Scientists & Staff
Scott Stoleson
News Releases
Current Research
My research examines the impacts of forest management practices on the distribution, abundance, and demography of vertebrate populations, and quantification of the habitat requirements of wildlife communities and species of special concern on the Allegheny Plateau.
- Assessment of the impact of timber management on the abundance and demography of cerulean warblers.
- Understanding the frequency and costs/benefits of use of clearcuts by forest interior birds in the post-fledging period.
- Assessment of impacts of an herbicide tank mix on avian, mammal, and herp communities in Allegheny hardwood forests.
- Assessment of the effects of prescribed fire on wildlife taxa of concern.
Research Interests
- Develop silvicultural guidelines for maintaining or enhancing habitat quality for cerulean warblers and other forest bird species of high conservation concern.
- Develop a wildlife community component to the SILVAH decision support system to predict responses of suites of vertebrate species to silvicultural treatments and to better integrate wildlife habitat as a management goal.
- Because not all species are of equal conservation concern, standard metrics such as species counts and diversity indices provide only a partial picture of the impacts of management on natural communities. With partners at the U.S. Aviary, I will develop and implement a conservation value metric as a tool to evaluate the contribution of communities based on existing conservation priority, such as the Partners in Flight prioritization scores or heritage rankings
- Determine the local and cumulative effects of oil and gas development on forest wildlife.
Why This Research is Important
Managers of public lands are mandated to manage for multiple objectives, including maintaining biodiversity. Populations of many forest birds have declined in recent decades, raising concerns about their viability in working forest landscapes. Scientifically sound information on the habitat requirements of these species and how they respond to management practices is essential for managers to maintain these species effectively.Education
- Yale University, Ph.D. Wildlife Ecology, 1996
- Dartmouth College, A.B. Biological Sciences, 1979
Professional Experience
- Research Wildlife Biologist, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Albuquerque, NM 1997 - 2002
Professional Organizations
- Association of Field Ornithologists (2012 - Current)
- Cooper Ornithological Society (2012 - Current)
Grinnell Award Committee - Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology (2012 - Current)
Research and Conservation Committee - Pennsylvania Biological Survey (2009 - Current)
Ornithological Technical Committee - Roger Tory Peterson Institute (2007 - Current)
- The Wildlife Society (2002 - Current)
- Wilson Ornithological Society (1987 - Current)
- American Ornithologists' Union (1984 - Current)
- Ecological Society of America (2002 - 2009)
Corporate Awards Committee
Awards & Recognition
- Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology's Earl Poole Award, 2014 "for significant contributions to Pennsylvania's ornithology, and his serving as an important role model for upcoming ornithologists"
- Partners in Flight Outstanding Research Award (Cerulean Warbler Technical Group, Research Team), 2013 for exceptional contributions to the field of landbird conservation
Featured Publications & Products
- Raybuck, Douglas ; Larkin, Jeffery ; Stoleson, Scott ; Boves, Than J. 2019. Radio-tracking reveals insight into survival and dynamic habitat selection of fledgling Cerulean Warblers. The Condor
- Jones, Todd M.; Brawn, Jeffrey D.; Ausprey, Ian J.; Vitz, Andrew C.; Rodewald, Amanda D.; Raybuck, Douglas W.; Boves, Than J.; Fiss, Cameron J.; McNeil, Darin J.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Larkin, Jeffery L.; Cox, W. Andrew; Schwarzer, Amy C.; Horsley, Noah P.; Trumbo, Evalynn M.; Ward, Michael P. 2020. Parental benefits and offspring costs reflect parent-offspring conflict over the age of fledging among songbirds. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Lott, Casey A.; Akresh, Michael E.; Costanzo, Bridgett E.; D'Amato, Anthony W.; Duan, Shengwu ; Fiss, Cameron J.; Fraser, Jacob S.; He, Hong S.; King, David I; McNeil, Darin J.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Yamasaki, Mariko ; Larkin, Jeffery L. 2021. Do Review Papers on Bird-Vegetation Relationships Provide Actionable Information to Forest Managers in the Eastern United States?. Forests
- Royo, Alejandro ; Vickers, Lance ; Long, Robert ; Ristau, Todd ; Stoleson, Scott ; Stout, Susan L. 2021. The Forest of Unintended Consequences: Anthropogenic Actions Trigger the Rise and Fall of Black Cherry. BioScience
- Stoleson, Scott H. 2013. Condition varies with habitat choice in postbreeding forest birds. The Auk. 130(3): 417-428.
