Caruso, C. M., A. M. Benscoter, N. V. Gale, E. K. Seifert, E. R. Mills, and A. L. Case. 2015. Effects of crossing distance on performance of the native wildflower Lobelia siphilitica: implications for ecological restoration. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 142(2): 140-151.
Allison Benscoter
Biography
RESEARCH
Allison Benscoter is a quantitative ecologist and geographic information specialist who focuses on ecological restoration and wildlife conservation. Research areas include applying geospatial techniques to understand species responses to environmental variation, habitat suitability modeling, animal home range analyses, and plant ecophysiology.
EDUCATION
M.S. in Plant Biology from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale
B.A. in Environmental Studies from Saint Olaf College
Science and Products
Date published: June 28, 2019
Status: Active Modeling Conservation Targets for the Peninsular Florida Landscape Conservation Cooperative
The USGS is working with the Peninsular Florida Landscape Conservation Cooperative to develop forecast models that integrate potential impacts from external drivers for selected conservation targets and priority resources.
Contacts: Stephanie Romañach, Ph.D.
Date published: May 23, 2019
Status: Active Modeling Spatial Habitat Quality for the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow
The Joint Ecosystem Modeling (JEM) team will develop species distribution models that incorporate hydrologic and habitat variables known to influence Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow occurrence.
Contacts: Stephanie Romañach, Ph.D.
Date published: May 23, 2019
Status: Active Ecological Modeling in Support of the Western Everglades Restoration Project
Joint Ecosystem Modeling (JEM) provides ecological models tailored to address specific management issues, for example, the Western Everglades Restoration Project.
Contacts: Stephanie Romañach, Ph.D.
Date published: February 27, 2019
Status: Active Habitat Modeling for the Endangered Everglades Snail Kite and Its Prey
Joint Ecosystem Modeling (JEM) provides real-time habitat suitability models for species of interest in Everglades restoration planning, including the federally endangered Everglades snail kite.
Contacts: Stephanie Romañach, Ph.D.
Date published: August 6, 2018
Status: Active Sea Turtle Movement and Habitat Use in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) uses trawling to capture and relocate live sea turtles away from dredging locations to minimize the risk of turtle entrainment. These incidental turtle captures provide a unique opportunity to fill critical data gaps for difficult to capture life-stages of marine turtles.
Contacts: Kristen Hart, Ph.D., Margaret Lamont, Ph.D.
Date published: April 17, 2016
Socio-Ecological Conservation Targets for the Peninsular Florida Landscape Conservation Cooperative
Peninsular Florida has a high density of species and ecosystems of conservation concern, as well as many threats to the persistence of native species and their habitats. USGS worked closely with the Peninsular Florida Landscape Conservation Cooperative to define conservation targets to help meet conservation goals.
Contacts: Stephanie Romañach, Ph.D.
Date published: April 17, 2016
Status: Active Climate Envelope Modeling for Evaluating Anticipated Effects of Climate Change on Threatened and Endangered Species
Modeling both potential changes in climate and responses of species and habitats can increase certainty in management decisions by helping managers to understand the range of possible species and habitat responses under different alternative futures. Climate envelope modeling is one type of modeling that can be useful in understanding species and habitat responses to climate change because it...
Contacts: Stephanie Romañach, Ph.D.
Date published: February 26, 2016
Status: Active Sea Turtle Habitat Use at Buck Island Reef National Monument, U.S. Virgin Islands
USGS researchers tag and track endangered and threatened sea turtles to inform adaptive management strategies in marine protected areas.
Contacts: Kristen Hart, Ph.D.
Date published: January 1, 2019
Modeling the effects of future scenarios of urbanization and sea level rise on the Peninsular Florida Landscape Conservation Cooperative's conservation targets
Understanding how ecological and cultural resources may change in the future is an important component of conservation planning and for the implementation of long-term environmental monitoring. We modeled six future scenarios of urbanization and sea level rise to investigate their potential effects on the Peninsular Florida Landscape Conservation Cooperative's Priority Resources (PFLCC 2016%2...
Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Date published: January 1, 2017
Data for comparison of climate envelope models developed using expert-selected variables versus statistical selection
The data we used for this study include species occurrence data (n=15 species), climate data and predictions, an expert opinion questionnaire, and species masks that represented the model domain for each species. For this data release, we include the results of the expert opinion questionnaire and the species model domains (or masks). We developed an expert opinion questionnaire
Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Year Published: 2020
Migration corridors and threats in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Straits for loggerhead sea turtles
Along migration corridors, animals can face natural and anthropogenic threats that differ from those in breeding and non-breeding residence areas. Satellite telemetry can aid in describing the timing and location of these migrations. We use this tool with switching state-space modeling and line kernel density estimates to identify migration...
