Current Positions
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Postdoctoral Researcher, Zentrum für Wildtiergenetik/Centre for Wildlife Genetics,
Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum/Senckenberg Research Institute,
May 2023–Present
Managing Editor, Waterbirds: The International Journal of Waterbird Biology, 2021–Present https://waterbirds.org/journal/
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Research Associate, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute,
Center for Conservation Genomics (CCG), May 2021–Present
Education
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PhD, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Spring 2021
Dissertation: “Ecology & conservation genomics of Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) in North America”
BSc, Ecology & Conservation Biology University of Idaho, 2013, magna cum laude
BA, English Literature University of Washington, 2007
Research & Analytical Skills
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Field work experience in mountain, marsh, & subtropical island ecosystems. Power boat & sailing experience. Training in bird banding & blood sampling, small mammal & reptile trapping & handling. Proficient in R, Python, GeneMapper, GenAlex, CDPOP, Stacks, phyluce, Song Scope, ArcGIS, ERDAS Imagine, Program Mark, Presence.
Experience in occupancy modeling, MARSS modeling, DNA extraction, PCR, Sanger sequencing, microsatellite analysis, genomic library preparation, ddRAD, UCE capture, next-generation sequencing (MiSeq)
Grants & Awards
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2023-24 Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Study Award, co-PI
2022-23 Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Study Award, co-PI
2021 UL Lafayette Distinguished Dissertation Award
2020–21 Smithsonian National Zoological Park Independent Research Fellowship
2019 Smithsonian National Zoological Park Short-term Research Fellowship
2018 USFWS Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Grant
2018 NSF GRIP Award, USGS /National Museum of Natural History
2018 The Waterbird Society, Ian Nisbet Research Award
2017 BirdsCaribbean, Travel Award
2017 BirdsCaribbean, Dave S. Lee Award for the Conservation of Caribbean Birds
2017–18 U.S. Virgin Islands Division of Fish & Wildlife, Cays Restoration & Research Grant
2017 Graduate Academic Honors Award, UL Lafayette
2015–20 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
2015–16 University Fellowship, UL Lafayette
2014 Northwest Scientific Association, Student Research Grant
2014 Idaho EPSCoR, MILES Undergraduate Research & Internship Program
2013 Bleak Wilderness Research Award
2013–14 Monett Scholarship for academic merit & future career promise, U Idaho
2013–14 Hanchey & Legoll Scholarships, U Idaho
2012–14 Dean's List, U Idaho (4 semesters)
Publications
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Byerly, P.A., S. Zaluski, D. Nellis, J. Pierce, & P.L. Leberg. (In Press). Current Status and 21st Century Population Trends of Breeding Seabirds in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology.
Byerly, P.A., R.T. Chesser, R.C. Fleischer, N. McInerney, N. Przelomska, P.L. Leberg. 2023. Conservation genomics reveals low connectivity among populations of threatened roseate terns (Sterna dougallii) in the Atlantic Basin. Conservation Genetics: 331–345.
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Byerly, P.A., R.T. Chesser, R.C. Fleischer, N. McInerney, N. Przelomska, P.L. Leberg. 2022. Museum Genomics Provide Evidence for Persistent Genetic Differentiation in a Threatened Seabird Species in the Western Atlantic. Integrative and Comparative Biology 62: 1838–1848.
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Byerly, P.A., S. Zaluski, D. Nellis, & P.L. Leberg. 2021. Effects of Colony Disturbance on Reproductive Success and Nest Defense Behaviors in Caribbean Roseate Terns. Waterbirds 44: 463–471.
Byerly, P.A., S. Zaluski, D. Nellis, & P.L. Leberg. 2021. Colony characteristics influence nest survival of Caribbean Roseate Terns. Ornithological Applications 123: https://doi.org/10.1093/ornithapp/duaa069
Byerly, P.A., J.H. Waddle, A. Romero Premeaux, & P.L. Leberg. 2020. Effects of barrier island salt marsh restoration on marsh bird occurrence in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Restoration Ecology 28:1610–1620.
Byerly, P. A., R. Lonsinger, E. Gese, A. J. Kozlowski, & L.P. Waits. 2018. Resource partitioning between kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis) & coyotes (Canis latrans): a comparison of historical & contemporary dietary overlap. Canadian Journal of Zoology 96: 497–504.
