Executive Director

On a seabird expedition in the Bahamas, Dave holds a White-tailed Tropicbird.

David C. Evers, M.S., Ph.D

Executive Director, Chief Scientist, and Co-Director Center for Mercury Studies
david.evers@briwildlife.org
207-839-7600 x221

As a conservation biologist, I believe it is my responsibility to provide decision makers with scientific findings from an unbiased viewpoint. While I have testified or presented scientific results to Congressional committees, state legislative committees, and other regulatory branches of government, my current work primarily focuses on science-policy projects related to the United Nations and some multilateral environmental agreements, such as the Minamata Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Early in my career, I spent 5 years working as a field ornithologist for the Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas. From 1991-1993 was the Executive Director for the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, then left to pursue a PhD at the University of Minnesota assessing mercury in the environment through a key indicator – the Common Loon. In 1998 I founded a 501(c)3 non-profit organization called Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI). BRI’s mission is to further progressive wildlife research and conservation in the science-policy fields. BRI has now grown to a nearly $10 million annual budget, 60-staff, well-established 25-year-old organization that includes four Centers of Excellence and 16 Research Programs.

My research specialties revolve around ecotoxicology with an emphasis on understanding the patterns of mercury exposure and effects on wildlife, especially birds such as the Common Loon. Current projects include research and conservation efforts for assessments of mercury in fish and wildlife across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean Sea, North America, and South America. Three decades of research has resulted in more than 160 peer-reviewed publications, many including mercury synthesis papers for North America and at global levels. I have also published 7 books about birds and the Northwoods.

Through BRI’s Center for Mercury Studies, I oversee several ongoing national and international mercury monitoring networks and database summary efforts for the United Nations Environment Programme and other UN agencies. I oversaw the completion of Minamata Initial Assessments for 36 countries and currently work closely with the Minamata Convention Secretariat on various projects around the world. I am the co-lead for the Fate and Transport Global Mercury Partnership Group of the Minamata Convention.

Recently I joined Harvard University as an Associate Scientist, became a co-owner of a soil carbon development company called CarbonSolve, and now oversee biodiversity surveys for soil carbon projects in Africa (Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia) and North America. My goal is to develop a methodology that can define biodiversity metrics into credits that can be sold on the open market.

Education & Certifications

Education

  • Ph.D., Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, 2001
  • M.S., Ecology, Western Michigan University, 1992
  • B.S., Wildlife Management, Michigan State University, 1984

Certifications & Nominated Member

  • Editorial Board Member for peer-reviewed journal, Diversity
  • Elective Member of the American Ornithologists’ Society
  • United Nations Environment Programme’s Minamata Convention Toolkit Trainer. 2015.
  • United States Geological Survey Master permit holder for banding birds. Banded more than 50,000 individual birds representing over 250 species. Current federal permit covers 42 states. 1993-present.

Research Interests

  • Conservation of endangered species
  • Exposure and effects of methylmercury on wildlife in temperate, tropical, arctic, and marine environs
  • Ecology, natural history, and conservation of the Common Loon and other loon species

Books and Field Guides

  • Evers, D.C. and K.M. Taylor. 2020.  Loon Landscapes. Willow Creek Press, Minocqua, Wisconsin. 152pp
  • Evers, D.C. and K.M. Taylor. 2015. Journey with the Owls. Willow Creek Press, Minocqua, WI. 160 pp.
  • Evers, D.C. and K. M. Taylor. 2014. Journey with the Loon. Willow Creek Press, Minocqua, WI. 144 pp.
  • Evers, D.C. and K. M. Taylor. 2008. Call of the Northwoods. Willow Creek Press, Minocqua, WI. 96 pp.
  • Evers, D. C. and K. M. Taylor. 2006. Call of the Loon. Willow Creek Press, Minocqua, WI. 112 pp.
  • Evers, D. C. 1998. A guide to the birds of the Hiawatha National Forest. Wildl. Unl., Escanaba, MI. 36pp.
  • Evers, D. C. (editor). 1994. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife of Michigan. Univ. Mich. Press, Ann Arbor, MI. 412pp.
  • Evers, D. C. 1992. A Guide to Michigan’s Endangered Wildlife. Univ. of Mich. Press, Ann Arbor, MI. 103pp.
  • Evers, D. C. 1991. Species accounts for 16 species in Brewer, R., G. McPeek, and R. Adams, Jr. The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Michigan. Mich. State Univ. Press, E. Lansing, MI. 594pp.
  • Evers, D. C., G. A. McPeek, and R. J. Adams. 1989. Michigan’s changing bird populations in J. Eastman (ed.). Enjoying Birds of Michigan. Center for Environmental Studies Publications, Grand Rapids, MI. 148pp.

