Ben West
Ben is a Biologist at the Columbia Environmental Research Center.
Ben West began working in support of the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC) in June 2020 as a Student Services Contractor on a project modeling the potential effects of oil spills on migratory birds. After additional contract and volunteer work supporting CERC through 2022, Ben was hired as a USGS employee in November 2022 to continue research into modeling oil spill effects on birds. In addition to his work on oiled bird modeling, Ben provides scientific writing and data analysis support for a variety of CERC Quantitative Ecology Section projects. Ben’s research interests are avian ecology, ecological modeling, analysis of ecological monitoring data, and data science in support of natural resource conservation and restoration.
Education and Certifications
M.S. in Wildlife Ecology with Statistics Minor, Iowa State University, 2020
B.A. in Biology, Bowdoin College, 2016
Science and Products
Bird detections from multi-species point surveys at lowland forest restoration sites, Indiana, United States, April – June 2016, with resampling code
These data pertain to bird point surveys collected from 30 April 2016 to 12 May 2016 and 23 May 2016 to 25 June 2016 at four bottomland hardwood restoration sites in northeastern Indiana. The data are a single monitoring occasion with the purpose of documenting bird communities across these sites. During the time of collection, sites contained areas of hardwood planting ranging in age from 2 to 22
Occupancy model coefficients and observed co-occurrence simulations for sicklefin chub, sturgeon chub, and associated fishes in the Missouri River
Extant population monitoring and habitat assessment data sets of benthic species were used as inputs for occupancy models focused on Sicklefin and Sturgeon chub with the goals of describing temporal, spatial, and environmental factors associated with occupancy patterns of each chub species, assessing co-occurrence of the two species, and determining relationships between co-occurrence and environm
Electro-olfactory responses of Grass Carp, Bighead Carp, and Silver Carp to the amino acids L-alanine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, L-asparagine, L-glutamine, and L‑glutamic acid
Using juvenile individuals of 3 species of carp (Family: Cyprinidae), we tested the potential for six amino acids to elicit an extracellular electro-olfactory response within the naris using gelatin-based electrodes. The amino acids L-alanine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, L-asparagine, L-glutamine, and L‑glutamic acid were tested on Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmic
Simulated impacts of feather oiling on avian energetics and migration: R environment model code and raw output
This dataset represents a modeling effort intended to explore the impacts of oiling on migratory birds. The purpose of this model is to provide a first principles approach to predict potential biological impacts of altered energetics dynamics in north American migratory birds due to oiling of feathers. This data includes predicted theoretical impacts on migration timing, wintering latitude, starva
Survey effort and targeted landbird community metrics at Indiana lowland forest restoration sites
Many sampling and analytical methods can estimate the abundance, distributions, and diversity of birds and other wildlife. However, challenges with sample size and analytical capacity can make these methods difficult to implement for resource-limited monitoring programs. To apprise efficient and attainable sampling designs for landbird monitoring programs with limited observational data, we used b
Authors
Benjamin M West, Mark L. Wildhaber, Nicholas S. Green, John P. Isanhart, M. Victoria McDonald, Michael J. Hooper
Sicklefin Chub (Macrhybopsis meeki) and Sturgeon Chub (M. gelida) temporal and spatial patterns from extant population monitoring and habitat data spanning 23 Years
Sicklefin (Macrhybopsis meeki) and sturgeon chub (M. gelida) historically occurred throughout the Missouri River (MR), in some tributaries, and Mississippi River downstream of the MR. They have been species of U.S. state-level conservation concern and U.S. Endangered Species Act listing candidates since the 1990s. We applied analytical approaches from occupancy modeling to correlation to monitorin
Authors
Mark L. Wildhaber, Benjamin M West, Kendell Ray Bennett, Jack Howard May, Janice L. Albers, Nicholas S. Green
A review of grass carp and related species literature on diet, behavior, toxicology, and physiology focused on informing development of controls for invasive grass carp populations in North America
Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) are globally important in aquaculture and aquatic vegetation control. However, escaped grass carp have established invasive populations. A targeted keyword search was performed on a carp (order: Cypriniformes) literature database maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey to identify literature relevant to grass carp. Additional sources cited in reviewed document
Authors
Mark L. Wildhaber, Benjamin M West, Karlie K Ditter, Adrian Parr Moore, Alex S. Peterson
Herbivorous grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) exhibit greater olfactory response to amino acids than filter-feeding bighead (Hypophthalmichthysnobilis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)
Due to their invasiveness in North America, grass (Ctenopharyngodon idella), bighead (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) are management priorities. Comparing electrophysiological responses to olfactory cues, such as amino acids, could help identify stimuli to facilitate management efforts (i.e., repellants or baits). We assessed olfactory response magnitude
Authors
Mark L. Wildhaber, Benjamin M West, Karlie K Ditter, Alex S. Peterson, Robin D. Calfee, Zachary D Beaman
Migration and energetics model predicts delayed migration and likely starvation in oiled waterbirds
