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

Professional Organizations

• Association of Field Ornithologists, Governing Board Representative (2012 - Current)
• Cooper Ornithological Society, Chair (2012 - Current)
• Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology, Board Member (2012 - Current)
• Pennsylvania Biological Survey, Committee Member (2009 - Current)
• Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Research Associate (2007 - Current)
• The Wildlife Society, Member (2002 - Current)
• Wilson Ornithological Society, Member (1987 - Current)
• American Ornithologists' Union, Elected Member (1984 - Current)
• Ecological Society of America, Committee Member (2002 - 2009)

Awards & Recognition

Featured Publications & Products

• Stoleson, Scott H. 2013. Condition varies with habitat choice in postbreeding forest birds.
• Thomas, Emily H.; Brittingham, Margaret C.; Stoleson, Scott H. 2014. Conventional oil and gas development alters forest songbird communities.
• Katzner, Todd; Miller, Tricia; Stoleson, Scott. 2014. Quest for safer skies: Modeling golden eagles and wind energy to reduce turbine risk.
• 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.

Publications

• 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.
• Stoleson, Scott H. 2019. Silviculture and bird habitat.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Stoleson, Scott; Ordiway, Linda; Thomas, Emily H.; Watts, Donald. 2016. A mobile target-netting technique for canopy birds.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Stoleson, Scott H.; King, David I.; Tomosy, Monica. 2011. Avian research on Experimental Forests and Ranges: Emergent themes, opportunities, and challenges.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Stoleson, Scott H. 2010. Alder flycatcher.
• 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.
• Stoleson, Scott H.; Larkin, Jeffery. L. 2010. Breeding birds of Pennsylvania: forest communities.
• Stoleson, Scott H.; Sechler, Frederick C., Jr. 2010. Cerulean warbler.
• Cartron, Jean-Luc E.; Kennedy, Patricia L.; Yaksich, Rob; Stoleson, Scott H. 2010. Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii).
• Gehlbach, Frederick R.; Stoleson, Scott H. 2010. Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii).
• Stoleson, Scott H.; Sadoti, Giancarlo. 2010. Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus).
• 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.
• Brodhead, Katherine M.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Finch, Deborah M. 2007. Southwestern willow flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus) in a grazed landscape: factors influencing brood parasitism.
• Stoleson, Scott H. 2004. Cerulean Warbler Habitat Use in an Oak-Northern Hardwoods Transition Zone: Implications for Management.
• 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.
• Stoleson, Scott H.; Finch, Deborah M. 2003. Microhabitat use by breeding Southwestern Willow Flycatchers on the Gila River, New Mexico.
• Finch, Deborah M.; Agyagos, Janie; McCarthey, Tracy; Marshall, Robert M.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Whitfield, Mary J. 2000. Chapter 10: Management recommendations.
• Stoleson, Scott H.; Agyagos, Janie; Finch, Deborah M.; McCarthey, Tracy; Uyehara, Jamie; Whitfield, Mary J. 2000. Chapter 11: Research needs.
• Marshall, Robert M.; Stoleson, Scott H. 2000. Chapter 3: Threats.
• 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.
• Stoleson, Scott H.; Whitfield, Mary J.; Sogge, Mark K. 2000. Chapter 8: Demographic characteristics and population modeling.
• Finch, Deborah M.; Stoleson, Scott H. 2000. Status, ecology, and conservation of the southwestern willow flycatcher.
• Cartron, Jean-Luc E.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Johnson, R. Roy. 1999. Riparian dependence, biogeographic status, and likelihood of endangerment in landbirds of the Southwest.

Research Highlights

Highlight	Title	Year
NRS-2016-130	Changes in Black Cherry on the Allegheny Plateau Increased tree mortality, decreased seed production, and seedling growth. Managers and scientists have been observing these changes in black che ...	2016
NRS-2019-100	Conservation of Cerulean Warblers Requires Both Dense and Gappy Forest Habitat Cerulean warblers, a declining migratory songbird, nest in mature, gappy deciduous forest and management guidelines are based on those nesting r ...	2019
NRS-2014-074	Conventional Oil and Gas Development Alters Songbird Communities A Forest Service scientist and partners found that as the density of oil and gas wells increased, the amount of core forest habitat decreased sh ...	2014
NRS-2011-02	Long-Term Differences in Forests With Different Deer Densities 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 dee ...	2011
NRS-2016-109	SILVAH’s Gone Wild! The SILVAH decision-support tool has provided foresters in the mid-Atlantic region a scientifically based and systematic approach to forest inve ...	2016
NRS-2013-064	Scientists Study Long-term Response of Ground Beetle Communities to an Operational Herbicide Application Ground beetles comprise a large and diverse group of mostly predatory beetles that have long been recognized as a useful barometer of ecosystem ...	2013
NRS-2013-049	Timber Harvests Create Beneficial Habitat for Forest Birds Many songbird species that require intact, mature forest for breeding have been found by Forest Service researchers to move into young thickets ...	2013
NRS-2014-057	Using New Technology To Track a Rare Songbird During Migration 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 ...	2014