Total publications published (157) or submitted to journals/in Press (1)

Journal Articles- Highlights

Evers, DC, C. Chen, T. Tear, E. Sunderland et al. Global mercury concentrations in biota: Their use as a basis for a global biomonitoring network.

Gerson, JR, N Szponar, AA Zambrano, B Bergquist, E Broadbent, CT Driscoll, GE Watsa, ME Watsa, DC Evers, LE Fernandez, H Hsu-Kim, G Inga, A Martinez, C Moore, W Pan, M Silman, EA Ury, C Vega, ES Bernhardt. 2021. Amazon forests capture high levels of atmospheric mercury pollution from artisanal gold mining. Nature Communications.

Larison B, AR. Lindsay, C Bossu, MD. Sorenson, JD. Kaplan, DC. Evers, J Paruk, JM. DaCosta, TB. Smith, K Ruegg. 2021. Leveraging Genomics to Understand Threats in a Migratory Waterbird. Evolutionary Applications 14: 1646–1658.

Ackerman, J, M Herzog, D Evers, D Cristol, K Kenow, G Heinz, R Lavoie, R Brasso, M Mallory, J Provencher, B Braune, A Matz, J Schmutz, C Eagles-Smith, L Savoy, M Meyer, Michael, C Hartman. 2020. A Synthesis of Maternal Transfer of Mercury in Birds: Implications for Altered Toxicity Risk. Environ. Sci. Technol. 54:2878-2891.

Adams, E, A Sauer, DC Evers, O Lane, and K Regan. 2020. Spatio-temporal trends in mercury exposure to New York songbirds: Correlations with climate, habitat, and projecting future change. Ecotoxicology

Buxton, VL, DC Evers, and N Schoch. 2020. The influence of biotic and abiotic factors on banded common loon (Gavia immer) reproductive success in a remote, mountainous region of the northeastern United States. Ecotoxicology

Cristol, D., and D.C. Evers. 2020. The impact of mercury on North American songbirds: effects, trends, and predictive factors. Ecotoxicology 29:1107–1116.

DeSorbo, C, P Nye, H Brant, J Loukmas, and DC Evers. 2020. Using Bald Eagles as bioindicators of MeHg risk to piscivores of New York. Ecotoxicology

Evers, D. C., J. D. Paruk, J. W. McIntyre, and J. F. Barr (2020). Common Loon (Gavia immer), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.comloo.01

Evers, D.C., A. Sauer, D. Burns, N. Fisher, A. Sauer, D. Bertok, E. Adams, M. Burton, and C.T. Driscoll. 2020. Mercury in New York: Spatio-temporal patterns and risk to ecosystem and human health. Ecotoxicology 29:1565–1589

Fall, A, EP Smith, N Schoch, JD Paruk, EM Adams, DC Evers, PGR Jodice, M Perkins, DE Meattey, and WA Hopkins. 2020. Ultraviolet-assisted oiling assessment improves detection of oiled birds experiencing clinical signs of hemolytic anemia after exposure to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Ecotoxicology: doi.org/10.1007/s10646-020-02255-8

Keyel, E.R., Etterson, M.A., Niemi, G.J., Evers, D.C., DeSorbo, C.R., Hoffman, J.C., Nichols, J.W., Li, Y. and Nicoletti, F., 2020. Feather mercury increases with feeding at higher trophic levels in two species of migrant raptors, Merlin (Falco columbarius) and Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus). The Condor 122:1-17.

Kneeland, MR, VA Spagnuolo, DC Evers, JD Paruk, N Schoch, MA Pokras, G Stout, A Dalton, K Silber and LJ Savoy. 2020. A novel method for captive rearing of common loons and survival rates three years post-release. Zoo Biology DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21544.

Kneeland, MR, E Berman, T Grade, J Cooley, H Vogel, N Schoch, C Cray, V Stout, D Evers and M Pokras. 2020. Plasma biochemistry and protein electrophoresis reference intervals of the Common Loon (Gavia immer). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 51:561-570.

