Sarah A Sonsthagen, PhD
Assistant Unit Leader - Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Sarah joined the Nebraska Cooperative Unit in 2020 from the U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center where she studied the evolutionary relationships among Arctic vertebrate populations. Her research focuses on investigating ecological drivers of connectivity and adaptive capacity of species of conservation concern using both field- and laboratory-based methods. Movement underlies many key processes in ecology and evolution and is critical for species response to environmental change, as such, she applies population and community driven approaches to evaluate genomic and demographic connectivity across the landscape, adaptive capacity, and the influence of species biology in shaping spatial and temporal genomic diversity to inform management decisions. Sarah has taught Population genetics, Application of genomics in conservation, and Ornithology.
Sarah was a post-doctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History and National Zoo, awarded her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from University of Alaska Fairbanks, M.S. in Zoology from Brigham Young University, and B.S. in Biology from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Professional Experience
2013 - 2021 Research Geneticist, USGS Alaska Science Center
2015 - Present Research Associate, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
2014 - Present Affiliate Faculty, Utah State University
2009 - Present Affiliate Faculty, University of Alaska Anchorage
2009 - 2013 Geneticist, USGS Alaska Science Center
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2006 University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK
M.S. 2002 Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
B.S. 2000 University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI
Affiliations and Memberships*
Sea Duck Joint Venture Continental Technical Team Member
Wilson Ornithological Society Research Grants Review Committee Member
Science and Products
Interisland genetic structure of two endangered Hawaiian waterbirds: The Hawaiian Coot and Hawaiian Gallinule
Museum metabarcoding: a novel method revealing gut helminth communities of small mammals across space and time
Landscape genetics identifies streams and drainage infrastructure as dispersal corridors for an endangered wetland bird
Development of on-shore behavior among polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the southern Beaufort Sea: Inherited or learned?
Population genetic structure and gene flow of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) breeding throughout the western Antarctic Peninsula
Genetic implications of bottleneck effects of differing severities on genetic diversity in naturally recovering populations: An example from Hawaiian coot and Hawaiian gallinule
Genomics of Arctic cod
Monitoring the welfare of polar bear populations in a rapidly changing Arctic
Intraspecific evolutionary relationships among peregrine falcons in western North American high latitudes
Small-scale genetic structure in an endangered wetland specialist: possible effects of landscape change and population recovery
Development of novel microsatellite markers for the Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) and their utility in cross-species amplification
Recurrent hybridization and recent origin obscure phylogenetic relationships within the ‘white-headed’ gull (Larus sp.) complex
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Interisland genetic structure of two endangered Hawaiian waterbirds: The Hawaiian Coot and Hawaiian Gallinule
Museum metabarcoding: a novel method revealing gut helminth communities of small mammals across space and time
Landscape genetics identifies streams and drainage infrastructure as dispersal corridors for an endangered wetland bird
Development of on-shore behavior among polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the southern Beaufort Sea: Inherited or learned?
Population genetic structure and gene flow of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) breeding throughout the western Antarctic Peninsula
Genetic implications of bottleneck effects of differing severities on genetic diversity in naturally recovering populations: An example from Hawaiian coot and Hawaiian gallinule
Genomics of Arctic cod
Monitoring the welfare of polar bear populations in a rapidly changing Arctic
Intraspecific evolutionary relationships among peregrine falcons in western North American high latitudes
Small-scale genetic structure in an endangered wetland specialist: possible effects of landscape change and population recovery
Development of novel microsatellite markers for the Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) and their utility in cross-species amplification
Recurrent hybridization and recent origin obscure phylogenetic relationships within the ‘white-headed’ gull (Larus sp.) complex
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
*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