Iverson, Autumn; Benscoter, Allison; Fujisaki, Ikuko; Lamont, Margaret; Hart, Kristen
Year Published: 2020
Potential impacts of future urbanization and sea level rise on Florida’s natural resources
As urban development continues to encroach into natural systems, these ecosystems experience increasing degradation to their form and function. Losses in biodiversity and ecosystem function are further compounded by changing climatic conditions. The State of Florida is known for its biodiversity but has experienced declines in species populations...
Romanach, Stephanie; Benscoter, Allison; Haider, Saira
Year Published: 2020
Coastal marsh bird habitat selection and responses to Hurricane Sandy
Wetlands provide numerous ecosystem functions such as water purification, nutrient cycling, and wildlife habitat. Avian populations are indicators of wetland health, and understanding their responses to extreme events can aid in targeting restoration efforts following disturbance. Here, we assessed the habitat selection of six coastal wetland bird...
Benscoter, Allison; Beerens, James; Romanach, Stephanie
Year Published: 2019
Fire disturbance influences endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow (Ammopiza maritima mirabilis) relative bird count
Periodicity of fire disturbance is a known driver of ecosystem function and is reported as important in both promoting and maintaining viable breeding habitat for the endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza maritima mirabilis; CSSS). In south Florida, the CSSS serves as a fine‐scale indicator of the marl and mixed‐marl prairie communities...
Benscoter, Allison; Beerens, James (Contractor); Pearlstine, Leonard G.; Romanach, Stephanie
Year Published: 2019
Satellite tracking of hawksbill turtles nesting at Buck Island Reef National Monument, US Virgin Islands: Inter-nesting and foraging period movements and migrations
To conserve imperiled marine species, an understanding of high-density use zones is necessary prior to designing and evaluating management strategies that improve their survival. We satellite-tracked turtles captured after nesting at Buck Island ReefNational Monument (BIRNM), St. Croix, US...
Hart, Kristen M.; Iverson, Autumn; Benscoter, Allison; Fujisaki, Ikuko; Cherkiss, Michael S.; Pollock, Clayton; Lundgren, Ian; Hillis-Starr, Zandy
Year Published: 2017
Resident areas and migrations of female green turtles nesting at Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Satellite tracking in marine turtle studies can reveal much about their spatial use of breeding areas, migration zones, and foraging sites. We assessed spatial habitat-use patterns of 10 adult female green turtles (Chelonia mydas) nesting at Buck Island Reef National Monument, U.S. Virgin Islands (BIRNM) from 2011 – 2014. Turtles ranged in size...
Hart, Kristen M.; Iverson, Autumn; Benscoter, Allison M.; Fujisaki, Ikuko; Cherkiss, Michael S.; Pollock, Clayton; Lundgren, Ian; Hillis-Starr, ZandyAttribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin
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Hart, K.M., Iverson, A.R., Benscoter, A.M.L., Fujisaki, I., Cherkiss, M.S., Pollock, C., Lundgren, I., and Hillis-Starr, Z., 2017, Resident areas and migrations of female green turtles nesting at Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands: Endangered Species Research, v. 32, p. 89-101, https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00793.
Year Published: 2017
Comparison of climate envelope models developed using expert-selected variables versus statistical selection
Climate envelope models are widely used to describe potential future distribution of species under different climate change scenarios. It is broadly recognized that there are both strengths and limitations to using climate envelope models and that outcomes are sensitive to initial assumptions, inputs, and modeling methods Selection of predictor...
Brandt, Laura A.; Benscoter, Allison; Harvey, Rebecca G.; Speroterra, Carolina; Bucklin, David N.; Romañach, Stephanie; Watling, James I.; Mazzotti, Frank J.Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin
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Brandt, L.A., Benscoter, A.M., Harvey, R., Speroterra, C., Bucklin, D., Romanach, S.S., Watling, J.I., and Mazzotti, F.J., 2017, Comparison of climate envelope models developed using expert-selected variables versus statistical selection: Ecological Modelling, v. 345, p. 10-20, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2016.11.016.
Year Published: 2016
Value-focused framework for defining landscape-scale conservation targets
Conservation of natural resources can be challenging in a rapidly changing world and require collaborative efforts for success. Conservation planning is the process of deciding how to protect, conserve, and enhance or minimize loss of natural and cultural resources. Establishing conservation targets (also called indicators or endpoints), the...
Romañach, Stephanie; Benscoter, Allison M.; Brandt, Laura A.Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin
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Romanach, S.S., Benscoter, A.M., and Brandt, L.A., 2016, Value-focused framework for defining landscape-scale conservation targets: Journal for Nature Conservation, v. 32, p. 53-61, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2016.04.005.
Year Published: 2015
Defining conservation targets on a landscape-scale
Conservation planning, the process of deciding how to protect, conserve, enhance and(or) minimize loss of natural and cultural resources, is a fundamental process to achieve conservation success in a time of rapid environmental change. Conservation targets, the measurable expressions of desired resource conditions, are an important tool in...