Perkins, P. OP Lane, DC Evers, A Sauer, EM Adams, NJ O’Driscoll, ST Edmunds, AK Jackson, JC Hagelin, J Trimble, EM Sunderland. 2019. Historical patterns in mercury exposure for North Ecotoxicology 29:1161–1173.

Rimmer, CC, JD Lloyd, KP McFarland, DC Evers, and OP Lane. 2020. Patterns of blood mercury variation in two long-distance migratory thrushes on Mount Mansfield, Vermont. Ecotoxicology

Sauer, A, CT Driscoll, DC Evers, E Adams, and Y Yang. 2020. Mercury Exposure in Songbird Communities within Sphagnum Bog and Upland Forest Ecosystems in the Adirondack Park (New York, USA). Ecotoxicology

Sauer, S, CT Driscoll, DC Evers, E Adams, and Y Yang. 2020. Mercury Exposure in Songbird Communities along an Elevational Gradient on Whiteface Mountain, Adirondack Park (New York, USA). Ecotoxicology

Schoch, N, Y Yang, RD Yanai, VL Buxton, DC Evers, and CT Driscoll. 2020. Spatial patterns and temporal trends in mercury concentrations in common loons (Gavia immer) from 1998 to 2016 in New York’s Adirondack Park: Has this top predator benefitted from mercury emission controls? Ecotoxicology

Smith, AM, K Regan, NW Cooper, L Johnson, E Olsen, A Green, J Tash, DC Evers, and PP Marra. 2020. A green wave of saltmarsh productivity predicts the timing of the annual cycle in a long-distance migratory shorebird. Scientific Reports.

Yang Y, RD Yanai, N Schoch, VL Buxton, K Gonzalez, DC Evers and G Lampman. 2020. Determining optimal sampling strategies for monitoring mercury and reproductive success in common loons in the Adirondacks of New York. Ecotoxicology 29:1786-1793.

Evers, D. C., & D. A. Cristol. 2020. The Impact of Mercury on North American Songbirds: Effects, Trends, and Predictive Factors. Biodiversity Research Institute , BRI ID 2020-29. Biodiversity Research Institute, Portland, ME. 22 pp. Available at https://briwildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Mercury-in-Songbirds-10-14-20-310px.jpg.

Evers, D. C., & E. Sunderland. 2019. Technical Information Report on Mercury Monitoring in Biota. UN Environment Porgramme, Chemicals and Health Branch, Geneva, Switzerland. 40 pp. Available at https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/30821/Report_Moni_Biota.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.

Cinnirella, S., D. E. Bruno, N. Pirrone, M. Horvat, I. Živković, D. C. Evers, S. Johnson, & E. M. Sunderland. 2019. Mercury concentrations in biota in the Mediterranean Sea, a compilation of 40 years of surveys. Scientific Data 6: 205. Available at http://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-019-0219-y.

Willacker, J. J., C. A. Eagles-Smith, B. M. Kowalski, R. J. Danehy, A. K. Jackson, E. M. Adams, D. C. Evers, C. S. Eckley, M. T. Tate, & D. P. Krabbenhoft. 2019. Timber harvest alters mercury bioaccumulation and food web structure in headwater streams. Environmental Pollution 253: 636-645. Available at https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0269749119324200.

Buck, D. G., D. C. Evers, E. Adams, J. DiGangi, B. Beeler, J. Samánek, J. Petrlik, M. A. Turnquist, O. Speranskaya, K. Regan, & S. Johnson. 2019. A global-scale assessment of fish mercury concentrations and the identification of biological hotspots. Science of The Total Environment 687: 956-966. Available at https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0048969719327305.

Evers, D. C., M. Sperduto, C. E. Gray, J. D. Paruk, & K. M. Taylor. 2019. Restoration of common loons following the North Cape Oil Spill, Rhode Island, USA. Science of The Total Environment 695: 133849. Available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.133849.

Evers, D. C. 2018. The Effects of Methylmercury on Wildlife: A Comprehensive Review and Approach for Interpretation. Pp. 181-194 in Dellasala, D. A. & M. I. Goldstein (eds). Encyclopedia of the Anthropocene. Elsevier, Oxford

Gustin, M. S., D. C. Evers, M. S. Bank, C. R. Hammerschmidt, A. Pierce, N. Basu, J. Blum, P. Bustamante, C. Chen, C. T. Driscoll, M. Horvat, D. Jaffe, J. Pacyna, N. Pirrone, & N. Selin. 2016. Importance of Integration and Implementation of Emerging and Future Mercury Research into the Minamata Convention. Environmental Science & Technology 50: 2767-2770. Available at https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.6b00573.

