Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Kansas
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Kansas Staff Member

Dr. Daniel SHELBY Sullins

Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit ​Wild Turkey Capture
Assistant Unit Leader
Phone: (785-410-5281) -
Email: dsullins@usgs.gov
Faculty Website

Biography

My research interests revolve around understanding how birds use and select resources that vary over space and time and focusing on how the quantity and quality of those resources affect avian populations. The main themes of my research include conservation of avian species throughout their annual cycle, landscape and temporal effects on population occupancy and space use and linking resource availability and selection with demographic consequences.

Areas of Expertise

GIS/Spatial Analysis, Grassland Ecology, Habitat Management, Landscape Ecology, Population Dynamics, Population and Community Ecology, Species Distribution Modeling, Species Management, Statistics and Modelling, Wildlife Management

Taxon Groups Studied

Gamebirds, Songbirds, Species of Greatest Conservation Need, Ungulates

Research Publications Publication Date
Werdel, T. J., C. W. Piper, A. M. Ricketts, M. S. Peek, D. S. Sullins, and A. A. Ahlers. 2023. Strategic grassland conservation for swift foxes in multi-use landscapes. Biological Conservation 277:109864. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2023.109864. October 2023
Vhay, M. P., D. A. Haukos, D. S. Sullins, and M.B. Rice. 2024. Broad-scale changes in lesser prairie-chicken habitat. Plos one 19: e0304452. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304452 May 2024
Verheijen, B. H. F., R. T. Plumb, C. K. J. Gulick, C. A. Hagen, S. G. Robinson, D. S. Sullins, and D. A. Haukos.2021. Breeding space use by lesser prairie-chickens varies among ecoregions and breeding stages. American Midland Naturalist 185: 149–174. DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-185.1.149. January 2022
Teige, E. C., L. A. Berigan, C. Aulicky, J. H. Reitz, D. A. Haukos, D. S. Sullins, K. A. Fricke, K. A. Schultz, L. G. Rossi. 2023. Assessment of lesser prairie-chicken translocation through survival and lek surveys. Wildlife Society Bulletin 47:e1493. DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1493. October 2023
Sullins, D.S., D. A. Haukos, J. D. Kraft, J. M. Lautenbach, J. D. Lautenbach, R. T. Plumb, S. G. Robinson, J. M. Shawn Hutchinson, M. B. Rice, and B. K. Sandercock. 2019. Strategic regional conservation for lesser prairie-chickens among landscapes of varying anthropogenic influence. Biological Conservation 238:108213. (Shortlisted for The Wildlife Society's best journal article of 2020) December 2021
Sullins, D. S., W. C. Conway, D. A. Haukos, and C. E. Comer. 2019. Using pointing dogs and hierarchical models to evaluate American woodcock winter habitat. Proceedings of the American Woodcock Symposium 11:154–167. No DOI available. October 2020
Sullins, D. S., W. C. Conway, D. A. Haukos, K. A. Hobson, L. I. Wassenaar, C. E. Comer, and I. K., Hung. 2016. American woodcock (Scolopax minor) migratory connectivity as indicated by hydrogen isotopes. Journal of Wildlife Management 80:510–526. DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.1029. March 2016
Sullins, D. S., M. Bogaerts, B. H. F. Verheijen, D. E. Naugle, T. Griffiths, and C. A. Hagen. 2021. Increasing durability of voluntary conservation through strategic implementation of the Conservation Reserve Program. Biological Conservation 259:109177. DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109177 November 2022
Sullins, D. S., J. D. Kraft, D. A. Haukos, S. G. Robinson, J. H. Reitz, R. T. Plumb, J. M. Lautenbach, J. D. Lautenbach, B. K. Sandercock, and C. A. Hagen. 2018. Demographic consequences of Conservation Reserve Program grasslands for lesser prairie-chickens. Journal of Wildlife Management 82:1617–1632. DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21557. October 2019
Sullins, D. S., D. A. Haukos, J. M. Craine, J. M. Lautenbach, S. G. Robinson, J. D. Lautenbach, J. D. Kraft, R. T. Plumb, J. H. Reitz, B. K. Sandercock, and N. Fierer. 2018. Identifying foods of a declining prairie grouse using DNA metabarcoding. Auk 135:583–608. (List of highly cited Auk articles 2020). DOI: 10.1642/AUK-17-185.1. July 2018
Sirch, M. W.*, D. S. Sullins, N. J. Parker, D. A. Haukos, J. D. Kraft, C. A. Hagen, and K. A. Fricke. 2022. Woody species mortality due to a megafire within the mixed-grass prairie. Prairie Naturalist 54: 11–23. No DOI available. November 2022
Ross, B.E., D. Sullins, and D. Haukos. Using an individual-based model to assess common biases in lek-based count data to estimate population trajectories of lesser prairie-chickens. May 2019
Ross, B. E., D. S. Sullins, and D. A. Haukos. 2019. Using an individual-based model to assess common biases in lek-based count data to estimate population trajectories of lesser prairie-chickens. PloS ONE 13(5):e0217172. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217172. May 2019