- Raybuck, Douglas W.; Larkin, Jeffrey L.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Boves, Than J. 2017. Mixed effects of geolocators on reproduction and survival of Cerulean Warblers, a canopy-dwelling, long-distance migrant. The Condor
- Thomas, Emily H.; Brittingham, Margaret C.; Stoleson, Scott H. 2014. Conventional oil and gas development alters forest songbird communities. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 78(2): 293-306.
- Trager, Matthew D.; Ristau, Todd E.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Davidson, Robert L.; Acciavatti, Robert E. 2013. Carabid beetle responses to herbicide application, shelterwood seed cut and insect defoliator outbreaks. Forest Ecology and Management. 289: 269-288.
- Stoleson, Scott H. 2019. Silviculture and bird habitat. In: Stout, Susan L., ed. SILVAH: 50 years of science-management cooperation. Proceedings of the Allegheny Society of American Foresters training session; 2017 Sept. 20-22; Clarion, PA. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-186. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 106-119.
Publications & Products
- Elias, Joseph M.; Stoleson, Scott H. 2021. Abundant Natural Cavities in a Deciduous Forest Leads to a Lack of Nest-Box Occupancy by Northern Saw-Whet Owls. Northeastern Naturalist
- Lott, Casey A.; Akresh, Michael E.; Elmore, Andrew J.; Fiss, Cameron J.; Fitzpatrick, Matthew C.; Joos, Cara J.; King, David I; McNeil, Darin J.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Larkin, Jeffery L. 2019. What evidence exists for landbird species-environment relationships in eastern temperate and boreal forests of North America? A systematic map protocol. Environmental Evidence
- Stout, Susan L.; Brose, Patrick H.; Cleveland, Helene ; Long, Robert P.; McGuinness, Barbara ; Peters, Matthew P.; Rebbeck, Joanne ; Ristau, Todd ; Royo, Alejandro A.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Thomasma, Scott ; Twery, Mark J.; Wurzbacher, Sarah. 2019. Fifty years of science-management cooperation from the SILVAH community of practice. In: Stout, Susan L., ed. SILVAH: 50 years of science-management cooperation. Proceedings of the Allegheny Society of American Foresters training session; 2017 Sept. 20-22; Clarion, PA. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-186. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 8-25.
- Matthews, Alix E.; Larkin, Jeffery L.; Raybuck, Douglas W.; Slevin, Morgan C.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Boves, Than J. 2017. Feather mite abundance varies but symbiotic nature of mite-host relationship does not differ between two ecologically dissimilar warblers. Ecology and Evolution
- Stoleson, Scott; Ordiway, Linda; Thomas, Emily H.; Watts, Donald. 2016. A mobile target-netting technique for canopy birds. North American Bird Bander. 41(2): 57-61.
- Katzner, Todd; Miller, Tricia; Stoleson, Scott. 2014. Quest for safer skies: Modeling golden eagles and wind energy to reduce turbine risk. The Wildlife Professional. 8(3): 28-31.
- Smith, D. Max; Finch, Deborah M.; Stoleson, Scott H. 2014. Nest-location and nest-survival of black-chinned hummingbirds in New Mexico: A comparison between rivers with differing levels of regulation and invasion of nonnative plants. The Southwestern Naturalist. 59(2): 193-198.
- Cartron, Jean-Luc E.; Finch, Deborah M.; Hawksworth, David L.; Stoleson, Scott H. 2013. Nesting ecology and nest success of the Blue Grosbeak along two rivers in New Mexico. Western Birds. 44: 33-44.
- Nuttle, Tim; Yerger, Ellen H.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Ristau, Todd E. 2011. Legacy of top-down herbivore pressure ricochets back up multiple trophic levels in forest canopies over 30 years. Ecosphere. 2(1): Article 4.
- Ristau, Todd E.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Horsley, Stephen B.; deCalesta, David S. 2011. Ten-year response of the herbaceous layer to an operational herbicide-shelterwood treatment in a northern hardwood forest. Forest Ecology and Management. 262: 970-979.
- Stoleson, Scott H.; King, David I.; Tomosy, Monica. 2011. Avian research on Experimental Forests and Ranges: Emergent themes, opportunities, and challenges. Forest Ecology and Management. 262: 49-52.
- Stoleson, Scott H.; Ristau, Todd E.; deCalesta, David S.; Horsley, Stephen B. 2011. Ten-year response of a forest bird community to an operational herbicide-shelterwood treatment in Allegheny hardwoods. Forest Ecology and Management. 262: 1205-1214.
- Tomosy, Monica; Stoleson, Scott H.; King, David I. 2011. A century of avian research on USFS Experimental Forests and Ranges: Introduction to the special section on long-term avian research on Experimental Forests and Ranges. Forest Ecology and Management. 262: 1-2.
