Kent C. (KC) Jensen

Associate Professor   Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences South Dakota State University Brookings, SD 57007-1696   voice: (605) 688-6121/fax: (605) 688-4515   email: kent.jensen@sdstate.edu

Dr. Jensen is an Associate Professor and joined the Department in December of 2003. His teaching responsibilities include Ornithology (WL 363), Upland Game Ecology and Management (WL 415-515), and Waterfowl Ecology and Management (WL 419-519). Dr. Jensen advises both undergraduate and graduate students. His appointment is 75% teaching and 25% research.

His main professional interests are in the area of avian ecology and habitat management. He has particular interest in waterfowl and wetland ecology, birds of prey, and upland game birds. He has worked and conducted research on wetland habitats and associated bird communities throughout North America.

Dr. Jensen also has extensive experience in wildlife and natural resource education with Native American tribes and Tribal Colleges throughout the Northern Great Plains. He has an adjunct appointment at Oglala Lakota College and is a member of their Graduate Faculty.

Specialty:

·  Avian Ecology and Management

·  Wetland Habitat Management

·  Waterfowl Ecology and Management

·  Upland Game Birds

·  Birds of Prey

·  Wildlife Ecology and Management

Education:

·  Ph.D., Texas A&M University, 1990

·  M.S., Montana State University, 1988

·  B.S., South Dakota State University, 1985

·  A.A., Fullerton College, 1979

Other Professional Experience:

·  Associate Professor, South Dakota State University, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, 2006-present

·  Assistant Professor, South Dakota State University, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, 2003-2006

·  Professor and Undergraduate Research Coordinator, Oglala Lakota College, Department of Math and Science, 1998-2003

·  Research Wildlife Ecologist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Waterways Experiment Station, 1993-1998

·  Research Associate, Texas A&M University, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, 1991-1993

·  Visiting Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, 1990-1991

·  Graduate Research Assistant, Texas A&M University, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, 1987-1990

·  Graduate Research Assistant, Montana State University, Department of Biology – Fish and Wildlife Program, 1985-1987

Courses Taught at SDSU:

WL 363 Ornithology

WL 411 Principles of Wildlife Management

WL 415-515 Upland Game Ecology and Management

WL 419-519 Waterfowl Ecology and Management

WL 490 Senior Seminar

Selected Publications (undergraduate students in bold font):

Norton, M. A., K. C. Jensen, A. P. Leif, T. R. Kirschenmann, and G. A. Wolbrink. In Press. Differential brood habitat use of greater prairie-chickens and sharp-tailed grouse on the Fort Pierre National Grasslands. The Prairie Naturalist .

Steinke, A. D., K. C. Jensen, and C. A. Lehman. In Press. Survival of Merriam’s wild turkey gobblers in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota: effects of alternative harvest strategies. The Prairie Naturalist.  

Herman-Brunson, K. M., K. C. Jensen, N. W. Kaczor, C. C. Swanson, M. A. Rumble, and R. W. Klaver. 2009. Nesting ecology of greater sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus at the eastern edge of their historic distribution. Wildlife Biology 15(3):237-246. 542-W.

Jensen, K. C. 2009. A scissor-tailed flycatcher in Brookings County, South Dakota. South Dakota Bird Notes 61(2):29.

Gardner, D. M., K. C. Jensen, and K. F. Higgins. 2008. Status of marbled godwits in South Dakota: based on a 2007 literature synthesis. Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science 87:85-109.

Gardner, D. M., K. C. Jensen, and K. F. Higgins. 2008. Status of upland sandpipers in South Dakota: based on a 2007 literature synthesis. Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science 87:111-139.

Gardner, D. M., K. C. Jensen, and K. F. Higgins. 2008. Status of western willets in South Dakota: based on a 2007 literature synthesis. Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science 87:141-165.

May, S. M., K. F. Higgins, D. F. Naugle, K. K. Bakker, and K. C. Jensen. 2008. Landscape characteristics affecting habitat use and productivity of ducks on stockponds in western South Dakota. Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science. 87:63-84.

