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Contact Information:

photo of Charles van Riper III
Name:
van Riper III, Charles
Title:
Station Leader
Discipline(s):
Ornithology, Ecology, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Diseases
Research Station:
SDRS
Work Address:
125 Biological Sciences East, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-125
Telephone Number:
(520) 626-7027, fax: (520) 626-5100
Email Address:
charles_van_riper@usgs.gov

Biographical Sketch:

Charles van Riper, III spent his formative years roaming the woods and observing the wildlife throughout the Hudson River Valley in New York, instilling in him a lifelong love of nature. At Colorado State University, Charles spent eight years studying wildlife management with some of the preeminent biologists in the western United States while obtaining a B.S. in Zoology and an M.S. and M. Ed. in Science. It was at Colorado State University, under Dr. Paul H. Baldwin, that Charles became intensely interested in birds and decided to move to the island of Hawaii, where he taught biology at the Hawaii Preparatory Academy and began his first intensive study of birds, setting a trajectory for the remainder of his life. Charles went on to complete his doctoral research under the guidance of Dr. Andrew J. Berger at the University of Hawaii. His dissertation was on two endangered species of Hawaiian native birds (honeycreepers). While working with Dr. Clifford Smith, Charles met his wife, Sandra Jean Guest, a fellow ornithology graduate student. Together, they worked out the complex picture of the impact that introduced diseases were having on native Hawaiian birds. Following this post-doctoral experience, Charles and Sandra moved to the University of California, Davis.

At UC Davis, Charles started the first California Cooperative Parks Studies Unit, and began his 20-year career with the National Park Service. In 1989, the National Park Service asked Charles to initiate another Cooperative Parks Studies Unit at Northern Arizona University, in Flagstaff, Arizona. Dr. van Riper built this unit from one individual to a team of 42 researchers, who, as an integrated research team, solved natural resources problems throughout the southwestern United States. In 2003, Charles was again invited to assist with a university-based research station, this time with the Sonoran Desert Research Station at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. Today, he serves as SDRS Station Leader and Professor in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Resources in the School of Natural Resources.
Curriculum Vitae for Dr. Charles van Riper, III

  • Expertise
    • Avian communities
    • Avian disease
    • Neotropical Migrant Birds
    • Colorado Plateau Ecology
  • Education
    • Ph.D. 1978, Zoology, University of Hawaii. Honolulu, HI
    • M.S. and M.Ed. 1967, Science, Colorado State University. Fort Collins, CO
    • B.S. 1965, Zoology, Colorado State University. Fort Collins, CO
  • Membership in Professional Societies
    • American Ornithologists' Union
    • California Field Ornithologists
    • Cooper Ornithological Society
    • Ecological Society of America
    • George Wright Society
    • Hawaii Audubon Society
    • Raptor Research Foundation
    • Sigma Xi
    • Society for Conservation Biology
    • Western Bird-banding Association
    • Wilson Ornithological Society
    • Wildlife Disease Association
    • Wildlife Society

