USGS biologists with the Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) climb the upper slopes of False Klamath Rock, off the California coast.
Jonathan Felis
Jonathan Felis is a geographer at the Western Ecological Research Center.
The research Jonathan Felis is involved in seeks to understand seabird foraging ecology and identify the processes responsible for habitat selection, particularly through the use of tracking technologies and at-sea surveys. As a geographer, Jonathan's goal is to apply these data spatially in order to better inform conservation and management decisions in the context of marine spatial planning.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Seabird Ecology
- Wildlife Telemetry
- Geographic Information Systems
EDUCATION
- BS, Environmental Geology, The College of William and Mary, 2003
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Geographer, USGS Western Ecological Research Center, Santa Cruz Field Station, 2014-Present
Science and Products
Marbled Murrelet Surveys off the Central California Coast
Since 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center has continued long-term at-sea surveys of federally threatened Marbled Murrelets in central California.
Seabird Vulnerability Assessment for Renewable Energy Projects
In 2017, the Western Ecological Research Center's seabird studies team developed a framework for quantifying seabird species vulnerability to offshore wind energy infrastructure in the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf portion of the California Current region. This tool supports marine resource-use planning by identifying sites where seabirds are most vulnerable and predicts how different species...
Breeding Seabirds of the Main Hawaiian Islands
The seabird research team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is working with many partners to map the terrestrial and marine distributions of breeding seabirds of the main Hawaiian islands.
Ashy Storm-Petrel Range and Colony Attendance Behavior
Together with Federal and non-profit partners, WERC's Josh Adams and team are using cutting-edge technology to study the range and colony attendance patterns of the Ashy Storm-Petrel, an elusive seabird native to offshore rocks and islands along the California coast. Their research informs management and conservation for this threatened seabird species.
Seabird Health and Adaptive Management
Dr. Josh Adams and his science team at WERC study seabird health and support adaptive management by quantifying abundance patterns and behaviors associated with habitats at sea, where seabirds spend the overwhelming majority of their lives. Adams’s team also employs conservation science to support resource managers on land, where seabirds are obligated to nest. His group provides scientific...
Seabird Ecology and Marine Planning
Seabirds are Department of the Interior (DOI) Trust Species and are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Act. To support science-based decision capacity and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) among U.S. Government resource managers, Dr. Josh Adams and the WERC seabird team have partnered with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service...
Santa Cruz Field Station
Scientists at the Santa Cruz Field Station study sea otters and seabirds in their environment. The USGS Western Ecological Research Center has two research missions based in the Santa Cruz region:
WERC Seabird Biologists on False Klamath Rock
USGS biologists with the Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) climb the upper slopes of False Klamath Rock, off the California coast.
WERC Wildlife Biologist Climbs Offshore Islet
USGS wildlife biologist Emma Kelsey searches for potential Ashy storm-petrel nesting habitat on Piedras Blancas rock, off the California coast. Ashy storm-petrels make their home in burrows and crevices on offshore rocks and islands, and only enter and leave nests under the cover of darkness.
USGS wildlife biologist Emma Kelsey searches for potential Ashy storm-petrel nesting habitat on Piedras Blancas rock, off the California coast. Ashy storm-petrels make their home in burrows and crevices on offshore rocks and islands, and only enter and leave nests under the cover of darkness.
Pelicans on a rock
Pelicans on a rock, observed by the USGS Western Ecological Center Seabird Studies team.
Pelicans on a rock, observed by the USGS Western Ecological Center Seabird Studies team.
WERC Big Sur Deployment
Scientists from the USGS Western Ecological Research Center deploy to Big Sur to study seabird populations.
Scientists from the USGS Western Ecological Research Center deploy to Big Sur to study seabird populations.
Red-footed booby
The red-footed booby is a seabird that ranges across tropical oceans of the world, including Hawaiʻi. And yes, these boobies do have startlingly bright red feet set off by their awesome blue bills. This bird is nesting at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, an important seabird breeding site on Kauaʻi.
The red-footed booby is a seabird that ranges across tropical oceans of the world, including Hawaiʻi. And yes, these boobies do have startlingly bright red feet set off by their awesome blue bills. This bird is nesting at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, an important seabird breeding site on Kauaʻi.
White-Tailed Tropicbird Flying
Picture of a White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) flying.
Picture of a White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) flying.
Red-Tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) in Flight
Photo of a Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) in flight.
Photo of a Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) in flight.
Close up of red-footed booby
The red-footed booby is a seabird that ranges across tropical oceans of the world, including Hawaiʻi. And yes, these boobies do have startlingly bright red feet set off by their awesome blue bills. This bird is nesting at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, an important seabird breeding site on Kauaʻi.
The red-footed booby is a seabird that ranges across tropical oceans of the world, including Hawaiʻi. And yes, these boobies do have startlingly bright red feet set off by their awesome blue bills. This bird is nesting at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, an important seabird breeding site on Kauaʻi.
Murre Colony on Prince Island
A breeding colony of California common murres (Uria aalge californica) on Prince Island off San Miguel Island off Southern California. Ecologists Josh Adams and Jonathan Felis of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center shot this and other high-resolution digital telephotos from a research vessel, and used the photos to identify nesting and feeding behavior.
A breeding colony of California common murres (Uria aalge californica) on Prince Island off San Miguel Island off Southern California. Ecologists Josh Adams and Jonathan Felis of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center shot this and other high-resolution digital telephotos from a research vessel, and used the photos to identify nesting and feeding behavior.
