Brian Dorr

Brian S. Dorr, Research Wildlife Biologist

 Dr. Brian Dorr is a Research Wildlife Biologist with the National Wildlife Research Center Mississippi Field Station. Dr. Dorr is also adjunct faculty in the College of Forest Resources, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture and the College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, at Mississippi State University. Brian’s research is focused on ecology and management of avian predators and invasive species particularly as it relates to human wildlife conflicts.

NWRC Research Project:  Defining Economic Impacts and Developing Strategies for Reducing Avian Predation in Aquaculture Systems

Current Research:

• Effects of management on double-crested cormorant populations
• Effectiveness of management programs in protecting commercial and natural resources
• Wildlife damage management methods for avian species
• The use of biomarkers as determinants of age and diet in avian species
• Evaluation of colonial waterbird survey techniques
• Use of satellite and VHF telemetry in assessments of habitat use, migration, and movement of avian species
• Evaluation of control methods for brown tree snakes.

Education:

• Ph.D., Mississippi State University, Wildlife Ecology
• M.S., Mississippi State University, Wildlife Ecology
• B.S., University of Arizona-Tucson

International Experience:

• Canada - Bird banding
• Guam - Brown Tree Sanke Control

Contact information

USDA/WS/National Wildlife Research Center
Scales Building, Rm. 103, (P.O. Box 6099)
125 Stone Blvd.
Mississippi State University, MS 39762

Telephone: 662-325-8216

Fax: 662-325-8704

Email: brian.s.dorr@aphis.usda.gov

Publications:

2018

2017

Bursian, S.J., C.R. Alexander, D. Cacela, F.L. Cunningham, K.M. Dean, B.S. Dorr, C.K. Ellis, C.A. Godard-Codding, C.G. Guglielmo, K.C. Hanson-Dorr, K.E. Harr, K.A. Healy, M.J. Hooper, K.E. Horak, J.P. Isanhart, L.V. Kennedy, J.E. Link, I. Maggini, J.K. Moye, C.R. Perez, C.A. Pritsos, S.A. Shriner, K.A. Trust, and P.L. Tuttle. 2017. Reprint of: Overview of avian toxicity studies for the Deepwater Horizon natural resource damage assessment. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 146:4-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.05.014

Cunningham, F., K. Dean, K. Hanson-Dorr, K. Harr, K. Healy, K. Horak, J. Link, S. Shriner, S. Bursian, and B. Dorr. 2017. Reprint of: Development of methods for avian oil toxicity studies using the double crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 146:19-28. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.03.025

Dean, K.M., S.J. Bursian, D. Cacela, M.W. Carney, F.L. Cunningham, B. Dorr, K.C. Hanson-Dorr, K.A. Healy, K.E. Horak, J.E. Link, I. Lipton, A.K. McFadden, M.A. McKernan, and K.E. Harr. 2017. Changes in white cell estimates and plasma chemistry measurements following oral or external dosing of double-crested cormorants, Phalacrocorax auritus, with artificially weathered MC252 oil. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 146:40-51. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.08.007

Dorr, B.S. and D.G. Fielder. 2017. Double-crested cormorants: Too much of a good thing? Fisheries 42(9): 468-477. doi:10.1080/03632415.2017.1356121

Dorr, B.S. and D.G. Fielder. 2017. The rise of double-crested cormorants: Too much of a good thing? The Wildlife Professional. 11(1)27-31.  

Dorr, B.S., R.S. Stahl, K.C. Hanson-Dorr, and C.A. Furcolow. 2017. Using pentosidine and hydroxyproline to predict age and sex in an avian species. Ecology and Evolution 7(21):8999-9005. doi: 10.1002/ece3.3388

Guilfoyle, M.P., H.L. Farrington, R.F. Lance, K.C. Hanson-Dorr, B.S. Dorr, and R.A. Fischer. 2017. Movement of Hypophthalmichthys DNA in the Illinois River Watershed by the double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus). Waterbirds 40(1):63-68.  doi: 10.1675/063.040.0109

Harr, K.E., D.R. Reavill, S.J. Bursian, D. Cacela, F.L. Cunningham, K.M. Dean, B.S. Dorr, K.C. Hanson-Dorr, K. Healy, K. Horak, J.E. Link, S. Shriner, and R.E. Schmidt. 2017. Organ weights and histopathology of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) dosed orally or dermally with artificially weathered Mississippi Canyon 252 crude oil. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 146:52-61. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv. 2017.07.011

Harr, K.E., F.L. Cunningham, C.A. Pritsos, K.L. Pritsos, T. Muthumalage, B.S. Dorr, K.E. Horak, K.C. Hanson-Dorr, K.M. Dean, D. Cadela, A.K. McFadden, J.E. Link, K.A. Healy, P. Tuttle, and S.J. Bursian. 2017. Weathered MC252 crude oil-induced anemia and abnormal erythroid morphology in double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) with light microscopic and ultrastructural description of Heinz bodies. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 146:29-39. doi: 10.1016/j.econv. 2017.07.030

