The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers the Appalachian grizzled skipper (Pyrgus wyandot). The small number of known colonies, the small number of individuals per colony, and the lack of information on the genetic relationships among the colonies, populations, and metapopulations render the Appalachian grizzled skipper vulnerable to extinction.
Nimish Vyas, Ph.D.
Dr. Nimish B. Vyas is research biologist at the USGS Ecological Science Center, Laurel MD
I am a research biologist driven by my interest in avian conservation. My research focuses primarily on identifying and addressing threats to birds and their environments that arise from human ignorance and arrogance. My current work falls under ecotoxicology, pollinators, and invasive species research categories but my interests also encompass a myriad of other anthropogenic hazards to birds (for example, energy development, light pollution, avian trafficking and poaching, and illegal killings). Much of my research produces publications with real-world applicability. These publications have the unique property of direct implementation for avian conservation in the field. My publications have been used by natural resource managers, policy regulators, wildlife law enforcement agents, and U.S. Attorneys. Since 1996, I have served as an instructor for the annually offered, one week-long US Fish and Wildlife Services training course entitled Pesticides and Fish and Wildlife Resources.
Science and Products
Scientists Provide an Understanding of Anticoagulant Rodenticide Exposure in Non-Target Bird Species
U.S. Geological Survey scientists and their partners utilize laboratory and field studies and existing information to improve understanding of anticoagulant rodenticide exposure and effects to wild birds.
Determining carcass scavenging rates on major rivers for oil spill response and NRDAR
We are conducting avian carcass detection and persistence trials to generate an estimator to correct for the avian injuries that are not found after a oil spill on inland rivers.
Does tropospheric ozone, resulting from fossil fuel combustion, disrupt bee pollination?
The Challenge: Pollinators such as bees use floral volatiles to guide them to flowers. Tropospheric ozone produced from fossil fuel combustion products can breakdown floral volatiles. Interference with bee pollination threatens habitat quality and biodiversity and the security of the US food supply system.
Characterization of Avian Hazards Following Chlorophacinone Use for Prairie Dog Control
The Challenge: Black-tailed prairie dogs are considered a keystone species for the prairie habitat. Many avian species are associated with black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in winter. Raptors feed on prairie dogs and non-raptor avian species forage within prairie dog colonies. However prairie dogs are also considered agricultural pests. The first-generation anticoagulant rodenticide...
Managing Free-Roaming Cats at the Patuxent Research Refuge
The Challenge: Free-roaming cats (Felis catus) are nonnative predators of small mammals, songbirds and gamebirds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. They are also competitors of native predators and vectors for diseases to human and wildlife. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is authorized to remove cats from National Wildlife Refuges. Presently cat trapping on Refuge lands is conducted...
Tissue sampling from Appalachian Grizzled skipper
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers the Appalachian grizzled skipper (Pyrgus wyandot). The small number of known colonies, the small number of individuals per colony, and the lack of information on the genetic relationships among the colonies, populations, and metapopulations render the Appalachian grizzled skipper vulnerable to extinction.
Bee marked with tag white 60 on hive frame
Bees tagged to allow researchers to monitoring their foraging behavior.
Associated project title "Impacts of fossil fuel combustion on pollinators"
Bees tagged to allow researchers to monitoring their foraging behavior.
Associated project title "Impacts of fossil fuel combustion on pollinators"
Tagged bee on comb
Bee with tag light blue 84 on comb. Bees tagged so researchers can monitor individual bee foraging behavior.
Bee with tag light blue 84 on comb. Bees tagged so researchers can monitor individual bee foraging behavior.
Bee colony health check
Researchers monitoring frame for marked bees and colony health. The associated project is Impacts of fossil fuels on pollinators.
Researchers monitoring frame for marked bees and colony health. The associated project is Impacts of fossil fuels on pollinators.
Science and Products
Scientists Provide an Understanding of Anticoagulant Rodenticide Exposure in Non-Target Bird Species
U.S. Geological Survey scientists and their partners utilize laboratory and field studies and existing information to improve understanding of anticoagulant rodenticide exposure and effects to wild birds.
Determining carcass scavenging rates on major rivers for oil spill response and NRDAR
We are conducting avian carcass detection and persistence trials to generate an estimator to correct for the avian injuries that are not found after a oil spill on inland rivers.
Does tropospheric ozone, resulting from fossil fuel combustion, disrupt bee pollination?
The Challenge: Pollinators such as bees use floral volatiles to guide them to flowers. Tropospheric ozone produced from fossil fuel combustion products can breakdown floral volatiles. Interference with bee pollination threatens habitat quality and biodiversity and the security of the US food supply system.
Characterization of Avian Hazards Following Chlorophacinone Use for Prairie Dog Control
The Challenge: Black-tailed prairie dogs are considered a keystone species for the prairie habitat. Many avian species are associated with black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in winter. Raptors feed on prairie dogs and non-raptor avian species forage within prairie dog colonies. However prairie dogs are also considered agricultural pests. The first-generation anticoagulant rodenticide...
Managing Free-Roaming Cats at the Patuxent Research Refuge
The Challenge: Free-roaming cats (Felis catus) are nonnative predators of small mammals, songbirds and gamebirds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. They are also competitors of native predators and vectors for diseases to human and wildlife. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is authorized to remove cats from National Wildlife Refuges. Presently cat trapping on Refuge lands is conducted...
Tissue sampling from Appalachian Grizzled skipper
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers the Appalachian grizzled skipper (Pyrgus wyandot). The small number of known colonies, the small number of individuals per colony, and the lack of information on the genetic relationships among the colonies, populations, and metapopulations render the Appalachian grizzled skipper vulnerable to extinction.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers the Appalachian grizzled skipper (Pyrgus wyandot). The small number of known colonies, the small number of individuals per colony, and the lack of information on the genetic relationships among the colonies, populations, and metapopulations render the Appalachian grizzled skipper vulnerable to extinction.
Bee marked with tag white 60 on hive frame
Bees tagged to allow researchers to monitoring their foraging behavior.
Associated project title "Impacts of fossil fuel combustion on pollinators"
Bees tagged to allow researchers to monitoring their foraging behavior.
Associated project title "Impacts of fossil fuel combustion on pollinators"
Tagged bee on comb
Bee with tag light blue 84 on comb. Bees tagged so researchers can monitor individual bee foraging behavior.
Bee with tag light blue 84 on comb. Bees tagged so researchers can monitor individual bee foraging behavior.
Bee colony health check
Researchers monitoring frame for marked bees and colony health. The associated project is Impacts of fossil fuels on pollinators.
Researchers monitoring frame for marked bees and colony health. The associated project is Impacts of fossil fuels on pollinators.