Murre Colony, Inset Detail
This inset of the associated murre colony photo shows evidence of nesting and chick-feeding in a California common murre colony on Prince Island off San Miguel Island off Southern California.
This inset of the associated murre colony photo shows evidence of nesting and chick-feeding in a California common murre colony on Prince Island off San Miguel Island off Southern California.
Science and Products
Marbled Murrelet Surveys off the Central California Coast
Since 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey Western Ecological Research Center has continued long-term at-sea surveys of federally threatened Marbled Murrelets in central California.
Seabird Vulnerability Assessment for Renewable Energy Projects
In 2017, the Western Ecological Research Center's seabird studies team developed a framework for quantifying seabird species vulnerability to offshore wind energy infrastructure in the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf portion of the California Current region. This tool supports marine resource-use planning by identifying sites where seabirds are most vulnerable and predicts how different species...
Breeding Seabirds of the Main Hawaiian Islands
The seabird research team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is working with many partners to map the terrestrial and marine distributions of breeding seabirds of the main Hawaiian islands.
Ashy Storm-Petrel Range and Colony Attendance Behavior
Together with Federal and non-profit partners, WERC's Josh Adams and team are using cutting-edge technology to study the range and colony attendance patterns of the Ashy Storm-Petrel, an elusive seabird native to offshore rocks and islands along the California coast. Their research informs management and conservation for this threatened seabird species.
Seabird Health and Adaptive Management
Dr. Josh Adams and his science team at WERC study seabird health and support adaptive management by quantifying abundance patterns and behaviors associated with habitats at sea, where seabirds spend the overwhelming majority of their lives. Adams’s team also employs conservation science to support resource managers on land, where seabirds are obligated to nest. His group provides scientific...
Seabird Ecology and Marine Planning
Seabirds are Department of the Interior (DOI) Trust Species and are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Act. To support science-based decision capacity and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) among U.S. Government resource managers, Dr. Josh Adams and the WERC seabird team have partnered with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service...
Santa Cruz Field Station
Scientists at the Santa Cruz Field Station study sea otters and seabirds in their environment. The USGS Western Ecological Research Center has two research missions based in the Santa Cruz region:
WERC Seabird Biologists on False Klamath Rock
USGS biologists with the Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) climb the upper slopes of False Klamath Rock, off the California coast.
USGS biologists with the Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) climb the upper slopes of False Klamath Rock, off the California coast.
WERC Wildlife Biologist Climbs Offshore Islet
USGS wildlife biologist Emma Kelsey searches for potential Ashy storm-petrel nesting habitat on Piedras Blancas rock, off the California coast. Ashy storm-petrels make their home in burrows and crevices on offshore rocks and islands, and only enter and leave nests under the cover of darkness.
USGS wildlife biologist Emma Kelsey searches for potential Ashy storm-petrel nesting habitat on Piedras Blancas rock, off the California coast. Ashy storm-petrels make their home in burrows and crevices on offshore rocks and islands, and only enter and leave nests under the cover of darkness.
Pelicans on a rock
Pelicans on a rock, observed by the USGS Western Ecological Center Seabird Studies team.
Pelicans on a rock, observed by the USGS Western Ecological Center Seabird Studies team.
WERC Big Sur Deployment
Scientists from the USGS Western Ecological Research Center deploy to Big Sur to study seabird populations.
Scientists from the USGS Western Ecological Research Center deploy to Big Sur to study seabird populations.
Red-footed booby
The red-footed booby is a seabird that ranges across tropical oceans of the world, including Hawaiʻi. And yes, these boobies do have startlingly bright red feet set off by their awesome blue bills. This bird is nesting at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, an important seabird breeding site on Kauaʻi.
The red-footed booby is a seabird that ranges across tropical oceans of the world, including Hawaiʻi. And yes, these boobies do have startlingly bright red feet set off by their awesome blue bills. This bird is nesting at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, an important seabird breeding site on Kauaʻi.
White-Tailed Tropicbird Flying
Picture of a White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) flying.
Picture of a White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) flying.
Red-Tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) in Flight
Photo of a Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) in flight.
Photo of a Red-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) in flight.
Close up of red-footed booby
The red-footed booby is a seabird that ranges across tropical oceans of the world, including Hawaiʻi. And yes, these boobies do have startlingly bright red feet set off by their awesome blue bills. This bird is nesting at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, an important seabird breeding site on Kauaʻi.
The red-footed booby is a seabird that ranges across tropical oceans of the world, including Hawaiʻi. And yes, these boobies do have startlingly bright red feet set off by their awesome blue bills. This bird is nesting at Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, an important seabird breeding site on Kauaʻi.
Murre Colony on Prince Island
A breeding colony of California common murres (Uria aalge californica) on Prince Island off San Miguel Island off Southern California. Ecologists Josh Adams and Jonathan Felis of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center shot this and other high-resolution digital telephotos from a research vessel, and used the photos to identify nesting and feeding behavior.
A breeding colony of California common murres (Uria aalge californica) on Prince Island off San Miguel Island off Southern California. Ecologists Josh Adams and Jonathan Felis of the USGS Western Ecological Research Center shot this and other high-resolution digital telephotos from a research vessel, and used the photos to identify nesting and feeding behavior.
Murre Colony, Inset Detail
This inset of the associated murre colony photo shows evidence of nesting and chick-feeding in a California common murre colony on Prince Island off San Miguel Island off Southern California.
This inset of the associated murre colony photo shows evidence of nesting and chick-feeding in a California common murre colony on Prince Island off San Miguel Island off Southern California.