Publications, Maps, and other Products

  1. Johnson M.J., C. van Riper. Brown-headed Cowbird brood parasitism of the Black-throated Sparrow in the Verde Valley of central Arizona. In press. Journal of Field Ornithology. [Journal Article]
  2. van Riper C. III, S. Knick. Modeling Avian malaria in Hawaii. Auk. [Journal Article]
  3. van Riper C. III., M. A. Stuart. Proceedings of the Fourth Biennial Conference of Research on the Colorado Plateau. USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center CPFS Rep. Ser., 99/16, Flagstaff, AZ . 217 pp. [Book]
  4. Shafroth P. B., J. R. Cleverly, T. L. Dudley, J. Stuart, J. P. Taylor, C. van Riper III, E. P. Weeks. Saltcedar removal, water salvage, and wildlife habitat restoration along rivers in the southwestern U.S. Frontiers in Ecology. [Journal Article]
  5. Paxton, K. and C. van Riper, III. 2006. Spatial and Temporal Migration Patterns of Neotropical Migrants in the Southwest Revealed by Stable Isotopes. U.S. Department of the Interior, USGS, Open-File Report 2005-1298. [Open-File Report]
  6. van Riper III, C., and J. van Wagtendonk. 2006. Home range characteristics of great gray owls in Yosemite National Park, California. J. Raptor Res. 40(2):000-000. [Journal Article]
  7. van Riper, Charles III, and David J. Mattson. 2005. The Colorado Plateau II: Biophysical, Socioeconomic, and Cultural Research. University of Arizona Press. [Book]
  8. McGrath, L., C. van Riper III. 2005. Influence of Riparian Tree Phenology on Lower Colorado River Spring-Migrating Birds: Implications of Flower Cueing. Open-File Report 2005-1140. [Open-File Report]
  9. van Riper III, Charles, & Mark K. Sogge. 2004. Bald Eagle abundance and relationship to prey base and human activity along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park. . In: Colorado Plateau: Cultural, Biological and Physical Research. University of Arizona Press, Tucson. [Book Chapter]
  10. van Riper C. III. 2004. Dedication to Boyd Evison and Michelle Hellickson. In: The Colorado Plateau: Cultural, Biological and Physical Research (van Riper, C., III and K. A. Cole, Eds.).University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ . p viii-ix. [Book Chapter]
  11. van Riper C. III, M. K. Sogge. 2004. Monitoring of Wintering Bald Eagles along the Colorado River. Chapter #13, pp XXX–XXX. In: The Colorado Plateau: Cultural, Biological and Physical Research (van Riper, C., III and K. A. Cole, Eds). University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ. [Book Chapter]
  12. Yard H. K., C. van Riper III, B. T. Brown, M. J. Kearsley. 2004. Diets of insectivorous birds along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona. Condor 106:106-115. [Journal Article]
  13. van Riper C. III, K. A. Cole. 2004. Introduction. In: The Colorado Plateau: Cultural, Biological and Physical Research (van Riper, C., III and K. A. Cole, Eds). University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ. Pp xi-xvii. . [Book Chapter]
  14. Van Riper C., K.L. Cole. 2004. The Colorado Plateau: Cultural, Biological and Physical Research. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, AZ. 217 pp. [Book]
  15. Ecton K., C. van Riper III, C. O’Brien, L. McGrath. 2003. Rethinking avian response to tamarisk: Positive use of intermediate levels of Tamarisk suggests a threshold. 7th Biennial Conference of Research on the Colorado Plateau, Flagstaff Arizona. [Proceedings]
  16. O’Brien C., D. W. Blinn, C. van Riper III. 2003. Waterfowl, acanthocephalans, and amphipods at Montezuma Well, Arizona – What is the role of parasites. Dept. of the Interior, USGS FS-125-03. [Fact Sheet]
  17. Knick S. T., D. D. S. Dobkin, J. T. Rotenberry, M. A. Schroder, W. M. Vander Haegen, C. van Riper III. 2003. Teetering on the edge or too late? Conservation and research issues for avifauna of sagebrush habitats. . Condor 105: 611-634. [Journal Article]
  18. Banks A. J., C. van Riper III, S. R. Rosenstock. 2003. Breeding and wintering birds of Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. . US Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Colorado Plateau Field Station Tech. Report. USGS/SBSC/COPL/2003/21. XX pp. . [Technical Report]
  19. Holmes J. A., M. J. Johnson, C. van Riper III. 2003. Designing an effective avian monitoring program to meet the needs of the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center's Adaptive Management Program. A poster presented at the Colorado River Science Symposium, USGS Southwest Biological Science Center, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, Tucson, AZ, October 28-30, 2003. [Poster]
  20. O’Brien C., D. W. Blinn, C. van Riper III. 2003. Parasite alteration of host behavior: Do trade-offs occur. Annual meeting, Southwestern Association of Biologists. Portal, AZ. [Proceedings]
  21. Knick S. T., C. van Riper III. 2002. Loss of sagebrush ecosystems and declining bird populations in the Intermountain West: Priority research issues and information needs. Dept. of the Interior, USGS FS-122-02. [Fact Sheet]
  22. van Riper C. III., Jan A. Hart, J. L. Bright. 2002. Effect of fenced transportation corridors on pronghorn antelope movement in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. Pp. 71-77, In: Crossing boundaries in park management, Proceedings of the 11th Conference on Research and Resource Management in Parks and Public Lands (D. Harmon, Ed. [Book Chapter]