Sunderland, E. M., C. T. Driscoll, J. K. Hammitt, P. Grandjean, J. S. Evans, J. D. Blum, C. Y. Chen, D. C. Evers, D. A. Jaffe, R. P. Mason, S. Goho, & W. Jacobs. 2016. Benefits of Regulating Hazardous Air Pollutants from Coal and Oil-Fired Utilities in the United States. Environmental Science & Technology 50: 2117-2120. Available at https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.6b00239.

Evers, D. C., S. E. Keane, N. Basu, & D. Buck. 2016. Evaluating the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention on Mercury: Principles and recommendations for next steps. Science of the Total Environment 569-570: 888-903. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.001.

Evers, D. C., J. G. Wiener, N. Basu, R. A. Bodaly, H. A. Morrison, & K. A. Williams. 2011. Mercury in the Great Lakes region: bioaccumulation, spatiotemporal patterns, ecological risks, and policy. Ecotoxicology 20: 1487-1499. Available at http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10646-011-0784-0.

Evers, D. C., R. P. Mason, N. C. Kamman, C. Y. Chen, A. L. Bogomolni, D. L. Taylor, C. R. Hammerschmidt, S. H. Jones, N. M. Burgess, K. Munney, & K. C. Parsons. 2008. Integrated Mercury Monitoring Program for Temperate Estuarine and Marine Ecosystems on the North American Atlantic Coast. EcoHealth 5: 426-441. Available at http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2693407&tool=pmcentrez&rendertype=abstract.


Journal Articles – Most Recent

Evan M. Adams, Julia E. Gulka, Yang Yang, Mark E. H. Burton, Douglas A. Burns, Valerie Buxton, Lisa Cleckner, Christopher R. DeSorbo, Charles T. Driscoll, David C. Evers, Nicholas Fisher, Oksana Lane, Huiting Mao, Karen Riva-Murray, Geoffrey Millard, N. Roxanna Razavi, Wayne Richter, Amy K. Sauer, Nina Schoch (2023) Distribution and trends of mercury in aquatic and terrestrial biota of New York, USA: A synthesis of 50 years of research and monitoring, Ecotoxicology 32(8), p. 959-976, doi:10.1007/s10646-023-02704-0

Christopher J. Sayers, David C. Evers, Viviana Ruiz-Gutierrez, Evan Adams, Claudia M. Vega, Jessica N. Pisconte, Vania Tejeda, Kevin Regan, Oksana P. Lane, Abidas A. Ash, Reynold Cal, Stevan Reneau, Wilber Martínez, Gilroy Welch, Kayla Hartwell, Mario Teul, David Tzul, Wayne J. Arendt, Marvin A. Tórrez, Mrinalini Watsa, Gideon Erkenswick, Caroline E. Moore, Jacqueline Gerson, Victor Sánchez, Raúl Pérez Purizaca, Helen Yurek, Mark E. H. Burton, Peggy L. Shrum, Sebastian Tabares-Segovia, Korik Vargas, Finola F. Fogarty, Mathieu R. Charette, Ari E. Martínez, Emily S. Bernhardt, Robert J. Taylor, Timothy H. Tear, Luis E. Fernandez (2023) Mercury in Neotropical birds: A synthesis and prospectus on 13 years of exposure data, Ecotoxicology 32(8), p. 1096-1123, doi:10.1007/s10646-023-02706-y

Evan M. Adams, Amy K. Sauer, Oksana Lane, Kevin Regan, David C. Evers (2020) The effects of climate, habitat, and trophic position on methylmercury bioavailability for breeding New York songbirds, Ecotoxicology 29(10), p. 1843-1861, doi:10.1007/s10646-019-02151-w

Jesse A. Fallon, Eric P. Smith, Nina Schoch, James D. Paruk, Evan M. Adams, David C. Evers, Patrick G. R. Jodice, Marie Perkins, Dustin E. Meattey, William A. Hopkins (2020) Ultraviolet-assisted oiling assessment improves detection of oiled birds experiencing clinical signs of hemolytic anemia after exposure to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Ecotoxicology 29(9), url, doi:10.1007/s10646-020-02255-8