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Technical Reports & Products
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Byerly, P.A. 2019 Colony and nest site characteristics influence reproductive success of Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) in the Virgin Islands & Appendix: Roseate Tern mid-season colony counts 2019 and total population estimates 2016–2019. Technical Report: US Fish & Wildlife Service, Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office. 14 pp.
Byerly, P.A. 2019. The Virgin Islands Coqui (Eleutherodactylus schwartzi): current knowledge & future research needs. Prepared for the Jost Van Dykes Preservation Society: 32 pp.
Nellis, D., P.A. Byerly, and R. Zambrano. 2018. 2017 mid-season nest count of Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) in the United States Virgin Islands. Technical Report: USVI Department of Natural Resources. 7 pp.
Byerly, P.A. & D. Nellis. 2018. Caribbean Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) camera monitoring protocol. Technical Report: USVI Department of Natural Resources. 2 pp.
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Nellis, D., P.A. Byerly, and R. Zambrano. 2017. 2017 mid-season nest count of Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) in the United States Virgin Islands. Technical Report: USVI Department of Natural Resources. 7 pp.
Nellis, D., P.A. Byerly, and K. Davis. 2016. 2016 mid-season nest count of Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) in the United States Virgin Islands. Technical Report: USVI Department of Natural Resources. 6 pp.
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Media and General Publications
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Byerly, P.A. Review: POPULATION GENOMICS: Wildlife. Population Genomics Series. Quarterly Review of Biology 97: 229–230.
PhDetails. 2020. Paige Byerly: Blog Profile. ​
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Byerly, P.A. 2019. Caribbean Roseate Tern population status, 2019: The Virgin Islands (British & United States). Roseate Tern Newsletter 19.
Byerly, P.A., B. G. Merkle, & M. Hepner. 2019. Renewed hope for coastal marshes in Louisiana. American Scientist 107: 198-202. (cover story).
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La Louisiane. 2019. Call of the Wild Calls Grad Student.
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Byerly, P.A., B. G. Merkle, & M. Hepner. 2019. Louisiana coastal marsh interactive infographic.
Byerly, P.A., S. Zaluski, & D. Nellis. 2017. Caribbean Roseate Tern population status, 2017: The Virgin Islands (British & United States). Roseate Tern Newsletter 17: 54-59.
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Byerly, P.A. 2017. The Vampire Diaries: searching for seabird blood in the sunny Caribbean. BirdCaribbean Blog Post.
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Academic Presentations
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Byerly, P.A., R.T. Chesser, R.C. Fleischer, N. Przelomska, P.L. Leberg. Population genomics elucidates connectivity of Roseate Terns in North America. NAOC (online presentation, 2020); Waterbirds (online presentation 2020)
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Byerly, P.A., D. Nellis, S. Zaluski, & P.L. Leberg. Colony and nest site characteristics influence reproductive success in a threatened Caribbean seabird population. The Waterbird Society (Princess Anne, MD, 2019)
Byerly, P.A., D. Nellis, S. Zaluski, & P.L. Leberg. Regulating factors of colony dynamics in Caribbean Roseate Terns. Roseate Tern Working Group (remote presentation, 2018); UL Lafayette Biology Colloquium (Lafayette, LA, 2018)
Byerly, P.A., J.H. Waddle, A. Romero, & P.L. Leberg. Does the working coast work for wildlife? Effects of saltmarsh restoration on avian communities in the Gulf of Mexico (oral presentation). Louisiana Association of Professional Biologists (Lake Charles, LA, 2018). Ecological Society of America (New Orleans, LA, 2018); American Ornithological Society (Tucson, AZ, 2018)
Byerly, P.A., D. Nellis, & P.L. Leberg. Regulation of breeding participation in Caribbean Roseate Terns (oral presentation). Roseate Tern Working Group (Westborough, MA, 2017); BirdsCaribbean (Havana, Cuba, 2017)
Byerly, P.A., J.H. Waddle, & P.L. Leberg. Remote data collection methods for monitoring secretive marsh birds (oral presentation). The Waterbird Society (New Bern, NC, 2016)
Byerly, P.A., J.H. Waddle, & P.L. Leberg. Effectiveness of barrier island saltmarsh restoration in creating avian habitat (poster). University of Louisiana at Lafayette Graduate Student Symposium (Lafayette, LA, 2016); North American Ornithological Society (Washington D.C., 2016); Southeastern Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (Baton Rouge, LA, 2016)
