNA data from 4060 nuclear loci aAuthorsCarl H Oliveros, Daniel J Field, Daniel T Ksepka, F Keith Barker, Alexandre Aleixo, Michael J Andersen, Per Alstrom, Brett W Benz, Edward L Braun, Michael J Braun, Gustavo A Bravo, Robb T Brumfield, Terry Chesser, Santiago Claramunt, Joel Cracraft, Andrés M. Cuervo, Elizabeth P. Derryberry, Travis C. Glenn, Michael G. Harvey, Peter A. Hosner, Leo Joseph, Rebecca Kimball, Andrew L. Mack, Colin M. Miskelly, A. Townsend Peterson, Mark B. Robbins, Frederick H. Sheldon, Luís Fábio Silveira, Brian T. Smith, Noor D. White, Robert G. Moyle, Brant C. FairclothEvidence for a duplicated mitochondrial region in Audubon’s shearwater based on MinION sequencing
Mitochondrial genetic markers have been extensively used to study the phylogenetics and phylogeography of many birds, including seabirds of the order Procellariiformes. Evidence suggests that part of the mitochondrial genome of Procellariiformes, especially albatrosses, is duplicated, but no DNA fragment covering the entire duplication has been sequenced. We sequenced the complete mitochondrial geAuthorsLucas Torres, Andreanna J. Welch, Catherine Zanchetta, Terry Chesser, Maxime Manno, Cecile Donnadieu, Vincent Bretagnolle, Eric PanteMolecular systematics of swifts of the genus Chaetura (Aves: Apodiformes: Apodidae)
Phylogenetic relationships among swifts of the morphologically conservative genus Chaetura were studied using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences. Taxon sampling included all species and 21 of 30 taxa (species and subspecies) within Chaetura. Our results indicate that Chaetura is monophyletic and support the division of the genus into the two subgenera previously identified using plumage charaAuthorsTerry Chesser, Haley Vaseghi, Peter A. Hosner, Laura M. Bergner, M. Nandadevi Cortes-Rodriguez, Andreanna J. Welch, Charles T. CollinsSpatial organization of the gastrointestinal microbiota in urban Canada geese
Recent reviews identified the reliance on fecal or cloacal samples as a significant limitation hindering our understanding of the avian gastrointestinal (gut) microbiota and its function. We investigated the microbiota of the esophagus, duodenum, cecum, and colon of a wild urban population of Canada goose (Branta canadensis). From a population sample of 30 individuals, we sequenced the V4 region oAuthorsSergei V. Drovetski, Michael O'Mahoney, Emma J. Ransome, Kenan O. Matterson, Haw Chuan Lim, Terry Chesser, Gary R. GravesFifty-eighth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union: Check-list of North American Birds
This is the 17th supplement since publication of the 7th edition of the Check-list of North American Birds (American Ornithologists' Union [AOU] 1998). It summarizes decisions made between April 15, 2016, and April 15, 2017, by the AOS's Committee on Classification and Nomenclature—North and Middle America. The Committee has continued to operate in the manner outlined in the 42nd SupplementAuthorsTerry Chesser, Kevin J Burns, Carla Cicero, Jon L. Dunn, Andrew W. Kratter, Irby J. Lovette, Pamela C. Rasmussen, J.V. Remsen, James D. Rising, Douglas F. Stotz, Kevin WinkerComparative cophylogenetics of Australian phabine pigeons and doves (Aves: Columbidae) and their feather lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera)
Host–parasite coevolutionary histories can differ among multiple groups of parasites associated with the same group of hosts. For example, parasitic wing and body lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) of New World pigeons and doves (Aves: Columbidae) differ in their cophylogenetic patterns, with body lice exhibiting higher phylogenetic congruence with their hosts than wing lice. In this study, we focus onAuthorsAndrew D. Sweet, R. Terry Chesser, Kevin P. JohnsonIsotopic niches support the resource breadth hypothesis
Because a broad spectrum of resource use allows species to persist in a wide range of habitat types, and thus permits them to occupy large geographical areas, and because broadly distributed species have access to more diverse resource bases, the resource breadth hypothesis posits that the diversity of resources used by organisms should be positively related with the extent of their geographic ranAuthorsJonathan A. Rader, Seth D. Newsome, Pablo Sabat, R. Terry Chesser, Michael E. Dillon, Carlos Martinez del RioRecurrent 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 DoveFifty-seventh supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list of North American Birds
This is the 16th supplement since publication of the 7th edition of the Check-list of North American Birds (American Ornithologists' Union [AOU] 1998). It summarizes decisions made between April 15, 2015, and April 15, 2016, by the AOU's Committee on Classification and Nomenclature—North and Middle America. The Committee has continued to operate in the manner outlined in the 42nd Supplement (AOU 2AuthorsR. Terry Chesser, Kevin J Burns, Carla Cicero, Jon L. Dunn, Andrew W. Kratter, Irby J. Lovette, Pamela C. Rasmussen, J.V. Remsen, James D. Rising, Douglas F. Stotz, Kevin WinkerA replacement name for Asthenes wyatti perijanus Phelps 1977
A recent near-complete phylogeny of the avian family Furnariidae (Derryberry et al. 2011) found a number of discrepancies between the phylogeny and the then-current taxonomy of the group, and several changes were proposed to reconcile the taxonomy of the family with the phylogeny. Among these was the merging of the genus Schizoeaca Cabanis 1873 into Asthenes Reichenbach 1853 (Derryberry et al. 201AuthorsR. Terry ChesserTaxonomic revision of Phascogale tapoatafa (Meyer, 1793) (Dasyuridae; Marsupialia), including descriptions of two new subspecies and confirmation of P. pirata Thomas, 1904 as a ‘Top End’ endemic
The Australian Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa sensu lato) has a broad but highly fragmented distribution around the periphery of the Australian continent and all populations are under significant ongoing threat to survival. A new appraisal of morphological and molecular diversity within the group reveals that the population in the ‘Top End’ of the Northern Territory is specificallyAuthorsK. P. Aplin, S. G. Rhind, J. Ten Have, R. Terry ChesserA further note on the scientific name of Bullocks’ Oriole
Chesser (2013) intended to introduce a justified emendation to Icterus bullockii under Article 32.5.1 of the Code (ICZN 1999), because the name honors both William Bullock, Sr., and William Bullock, Jr. However, the correction bullockorum is "incorrect" and therefore is an unjustified emendation (Article 33.2.3). Under the assumption that the name Bullock was latinized (cf. Article 31.1.1) to BullAuthorsR. Terry Chesser
*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