- Cartron, Jean-Luc E.; Kennedy, Patricia L.; Yaksich, Rob; Stoleson, Scott H. 2010. Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii). In: Cartron, Jean-Luc, ed. Raptors of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press. p. 177-193.
- Dey, Daniel C.; Royo, Alejandro A.; Brose, Patrick H.; Hutchinson, Todd F.; Spetich, Martin A.; Stoleson, Scott H. 2010. An ecologically based approach to oak silviculture: a synthesis of 50 years of oak ecosystem research in North America. Revista Columbia Forestal. 13(2): 201-222.
- Gehlbach, Frederick R.; Stoleson, Scott H. 2010. Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii). In: Cartron, Jean-Luc, ed. Raptors of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press. p. 511-523.
- Stoleson, Scott H. 2010. Alder flycatcher. In: Steele, Michael A.; Brittingham, Margaret C.; Maret, Timothy J.; Merritt, Joseph F., eds. Terrestrial vertebrates of Pennsylvania: A complete guide to species of conservation concern. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press: 280-283.
- Stoleson, Scott H.; Larkin, Jeffery. L. 2010. Breeding birds of Pennsylvania: forest communities. In: Majumdar, S.K.; Master, T.L; Brittingham, M.C.; Ross, R.M.; Mulvihill, R.S.; Huffman, J.E., eds. Avian Ecology and Conservation: A Pennsylvania Focus with National Implications. The Pennsylvania Academy of Science, Easton, PA: 14-27.
- Stoleson, Scott H.; Sadoti, Giancarlo. 2010. Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus). In: Cartron, Jean-Luc, ed. Raptors of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press. p. 297-313.
- Stoleson, Scott H.; Sechler, Frederick C. 2010. Cerulean warbler. In: Steele, Michael A.; Brittingham, Margaret C.; Maret, Timothy J.; Merritt, Joseph F., eds. Terrestrial vertebrates of Pennsylvania: A complete guide to species of conservation concern. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press: 153-156.
- Brose, Patrick H.; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Horsley, Stephen B.; Knopp, Peter D.; Kochenderfer, James N.; McGuinness, Barbara J.; Miller, Gary W.; Ristau, Todd E.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Stout, Susan L. 2008. Prescribing regeneration treatments for mixed-oak forests in the Mid-Atlantic region. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-33. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 100 p.
- Brodhead, Katherine M.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Finch, Deborah M. 2007. Southwestern willow flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus) in a grazed landscape: factors influencing brood parasitism. The Auk. 124(4): 1213-1228.
- Stoleson, Scott H. 2004. Cerulean Warbler Habitat Use in an Oak-Northern Hardwoods Transition Zone: Implications for Management. In: Yaussy, Daniel A.; Hix, David M.; Long, Robert P.; Goebel, P. Charles, eds. Proceedings, 14th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2004 March 16-19; Wooster, OH. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-316. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 535
- Stoleson, Scott H.; Kirschbaum, Kari Jensen; Fran, Jack; Atwood, Chad J. 2004. From the field: integrating GPS, GIS, and avian call-response surveys using Pocket PCs. Wildlife Society Bulletin 2004. 32(4): 1309-1312.
- Stoleson, Scott H.; Finch, Deborah M. 2003. Microhabitat use by breeding Southwestern Willow Flycatchers on the Gila River, New Mexico. In: Sogge, Mark K.; Kus, Barbara E.; Sferra, Susan J.; Whitfield, Mary J., eds. Ecology and Conservation of the Willow Flycatcher. Studies in Avian Biology. 26: 91-95.
- Cartron, Jean-Luc E.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Russell, Stephen M.; Proudfoot, Glenn A.; Richardson, W. Scott. 2000. Chapter 4: The ferruginous pygmy-owl in the tropics and at the northern end of its range: Habitat relations and requirements. In: Cartron, Jean-Luc E.; Finch, Deborah M., tech. eds. Ecology and conservation of the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl in Arizona. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-43. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 47-55
- Finch, Deborah M.; Agyagos, Janie; McCarthey, Tracy; Marshall, Robert M.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Whitfield, Mary J. 2000. Chapter 10: Management recommendations. In: Finch, Deborah M.; Stoleson, Scott H., eds. Status, ecology, and conservation of the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-60. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 107-118.
- Finch, Deborah M.; Stoleson, Scott H. 2000. Status, ecology, and conservation of the southwestern willow flycatcher. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-60. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 132 p.
- Marshall, Robert M.; Stoleson, Scott H. 2000. Chapter 3: Threats. In: Finch, Deborah M.; Stoleson, Scott H., eds. Status, ecology, and conservation of the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-60. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 13-24.