Clarke, J. N. and K. C. Jensen. 2006. Nesting success, brood survival, and habitat use of Long-billed Curlews in grazed landscapes of western South Dakota. Wader Study Group Bulletin 109:31.

Gardner, D. M., K. C. Jensen, K. F. Higgins, N. K. Hansen, and A. A. Huehl. 2005. Abundance and diversity of small mammals in exotic and reseeded native grasslands at Oakwood Lakes State Park. Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science 84:109-117.

Salo, E. D., K. F. Higgins, W. T. Barker, K. K. Bakker, and K. C. Jensen. 2004. Temporal effects of grazing regimes on non-game birds in North Dakota grasslands. Pp 216-224 in E. Egan and A. Harrington, editors. Proceedings of the 19^th North American Prairie Conference.

Gray, M. J., R. M. Kaminski, G. Weerakkody, B. D. Leopold, and K. C. Jensen. 1999. Aquatic invertebrate and plant responses following mechanical manipulations of moist-soil habitat. Wildlife Society Bulletin 27(3):770-779.  

Lane, J. J. and K. C. Jensen. 1999. Moist-soil impoundments for wetland wildlife. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Technical Report EL-99-11. Pp 42.

O’Neil, L. J., A. C. Webb, K. C. Jensen, P. C. DuBois, and V. R. Emrick. 1997. Survey of the current status of vegetation mapping on selected Army installations. WES Technical Report. EL-97-8. Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Jensen, K. C. 1996. Mist-netting procedures for capturing bats at Fort Riley, Kansas: CAP Report 0896-004. Pp 11. Jensen, K. C. and L. A. Reynolds. 1996. Waterfowl management plan for U.S. Army and Signal Corps, Fort Gordon, Georgia. Pp 54.

Humpert, M. J., D. E. Hubbard, and K. C. Jensen. 1995. Avian responses to chemically and physically manipulated cattail stands in a northern prairie marsh. Wetlands Research Program Technical Report WRP-SM-17.

Polasek, L. G., M. W. Weller, and K. C. Jensen. 1995. Management of shallow impoundments to provide emergent and submergent vegetation for waterfowl. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Research Program Technical Report WRP-SM-8. Pp 61.

Jensen, K. C. and C. O. Martin. 1994. Guidance for placement and management of wood duck nest boxes in wetland habitats. WRP Technical Note FW-SW-4.1. Waterways Experiment  Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi. Pp 6.

Jensen, K. C. and S. Peck. 1994. Burning as a tool in wetland management. Army Engineers Wetland Research Program Technical Publication, Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi. Pp 10.

Miller, M. W., K. C. Jensen, W. E. Grant, and M. W. Weller. 1994. A simulation model of helicopter disturbance of molting Pacific black brant. Ecological Modelling 73:293-309.

Weller, M. W., K. C. Jensen, E. J. Taylor, M. W. Miller, K. S. Bollinger, D. V. Derksen, D. Esler, and C. Markon. 1994. Assessment of shoreline vegetation in relation to use by molting black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) on the Alaska Coastal Plain. Biological Conservation 70:219-225.  

Derksen, D. V., K. S. Bollinger, D. Esler, K. C. Jensen,  E. J. Taylor, M. W. Miller, and M. W. Weller. 1992. Effects of aircraft on the behavior and ecology of molting brant near Teshekpuk Lake, Alaska. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Report, Anchorage, Alaska. Pp 179. 

Swenson, J. E., K. C. Jensen, and J. E. Toepfer. 1988. Winter movements by rosy finches in Montana. Journal of Field Ornithology 59(2):157-160.

Jensen, K. C. 1986. First banding of an American woodcock in South Dakota. North American Bird Bander 11(1):5.

Current Research Projects and Graduate Students:

Matt Bahm - Ph.D. Program (Co-advised with Dr. Tom Barnes, University of Kentucky)     B.S. (Wildlife and Fisheries) - 2002, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK   M.S. (Biology) - 2004, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, TX   Ph.D. Research Project: Converting cool-season exotic dominated grasslands to native warm season grassland communities utilizing herbicide treatments.

