Alicia Berlin

Research Wildlife Biologist

Short Biography

Education:

Ph.D., Foraging values of Mulinia lateralis and Ischadium recurvum: energetic effects on surf scoters wintering in the Chesapeake Bay. (May 2008)

        University of Maryland, advisor: Dr. Mary Ann Ottinger  

M.S., Comparative Analysis of Embryonic Growth Rate and Incubation Length in Dabbling Ducks. (December 2000)

        Michigan State University, advisor: Dr. Harold H. Prince 

B.S., Renewable Natural Resources; Concentration in Wildlife Management (May 1998)

        University of Connecticut, Storrs

Berlin, A.M.  2008.  Foraging values of Mulinia lateralis and Ischadium recurvum: energetic effects on surf scoters wintering in the Chesapeake Bay. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Maryland, College Park. 137 pp.

Perry, M. C., A. M. Wells-Berlin, D. M. Kidwell, and P. C. Osenton.  2007.  Temporal changes of populations and trophic relationships of wintering diving ducks in Chesapeake Bay. Pages 4-16 In R. M. Erwin, B. D. Watts, G. M. Haramis, M. C. Perry, and K. A. Hobson, editors. Waterbirds of the Chesapeake Bay and vicinity: harbingers of change? Waterbirds 30 (special publication 1).

Franson, J. C., D. J. Hoffman, A. Wells-Berlin, M. C. Perry, V. Shearn-Boshler, D. L. Finley, P. L. Flint, and T. Hollmen.  2007. Effects of dietary selenium on tissue concentrations, pathology, oxidative stress, and immune function in common eiders (Somateri mollissima). Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A 70:861-874.

Perry, M. C., D. M. Kidwell, A. M. Wells, E. J. R. Lohnes, P. C. Osenton, and S. H. Altmann. 2006.  Characterization of breeding habitats for black and surf scoters in the eastern boreal forest and subarctic regions of Canada. Pages 80-89 in A. Hanson, J. Kerekes and J. Paquet, editors. Limnology and Waterbirds 2003. The 4th Conference of the Aquatic Birds Working Group of the Societas Internationalis Limnologiae (SIL). Canadian Wildlife Service Technical Report Series No. 474. Atlantic Region. xii + 202 pp.

Wells, A.M., H.H. Prince, and T.W. Arnold.  2004.  Incubation length of dabbling ducks.  The Condor 107: 926-929.

Wells, A.M., and H.H. Prince.  2003.  Breeding chronology of dabbling ducks in Minnedosa, Manitoba.  The Prairie Naturalist 35(4): 273-276.

Wells, A.M.  2000.  Comparative Analysis of Embryonic Growth Rate and Incubation Length in Dabbling Ducks. Master’s Thesis, Michigan State University, East Lansing.  37 pp.

My Science Topics

My USGS Science Strategy Areas

Relationship between foraging energetics, benthic distribution, and seaduck distribution.

Habitat utilization and potential climate change impacts on seaduck migration.

Potential impacts of oyster restoration on wintering seaducks in the Chesapeake Bay.

Use of two large dive tanks for controlled energetic and/or behavioral research (i.e. underwater hearing, electrosensitivity, foraging energetics).

Maintaining a captive colony of diving ducks and seaducks consisting of surf scoters, white-winged scoters, long-tailed ducks, harlequin ducks, and lesser scaup.

<http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/resshow/perry/scoters/>