Robinson, S. G., D. A. Haukos, R. T. Plumb, J. M. Lautenbach, D. S. Sullins, J. D. Kraft, J. D. Lautenbach, C. A. Hagen, and J. C. Pitman. 2017. Nonbreeding home-range size and survival of lesser prairie-chickens. Journal of Wildlife Management 82:413–423. DOI:10.1002/jwmg.21392. March 2017
Robinson, S. G., D. A. Haukos, R. T. Plumb, J. D. Kraft, D. S. Sullins, J. M. Lautenbach, J. D. Lautenbach, B. K. Sandercock, C. A. Hagen, A. Bartuszevige, and M. B. Rice. 2018. Effects of landscape characteristics on annual survival of lesser prairie-chickens. American Midland Naturalist 180:66–86. DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-180.1.66. October 2019
Robinson, S. G., D. A. Haukos, R. T. Plumb, C. A. Hagen, J. C. Pitman, J. M. Lautenbach, D. S. Sullins, J. D. Kraft, J. D. Lautenbach. 2016. Lesser prairie-chicken fence collision risk across its northern distribution. Journal of Wildlife Management 80:906–915. DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21078. September 2016
Robinson S., D. A. Haukos, D. S. Sullins, and R. T. Plumb. 2016. Use of free water by nesting lesser prairie-chickens. Southwestern Naturalist 61:187–193. DOI: 10.1894/0038-4909-61.3.187. September 2016
Plumb, R. T., J. M. Lautenbach, S. G. Robinson, D. A. Haukos, V. L. Winder, C. A. Hagen, D. S. Sullins, J. C. Pitman, and D. K. Dahlgren. 2019. Lesser prairie-chicken space use in relation to anthropogenic structures: lesser prairie-chickens and anthropogenic structures. Journal of Wildlife Management 83:216–230. DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21697. DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21557. January 2019
Parker, N. J.*, D. S. Sullins, D. A. Haukos, K. A. Fricke, and C. A. Hagen. 2022. Recovery of working grasslands following a megafire in the southern mixed-grass prairie. Global Ecology and Conservation 36: e02142. DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02142. October 2022
Parker, N. J.*, D. S. Sullins, D. A. Haukos, K. A. Fricke, and C. A. Hagen, A. A. Ahlers. 2022. Demographic effects of a megafire on a declining prairie grouse in the mixed-grass prairie. Ecology and Evolution 12: e9544. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9544 November 2022
Lautenbach, J. M., D. A. Haukos, D. S. Sullins, C. A. Hagen, J. D. Lautenbach, J. C. Pitman, R. T. Plumb, S. G. Robinson, and J. D. Kraft. 2019. Factors influencing nesting ecology of lesser prairie-chickens. Journal of Wildlife Management 83:205–215. DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21580. January 2019
Kraft, J. D., D. A. Haukos, M. R. Bain, M. B. Rice, S. Robinson, D. S. Sullins, C. A. Hagen, J. Pitman, J.M. Lautenbach, R. Plumb, and J.D. Lautenbach. 2021. Using grazing to manage herbaceous structure for a heterogeneity-dependent bird. Journal of Wildlife Management 85: 354–368. DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21976. March 2021
Gehrt, J. M., D. S. Sullins, B. H. F. Verheijen, and D. A. Haukos. 2023. Lesser Prairie-chicken incubation behavior and nest success most influenced by nest vegetation structure. Ecology and Evolution, 13: ece3.10509. DOI:10.1002/ece3.10509. March 2023
Gehrt, J. M.*, D. S. Sullins, and D. A. Haukos. 2020. Looking at the bigger picture: how abundance of nesting and brooding habitat influences lek-site selection by lesser prairie-chickens. American Midland Naturalist 183:52–77. DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-183.1.52. January 2021
Black, A. N., K. J. Bondo, A. Mularo, A. Hernandez, Y. Yu, C. M. Stein, A. Gregory, K. A. Fricke, J. Prendergast, D. S. Sullins, D. A. Haukos. 2023. A highly-contiguous and annotated genome assembly of the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus). Genome Biology and Evolution. 2023 Mar 14:evad043. DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad04. March 2023
Berigan, L.A. C.S.H. Aulicky, E.C. Teige, D.S. Sullins, D.A. Haukos, K.A. Fricke, J.H. Reitz, L.G. Rossi, K.A. Schultz, M.B. Rice, E. Tanner, and S.D. Fuhlendorf. 2024. Lesser prairie-chicken dispersal after translocation: implications for restoration and population connectivity. Ecology and Evolution 14:e10871. January 2024
Berigan, L. A., C. S. Aulicky, E. Teige, D. S. Sullins, D. A. Haukos, K. A. Fricke, K. A., A. M. Ricketts 2022. Availability of lesser prairie-chicken nesting habitat impairs restoration success. Wildlife Society Bulletin 46:e1379. DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1379. December 2022
Berigan, L. A., C. S. Aulicky, E. C. Teige, D. S. Sullins, K. A. Fricke, J. H. Reitz, and D. A. Haukos. 2024. Lesser prairie‐chicken dispersal after translocation: Implications for restoration and population connectivity. Ecology and Evolution, 14: e10871. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10871. January 2024
Project Completion Date
Influence of the Conservation Reserve Program on Population Structure, Demography, and Space Use by Greater Prairie-Chickens in Kansas and Nebraska September 2028

