A saguaro flowering in the desert near Tucson, AZ. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Taken in spring, 2022.
Daniel E Winkler, Ph.D.
Daniel is a plant ecophysiologist and evolutionary ecologist studying how populations respond to global climate change. He is a Research Ecologist with USGS and works with the BLM's Native Plant Program where he studies adaptive traits of native plants. He also conducts research throughout the desert southwest and in alpine areas of Colorado, Mexico, and Japan.
Daniel aims to identify solutions and strategies to enhance conservation efforts and equip managers with the tools necessary to respond to global climate change. His research bridges ecological experimentation with modern restoration, molecular, and ecophysiological methods to understand native plant adaptation primarily in arid and semi-arid dryland ecosystems. Daniel also studies the evolutionary ecology of invasive species and their impacts in protected systems, including lands managed by the NPS, BLM, USFWS, and USFS. Congruent with his studies in global change, Daniel is also interested in the social dimensions of decision-making in management and conservation.
Professional Experience
Research Ecologist, United States Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Moab, Utah, and Tucson, Arizona, 2017 - present
Fellow, National Park Service Young Leader in Climate Change, Saguaro National Park and Sonoran Desert Network, Arizona, 2015
Research Fellow, Water UCI Initiative, University of California, Irvine, 2014 - 2015
Fellow, NSF East Asia Pacific Summer Institute, Hokkaido University and Daisetsuzan National Park, Japan, 2014
Biological Science Technician, NPS Sonoran Desert Network, Tucson, Arizona, 2010 - 2011
Conservation and Land Management Intern, Bureau of Land Management, Vernal Field Office, Utah, 2009
Student Conservation Association Intern, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona, 2008
Research Fellow, Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Colorado, 2008
Biological Anthropology Intern, American Museum of National History, New York, 2007
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, 2017- University of California, Irvine
Advised by Travis E. HuxmanM.S., Environmental Systems, 2013 - University of California, Merced
Advised by Lara M. KueppersB.A., Biological Anthropology, 2008 - New York University
Science and Products
The iconic giant saguaro cactus in the Sonoran Desert
Informing seed transfer guidelines and native plant materials development: Research supporting restoration across the Colorado Plateau and beyond
Genetics for Western Restoration and Conservation (GWRC)
Genomic Research Supporting Western Conservation
Disturbance, energy, climate partitions, cultivars and species habitat data for the Colorado Plateau and environs
Penstemon grahamii genetic data from a dryland region of the western United States
Astragalus species complex genetic data from southeast Utah (Grand County and San Juan County), USA
Seasonal ecophysiological measurement data from December 2015 to September 2016, southeastern Utah
'Viva' native plant material data in support of restoration and conservation
A saguaro flowering in the desert near Tucson, AZ. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Taken in spring, 2022.
A bee visits a saguaro flower near Tucson in Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
A bee visits a saguaro flower near Tucson in Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
A composite of four photos taken during research on Joshua trees, Arizona Joshua Tree Forest, Mojave Desert. Photos by Morgan Andrews and Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Daniel Winkler is pictured at top right, and Morgan Andrews is pictured at bottom left.
A composite of four photos taken during research on Joshua trees, Arizona Joshua Tree Forest, Mojave Desert. Photos by Morgan Andrews and Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Daniel Winkler is pictured at top right, and Morgan Andrews is pictured at bottom left.
Saguaro cacti flower and produce fruit in the spring in Tucson, Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo by Daniel Winkler, SBSC, USGS.
Saguaro cacti flower and produce fruit in the spring in Tucson, Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo by Daniel Winkler, SBSC, USGS.
Southwest Biological Science center research ecologist Daniel Winkler photographs the top of a saguaro using the "world's largest selfie stick" to collect phenology data for a study that examined saguaro flowering patterns.
Southwest Biological Science center research ecologist Daniel Winkler photographs the top of a saguaro using the "world's largest selfie stick" to collect phenology data for a study that examined saguaro flowering patterns.
Similar aged saguaros can often be found in groups where nurse trees once stood. Nurse debris remains in place for years after the nurse died. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Similar aged saguaros can often be found in groups where nurse trees once stood. Nurse debris remains in place for years after the nurse died. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Steep, rocky slopes in Saguaro National Park near Tucson, AZ provide habitat for saguaros and may buffer populations from the negative effects of drought. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Steep, rocky slopes in Saguaro National Park near Tucson, AZ provide habitat for saguaros and may buffer populations from the negative effects of drought. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Matching existing and future native plant materials to disturbance-driven restoration needs
Supporting the development and use of native plant materials for restoration on the Colorado Plateau (Fiscal Year 2022 Report)
Restoration research actions to address rapid change in drylands: Insights from the Colorado Plateau
Perspectives on challenges and opportunities at the restoration-policy interface in the U.S.A.
