Benjamin H Letcher
Ben Letcher is an Ecologist at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center in Turners Falls, Massachusetts.
Ben is a population ecologist focusing on stream habitats, science communication and the development of data systems. A collection of data systems and interactive data visualization tools can be found in our EcoSHEDS environment.
Professional Experience
1995-now USGS, Ecology section leader, Anadromous Fish Research Center, Turners, Falls, MA, and adjunct professor Department of Natural Resources
Conservation, University of Massachusetts - Amherst1994-1995 Oak Ridge Postdoctoral Fellow (with Dr. David Conover) State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY
1992-1994 Electric Power Research Institute Fellow, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
1990-1992 Wisconsin Sea Grant Fellow, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
1987-1990 URI-USEPA Cooperative Research Fellow, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
1986-1987 Research Assistant, Center for Coastal Studies, Provincetown, MA.
1985-1986 Research Assistant, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA.
Education and Certifications
PhD, 1994, NC State, Zoology with statistics and modeling minor
M.S. 1990, URI School of Oceanography, biological option
B.S. 1985, Trinity College, Biology
Science and Products
An interactive data visualization framework for exploring geospatial environmental datasets and model predictions
Impacts of small dams on stream temperature
Evaluation of genetic structuring within GIS‐derived Brook Trout management units
Climate‐change refugia: Biodiversity in the slow lane
Managing climate refugia for freshwater fishes under an expanding human footprint
How repeatable is CTmax within individual brook trout over short- and long-time intervals?
Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) climate scenario planning pilot report
Survival and density of a dominant fish species across a gradient of urbanization in North Carolina tidal creeks
State-space analysis of power to detect regional brook trout population trends over time
Daily estimates reveal fine-scale temporal and spatial variation in fish survival across a stream network
A geostatistical state‐space model of animal densities for stream networks
The S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center--a model for progress
Fish Ecology
Predicting Climate-Induced Expansions of Invasive Fish in the Pacific Northwest: Implications for Climate Adaptation of Native Salmon and Trout
Can Wildlife Species Evolve in Response to a Changing Climate? Informing Species Vulnerability Assessments
The Past as a Prelude to the Future: Assessing Climate Effects on Native Trout in the U.S.
Modeling species response to environmental change: development of integrated, scalable Bayesian models of population persistence
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 92
An interactive data visualization framework for exploring geospatial environmental datasets and model predictions
With the rise of large-scale environmental models comes new challenges for how we best utilize this information in research, management and decision making. Interactive data visualizations can make large and complex datasets easier to access and explore, which can lead to knowledge discovery, hypothesis formation and improved understanding. Here, we present a web-based interactive data visualizatiAuthorsJeffrey D Walker, Benjamin Letcher, Kirk D. Rodgers, Clint C. Muhlfeld, Vincent S. D'AngeloImpacts of small dams on stream temperature
Small, surface-release dams are ubiquitous features of the landscape that typically slow water flow and decrease canopy cover through impounded reaches, potentially increasing stream temperatures. However, reported effects of small dams on water temperature are variable, likely due to differences in landscape and dam characteristics. To quantify the range of thermal effects of small dams, we deploAuthorsPeter A. Zaidel, Allison H. Roy, Kristopher M. Houle, Beth Lambert, Benjamin Letcher, Keith H. Nislow, Christopher SmithEvaluation of genetic structuring within GIS‐derived Brook Trout management units
Delineation of management units across broad spatial scales can help to visualize population structuring and identify conservation opportunities. Geographical information system (GIS) approaches can be useful for developing broad‐scale management units, especially when paired with field data that can validate the GIS‐based delineations. Genetic data can be useful for evaluating whether managementAuthorsLucas Nathan, Y. Kanno, Benjamin Letcher, Amy B. Welsh, Andrew R. Whiteley, Jason C. VokounClimate‐change refugia: Biodiversity in the slow lane
Climate‐change adaptation focuses on conducting and translating research to minimize the dire impacts of anthropogenic climate change, including threats to biodiversity and human welfare. One adaptation strategy is to focus conservation on climate‐change refugia (that is, areas relatively buffered from contemporary climate change over time that enable persistence of valued physical, ecological, anAuthorsToni Lyn Morelli, Cameron W. Barrows, Aaron R. Ramirez, Jennifer M. Cartwright, David D. Ackerly, Tatiana D. Eaves, Joseph L. Ebersole, Meg A. Krawchuk, Benjamin Letcher, Mary Frances Mahalovich, Garrett Meigs, Julia Michalak, Constance I. Millar, Rebecca M. Quinones, Diana Stralberg, James H. ThorneManaging climate refugia for freshwater fishes under an expanding human footprint
Within the context of climate adaptation, the concept of climate refugia has emerged as a framework for addressing future threats to freshwater fish populations. We evaluated recent climate‐refugia management associated with water use and landscape modification by comparing efforts in the US states of Oregon and Massachusetts, for which there are contrasting resource use patterns. Using these examAuthorsJoseph L. Ebersole, Rebecca M. Quinones, Shaun Clements, Benjamin LetcherHow repeatable is CTmax within individual brook trout over short- and long-time intervals?
