Peter Coates, PhD
Dr. Peter Coates is a Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey's Western Ecological Research Center.
He is interested in sound science and management practices aimed at restoring wildlife communities and their habitats. He is committed to progressive, scientifically defensible conservation actions in the face of increasing human population size and individual consumption. Abundance and distribution of wild populations often can be linked to changes in their environments caused by human land use practices, but identifying the ecological mechanisms of declining populations are often challenging. Specifically, Dr. Coates is interested in investigating the links between nesting habitat, predator composition, and incubation behavior and success of birds. Additionally, he is interested in the effects of anthropogenic-resource subsidies on the survival and reproduction of predators and how these changes influence demographics and distribution of prey populations. Dr. Coates seeks to develop a broader understanding of how human-caused landscape changes affect communities and aim to identify restoration practices that preserve natural ecological processes. He is also interested in behavioral traits of grouse that affect population establishment and persistence in the face of environmental challenges.
Professional Experience
Wildlife Biologist, U. S. Geological Survey, 2008–present
Postdoctoral Appointment, Idaho State University, 2008
Seasonal Wildlife Biologist, Wildlife Conservation Society, 2007
Graduate Research Assistantship, Idaho State University, 2002–2007
Teaching Assistantship, Idaho State University, 2004–2007
National Science Foundation GK–12 Teaching F, Idaho State University, 2005–2006
Seasonal Biological Specialist, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 2003–2005
Field Research Technician, University of Nevada Reno, 1999
Conservation Biological Technician I, II, and III, Nevada Department of Wildlife, 1996–1998
Education and Certifications
Ph. D., Biology, Idaho State University 2007
M. S., Biology, University of Nevada Reno 2001
B. S., Conservation Biology, University of Nevada Reno 1998
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Ornithologists Union
Cooper Ornithological Society
Jack H. Berryman Institute
Society for Conservation Biology
The Wildlife Society
Science and Products
Spatially explicit modeling of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat in Nevada and northeastern California: a decision-support tool for management
A hierarchical integrated population model for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment, California and Nevada
Hierarchical spatial genetic structure in a distinct population segment of greater sage-grouse
Selection of anthropogenic features and vegetation characteristics by nesting Common Ravens in the sagebrush ecosystem
Intraseasonal variation in survival and probable causes of mortality in greater sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus
Greater sage-grouse nest predators in the Virginia Mountains of northwestern Nevada
Evaluating greater sage-grouse seasonal space use relative to leks: Implications for surface use designations in sagebrush ecosystems
Survival of mountain quail translocated from two distinct source populations
Can reliable sage-grouse lek counts be obtained using aerial infrared technology
Waste rice seed in conventional and stripper-head harvested fields in California: Implications for wintering waterfowl
A modified night-netting technique for recapturing quail
Relative value of managed wetlands and tidal marshlands for wintering northern pintails
Science and Products
Spatially explicit modeling of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat in Nevada and northeastern California: a decision-support tool for management
A hierarchical integrated population model for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment, California and Nevada
Hierarchical spatial genetic structure in a distinct population segment of greater sage-grouse
Selection of anthropogenic features and vegetation characteristics by nesting Common Ravens in the sagebrush ecosystem
Intraseasonal variation in survival and probable causes of mortality in greater sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus
Greater sage-grouse nest predators in the Virginia Mountains of northwestern Nevada
Evaluating greater sage-grouse seasonal space use relative to leks: Implications for surface use designations in sagebrush ecosystems
Survival of mountain quail translocated from two distinct source populations
Can reliable sage-grouse lek counts be obtained using aerial infrared technology
Waste rice seed in conventional and stripper-head harvested fields in California: Implications for wintering waterfowl
A modified night-netting technique for recapturing quail
Relative value of managed wetlands and tidal marshlands for wintering northern pintails
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government