Byerly, P.A., R.C. Lonsinger, & L.P. Waits. Resource partitioning between sympatric canids: a comparison of current & historical dietary overlap (oral presentation). Northwest Section of the Wildlife Society (Boise, ID, 2014); University of Idaho Student Innovation Showcase (Moscow, ID, 2014)
Invited Talks
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Effects of barrier island salt marsh restoration on marsh bird occurrence in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Research Seminar, The Water Institute of the Gulf (Remote Presentation, 2020)
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Does the working coast work for wildlife? Effects of saltmarsh restoration on avian communities in the Gulf of Mexico. Research Seminar, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries (Baton Rouge, LA, 2019)
Use of remote data collection in avian research. Louisiana Ornithological Society (Cameron, LA, 2018)
Science & Art: Biology Meets Poetry (oral presentation; panel). Deep South in the Global South Conference (Lafayette, LA, 2018); Science on the Bayou (Lafayette, LA, 2018)
Oceandotcomm Science Communication Event. Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (Cocodrie, LA, 2018)
Creepin’ on wildlife: non-invasive techniques in wildlife monitoring. Science on the Bayou (Lafayette, LA, 2017)
Teaching Experience
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Teaching Assistant, UL Lafayette, Biol 330: Ecology, Spring 2021
Teaching Assistant, UL Lafayette, Biol 460: Aquatic Plants, Fall 2020
Teaching Assistant, UL Lafayette, Biol 231: Cellular and Molecular Biology, Spring 2020
Teaching Assistant, UL Lafayette, Biol 400: Estuarine Ecology, Fall 2019
Guest Lecturer, UL Lafayette, BIOL 307: Field Techniques, 2017, 2019
Select Professional Experience
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Remote Sensing Technician: USGS/Gulf Coast Joint Venture, Lafayette, LA, 2019–21
Contract Shorebird Survey Technician, USGS Wetlands & Aquatic Research Center, Lafayette, LA, Spring 2019
Scientific Consultant, Jost Van Dykes Preservation Society, British Virgin Islands, 2018–Pres
Molecular Technician, Laboratory for Ecological, Evolutionary & Conservation Genetics; U Idaho, 2014–15
Publisher, EarthCare Northwest Magazine, Audubon Society, Seattle, WA, 2009–10
Copy editor, writer, Author Magazine, Seattle, WA, 2007–10
Senior Reader, Wales Literary Agency, Seattle, WA, 2006–08
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Volunteer Experience & Internships
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K-12 Remote Research Presentations, (2/semester), Skype a Scientist, 2017–Pres
Instructor, Jost Van Dykes Preservation Society Ecology Camp, Summer 2017
Volunteer Bander, Massachusetts Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Summer 2016
Volunteer Bander/Blood Sampler, Louisiana Wild Bird Observatory, 2016–18
Volunteer Technician, WDWF Pygmy Rabbit Project, Spring 2015
Bleak Wilderness Research Intern, Taylor Wilderness Research Station, Summer 2013
Volunteer: Life Sciences Team, Seattle Aquarium, 2010–12
Publisher, Seattle Audubon Society Newsletter, 2009–10
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Service and Leadership
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Co-founder and moderator with S. Hauser and J.E. Rutter: 46 Questions For Scientists​
Associate Editor, Journal of Caribbean Ornithology, 2020–Current
Peer Reviewer, Molecular Ecology, Ecosphere
Organizer, Louisiana SciComm Summit, Baton Rouge, LA, Spring 2020. (Canceled: Covid19)
Co-chair, Science & Art: Biology Meets Poetry (oral presentation; panel). Deep South in the Global South Conference, Spring 2020. (Canceled: Covid19)
Graduate Student Representative, University Graduate Council, UL Lafayette. Appointment. Spring 2020.
Plenary Coordinator, 18th Annual UL Lafayette Graduate Student Symposium, Fall 2018
Committee Chair, 17th Annual UL Lafayette Graduate Student Symposium, Fall 2017
Professional Memberships
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Society for Conservation Biology (Genetics Working Group); Waterbirds Society (Conservation Committee); BirdsCaribbean (Seabird Working Group); American Ornithological Society; Ecological Society of America
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Additional Training and Skills
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Fall 2019 Teaching Assistant Development Certification Course, Level 1
2015 3-day shorebird identification training course, Louisiana Audubon
2012 4-day public speaking seminar, Seattle Aquarium
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