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Meet the Fisheries and Wildlife Faculty

Dylan Kesler

Dylan Kesler, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Fisheries and Wildlife

Education

  • Ph.D., 2005, Oregon State University

Research

  • Kesler conducts research on the interface of science and conservation utility. Results address why populations decline, and then provide insights that can be used to stop extinction. Areas of interest include conservation biology, translation and reintroduction, dispersal, population biology, and endangered species recovery. Please visit my web site for additional information.

Research Summary

  • Studies of resource use and movements in Tuamotu Kingfishers, Micronesian Kingfishers, Brown-headed Nuthatches, and Greater Prairie-Chickens focus on the factors underlying social behavior, space use, population demographic processes, and dispersal. Results are being used to evaluate and design conservation rescue programs, including translocations and reintroductions for all four species.
  • Ongoing work on Black-backed Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, and shorebirds on Alaska's North Slope evaluates the effects of resource configuration and landscape structure on breeding site selection, dispersal movements, and population connectivity. Results will help identify alternative conservation strategies for mitigating future landscape changes on endangered bird populations.
  • On Wake Island, work is aimed at identifying factors affecting survival in Sooty Tern chicks, including conservation management for invasive rats.

Selected Publications

  • Kesler, D. C., R. M. Laws*, A. S. Cox*, A. Gouni, J. D. Stafford. In review.
    The influence of territory resources on survival in the critically endangered Tuamotu Kingfisher and implications for population persistence. in review.
  • Kesler, D. C., A. S. Cox*, G. C. Coulombe*, G. Albar, A. Gouni, J. Mejeur, C. Plasse. In review.
    Trial reintroduction to guide Tuamotu Kingfisher assisted colonization. in review.
  • Lehman, C. P., D. C. Kesler, C. T. *Rota, M. A. Rumble, E. M. Seckinger, T. M. Juntti, and J. J. Millspaugh. In review.
    Hand-held netguns: a technique for capturing Black-backed Woodpeckers. in review.
  • Kesler, D. C., and J. R. Walters. in review.
    Matrix habitats and destination territory social composition affect red-cockaded woodpecker dispersal. In review.
  • Kesler, D. C. in press.
    The role of science in avian conservation: examples from Pacific Island Kingfishers. Proceedings of the IV International Symposium on Breeding Birds in Captivity. Toronto, Canada. In press.
  • Kesler, D. C. 2011.
    Non-permanent radiotelemetry leg harness for small birds. Journal of Wildlife Management. In press.
  • *Coulombe, G. C., D. C. Kesler, A. Gouni. 2011.
    Factors influencing occurrence and habitat use of Tuamotu Kingfishers at landscape and territory scales. Auk 128 (In press).
  • McGowan, C. P., D. C. Kesler, and M. R. Ryan. 2011.
    Endangered species management teaching module, comprised of five parts, including: a) lecture slides; b) lecture notes; c) problem case; d) hands-on lab exercise; and e) a synthesis overview. American Museum of Natural History Center for Biodiversity and Conservation. Lessons in Conservation available online, hardcopy in press.
  • Kesler, D. C., J. R. Walters, and J. J. Kapes. 2010.
    Multiple movement modes and the fat-tailed distribution of dispersal distances in Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. Behavioral Ecology 21:1337-1343.
  • Kesler, D. C., T. Ghestemme, E. Portier, A. Gouni. 2010.
    Cooperative Breeding of the Society Kingfisher (Todiramphus veneratus). Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 122:46-50.
  • *Jachowski, D. S., and D. C. Kesler. 2009.
    Allowing extinction: should we let species go? Trends in Ecology and Evolution 24:180.
  • Kesler, D. C., and S. M. Haig. 2007. Conservation biology for suites of species: demographic modeling for the Pacific island kingfishers. Biological Conservation 136:520-530.
  • Kesler, D. C., and S. M. Haig. 2007.
    Multi-scale resource use and selection in cooperatively breeding Micronesian Kingfishers. Journal of Wildlife Management 71:765-772.
  • Kesler, D. C., and S. M. Haig. 2007.
    Territoriality, prospecting, and dispersal in cooperatively breeding Micronesian Kingfishers. Auk 124:381-395.
  • Haig, S. M., E. Beever, S. M. Chambers, H. M. Draheim, B. D. Dugger, S. Dunham, E. Elliott-Smith, J. Fontaine, D. C. Kesler, B. Knaus, I. F. Lopes, P. Loschl, T. D. Mullins, and L. M. Sheffield. 2006.
    Taxonomic considerations in listing subspecies under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Conservation Biology 20:1584-1594.
  • Kesler, D. C., I. F. Lopes, and S. M. Haig. 2006.
    Sex determination in the Pohnpei Micronesian Kingfisher using morphological and molecular genetic techniques. Journal of Field Ornithology 77:229-232.
  • Kesler, D. C., and S. M. Haig. 2005.
    Microhabitat thermal characteristics and nest site selection in Micronesian kingfishers. Pacific Science 59:499-508.
  • Kesler, D. C., and S. M. Haig. 2005.
    Selection of arboreal termitaria for nesting by cooperatively breeding Pohnpei Micronesian Kingfishers. Ibis 147:188-196.
  • Kesler, D. C., and S. M. Haig. 2004.
    Thermal characteristics of wild and captive Micronesian kingfisher nesting habitats. Zoo Biology 23:301-308.

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