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David H. Ward Title: Research Wildlife Biologist Address: 4210 University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508-4626 Phone: (907) 786-7097 Fax: (907) 786-7021 Email: dward@usgs.gov

Education and/or Training

M.S.	1983	University of Oregon, Charleston, OR	Biology with Marine Emphasis
B.A.	1974	Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY	Biology

Areas of Specialization and/or Research Interests

Population ecology, wintering and migration ecology of arctic breeding waterbirds; impacts of disturbance on migratory birds; mapping and remote sensing of seagrasses.

Professional Experience

1997 - Present	Research Wildlife Biologist, USGS, Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1994 - 1997	Research Wildlife Biologist, NBS, Alaska Biological Science Center, Anchorage, Alaska
1985 - 1994	Research Wildlife Biologist, USFWS, Alaska Fish and Wildlife Research Center, Anchorage, Alaska

Professional Activities and/or Memberships

Cooper Ornithological Society
American Birding Association
Association of Field Ornithologists
American Ornithological Union
The Wildlife Society
Wilson Ornithological Society

Significant Recent Publications

Pearce, J., T. DeGange, P. Flint, T. Fondell, D. Gustine, L. Holland-Bartels, A. Hope, J. Hupp, J. Koch, S. Talbot, D. Ward, and M. Whalen. 2012. Changing Arctic Ecosystems—Measuring and forecasting the response of Alaska's terrestrial ecosystem to a warming climate. U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2012-3144, 4 p.

Shaughnessy, F. J., W. Gilkerson, J. M. Black, D. H. Ward, and M. Petrie. 2012. Predicted eelgrass response to sea level rise and its availability to foraging Black Brant in Pacific coast estuaries. Ecological Applications, In Press.

Nicolai, C. A., J. A. Sedinger, D. H. Ward, and W. S. Boyd. 2012. Mate loss affects survival but not breeding in Black Brant geese. Behavioral Ecology 23:1-6.

Sedinger, J. S., J. L. Schamber, D. H. Ward, C. A. Nicolai, and B. Conant. 2011. Carryover effects associated with winter location affect fitness, social status, and population dynamics in a long-distant migrant. The American Naturalist 178(5):E110-E123. doi:10.1086/662165

Takekawa, J. Y., S. W. De La Cruz, M. T. Wilson, E. C. Palm, J. Lee, D. Nysewander, J. R. Evenson, D. Esler, W. S. Boyd, and D. H. Ward. 2011. Breeding synchrony, sympatry, and nesting areas of Pacific coast Surf Scoters (Melanitta perspicillata). Pages 41-64 in J. V. Wells (editor). Boreal birds of North America: a hemispheric view of their conservation links and significance. Studies in Avian Biology (no. 41), University of California Press, Berkeley CA.

Ward D. H., C. P. Dau, T. L. Tibbitts, J. S. Sedinger, B. A. Anderson, and J. E. Hines. 2009. Change in abundance of Pacific Brant wintering in Alaska: Evidence of a climate warming effect? Arctic 62:301-311.

Sedinger, J. S., N. D. Chelgren, D. H. Ward and M. S. Lindberg. 2008. Fidelity and breeding probability related to population density and individual quality in Black Brant geese (Branta bernicla nigricans). Journal of Animal Ecology 77: 702-712.

Ward D. H., A. Reed, J. S. Sedinger, J. M. Black, D. V. Derksen, and P. M. Castelli. 2005. North American brant: effects of changes in habitat and climate on population dynamics. Global Change Biology 11:869-880.

Muñiz-Salazar R., S. Talbot, G. K. Sage, D. H. Ward, and A. Cabello-Pasini. 2005. Population genetic structure of Zostera marina L. along the Pacific coast of Baja California and in the Gulf of California. Molecular Ecology 14:711-722.

Lindberg, M. S., D. H. Ward, T. L. Tibbitts, and J. Roser. 2007. Winter movement dynamics of Black Brant. Journal of Wildlife Management 71:534-540.

Mason, D. D., P. S. Barboza, and D. H. Ward. 2006. Nutritional condition of Pacific Black Brant wintering at the extremes of their range. Condor 108(3):678-690.

Talbot, S. L., S. Wyllie-Echeverria, D. H. Ward, J. R. Rearick, G. K. Sage, B. Chesney, and R. C. Phillips. 2006. Genetic characterization of Zostera asiatica on the Pacific coast of North America. Aquatic Botany 85:169-176.

