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Alaska Science Center

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ABOUT THE ALASKA
SCIENCE CENTER

SCIENCE OFFICES

CONFERENCES

USGS ALASKA DATA RESOURCES

OTHER ALASKA AREA
SCIENCE OFFICES

Margaret R. Petersen

Title: Research Wildlife Biologist
Address: 4210 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508-4626
Phone: (907) 786-7180
Fax: (907) 786-7021
Email: mrpetersen@usgs.gov

Image of Margaret R. Petersen

Education and/or Training

Ph.D.1991University of California Davis, Davis, CAEcology (Behavioral)
M.S.1976University of California Davis, Davis, CAEcology (Wildlife)
M.S.1973University of California Davis, Davis, CAWildlife and Fisheries Biology

Areas of Specialization and/or Research Interests

Reproductive ecology and demographics of arctic waterfowl, post-nesting distribution and ecology of sea ducks, exposure of sea ducks to contaminants and disturbances, and survival analyses and modeling of populations of arctic waterfowl.

Professional Experience

1980 - PresentResearch Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1977 - 1980Wildlife Biologist, Biological Services Program-Coastal Ecosystems, USFWS, Anchorage, Alaska
1976 - 1977Biological Technician, Biological Services Program-Coastal Ecosystems, USFWS, Anchorage, Alaska
1972 - 1976Research Assistant, University of California Davis, Davis, California

Professional Activities and/or Memberships

American Ornithologists Union
American Society for Naturalists
Animal Behavior Society
Cooper Ornithological Society
International Society for Behavioral Ecology
Ottawa Field-Naturalists Club
Pacific Seabird Group
The Wildlife Society
The Wildfowl Trust
Wilson Ornithological Society

Significant Recent Publications

Sonsthagen, S. A., S. L. Talbot, R. E. Wilson, M. R. Petersen, G. V. Byrd, J. C. Williams, and K. G. McCracken. 2013. Genetic structure of the Common Eiders in the western Aleutian Islands prior to fox eradication. Condor 115:28-39.

Petersen, M. R., D. C. Douglas, H. M. Wilson, and S. E. McCloskey. 2012. Effects of sea ice on winter site fidelity of Pacific Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima v-nigrum). The Auk. 129(3):1-10.

Ramey, A.M., J. M. Pearce, A. B. Reeves, J. Christian Franson, M. R. Petersen, and H. S. Ip. 2011. Evidence for limited exchange of avian influenza viruses between seaducks and dabbling ducks at Alaska Peninsula coastal lagoons. Archives of Virology 156:1813-1821.

Latty, C.J., T.E. .Hollmen, M.R. Petersen, A.N. Powell, and R.D. Andrews. 2010. Abdominally implanted transmitters with percutaneous antennas affect the dive performance of Common Eiders. The Condor 112: 314-322.

Ip, H. S., P. L. Flint, J. C. Franson, R. J. Dusek, D. B. Derksen, R. E. Gill, Jr., C. R. Ely, J. M. Pearce, R. B. Lanctot, S. M. Matsuoka, D. B. Irons, J. B. Fisher, R. M. Oates, M. R. Petersen, T. F. Fondell, D. A. Rocque, J. C. Pedersen, and T. C. Rothe. 2008. Prevalence of Influenza A viruses in wild migratory birds in Alaska: Patterns of variation in detection at a crossroads of intercontinental flyways. Virology Journal 5:71. Doi:10.1186/1743-422X-5-71.

Pearce, J. M. and M. R. Petersen. 2009. Post-fledging movements of juvenile Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser) in Alaska as inferred by satellite telemetry. Waterbirds 32:133-137.

Petersen, M. R. 2009. Multiple spring migration strategies in a population of Pacific Common Eiders. Condor 111:59-70.

Petersen, M. R., J. O. Bustnes, and G. H. Systad. 2006. Breeding and moulting locations and migration patterns of the Atlantic population of Steller’s Eiders Polysticta stelleri as determined from satellite telemetry. Journal of Avian Biology 37:58-68

Petersen, M. R. 2005. Individual variation in staging and timing of spring migration of Pacific Common Eiders in Alaska. Second North American Sea Duck Conference, November 7-11, 2005, Annapolis, Maryland

Wilson, H. M., M. R. Petersen, and D. Troy. 2004. Concentrations of trace elements in blood of Spectacled and King Eiders in Northern Alaska. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 23:408-414

Pearce, J. M., S. L. Talbot, B. J. Pierson, M. R. Petersen, K. T. Scribner, D. L. Dickson, and A. Mosbech. 2004. Lack of spatial genetic structure among nesting and wintering King Eiders. Condor 106:229-240.