Oil spills can inflict mortality and injury on bird populations; many of these deaths involve starvation resulting from thermoregulatory costs incurred by oiling of birds’ feathers. However, the fates and responses of sublethally oiled birds are poorly known. Due to this knowledge gap and the potential for birds to die far from the spill site, resource risk and injury assessors need tools to make
Authors
Benjamin M West, Mark L. Wildhaber, Kevin J. Aagaard, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Adrian Parr Moore, Michael J. Hooper
Science and Products
Bird detections from multi-species point surveys at lowland forest restoration sites, Indiana, United States, April – June 2016, with resampling code
These data pertain to bird point surveys collected from 30 April 2016 to 12 May 2016 and 23 May 2016 to 25 June 2016 at four bottomland hardwood restoration sites in northeastern Indiana. The data are a single monitoring occasion with the purpose of documenting bird communities across these sites. During the time of collection, sites contained areas of hardwood planting ranging in age from 2 to 22
Occupancy model coefficients and observed co-occurrence simulations for sicklefin chub, sturgeon chub, and associated fishes in the Missouri River
Extant population monitoring and habitat assessment data sets of benthic species were used as inputs for occupancy models focused on Sicklefin and Sturgeon chub with the goals of describing temporal, spatial, and environmental factors associated with occupancy patterns of each chub species, assessing co-occurrence of the two species, and determining relationships between co-occurrence and environm
Electro-olfactory responses of Grass Carp, Bighead Carp, and Silver Carp to the amino acids L-alanine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, L-asparagine, L-glutamine, and L‑glutamic acid
Using juvenile individuals of 3 species of carp (Family: Cyprinidae), we tested the potential for six amino acids to elicit an extracellular electro-olfactory response within the naris using gelatin-based electrodes. The amino acids L-alanine, L-arginine, L-aspartic acid, L-asparagine, L-glutamine, and L‑glutamic acid were tested on Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmic
Simulated impacts of feather oiling on avian energetics and migration: R environment model code and raw output
This dataset represents a modeling effort intended to explore the impacts of oiling on migratory birds. The purpose of this model is to provide a first principles approach to predict potential biological impacts of altered energetics dynamics in north American migratory birds due to oiling of feathers. This data includes predicted theoretical impacts on migration timing, wintering latitude, starva
Survey effort and targeted landbird community metrics at Indiana lowland forest restoration sites
Many sampling and analytical methods can estimate the abundance, distributions, and diversity of birds and other wildlife. However, challenges with sample size and analytical capacity can make these methods difficult to implement for resource-limited monitoring programs. To apprise efficient and attainable sampling designs for landbird monitoring programs with limited observational data, we used b
Authors
Benjamin M West, Mark L. Wildhaber, Nicholas S. Green, John P. Isanhart, M. Victoria McDonald, Michael J. Hooper
Sicklefin Chub (Macrhybopsis meeki) and Sturgeon Chub (M. gelida) temporal and spatial patterns from extant population monitoring and habitat data spanning 23 Years
Sicklefin (Macrhybopsis meeki) and sturgeon chub (M. gelida) historically occurred throughout the Missouri River (MR), in some tributaries, and Mississippi River downstream of the MR. They have been species of U.S. state-level conservation concern and U.S. Endangered Species Act listing candidates since the 1990s. We applied analytical approaches from occupancy modeling to correlation to monitorin
Authors
Mark L. Wildhaber, Benjamin M West, Kendell Ray Bennett, Jack Howard May, Janice L. Albers, Nicholas S. Green
A review of grass carp and related species literature on diet, behavior, toxicology, and physiology focused on informing development of controls for invasive grass carp populations in North America
Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) are globally important in aquaculture and aquatic vegetation control. However, escaped grass carp have established invasive populations. A targeted keyword search was performed on a carp (order: Cypriniformes) literature database maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey to identify literature relevant to grass carp. Additional sources cited in reviewed document
Authors
Mark L. Wildhaber, Benjamin M West, Karlie K Ditter, Adrian Parr Moore, Alex S. Peterson
Herbivorous grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) exhibit greater olfactory response to amino acids than filter-feeding bighead (Hypophthalmichthysnobilis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)
Due to their invasiveness in North America, grass (Ctenopharyngodon idella), bighead (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) are management priorities. Comparing electrophysiological responses to olfactory cues, such as amino acids, could help identify stimuli to facilitate management efforts (i.e., repellants or baits). We assessed olfactory response magnitude
Authors
Mark L. Wildhaber, Benjamin M West, Karlie K Ditter, Alex S. Peterson, Robin D. Calfee, Zachary D Beaman
Migration and energetics model predicts delayed migration and likely starvation in oiled waterbirds
Oil spills can inflict mortality and injury on bird populations; many of these deaths involve starvation resulting from thermoregulatory costs incurred by oiling of birds’ feathers. However, the fates and responses of sublethally oiled birds are poorly known. Due to this knowledge gap and the potential for birds to die far from the spill site, resource risk and injury assessors need tools to make
Authors
Benjamin M West, Mark L. Wildhaber, Kevin J. Aagaard, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Adrian Parr Moore, Michael J. Hooper