  23. van Riper C. III, S. G. van Riper, W. Hansen. 2002. The epizootiology and ecological significance of avian pox in Hawaii. . Auk 119: 929-942. [Journal Article]
  24. van Riper C. III, C. A. Drost, J. A. Hart. 2002. Habitat partitioning by neotropical migrant warblers along the lower Colorado River corridor. . Pp 140-141 In: Meeting Resource Management Needs: The fourth conference on research and resource management in the southwestern deserts (W. L. Halvorson and B. S. Gebow, Eds.). USGS Sonoran Desert Research Station, The Univ. of Arizona, Tucson. 154 pp. . [Book Chapter]
  25. Halvorson W.L., K. Thomas, L. Graham, M. Kunzmann, P. Bennett, C. Van Riper . 2001. Arizona GAP Report. C. Drost with B. S. Gebow, editor Final Report to the National GAP Office, USFWS, NBS, and USGS Gap Analysis Program. [Technical Report]
  26. Scott J.M., S. Conant, C. van Riper III. 2001. Dedication. Pp. viii. In: Ecology, conservation, and management of Hawaiian birds: A vanishing avifauna (Scott, J.M., S. Conant and C. van Riper III, eds.). Studies in Avian Biology 22. . [Book Chapter]
  27. Rosenstock, S. S., and C. van Riper III. 2001. Breeding bird response to juniper woodland expansion in Northern Arizona grasslands. . Journal of Range Management 54:226-232. [Journal Article]
  28. Scott J.M., S. Conant, C. van Riper III. 2001. Ecology, conservation, and management of Hawaiian birds: A vanishing avifauna. . Studies in Avian Biology 22. Pp427. . [Book]
  29. Scott J.M., C. van Riper III. 2001. Introduction to “Limiting Factors.”. Pp. 219-220. In: Ecology, conservation, and management of Hawaiian birds: A vanishing avifauna (Scott, J.M., S. Conant and C. van Riper III, eds). Studies in Avian Biology 22. . [Book Chapter]
  30. van Riper C. III. 2001. "Diseases of Wild Waterfowl, second edition" by G. A. Wobeser (Book Review). Condor 103(3):665-666. [Book Review]
  31. van Riper C. III, J. M. Scott. 2001. Limiting factors affecting Hawaiian native birds. Pp 221-233. In: Ecology Conservation and Management of Endemic Hawaiian birds: a Vanishing Avifauna (Scott, J.M. S. Conant and C. van Riper III, eds.). Studies in Avian Biology No. 22. [Book Chapter]
  32. van Riper C. III, S. Conant, J. M. Scott . 2001. Introduction to “Historical Perspectives.”. Pp 14 In: Ecology, conservation, and management of Hawaiian birds: A vanishing avifauna (Scott, J.M., S. Conant and C. van Riper III, eds.) Studies in Avian Biology 22. . [Book Chapter]
  33. Scott J.M., C. van Riper III. 2001. Introduction to “Status and Trends.”. Pp. 106-107. In: Ecology, conservation, and management of Hawaiian birds: A vanishing avifauna (Scott, J.M., S. Conant and C. van Riper III, eds). Studies in Avian Biology 22. . [Book Chapter]
  34. Scott J.M., S. Conant, C. van Riper III . 2001. Introduction. Pp. 1-12. In: Ecology, conservation, and management of Hawaiian birds: A vanishing avifauna (Scott, J.M., S. Conant and C. van Riper III, eds). Studies in Avian Biology 22. . [Book Chapter]
  35. Bright J. L., C. van Riper III. 2000. Pronghorn home ranges, habitat selection and distribution around water sources in northern Arizona. . US Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Colorado Plateau Research Station. Tech. Report. USGSFRESC/COPL/2000/. 28 pp. . [Technical Report]
  36. Willey D. A., C. van Riper III. 2000. First year movements by juvenile Mexican Spotted Owls in the canyonlands of Utah. Journal of Raptor Research 34(1): 1-7. [Journal Article]
  37. Nowak E.M., C. Van Riper III. 1999. Effects and effectiveness of rattlesnake relocation at Montezuma Castle National Monument. U.S. Geological Survey/FRESC Report Series USGS/FRESC/COPL/1999/17. [Technical Report]
  38. van Riper C. III. 1999. Introduction to the Proceedings of the Fourth Biennial Conference of Research on the Colorado Plateau. In: Proceedings of the Fourth Biennial Conference of Research on the Colorado Plateau. [Book Chapter]
  39. Bright J. L., C. van Riper III . 1999. Habitat selection by pronghorn antelope at Wupatki National Monument, Arizona. Pp. 77-85, In: Proc. 17tth Biennial Pronghorn Antelope Workshop, 4-7 June 1996, Lake Tahoe, CA. ed. J. K. Fischer. Monument. [Book Chapter]
  40. Nowak E. M., C. van Riper III. 1999. Effects and Effectiveness of rattlesnake relocation at Montezuma Castle National Monument. USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Colorado Plateau Research Station Tech Rep. No. 17 (USGSFRESC/COPL/1999/17). Pp 61. [Technical Report]
  41. Johnson M.J., C. van Riper III. 1998. The Black-throated Sparrow at Montezuma Castle National Monument in the Verde Valley of Central Arizona. USGS/BRD, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Colorado Plateau Field Station/Northern Arizona University. Technical Report Series USGSFRESC/COPL/1998. 45 pp. [Technical Report]
  42. Van Riper III C., R. Ockenfels, J. Bright, T.R. Arundel. 1997. The National Park Service role in management of pronghorn antelope over a fragmented landscape in northeastern Arizona. Proceeedings of the 9th Conference on Research and Resource Management in Parks and on Public Lands, George Wright Society Meeting, Fall 1997. [Proceedings]
  43. Johnson M.J., C. van Riper III. 1996. Brown-headed Cowbird brood parasitism and the effects on the upland bird community at Montezuma Castle National Monument. Southwest Parks and Monuments Association. 23 pp. [Technical Report]