Publications

quantifying the demographic cost of human-related mortality to a raptor population.	raptors are exposed to a wide variety of human-related mortality agents, and yet population-level effects are rarely quantified. doing so requires modeling vital rates in the context of species life-history, behavior, and population dynamics theory. in this paper, we explore the details of such an analysis by focusing on the demography of a resident, tree-nesting population of golden eagles (aquila chrysaetos) in the vicinity of an extensive (142 km2) windfarm in california. during 1994-2000, we ...	2017	28234926
golden eagle fatalities and the continental-scale consequences of local wind-energy generation.	renewable energy production is expanding rapidly despite mostly unknown environmental effects on wildlife and habitats. we used genetic and stable isotope data collected from golden eagles (aquila chrysaetos) killed at the altamont pass wind resource area (apwra) in california in demographic models to test hypotheses about the geographic extent and demographic consequences of fatalities caused by renewable energy facilities. geospatial analyses of δ(2) h values obtained from feathers showed that ...	2017	27677518
seroepidemiologic survey of potential pathogens in obligate and facultative scavenging avian species in california.	throughout the world, populations of scavenger birds are declining rapidly with some populations already on the brink of extinction. much of the current research into the factors contributing to these declines has focused on exposure to drug residues, lead, and other toxins. despite increased monitoring of these declining populations, little is known about infectious diseases affecting scavenger bird species. to assess potential infectious disease risks to both obligate and facultative scavenger ...	2015	26606755
knemidocoptic mange in wild golden eagles, california, usa.	during 2012-2013 in california, usa, 3 wild golden eagles were found with severe skin disease; 2 died. the cause was a rare mite, most closely related to knemidocoptes derooi mites. cautionary monitoring of eagle populations, habitats, and diseases is warranted.	0	25271842
impact of the california lead ammunition ban on reducing lead exposure in golden eagles and turkey vultures.	predatory and scavenging birds may be exposed to high levels of lead when they ingest shot or bullet fragments embedded in the tissues of animals injured or killed with lead ammunition. lead poisoning was a contributing factor in the decline of the endangered california condor population in the 1980s, and remains one of the primary factors threatening species recovery. in response to this threat, a ban on the use of lead ammunition for most hunting activities in the range of the condor in califo ...	2011	21494329
does the order of invasive species removal matter? the case of the eagle and the pig.	invasive species are recognized as a primary driver of native species endangerment and their removal is often a key component of a conservation strategy. removing invasive species is not always a straightforward task, however, especially when they interact with other species in complex ways to negatively influence native species. because unintended consequences may arise if all invasive species cannot be removed simultaneously, the order of their removal is of paramount importance to ecological ...	2009	19759894
double allee effects and extinction in the island fox.	an allee effect (ae) occurs in populations when individuals suffer a decrease in fitness at low densities. if a fitness component is reduced (component ae), per capita population growth rates may decline as a consequence (demographic ae) and extinction risk is increased. the island fox (urocyon littoralis) is endemic to six of the eight california channel islands. population crashes have coincided with an increase in predation by golden eagles (aquila chrysaetos). we propose that aes could rende ...	2007	17650257
golden eagles, feral pigs, and insular carnivores: how exotic species turn native predators into prey.	island ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to exotic species. here we show how an introduced prey has led to the wholesale restructuring of an island food web, including the near extinction of an endemic carnivore. introduced pigs, by providing abundant food, enabled golden eagles to colonize the california channel islands. eagles preyed heavily on the island fox, whose resulting decline toward extinction released populations of the competitively inferior island skunk. the presence of exotic ...	2002	11752396