Scientists from the USGS Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) are conducting a "social attraction" study for seabirds in the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Historically, this region offered wetland habitats to local wildlife. With the introduction of industrial salt ponds and human development, however, much of this habitat was lost.
Josh T Ackerman
Dr. Ackerman is a Principal Investigator with USGS and an Associate in the Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology at the University of California-Davis.
His research expertise is in wildlife ecology and ecotoxicology, and his research program focuses on bird ecology, wetland management and restoration, contaminant bioaccumulation in fish and wildlife, and effects of contaminants on animal health and populations.
Education
- Ph.D. 2002, Ecology, University of California-Davis
- B.S. 1997 (Magna Cum Laude), Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California-Davis
Professional Experience
- Research Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, California (2006-present)
- Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, San Francisco Bay Estuary Field Station, Vallejo, California (2004-2006)
- Post-doctoral Researcher, John Muir Institute of the Environment, University of California-Davis (2003-2004)
- Post-doctoral Researcher, Dept. of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California-Davis (2002-2003)
- Teaching Assistant, Ecology and Management of Waterfowl and Game Birds (Spring 2002) and Field Methods in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology (Summer 2001), Dept. of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California-Davis
- Waterfowl Researcher (1999-2000), Crew Leader (Spring 1998, 1999, 2000), and Technician (Spring 1997), California Waterfowl Association, Sacramento, California
- Doctoral Research, Dept. of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California-Davis (1997-2002)
- Biological Technician (Summer 1995) and Biological Aid (Summer 1994), U.S. Forest Service, Tahoe National Forest, Nevada City, California
Selected Publications
2020 Ackerman, JT, MP Herzog, DC Evers, DA Cristol, KP Kenow, GH Heinz, RA Lavoie, RL Brasso, ML Mallory, JF Provencher, BM Braune, A Matz, JA Schmutz, CA Eagles-Smith, LJ Savoy, MW Meyer, and CA Hartman. Synthesis of maternal transfer of mercury in birds: implications for altered toxicity risk. Environmental Science and Technology 54:2878-2891.
2016 Ackerman, JT, CA Eagles-Smith, MP Herzog, CA Hartman, SH Peterson, DC Evers, AK Jackson, JE Elliott, SS Vander Pol, and CE Bryan. Avian mercury exposure and toxicological risk across western North America: a synthesis. Science of the Total Environment 568:749-769.
2014 Ackerman, JT, MP Herzog, GS Yarris, ML Casazza, E Burns, and JM Eadie. Chapter 5: Waterfowl ecology and management in Suisun Marsh: Ecological History and Possible Futures. University of California Press: Berkeley, California.
Science and Products
Estimating Methylmercury Injury to Birds—“The Bird Mercury Tool”
Avian Influenza Prevalence Correlated to Mercury Concentrations in Wild Waterfowl
Ecologically-Driven Exposure Pathways Science Team
Wetland Management Technique Designed to Reduce Mercury in Water and Fish Tested During a Short-Term Field Study
Science to Help Understand Exposure and Toxicological Effects of Environmental Mercury to Representative Birds
Suisun Marsh Waterfowl and Wildlife Studies
Scientists Identify Processes that Affect Fish Mercury Concentrations in Estuarine Wetlands
New Method Can Measure Naturally Occurring Element Exposure in Hummingbirds Without Harm
Mercury Bioaccumulation in Wetlands
Contaminants in Waterbirds and Effects on Avian Reproduction
Breeding and Wintering Ecology of Waterfowl
Waterbird Breeding Ecology and Management
Bird use of Winter-Flooded Rice Fields in the Sacramento Valley, California
Body Mass of Dabbling and Diving Ducks Harvested in California
Timing of Occurrence of Waterfowl in U.S. Counties and Canadian Counties, Boroughs, Census Districts, and Other Populated Area Designations with Modeled Exposure Status to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in 2021-2022
Duckling Survival in a Brackish Marsh
Egg Mercury Concentration and Egg Size in Two Songbird Species
Methylmercury Effects on Birds: Bibliography and Dataset for the Development of Toxicity Reference Values for Injury Assessment
Egg Membrane Thickness in 13 Waterbird Species
Maternal Transfer of Mercury to Northern Elephant Seal Pups
Eggshell Thickness in 5 Songbird Species
Data describing habitat use and availability for wild waterfowl in California, USA
Geochemical data for water, sediment, and biota in Lake Combie, California, 2017-2021
Nest Attendance, Incubation Constancy, and Onset of Incubation in Dabbling Ducks
Scientists from the USGS Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) are conducting a "social attraction" study for seabirds in the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Historically, this region offered wetland habitats to local wildlife. With the introduction of industrial salt ponds and human development, however, much of this habitat was lost.
Photograph showing white-faced ibis nesting at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Great Salt Lake, Utah. U.S.
Photograph showing white-faced ibis nesting at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Great Salt Lake, Utah. U.S.
![Foster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) While Hunting in Flight](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/forsters_tern_hunting_western_mercury_synthesis_sf_ackerman_102_0221_crop.jpg?itok=ZrdtvrYg)
Photo of Foster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) while hunting. Forster’s terns are among the most at-risk wildlife species to mercury toxicity in western North America.
Photo of Foster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) while hunting. Forster’s terns are among the most at-risk wildlife species to mercury toxicity in western North America.