C. R. DeSorbo, N. M. Burgess, P. E. Nye, J. J. Loukmas, H. A. Brant, M. E. H. Burton, C. P. Persico, D. C. Evers (2020) Bald Eagle mercury exposure varies with region and site elevation in New York, USA, Ecotoxicology 29(10), p. 1862-1876, url, doi:10.1007/s10646-019-02153-8 pdf

Yang Yang, Ruth D. Yanai, Nina Schoch, Valerie L. Buxton, Kara E. Gonzales, David C. Evers, Gregory G. Lampman (2020) Determining optimal sampling strategies for monitoring mercury and reproductive success in common loons in the Adirondacks of New York, Ecotoxicology 29(10), p. 1786-1793, url, doi:10.1007/s10646-019-02122-1

Christopher C. Rimmer, John D. Lloyd, Kent P. McFarland, David C. Evers, Oksana P. Lane (2020) Patterns of blood mercury variation in two long-distance migratory thrushes on Mount Mansfield, Vermont, Ecotoxicology 29(8), p. 1174-1182, url, doi:10.1007/s10646-019-02104-3

Marie Perkins, Oksana P. Lane, David C. Evers, Amy Sauer, Evan M. Adams, Nelson J. O’Driscoll, Samuel T. Edmunds, Allyson K. Jackson, Julie C. Hagelin, Jeremiah Trimble, Elsie M. Sunderland (2020) Historical patterns in mercury exposure for North American songbirds, Ecotoxicology 29(8), p. 1161-1173, url, doi:10.1007/s10646-019-02054-w

International Projects

  • Gabon, Jamaica, Sri Lanka: Eliminating Mercury in Skin-lightening Cosmetics on a Global Scale through Regulation, Training and Outreach Activities- TO BE PROPOSED TO THE GEF IN 2019, 2020-2022
  • Antigua and Barbuda: Developing a Caribbean Region Mercury Monitoring Network, 2020-2021
  • Geneva, Switzerland: Reviewing Minamata Initial Assessment Reports, 2020-2021
  • South Pacific Islands (Cook Islands, Kiribati, Palau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu): Enabling Activities to Conduct Minamata Initial Assessments (MIA) in South Pacific, 2019-2021
  • Geneva, Switzerland: Activities related to needs by the Minamata Convention, 2019
  • Indonesia: Activities related to ASGM needs in Indonesia, 2018-2021
  • Belize: Enabling Activities to Conduct Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) in Belize, 2018-2020
  • Maldives: Enabling Activities to Conduct Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) in Maldives, 2018-2019
  • Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago: Enabling Activities to Conduct Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) in the Caribbean Islands, 2017-2019
  • Montenegro: Enabling Activities to Conduct Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) in Montenegro, 2016-2017
  • Georgia: Enabling Activities to Conduct Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) in Georgia, 2016-2017
  • Azerbaijan: Enabling Activities to Conduct Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) in Azerbaijan, 2016-2017
  • Albania: Enabling Activities to Conduct Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) in Albania, 2016-2018
  • Jordan: Enabling Activities to Conduct Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) in Jordan, 20176-2018
  • Mauritius: Enabling Activities to Conduct Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) in Mauritius, 2015-2018
  • Seychelles: Enabling Activities to Conduct Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) in Seychelles, 2015-2016
  • Nepal, Sao Tome, Cabo Verde, Guatemala, and Sri Lanka: Enabling Activities to Conduct Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) in Nepal, Sao Tome, Cabo Verde, Guatemala, and Sri Lanka, 2015-2018
  • Chad: Enabling Activities to Conduct Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) in Chad, 2015-2018
  • Peru: Development and implementation of artisanal and small-scale miner training resources for reducing mercury use and release in South America and generation of biomonitoring program design, 2013-2016

Grants, Awards & Fellowships

  • Over 510 separate grants, from >120 different agencies or organizations, totaling >$87 million have been awarded for >300 different projects. Most of these grants are related to research with birds (especially loons) and environmental stressors (e.g., mercury and oil pollution impacts to the wildlife). Some funding was directed toward research with neotropical migrants, the growth of a nonprofit organization, and publications/research with endangered and threatened species.
  • Over $1.7 million granted to assist the United Nations Environment Programme, United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the United Nations Development Program with the Minamata Initial Assessment process for 34 countries in Africa, eastern Europe, Latin America and
    the Caribbean, the Mid-East, Asia, and the South Pacific
  • Elected National Fellow of the Explorers Club in 2012.