Harr, K.E., M. Rishniw, T.L. Rupp, D. Cacela, K.M. Dean, B.S. Dorr, K.C. Hanson-Dorr, K. Healy, K. Horak, J.E. Link, D. Reavill, S.J. Bursian, and F.L. Cunningham. 2017. Dermal exposure to weathered MC252 crude oil results in echocardiographically identifiable systolic myocardial dysfunction in double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 146:76-82. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.04.010

Sheehan, K.L., K.C. Hanson-Dorr, B.S. Dorr, G.K. Yarrow and R.J. Johnson. 2017. The influence of geographical location, host maturity and sex on intestinal helminth communities of the double-crested cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus from the eastern United States. Journal of Helminthology 91:561-568. doi: 10.1017/S0022149X16000675

Sheehan, K.L., S.T. Esswein, B.S. Dorr, G.K. Yarrow, and R.J. Johnson. 2017. Using species distribution models to define nesting habitat of the eastern metapopulation of double-crested cormorants. Ecology and Evolution 7:409-418.  doi: 10.1002/ece3.2620

2016

Dorr, B.S., K.L. Sullivan, P.D. Curtis, R.B. Chipman, and R.D. McCullough. 2016. Double-crested Cormorants. Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series. USDA, APHIS, WS National Wildlife Research Center. Ft. Collins, Colorado. 17p.

Clements, S., B. Davis, B. Dorr, L.A. Roy, A.M. Kelly, and C.R. Engle. 2016. New study underway to estimate the impact of lesser scaup on Arkansas's baitfish industry. Arkansas Aquafarming 33(3):2.

Lafferty, D.J.R., K.C. Hanson-Dorr, A.M. Prisock, and B.S. Dorr. 2016. Biotic and abiotic impacts of Double-crested cormorant breeding colonies on forested islands in the southeastern United States. Forest Ecology and Management 369:10-19.  doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2016.03.026  

Dorr, B.S., K.C. Hanson-Dorr, S.C. Barras and T.L. DeVault. 2016. Reproductive characteristics of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) in the eastern United States:  Demographic information for an intensely managed species. Waterbirds 39(1): 81-85.  

2015

Craig, E.C., B.S. Dorr, K.C. Hanson-Dorr, J.P. Sparks, and P.D. Curtis. 2015. Isotopic discrimination in the Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus).  PloS One 10(10):e0140946.  doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140946

Dorr, B.S. and C.R. Engle. 2015. Influence of simulated double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus, predation on multiple-batch production of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 46(3):319-327.  doi: 10.1111/jwas.12187

Ayers, C.R., K.C. Hanson-Dorr, S. O'Dell, C.D. Lovell, M.L. Jones, J.R. Suckow, and B.S. Dorr. 2015. Impacts of colonial waterbirds on vegetation and potential restoration of island habitats.  Restoration Ecology 23(3):252-260.  doi: 10.1111/rec.12169

2014

Dorr, Brian S., Jeremy J. Hatch and D. V. Weseloh. 2014. Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/441  doi:10.2173/bna.441

Washburn, B.E., M.S. Martell, R.O. Bierregaard, Jr., C.J. Henny, B.S. Dorr, and T.J. Olexa. 2014. Wintering ecology of adult North American ospreys. Journal of Raptor Research 48(4):325-333. doi: 10.3356/JRR-OSPR-13-01.1.

Dorr, B.S., K.C. Hanson-Dorr, T.L. DeVault, A.Guillaumet, and S.C. Barras. 2014. Geographic segregation and evidence of density-dependent changes in sex ratios in an abundant colonial waterbird. Integrative Zoology 9:570-583.  doi: 10.1111/1749-4877.12091.

Guillaumet, A., B.S. Dorr, G. Wang, and T.J. Doyle. 2014. The cumulative effects of management on the population dynamics of the Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus in the Great Lakes. Ibis 156(1): 141-152. doi 10.1111/ibi.12109.

2012

Clark, L., P.J. Savarie, J.A. Shivik, S.W. Breck, and B.S. Dorr. 2012. Efficacy, effort, and cost comparisons of trapping and acetaminophen-baiting for control of brown treesnakes on Guam. Human-Wildlife Interactions 6: 222-236.

Dorr, B.S., and C. Somers. 2012. The direction of research and management of double-crested cormorants heading into the 2000s. Waterbirds 35: 138-148.

 Dorr, B.S., J.D. Taylor II, S.J. Werner, D.T. King, J.F. Farquhar, I.M. Mazzocchi, and R.D. McCullough. 2012. Summer and migrational movements of satellite-marked double-crested cormorants from a breeding colony managed by egg-oiling in Lake Ontario, USA. Waterbirds 35: 114-123.

Dorr, B.S., L.W. Burger, S.C. Barras, and K.C. Godwin. 2012. Double-crested cormorant distribution on catfish aquaculture in the Yazoo River Basin of Mississippi. Wildlife Society Bulletin 36(1): 70-77. doi: 10.1002/wsb.94

Dorr, B. S., L.W. Burger, S.C. Barras, and K.C. Godwin. 2012. Economic impact of double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus, depredation on Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, aquaculture in Mississippi, USA. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society 43(4): 502-513.

Dorr, B.S., S.L. Hanisch, P.H. Butchko, and D.G. Fielder. 2012. Management of double-crested cormorants to improve sport fisheries in Michigan: three case studies. Human-Wildlife Interactions 6: 155-168.