Master's
cmarchese@ksu.edu


Master's
rhwilson@ksu.edu

Presentations Presentation Date
Wilson, R. H., D. S. Sullins, K. Gido. 2025. Quantifying avian predation rates of the Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius). Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. January 2025
Ware, M., D. Sullins, and D. Haukos. 2024. Roost tree selection by wild turkeys in Kansas. Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Baltimore, Maryland. October 2024
Teige, E.C., D. Sullins, and D. Haukos. 2024. The Conservation Reserve Program and prairie grouse: a review of what we know and where we can go. Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Baltimore, Maryland. October 2024
Teige, E.C., D. Sullins, and D. Haukos. 2024. The Conservation Reserve Program and Prairie Grouse: What do we know and where can we go? Kansas Natural Resources Conference, Manhattan, Kansas. February 2024
Teige, E., L. Berigan, N. Parker, C. Aulicky, D. Haukos, D. Sullins, J. Reitz, L. K. Fricke, Schultz. 2024. How does translocated lesser prairie-chicken’s nest site selection affect nest survival? Annual Conference of American Ornithological Society, Estes Park, Colorado. October 2024
Sullins, D., and D. Haukos. 2024. Strategic conservation of grassland dependent wildlife in working landscapes: an ideal free distribution perspective. Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Baltimore, Maryland. October 2024
Sullins, D. S., and D. A. Haukos. 2024. Effects of soil quality and grazing on nutrient availability for grassland birds. Kansas Natural Resources Conference. Manhattan, KS (Oral presentation). February 9, 2024. February 2024
Skidmore, C., D. Haukos, and D. Sullins. 2024. Nesting ecology and survival of wild turkey hens across three grassland ecoregions in Kansas. Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Baltimore, Maryland. October 2024
Marchese, C., C. Skidmore, D. A., Haukos, and D. S. Sullins. 2025. Investigating wild turkey poult and hen diets across Kansas: landscape influences on arthropod and plant diversity. Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. January 2025
Durbin, C. J., R. H. Rusten, G. Brunette, T. Kim, D. S. Sullins. 2024. Landscape-scale drivers of wildlife communities in an altered working landscape. Kansas Natural Resources Conference. Manhattan, KS (Poster presentation). February 9, 2024. February 2024
Durbin, C. J., D. ​S. Sullins, and A. A. Ahlers. 2024. Influence of woody cover and other landscape variables on northern raccoon occupancy in the contiguous United States. The Wildlife Society Annual Conference. Baltimore, Maryland. October 2024
Durbin, C. J., D. S. Sullins, D. Byrd, and A. A. Ahlers. 2024. An examination of proximity to water and minimum woody cover requirements for northern raccoon occupancy in Kansas. Kansas Natural Resources Conference. Manhattan, KS (Oral presentation). February 9, 2024. February 2024
Berigan, L., C. Aulicky, E. Teige, D. Sullins, K. Fricke, J. Reitz, L. Rossi, K. Schultz, M. Rice, E. Tanner, S. Fuhlendorf, and D. Haukos. 2024. Lesser prairie-chicken dispersal after translocation: implications for restoration and population connectivity. Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Baltimore, Maryland. October 2024
Role and Organization Individual         Start Date        End Date       
The Wildlife Society - Chair, Rangeland Wildlife Working Group Sullins January 2023 December 2024