Benscoter, A.M.; Romañach, Stephanie; Brandt, Laura A.Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), Region 4: Mississippi Basin
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Benscoter, A., Romanach, S.S., and Brandt, L., 2015, Defining conservation targets on a landscape-scale, prepared for the Peninsular Florida Landscape Conservation Cooperative (PFLCC), 81 p., http://api.ning.com/files/Q54q7G9WTUrHmtrQc5r0W5JT0k-ZJqglkCqlwc4sVe4AnG9Z6QDOizQtWdJSZeKEEPFNZ9Y5hG9GNoFgxfvR6aCLoBBS1gvG/DefiningConservationTargets_Sept2015.pdf or http://peninsularfloridalcc.org/page/conservation-targets.
Year Published: 2014
Comparing species distribution models constructed with different subsets of environmental predictors
Aim To assess the usefulness of combining climate predictors with additional types of environmental predictors in species distribution models for range-restricted species, using common correlative species distribution modelling approaches. Location Florida, USA Methods We used five different algorithms to create distribution models...
Bucklin, David N.; Basille, Mathieu; Benscoter, Allison M.; Brandt, Laura A.; Mazzotti, Frank J.; Romañach, Stephanie S.; Speroterra, Carolina; Watling, James I.Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands)
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Comparing species distribution models constructed with different subsets of environmental predictors; 2014; Article; Journal; Diversity and Distributions; Bucklin, David N.; Basille, Mathieu; Benscoter, Allison M.; Brandt, Laura A.; Mazzotti, Frank J.; Romanach, Stephanie S.; Speroterra, Carolina; Watling, James I.
Year Published: 2013
Threatened and endangered subspecies with vulnerable ecological traits Also have high susceptibility to sea level rise and habitat fragmentation
The presence of multiple interacting threats to biodiversity and the increasing rate of species extinction make it critical to prioritize management efforts on species and communities that maximize conservation success. We implemented a multi-step approach that coupled vulnerability assessments evaluating threats to Florida taxa such as climate...
Benscoter, Allison M.; Reece, Joshua S.; Noss, Reed F.; Brandt, Laura B.; Mazzotti, Frank J.; Romañach, Stephanie S.; Watling, James I.Attribution: Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Ecosystems, Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands)
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Threatened and endangered subspecies with vulnerable ecological traits Also have high susceptibility to sea level rise and habitat fragmentation; 2013; Article; Journal; PLOS One; Benscoter, Allison M.; Reece, Joshua S.; Noss, Reed F.; Brandt, Laura B.; Mazzotti, Frank J.; Romanach, Stephanie S.; Watling, James I.
Pre-USGS Publications
Bucklin, D. N., M. Basille, A. M. Benscoter, L. A. Brandt, F. J. Mazzotti, S. S. Romañach, C. Speroterra, and J. I. Watling. 2014. Comparing species distribution models constructed with different subsets of environmental predictors. Diversity and Distributions 21(1): 23-25.
Baer, S. G., D. J. Gibson, D. J. Gustafson, A. M. Benscoter, L. K. Reed, R. E. Campbell, R. P. Klopf, J. E. Willand, and B. R. Wodika. 2013. No effect of seed source on multiple aspects of ecosystem functioning during ecological restoration: cultivars compared to local ecotypes of dominant grasses. Evolutionary Applications 7(2): 323-335.
Benscoter A. M., J. S. Reece, R. F. Noss, L. A. Brandt, F. J. Mazzotti, S. S. Romañach, and J. I. Watling. 2013. Threatened and endangered subspecies with vulnerable ecological traits also have high susceptibility to sea level rise and habitat fragmentation. PLoS ONE 8(8): e70647.
Caruso, C. M., A. M. Lambert, and H. Maherali. 2012. Why are trade-offs between flower size and number infrequently detected? A test of three hypotheses. International Journal of Plant Sciences 173(1): 26-35.
Creese, C. F., A. M. Benscoter, and H. Maherali. 2011. Xylem function and climate adaptation in Pinus. American Journal of Botany 98(9): 1437-1445.
Lambert, A. M., S. G. Baer, and D. J. Gibson. 2011. Intraspecific variation in ecophysiology of three dominant prairie grasses used in restoration: cultivar vs. non-cultivar population sources. Restoration Ecology 19(101): 43-52.
Lambert, A. M., A. J. Miller-Rushing, and D. W. Inouye. 2010. The effect of climate change on the flowering phenology and abundance of Erythronium grandiflorum. American Journal of Botany 97(9): 1431-1437.
Umbanhower, C. E., A. M. Lambert, and L. Vandelinder. 2008. Effects of freezing on Young’s Modulus of twigs of coniferous and deciduous trees and shrubs. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 38: 394-399.
Allison M. Benscoter was previously Allison M. Lambert.