Thomas O'Shea, PhD
Tom O'Shea is a Scientist Emeritus at the USGS Fort Collins Science Center.
Tom O'Shea has conducted research on bats, sirenians, and other mammals in the U.S., Africa, South and Central America, Asia, and Oceania. Dr. O'Shea is the author or co-author of about 140 scientific publications. He was formerly a researcher with the USGS, National Biological Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. His current research emphasis is on bats (after a long hiatus in marine mammal studies and federal research management), particularly topics related to diseases, population biology, natural history, and environmental contaminants.
Professional Experience
Scientist Emeritus, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center 2009-present
Research Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center 2001-2009
Branch Chief, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center 1996-2001
Assistant Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/National Biological Survey, National Ecology Research Center/Midcontinent Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins 1992-1996
Research Wildlife Biologist, Sirenia Project Leader, Field Station Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Fish and Wildlife Laboratory/National Ecology Research Center, Gainesville, Florida 1979-1992
Research Zoologist, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, Maryland 1977-1979
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Zoology, Northern Arizona University, 1977
M.S. Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, 1973
B.S. Zoology, Colorado State University 1970
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Society of Mammalogists
National Museums of Kenya
Florida Museum of Natural History
Museum of Southwestern Biology (University of New Mexico)
California Academy of Sciences
Colorado State University
University of Florida
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Wildlife-At-Risk (Vietnam)
Advisory committees of a number of national and international conservation organizations and agencies, including the Committee of Scientific Advisors to the US Marine Mammal Commission.
Science and Products
Seasonal movements, migratory behavior, and site fidelity of West Indian manatees along the Atlantic Coast of the United States
A critical look at national monitoring programs for birds and other wildlife species
Bat use of a high-plains urban wildlife refuge
Cyclodiene insecticide, DDE, DDT, arsenic, and mercury contamination of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) foraging at a Colorado Superfund site
Working group on future trends
Population changes in bats from central Arizona: 1972 and 1997
Estimates of annual survival probabilities for adult Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)
Population viability analysis of the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), 1976-1991
Age determination in manatees using growth-layer-group counts in bone
Population biology of the Florida manatee
Waterborne recreation and the Florida manatee
Reproduction and mortality of radio- tagged and recognizable manatees on the Atlantic Coast of Florida
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
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 112
Seasonal movements, migratory behavior, and site fidelity of West Indian manatees along the Atlantic Coast of the United States
Abstract not supplied at this timeAuthorsC. J. Deutsch, J. P. Reid, R. K. Bonde, Dean E. Easton, H. I. Kochman, T. J. O'SheaA critical look at national monitoring programs for birds and other wildlife species
Concerns?about declines in numerous taxa have created agreat deal of interest in survey development. Because birds have traditionally been monitored by a variety of methods, bird surveys form natural models for development of surveys for other taxa. Here I suggest that most bird surveys are not appropriate models for survey design. Most lack important design components associated with estimatioAuthorsJ.R. SauerBat use of a high-plains urban wildlife refuge
Bats are significant components of mammalian diversity and in many areas are of management concern. However, little attention has been given to bats in urban or prairie landscapes. In 1997 and 1998, we determined species richness, relative abundance, roosting habits, and echolocation activity of bats at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge (RMA), the largest urban unit in the United StaAuthorsA. L. Everette, T. J. O'Shea, L.E. Ellison, L.A. Stone, J.L. McCanceCyclodiene insecticide, DDE, DDT, arsenic, and mercury contamination of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) foraging at a Colorado Superfund site
Rocky Mountain Arsenal (RMA) National Wildlife Area, near Denver, Colorado, is a Superfund site contaminated by past military and industrial uses, including pesticide manufacturing. From an ecosystem standpoint, the most critical contaminants at RMA are certain cyclodiene insecticides and metabolites, p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDT, arsenic, and mercury. Bats are important ecosystem components that can be impAuthorsT. J. O'Shea, A. L. Everette, L.E. EllisonWorking group on future trends
This working group did not divide into subgroups, and its report consists of a unified document in a format somewhat different than those of the other working groups. The group considered four major topics: (1) projected "new" contaminants of future concern; (2) future trends with contaminants currently known to be issues for marine mammals; (3) future needs to improve and insure consistency of saAuthorsPopulation changes in bats from central Arizona: 1972 and 1997