Bret Beasley - M.S. Candidate (Co-advised with Dr. Leigh Fredrickson)     B.S. (Natural Resource Management) - 2004, University of Tennessee - Martin, Martin, TN   M.S. Research Project: Assessment of above-ground food resources for sandhill cranes in breeding (Idaho), wintering (New Mexico), and migratory (Colorado) habitats.

Sam Cahoy - M.S. Candidate     B.S. (Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences and Biology) - 2007, SDSU, Brookings, SD   M.S. Research Project: Mortality rates of male Merriam's wild turkeys in the Black Hills and Bear Lodge Mountains of Wyoming: an assessment of harvest regulation changes.

Julie DeJong - Ph.D. Candidate (Co-advised with Dr. Kenneth Higgins)     B.S. (Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences) - 1998, SDSU, Brookings, SD   M.S. (Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences) - 2001, SDSU, Brookings, SD   Ph.D. Research Project: An evaluation of climate change effects on waterfowl egg metrics: is there any evidence?

Lee Erickson - M.S. Candidate (Co-advised with Dr. Carter Johnson)     B.S. (Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences) - 2006, SDSU, Brookings, SD   M.S. Research Project: Grassland bird community development in native warm-season grassland plantings in eastern South Dakota: an assessment of grassland age.

Keith Fisk - M.S. Candidate (Co-advised with Dr. Kristel Bakker)     B.S. (Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences) - 2003, SDSU, Brookings, SD   M.S. Research Project: Nesting success of ring-necked pheasants and waterfowl in relation to landscape characteristics and the predator community on public lands and areas enrolled in the Farmable Wetlands Program in eastern South Dakota.

Kristin Fritz - M.S. Candidate (SCEP Student - USFWS Region 3)     B.S. (Natural Resources Management) - 2008, University of Minnesota - Crookston M.S. Research Project: Impacts of oil and gas development on the reproduction and habitat use of Greater Sage-grouse in North Dakota.

Mick Hanan - M.S. Candidate (SCEP Student - USFWS Region 3) B.S. (Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences) - 2006, SDSU, Brookings, SD   M.S. Research Project: Effects of road density changes on breeding bird distribution using long-term land change datasets.

Tandi Perkins - Ph.D. Candidate (Co-advised with Dr. Leigh Fredrickson) (SCEP Student - USFWS Region 6) B.S. (Wildlife Ecology) - 1997, University of Maine, Orono, MEM.S. (Wildlife Sciences) - 2003, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO Ph.D. Research Project: Landscape ecology of Sandhill Cranes across the life cycle: wintering, migratory and breeding habitat selection in shifting landscapes.

International Activities:

Dr. Jensen has been active in partnerships with Unidad Académica Campesina - Carmen Pampa, a university dedicated to the education of the indigenous peoples in the Yungas region of Bolivia, and Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, England.   He is acting as an undergraduate thesis advisor to students at UAC-Carmen Pampa, and as a host to students from Manchester Metropolitan University who wish to travel to the United States to conduct research toward completion of their graduate education at MMU.

Completed Graduate Students and their Current Positions:

Nan (Jessica) Clarke (M.S. 2006) - Graduate Work in Human Nutrition, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Katie Herman-Brunson (M.S. 2007) - Science Lab Coordinator, Gillette School District, Gillette, WY

Nick Kaczor (M.S. 2008) - Wildlife Biologist, Bureau of Land Management, Rock Springs, WY

Kristine Marvill (M.S. 2007 - Biological Sciences) - Instructor, Western Dakota Tech, Rapid City, SD

Mark Norton (M.S. 2005) -  Farm Bill Biologist, SD Game, Fish and Parks, Pierre, SD

Travis Runia (M.S. 2009) -  Private Lands Biologist, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission,  Imperial, NE

Ashly Steinke (M.S. 2006) - Biologist/Educator, Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, Eau Clair, WI

Joanna Studt (Murray) (M.S. 2005) - Private Consultant, Custer, SD

Christopher Swanson (Ph.D. 2009) -  Assistant Manager - St. Catherine's Creek National Wildlife Refuge, USFWS, Natchez, MS

Ryan Williamson (M.S. 2009) - Seasonal Crew Leader, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND

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