Mitigating risk: Predicting H5N1 avian influenza spread with an empirical model of bird movement
Egg mercury concentration and egg size varies with position in the laying sequence in two songbird species
Global mercury concentrations in biota: Their use as a basis for a global biomonitoring framework
Methylmercury effects on birds: A review, meta-analysis, and development of toxicity reference values for injury assessment based on tissue residues and diet
Eggshell membrane thickness and its contribution to total eggshell thickness for 13 waterbird species
Potential use of poultry farms by wild waterfowl in California's Central Valley varies across space, times of day, and species: implications for influenza transmission risk
Foraging behavior and age affect maternal transfer of mercury to northern elephant seal pups
Eggshell thickness and egg morphometrics in five songbird species from the Central Valley, California
Monitoring nesting waterbirds for the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project—2022 breeding season
Nest attendance, incubation constancy, and onset of incubation in dabbling ducks
Habitat use by breeding waterbirds in relation to tidal marsh restoration in the San Francisco Bay estuary
Mercury bioaccumulation and cortisol interact to influence endocrine and immune biomarkers in a free-ranging marine mammal
Waterfowl Ecology in Suisun Marsh and the Pacific Flyway
Learn about waterfowl research by scientists at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center.
Re-establishing Waterbird Breeding Colonies in San Francisco Bay
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) story map details how partners are using science and management to maintain and establish new bird nesting colonies in support of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Methylmercury Effects on Birds: Percent Injury Tool
Science and Products
Estimating Methylmercury Injury to Birds—“The Bird Mercury Tool”
Avian Influenza Prevalence Correlated to Mercury Concentrations in Wild Waterfowl
Ecologically-Driven Exposure Pathways Science Team
Wetland Management Technique Designed to Reduce Mercury in Water and Fish Tested During a Short-Term Field Study
Science to Help Understand Exposure and Toxicological Effects of Environmental Mercury to Representative Birds
Suisun Marsh Waterfowl and Wildlife Studies
Scientists Identify Processes that Affect Fish Mercury Concentrations in Estuarine Wetlands
New Method Can Measure Naturally Occurring Element Exposure in Hummingbirds Without Harm
Mercury Bioaccumulation in Wetlands
Contaminants in Waterbirds and Effects on Avian Reproduction
Breeding and Wintering Ecology of Waterfowl
Waterbird Breeding Ecology and Management
Bird use of Winter-Flooded Rice Fields in the Sacramento Valley, California
Body Mass of Dabbling and Diving Ducks Harvested in California
Timing of Occurrence of Waterfowl in U.S. Counties and Canadian Counties, Boroughs, Census Districts, and Other Populated Area Designations with Modeled Exposure Status to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in 2021-2022
Duckling Survival in a Brackish Marsh
Egg Mercury Concentration and Egg Size in Two Songbird Species
Methylmercury Effects on Birds: Bibliography and Dataset for the Development of Toxicity Reference Values for Injury Assessment
Egg Membrane Thickness in 13 Waterbird Species
Maternal Transfer of Mercury to Northern Elephant Seal Pups
Eggshell Thickness in 5 Songbird Species
Data describing habitat use and availability for wild waterfowl in California, USA
Geochemical data for water, sediment, and biota in Lake Combie, California, 2017-2021
Nest Attendance, Incubation Constancy, and Onset of Incubation in Dabbling Ducks
Scientists from the USGS Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) are conducting a "social attraction" study for seabirds in the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Historically, this region offered wetland habitats to local wildlife. With the introduction of industrial salt ponds and human development, however, much of this habitat was lost.
Scientists from the USGS Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) are conducting a "social attraction" study for seabirds in the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Historically, this region offered wetland habitats to local wildlife. With the introduction of industrial salt ponds and human development, however, much of this habitat was lost.
Photograph showing white-faced ibis nesting at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Great Salt Lake, Utah. U.S.
Photograph showing white-faced ibis nesting at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Great Salt Lake, Utah. U.S.
![Foster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) While Hunting in Flight](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/forsters_tern_hunting_western_mercury_synthesis_sf_ackerman_102_0221_crop.jpg?itok=ZrdtvrYg)
Photo of Foster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) while hunting. Forster’s terns are among the most at-risk wildlife species to mercury toxicity in western North America.
Photo of Foster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) while hunting. Forster’s terns are among the most at-risk wildlife species to mercury toxicity in western North America.
Mitigating risk: Predicting H5N1 avian influenza spread with an empirical model of bird movement
Egg mercury concentration and egg size varies with position in the laying sequence in two songbird species
Global mercury concentrations in biota: Their use as a basis for a global biomonitoring framework
Methylmercury effects on birds: A review, meta-analysis, and development of toxicity reference values for injury assessment based on tissue residues and diet
Eggshell membrane thickness and its contribution to total eggshell thickness for 13 waterbird species
Potential use of poultry farms by wild waterfowl in California's Central Valley varies across space, times of day, and species: implications for influenza transmission risk
Foraging behavior and age affect maternal transfer of mercury to northern elephant seal pups
Eggshell thickness and egg morphometrics in five songbird species from the Central Valley, California
Monitoring nesting waterbirds for the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project—2022 breeding season
Nest attendance, incubation constancy, and onset of incubation in dabbling ducks
Habitat use by breeding waterbirds in relation to tidal marsh restoration in the San Francisco Bay estuary
Mercury bioaccumulation and cortisol interact to influence endocrine and immune biomarkers in a free-ranging marine mammal
Waterfowl Ecology in Suisun Marsh and the Pacific Flyway
Learn about waterfowl research by scientists at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center.
Re-establishing Waterbird Breeding Colonies in San Francisco Bay
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Western Ecological Research Center (WERC) story map details how partners are using science and management to maintain and establish new bird nesting colonies in support of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.