Matthew C. Perry

USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
12100 Beech Forest Rd.
Laurel, MD 20708-4015

Telephone: 301-497-5622

Fax: 301-497-5826

Email: mperry@usgs.gov

Research Wildlife Biologist

Primary Responsibilities: 
Studies several species of seaducks to learn more about the delineation of their breeding and molting populations and more about their feeding ecology on their wintering areas. Conducts research on the movements from wintering and staging areas of two scoter species to their breeding and molting areas. Movements are determined with implanted radio transmitters in the ducks, which are then tracked with the use of satellite telemetry. Also conducts food habits analyses on wintering waterfowl in Chesapeake Bay to learn more about the feeding ecology of species that have generated concerns because of their population status. Other research deals with the evaluation of the creation and management of wetlands to improve habitat for wildlife. Studies of habitat management also include those dealing with powerline rights-of-way, compost amendments to soil, and the management of buffer zones in agriculture fields. Involved with assistance to refuges in regard to habitat issues, which presently include studies of Open Marsh Water Management with Region 5 refuges of the USFWS and with asynchronous flooding of bottomland hardwood forests at Roanoke National Wildlife Refuge of Region 4 of the USFWS.

Education/Training: 
B.S., University of Rhode Island 1963  
M.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute 1970  
Ph.D., University of Maryland 1985

Accomplishments/Awards/Achievements: 
Patuxent Scientific Achievement Award 1997; Performance Achievement Awards 1999, 1998, 1995, 1994; 40 years federal service (2007).

Chair of the November 2005 Second North American Sea Duck Conference: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/seaduck_conf2005/

Past President of the Washington Biologists' Field Club: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/resshow/perry/bios/WBFCHome.htm

Online Web Products:

Atlantic Seaduck Project 
Constructed Wetland for Tertiary Wastewater Treatment
Moist-Soil Management of Wetland Impoundments for Plants and Invertebrates
Enhancement of Wildlife Habitat with the Use of Compost Soil Amendments
Evaluation of Forested Wetlands Constructed for Mitigation in Comparison to Natural Systems
Diving Duck Distribution, Abundance, and Food Habits in Chesapeake Bay
The Exotic Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) in Chesapeake Bay, USA  
Optimal Management Strategies for Biodiversity Within a Powerline Right-of-Way
Patuxent Plant List and Herbarium Collection
The Evolution of Patuxent as a Research Refuge and a Wildlife Research Center
Snowden Hall
The White Deer of Patuxent

Active Projects: 
Atlantic Seaduck Study: Movements, Habitat Use, and Feeding Ecology of Seaducks in Chesapeake Bay and Other Atlantic Coastal Areas

Evaluation of Conservation Practices (Including Buffer Strips, Mowing, Fire Management, and Soil Amendments) in Agricultural Fields to Provide Optimum Habitat for Wildlife Diversity

Publications/Products:

Beyer, W. N., M. C. Perry, and P. C. Osenton. 2008. Sediment ingestion rates in waterfowl (Anatidae) and their use in environmental risk assessment. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 4(2):246-251. web link.

Perry, M. C. 2008. In memoriam: Mortimer Brooke Meanley, Jr., 1915–2007. Auk 125(1):235_237. BioOne. publisher

Perry, M. C. 2008. The evolution of wildlife conservation: The science that supported the conservation movement. INformation (Spring):8-11. Full text.

Perry, M. C. 2007. Changes in food and habitats of waterbirds. Pages 60-63 in S. W. Phillips, editor. Synthesis of U.S. Geological Survey science for the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and implications for environmental management. U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1316. 63 pp. Full text, this paper. whole document

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. Michael Erwin, Bryan D. Watts, G. Michael Haramis, Matthew C. Perry, and Keith A. Hobson, editors. Waterbirds of the Chesapeake Bay and Vicinity: Harbingers of Change? Waterbirds 30(Special Publication 1). 182 pp. Full text

Perry, M. C., editor. 2007. The Washington Biologists' Field Club : Its members and its history (1900-2006). Washington Biologists' Field Club, Washington, D.C. x, 342 pp. [more info]

Franson, J. C., D. J. Hoffman, A. Wells-Berlin, M. C. Perry, V. Shearn-Bochsler, D. L. Finley, P. L. Flint, and T. Hollmén. 2007. Effects of dietary selenium on tissue concentrations, pathology, oxidative stress, and immune function in common eiders (Somateria mollissima). Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A 70(10):861-874. web link

Coon, N. C. and M. C. Perry. 2007. Our respects: Lucille F. Stickel, 1915–2007. Journal of Wildlife Management 71(8):2827-2828. [PDF]

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 Alan Hanson, Joseph Kerekes, and Julie 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 No. 474. xii + 202 pp. [PDF]

Perry, M. C. (editor). 2005. Second North American Sea Duck Conference. November 7-11, 2005. Annapolis,
Maryland. Program and Abstracts, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, MD USA 123 pp.

Perry, M. C. (editor). 2004. Mute swans and their Chesapeake Bay habitats: proceedings of a symposium. Information and Technology Report No. 2004-0005. U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia. vii, 59 pp.

Perry, M. C. (editor). 2002. Black ducks and their Chesapeake Bay habitats: proceedings of a symposium. Information and technology report 2002-0005 U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Va. vii, 44 pp.

Perry, M. C., P. C. Osenton, and C. S. Stoll. 2001. Biological diversity of created forested wetlands in comparison to reference forested wetlands in the Bay watershed. Pages 261-268 in Glenn D. Therres, editor. Conservation of Biological Diversity: A Key to the Restoration of Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem and Beyond. Conference Proceedings. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis, MD. 344 pp. [PDF]

Perry, M. C., A. S. Deller, and A. M. Farrand. 2000. Effects of two long-term mowing regimes on vegetation. Pages 249-252 in Proceedings of the Second Eastern Native Grass Symposium held in Baltimore, Maryland, November 17-19, 1999. Agricultural Research Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Baltimore, MD. 360 pp.

Perry, M. C., P. C. Osenton, G. A. Gough, and E. J. R. Lohnes. 2000. Establishment of warm season grasses with and without the use of compost soil amendments. Pages 244-248 in Proceedings of the Second Eastern Native Grass Symposium held in Baltimore, Maryland, November 17-19. Agricultural Research Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Beltsville, Md. 360 pp.

Perry, M. C., B. Bauman, G. A. Gough, and E. J. R. Lohnes. 2000. Use of contour maps of water depths to predict flora and fauna abundance in moist soil management. Wetland Journal. 12(2):10-13.