Petersen, M. R. and D. C. Douglas. 2004. Winter ecology of Spectacled Eiders: Environmental characteristics and population change. Condor 106:79-94.

Petersen, M. R., B. J. McCaffery, and P. L. Flint. 2003. Moult and winter distribution of Long-tailed Ducks breeding on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Wildfowl 54:129-139

Grand, J. B., J. C. Franson, P. L. Flint, and M. R. Petersen. 2002. Concentrations of trace elements in eggs and blood of Spectacled and Common Eiders on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, USA. Envir. Toxic. Chem. 21:1673-1678.

Petersen, M. R. and P. L. Flint. 2002. Population structure of Pacific Common Eiders breeding in Alaska. Condor 104:780-787.

Scribner, K. T., M. R. Petersen, R. L. Fields, S. L . Talbot, J. M. Pearce, and R. K. Chesser. 2001. Sex-biased gene flow in Spectacled Eiders (Anatidae): Infereces from molecular markers with contrasting modes of inheritance. Evolution. 55(10):2105-2115.

Dau, C. P., P. L. Flint, and M. R. Petersen. 2000. Steller's Eiders banded on the lower Alaska Peninsula, Alaska. J. Field Ornith. 71:543-550.

Hollmen, T., J. C. Franson, D. Docherty, M. Kilpi, M. Hario, L. Creekmore, and M. R. Petersen. 2000. Infectious bursal disease virus antibodies in eider ducks and Herring Gulls. Condor 102:688-691.

Petersen, M. R. , J. B. Grand, and C. P. Dau. 2000. Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri). in A. Poo;e and F. Gill (eds.), The Birds of North America No. 547. The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D. C.

Petersen, M. R., W. W. Larned, and D. C. Douglas. 1999. At-sea distribution of Spectacled Eiders (Somateria fischeri): 120 year-old mystery resolved. Auk 116:1009-1020.

Petersen, M. R., J. F. Piatt, and K. A. Trust. 1998. Foods of Spectacled Eiders Somateria fischeri in the Bering Sea, Alaska. Wildfowl 49:124-128.

Degtyarev, A. G., S. M. Sleptsov, S. P. Troev, J. M. Pearce, and M. R. Petersen. 1999. Status and biology of the Steller's Eider in Yakutia, Russia. Casarca 5:249-262 (In Russian with English summary).

Goudie, R. I. M. R. Petersen, and G. J. Robertson. 1999. Behaviour and ecology of sea ducks. Occasional Paper No. 100. Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Franson, J. C., M. R. Petersen, L. C. Creekmore, P. L. Flint, and M. R. Smith. 1998. Blood lead concentrations of Spectacled Eiders near the Kashunuk River, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. Ecotoxicology 7:1-7.

Grand, J. B., P. L. Flint, M. R. Petersen, and T. L. Moran. 1998. Effect of lead poisoning on Spectacled Eider survival rates. J. Wildl. Manage. 62:1103-1109.

Flint, P. L., M. R. Petersen, and J. B. Grand. 1997. Exposure of Spectacled Eiders and other diving ducks to lead in western Alaska. Can. J. Zool. 75: 439-443.

Franson, J.C., M.R. Petersen, C.U. Meteyer, and M.R. Smith. 1995. Lead poisoning of Spectacled eiders (Somateria fischeri) and of a Common eider (S. mollissima) in Alaska. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 31:268-271. Petersen, M. R. and D. C. Douglas. 1995. Use of implanted satellite transmitters to location Spectacled Eiders at-sea. Condor 97:276-278.

Schmutz, J. A., S. E. Cantor, and M. R. Petersen. 1994. Seasonal and annual survival of Emperor geese. Journal of Wildlife Management 58:525-535.

Petersen, M. R. and R. E. Gill, Jr. 1982. Population and status of Emperor Geese along the north side of the Alaska Peninsula. Wildfowl 33:31-38.

Websites of Interest

Sea Duck Research at the Alaska Science Center

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