As stream temperatures increase due to factors such as heated runoff from impervious surfaces, deforestation, and climate change, fish species adapted to cold water streams are forced to move to more suitable habitat, acclimate or adapt to increased thermal regimes, or die. To estimate the potential for adaptation, a (within individual) repeatable metric of thermal tolerance is imperative. CriticaAuthorsMatthew J. O'Donnell, Amy M. Regish, Stephen D. McCormick, Benjamin H. LetcherAtlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) climate scenario planning pilot report
Scenario planning is a structured process that embraces uncertainty and explores plausible alternative future conditions under different assumptions to help manage risk and prioritize actions ( Schwartz 1996, Peterson et al. 2003). It has been used by a variety of organizations to explore and help prepare for the future, lends itself well to exploring the uncertainty surrounding changing environmeAuthorsDiane Borggaard, Dori Dick, Jonathan Star, Mike Alexander, M. Bernier, Matt Collins, Kelly Damon-Randall, Robert W. Dudley, Roger Roger Griffis, Sean Hayes, Mike Johnson, Dan Kircheis, John Kocik, Benjamin Letcher, Nate Mantua, Wendy Morrison, Keith Nislow, Vince Saba, R. Saunders, Tim Sheehan, Michelle D. StaudingerSurvival and density of a dominant fish species across a gradient of urbanization in North Carolina tidal creeks
Development in the southeastern U.S. coastal plain generates the need for a better understanding of how demographics (survival and abundance) of estuarine nekton respond to urbanization. Apparent survival and density of the dominant Atlantic coast salt marsh fish, Fundulus heteroclitus, were estimated in four North Carolina tidal creeks using a model simultaneously fitted to mark-resight and markAuthorsPaul J Rudershausen, Joseph E Hightower, Jeffery A Buckel, Matthew J. O'Donnell, Todd Dubreuil, Benjamin H. LetcherState-space analysis of power to detect regional brook trout population trends over time
Threats to aquatic biodiversity are expressed at broad spatial scales, but identifying regional trends in abundance is challenging owing to variable sampling designs, and temporal and spatial variation in abundance. We compiled a regional dataset of brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis counts across their southern range representing 326 sites from eight states between 1982-2014, and conducted a statiAuthorsKasey C. Pregler, R. Daniel Hanks, Evan S. Childress, Nathaniel P. Hitt, Daniel J. Hocking, Benjamin H. Letcher, Yoichiro KannoDaily estimates reveal fine-scale temporal and spatial variation in fish survival across a stream network
Environmental drivers of population vital rates, such as temperature and precipitation, often vary at short time scales, and these fluctuations can have important impacts on population dynamics. However, relationships between survival and environmental conditions are typically modeled at coarse temporal scales, ignoring the role of daily environmental variation in survival. Our goal was to determiAuthorsEvan S. Childress, Keith Nislow, Andrew R. Whiteley, Matthew O'Donnell, Benjamin LetcherA geostatistical state‐space model of animal densities for stream networks
Population dynamics are often correlated in space and time due to correlations in environmental drivers as well as synchrony induced by individual dispersal. Many statistical analyses of populations ignore potential autocorrelations and assume that survey methods (distance and time between samples) eliminate these correlations, allowing samples to be treated independently. If these assumptions areAuthorsDaniel J. Hocking, James T. Thorson, Kyle O'Neil, Benjamin H. LetcherThe S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center--a model for progress
No abstract available.AuthorsTheodore R. Castro-Santos, Alexander J. Haro, Benjamin H. Letcher, Stephen D. McCormick - Science
Filter Total Items: 17
Fish Ecology
Our goal is to identify the factors that govern population dynamics.Predicting Climate-Induced Expansions of Invasive Fish in the Pacific Northwest: Implications for Climate Adaptation of Native Salmon and Trout
The headwaters of the Columbia River Basin in the Northern Rocky Mountains region is widely recognized as a stronghold for native fish, containing some of the last remaining connected cold-water habitats for species such as the threatened bull trout and native westslope cutthroat trout. However, as temperatures rise, non-native invasive fish species could be poised to prosper in the region as condCan Wildlife Species Evolve in Response to a Changing Climate? Informing Species Vulnerability Assessments
Climate change poses a variety of threats to biodiversity. Most efforts to assess the likely impacts of climate change on biodiversity try to rank species based on their vulnerability under changed environmental conditions. These efforts have generally not considered the ability of organisms to adjust their phenotype to the changing environment. Organisms can do this by one of two ways. First, theThe Past as a Prelude to the Future: Assessing Climate Effects on Native Trout in the U.S.
Salmonids (a family of fish that includes salmon, trout, and char) are a keystone species for both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and can be an early warning indicator of ecosystem health. Salmonids also have strong societal values and contribute enormously to regional economies and Native American cultures. Today, many native salmonid populations are small, highly fragmented, and isolated frModeling species response to environmental change: development of integrated, scalable Bayesian models of population persistence
Estimating species response to environmental change is a key challenge for ecologists and a core mission of the USGS. Effective forecasting of species response requires models that are detailed enough to capture critical processes and at the same time general enough to allow broad application. This tradeoff is difficult to reconcile with most existing methods. We propose to extend and combine exis - Data
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