- Stoleson, Scott H.; Agyagos, Janie; Finch, Deborah M.; McCarthey, Tracy; Uyehara, Jamie; Whitfield, Mary J. 2000. Chapter 11: Research needs. In: Finch, Deborah M.; Stoleson, Scott H., eds. Status, ecology, and conservation of the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-60. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 119-128.
- Stoleson, Scott H.; Whitfield, Mary J.; Sogge, Mark K. 2000. Chapter 8: Demographic characteristics and population modeling. In: Finch, Deborah M.; Stoleson, Scott H., eds. Status, ecology, and conservation of the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-60. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 83-94.
- Cartron, Jean-Luc E.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Johnson, R. Roy. 1999. Riparian dependence, biogeographic status, and likelihood of endangerment in landbirds of the Southwest. In: Finch, Deborah M.; Whitney, Jeffrey C.; Kelly, Jeffrey, F.; Loftin, Samuel R. Rio Grande ecosystems: linking land, water, and people: Toward a sustainable future for the Middle Rio Grande Basin. 1998 June 2-5; Albuquerque, NM. Proc. RMRS-P-7. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 211-215.
National Research Highlights
Conservation of Cerulean Warblers Requires Both Dense and Gappy Forest Habitat
Year: 2019
Cerulean warblers, a declining migratory songbird, nest in mature, gappy deciduous forest and management guidelines are based on those nesting requirements. Using radio-tracking of recent fledglings, a scientist at the USDA Forest Service's Northern Research Station and partners discovered that habitats selected by fledglings varied with age and often differed substantially from nesting habitat in that younger, denser areas with abundant saplings were preferred. Conservation of this species must include maintaining these distinct fledgling habitats to be effective.
SILVAH’s Gone Wild!
Year: 2016
The SILVAH decision-support tool has provided foresters in the mid-Atlantic region a scientifically based and systematic approach to forest inventory, stand analysis, and silvicultural prescription for decades. Based on user feedback, Forest Service scientists have expanded this program to explicitly consider wildlife attributes and habitat needs in its stand descriptions and management prescriptions.
Changes in Black Cherry on the Allegheny Plateau
Year: 2016
Increased tree mortality, decreased seed production, and seedling growth. Managers and scientists have been observing these changes in black cherry on the Allegheny Plateau and are working together to sharpen the research focus and utilize long-term research to improve forest management.
Conventional Oil and Gas Development Alters Songbird Communities
Year: 2014
A Forest Service scientist and partners found that as the density of oil and gas wells increased, the amount of core forest habitat decreased sharply. Forest interior species were less abundant at well sites than reference sites and showed a declining trend with increasing well density. The scientists examined the effects of conventional oil and gas development on forest habitat, the abundance of songbird species and guilds, species diversity, and community similarity within and between mixed hardwood and oak forest types at both individual wells and at the 25-hectare (61 acres) scale in forested blocks with no wells, low, or high well density.
Using New Technology To Track a Rare Songbird During Migration
Year: 2014
The cerulean warbler is a tiny forest bird in big trouble. To better understand where these birds go when they migrate out of their Appalachian breeding grounds, Forest Service scientists and university partners have begun using light-detecting geolocators: tiny backpacks that record the birds' locations. When recovered next spring, these geolocators will reveal where the birds traveled, which will help inform where conservation efforts should be focused.
Timber Harvests Create Beneficial Habitat for Forest Birds
Year: 2013
Many songbird species that require intact, mature forest for breeding have been found by Forest Service researchers to move into young thickets created by timber harvest after breeding. Further, those birds that shift habitats tend to be in better physiological condition than those that do not, indicating such habitats confer fitness benefits. These research results indicate that early-successional habitats created by timber harvests provide an important resource for many mature-forest birds.
Scientists Study Long-term Response of Ground Beetle Communities to an Operational Herbicide Application
Year: 2013
Ground beetles comprise a large and diverse group of mostly predatory beetles that have long been recognized as a useful barometer of ecosystem health. As part of a long-term, large-scale study of the impacts of an operational herbicide-shelterwood treatment, Forest Service scientists found no treatment response by ground beetles as measured by abundance or diversity. However, their numbers and diversity were strongly correlated with natural outbreaks of forest lepidopterans, an order of insects that include moths and butterflies.
Long-Term Differences in Forests With Different Deer Densities
Year: 2011
Thirty years after a study on the effects of deer on forest ecosystems established new forest stands at deer densities ranging from 10 to 64 deer per square mile, Forest Service scientists found that tree species diversity, canopy foliage density, insect density and bird density, all decreased significantly as the deer density at stand initiation increased. If deer densities were high initially, the effects carried over, even if densities were lower later.