Sedinger, J. S., D. H. Ward, J. L. Schamber, W. I. Butler, W. D. Eldridge, B. Conant, J. F. Voelzer, N. D. Chelgren, and M. P. Herzog. 2006. Effects of El Niño on distribution and reproductive performance of Black Brant. Ecology 87(1):151-159.

Ward D. H., A. Reed, J. S. Sedinger, J. M. Black, D. V. Derksen, and P. M. Castelli. 2005. North American Brant: Effects of changes in habitat and climate on population dynamics. Global Change Biology 11:869-880.

Muñiz-Salazar R., S. Talbot, G. K. Sage, D. H. Ward, and A. Cabello-Pasini. 2005. Population genetic structure of Zostera marina L. along the Pacific coast of Baja California and in the Gulf of California. Molecular Ecology 14:711-722.

Ackerman, J. T., J. Y. Takekawa, K. L. Kruse, D. L. Orthmeyer, J. L. Yee, C. R. Ely, D. H. Ward, K. S. Bollinger, and D. M. Mulcahy. 2004. Using radiotelemetry to monitor cardiac response of free-living Tule Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons elgasi) to human disturbance. Wilson Bulletin 116:146-151.

Ward, D. H., J. A. Schmutz, J. S. Sedinger, K. S. Bollinger, P. D. Martin, and B. A. Anderson. 2004. Temporal and geographic survival of juvenile Black Brant. Condor 106:263-274.

Sedinger, J. S., M. P. Herzog, and D. H. Ward. 2004. Early environment and recruitment of Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) into the breeding population. Auk 121:68-73.

Ward, D. H., T. L. Tibbitts, A. Morton, E. Carrera-Gonzáles, and R. Kempka 2004. Use of digital multispectral videography to assess seagrass distribution in Bahía San Quintín, Baja California, Mexico. Ciencias Marinas 30(1A):47-60.

Cabello-Pasini, A., R. Muñiz-Salazar, and D. H. Ward. 2004. Biochemical characterization of eelgrass (Zostera marina) in Baja California. Ciencias Marinas 30(1A):21-34.

Ward, D. H., A. Morton, T. L. Tibbitts, D. C. Douglas, and E. Carrera-Gonzáles. 2003. Long-term change in eelgrass distribution at Bahía San Quintín, Baja California, Mexico, using satellite imagery. Estuaries 26:1529-1539.

Ward, D. H., A. Morton, T. L. Tibbitts, S. Ibarra-Obando, and D. Douglas. 2003. Recent trends in eelgrass, Zostera marina, distribution and abundance along the west coast of Baja California, Mexico. Proceedings of the 5th International Seagrass Biology Workshop, Ensenada, Baja California, October 2002. Gulf of Mexico Science 21:139.

Ward, D. H., and S. Ibarra-Obando. 2003. Seagrasses of Pacific Coast of North America. Page 218 in E. Green and F. Short (eds.) World atlas of seagrasses: Present and future conservation. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.

Cabello-Pasini, A., R. Muñiz Salazar, and D. H. Ward. 2003. Annual variation of biomass and photosynthesis in Zostera marina L. along the Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico. Aquatic Botany 76:31-47.

Sedinger, J. S., N. D. Chelgren, M. S. Lindberg, T. Obritchkewitch, M. T. Kirk, P. Martin, B. A. Anderson, and D. H. Ward. 2002. Life-history implications of large-scale spatial variation in adult survival of Black Brant (Branta bernicla nigricans). Auk 119:510-515.

Ward, D. H., R. A. Stehn, and D. V. Derksen. 2000. Response of Geese to Aircraft Disturbances. Terra Borealis (proceedings from the Effects of Noise on Wildlife Conference) 2:52-55.

Ward, D. H., R. A. Stehn, W. P. Erickson, and D. V. Derksen. 1999. Response of fall-staging Brant and Canada Geese to aircraft overflights in southwestern Alaska. Journal Wildlife Management 63:373-381.

Ely, C. R., D. H. Ward, and K. B. Bollinger. 1999. Behavioral correlates of heart rates of free-living Greater White-fronted Geese. Condor 101:390-395

Reed. A., D. H. Ward, D. V. Derksen, and J. S. Sedinger. 1998. Brant (Branta bernicla). In The Birds of North America No. 337 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

Ward, D. H., E. A. Rexstad, J. S. Sedinger, M. S. Lindberg, and N. K. Dawe. 1997. Seasonal and annual survival of adult Pacific Brant. Journal of Wildlife Management 61:773-781.

Websites of Interest

Wintering Ecology of Surf Scoters in Southeast Alaska

Pacific Brant Opting Out of Migration