Evolutionary dynamics inform management interventions of a hanging garden obligate, Carex specuicola
Spatially explicit management of genetic diversity using ancestry probability surfaces
Supporting the development and use of native plant materials for restoration on the Colorado Plateau (Fiscal Year 2021 Report)
Knowledge sharing for shared success in the decade on ecosystem restoration
Asynchronous flowering patterns in saguaro cacti (Carnegiea gigantea)
A common garden super-experiment: An impossible dream to inspire possible synthesis
How to increase the supply of native seed to improve restoration success: The US native seed development process
Demographic modeling informs functional connectivity and management interventions in Graham’s beardtongue
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
The iconic giant saguaro cactus in the Sonoran Desert
Informing seed transfer guidelines and native plant materials development: Research supporting restoration across the Colorado Plateau and beyond
Genetics for Western Restoration and Conservation (GWRC)
Genomic Research Supporting Western Conservation
Disturbance, energy, climate partitions, cultivars and species habitat data for the Colorado Plateau and environs
Penstemon grahamii genetic data from a dryland region of the western United States
Astragalus species complex genetic data from southeast Utah (Grand County and San Juan County), USA
Seasonal ecophysiological measurement data from December 2015 to September 2016, southeastern Utah
'Viva' native plant material data in support of restoration and conservation
A saguaro flowering in the desert near Tucson, AZ. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Taken in spring, 2022.
A saguaro flowering in the desert near Tucson, AZ. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Taken in spring, 2022.
A bee visits a saguaro flower near Tucson in Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
A bee visits a saguaro flower near Tucson in Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
A composite of four photos taken during research on Joshua trees, Arizona Joshua Tree Forest, Mojave Desert. Photos by Morgan Andrews and Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Daniel Winkler is pictured at top right, and Morgan Andrews is pictured at bottom left.
A composite of four photos taken during research on Joshua trees, Arizona Joshua Tree Forest, Mojave Desert. Photos by Morgan Andrews and Daniel Winkler, USGS, SBSC. Daniel Winkler is pictured at top right, and Morgan Andrews is pictured at bottom left.
Saguaro cacti flower and produce fruit in the spring in Tucson, Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo by Daniel Winkler, SBSC, USGS.
Saguaro cacti flower and produce fruit in the spring in Tucson, Saguaro National Park, southern Arizona. Photo by Daniel Winkler, SBSC, USGS.
Southwest Biological Science center research ecologist Daniel Winkler photographs the top of a saguaro using the "world's largest selfie stick" to collect phenology data for a study that examined saguaro flowering patterns.
Southwest Biological Science center research ecologist Daniel Winkler photographs the top of a saguaro using the "world's largest selfie stick" to collect phenology data for a study that examined saguaro flowering patterns.
Similar aged saguaros can often be found in groups where nurse trees once stood. Nurse debris remains in place for years after the nurse died. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Similar aged saguaros can often be found in groups where nurse trees once stood. Nurse debris remains in place for years after the nurse died. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Steep, rocky slopes in Saguaro National Park near Tucson, AZ provide habitat for saguaros and may buffer populations from the negative effects of drought. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Steep, rocky slopes in Saguaro National Park near Tucson, AZ provide habitat for saguaros and may buffer populations from the negative effects of drought. Photo courtesy of Daniel Winkler, USGS SBSC.
Matching existing and future native plant materials to disturbance-driven restoration needs
Supporting the development and use of native plant materials for restoration on the Colorado Plateau (Fiscal Year 2022 Report)
Restoration research actions to address rapid change in drylands: Insights from the Colorado Plateau
Perspectives on challenges and opportunities at the restoration-policy interface in the U.S.A.
Evolutionary dynamics inform management interventions of a hanging garden obligate, Carex specuicola
Spatially explicit management of genetic diversity using ancestry probability surfaces
Supporting the development and use of native plant materials for restoration on the Colorado Plateau (Fiscal Year 2021 Report)
Knowledge sharing for shared success in the decade on ecosystem restoration
Asynchronous flowering patterns in saguaro cacti (Carnegiea gigantea)
A common garden super-experiment: An impossible dream to inspire possible synthesis
How to increase the supply of native seed to improve restoration success: The US native seed development process
Demographic modeling informs functional connectivity and management interventions in Graham’s beardtongue
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.