Prompted by concern about declining bat populations in the southwestern United States, we surveyed for changes in populations between 1972 and 1997 at a study area in central Arizona. We duplicated earlier searches of ancient Indian dwellings and crevices in surrounding cliffs for diurnally roosting bats during the time of year when maternity colonies should have been present, and repeated mist-neAuthorsT. J. O'Shea, T.A. VaughanEstimates of annual survival probabilities for adult Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)
The population dynamics of large, long-lived mammals are particularly sensitive to changes in adult survival. Understanding factors affecting survival patterns is therefore critical for developing and testing theories of population dynamics and for developing management strategies aimed at preventing declines or extinction in such taxa. Few studies have used modern analytical approaches for analyzAuthorsC.A. Langtimm, T. J. O'Shea, R. Pradel, C.A. BeckPopulation viability analysis of the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), 1976-1991
Recent development of age-determination techniques for Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) has permitted derivation of age-specific data on reproduction and survival of a sample of 1212 carcasses obtained throughout Florida from 1976–1991. Population viability analysis using these data projects a slightly negative growth rate (−0.003) and an unacceptably low probability of persistencAuthorsM. Marmontel, S.R. Humphrey, T. J. O'SheaAge determination in manatees using growth-layer-group counts in bone
Growth layers were observed in histological preparations of bones of known-age, known minimum-age, and tetracycline-marked free-ranging and captive Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris), substantiating earlier preliminary findings of other studies. Detailed analysis of 17 new case histories showed that growth-layer group (GLG) counts in the periotic bone were consistent with known age,AuthorsM. Marmontel, T. J. O'Shea, H. I. Kochman, S.R. HumphreyPopulation biology of the Florida manatee
The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is a unique element of the U.S. fauna. It is a distinct subspecies of the West Indian manatee (Domning and Hayek 1986) and one of the largest inshore mammals of the continent, reaching weights to 1,650 kg (Rathbun et al. 1990). Annual migratory circuits of some individuals through the intracoastal waterways of the Atlantic Coast are 1,700 km rouAuthorsBruce B. Ackerman, H. Franklin PercivalWaterborne recreation and the Florida manatee
Abstract not supplied at this timeAuthorsT. J. O'SheaReproduction and mortality of radio- tagged and recognizable manatees on the Atlantic Coast of Florida
Abstract not supplied at this timeAuthorsJ. P. Reid, R. K. Bonde, T. J. O'SheaNon-USGS Publications**
Helm, R.C., D.P. Costa, T.D. DeBruyn, T.J. O'Shea, R.S. Wells, and T.M. Williams. 2015. Overview of effects of oil on marine mammals. P. 455-484, in M. Fingas (ed.) Handbook of Oil Spill Science and Technology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ
Luis, A.D., T.J. O'Shea, D.T.S. Hayman, J.L.N. Wood, A.A. Cunningham, A. T. Gilbert, J.N. Mills, and C.T. Webb. 2015. Network analysis of host-virus communities in bats and rodents reveals determinants of cross-species transmission. Ecology Letters 18:1153-1162. DOI: 10.1111/ele.12491Marsh, H., T. O’Shea, and J. Reynolds. 2011. Ecology and conservation of the Sirenia: dugongs and manatees. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 538 p.O’Shea, T.J. 2014. Family Trichechidae. P. 548-562 in D.E. Wilson and R.A. Mittermeier, eds. Handbook of Mammals of the World 4. Sea Mammals. Lynx Editions, Barcelona.Peel, A.J., J. R. C. Pulliam, A. D. Luis, R. K. Plowright, T. J. O’Shea, D. T. S. Hayman, J. L. N. Wood, C. T. Webb, and O. Restif. 2014. The effect of seasonal birth pulses on pathogen persistence in wild mammal populations. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences B 281: 20132962 (pages 1-9).Restif, O., Hayman, D.T.S., J.R.C. Pulliam, R.K. Plowright, D.B. George, A.D. Luis, A.A. Cunningham, R.A. Bowen, A.R. Fooks, T.J. O'Shea, J.L.N. Wood, and C.T. Webb. 2012. Model-guided fieldwork: practical guidelines for multidisciplinary research on wildlife ecological and epidemiological dynamics. Ecology Letters 15:1083-1094. DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01836.xSon, N.T., T.J. O’Shea, J.A. Gore, G. Csorba, V.T. Tu, T. Oshida, H. Endo, and M. Motokawa. 2016. Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) of the southeastern Truong Son Mountains, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. Journal of Threatened Taxa 8:8953-8969. DOI: httpdx.dofi.org/10.11609/jot.2785.8.7.8953-8969Webber, Q.M.R., Brigham, R.M., Park, A.D., Gillam, E.H., O'Shea, T.J., and Willis, C.K.R. 2016, Social network characteristics and predicted pathogen transmission in summer colonies of female big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 70: 701-712. DOI: 10.1007/s00265-016-2093-3Woolf, A. and T. J. O'Shea. 1968. Two bighorn sheep-coyote encounters. Journal of Mammalogy 49: 770. DOI: 10.2307/1378747Woolf, A., T. J. O'Shea and D. L. Gilbert. 1970. Movements and behavior of bighorn sheep on summer ranges in Yellowstone National Park. Journal of Wildlife Management 34: 446-450. DOI: 10.2307/3799031**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.
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*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