Daniel Manier is an ecologist at the Fort Collins Science Center. Daniel has been involved in multiple USGS Sage-grouse and sagebrush habitat-related efforts, including the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Intitative and Great Plains Landscape Conservation Cooperative.
I am most curious about the patterns and dynamics we observe across a landscape, be it a square meter or 15 million acres. In 2008, I was recruited to join a team of researchers working on the sagebrush ecosystem - as a contractor to USGS. I started working with a team of USGS, Colorado State University and University of Wyoming Scientists on conservation concerns related to Greater Sage-grouse and sagebrush habitat conditions from local scales up to the entire landscape. As part of the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative I led the long-term monitoring tool development task, led vegetation sampling for multiple field projects, developed spatial models, worked with local partners and the Science Advisory Committee. I also worked with the Great Plains Landscape Conservation Cooperative as part of the Science Team for many years. Additional work at USGS has included restoration monitoring and site evaluation (Ouray NWR), post-fire restoration effectiveness (Wyoming), developing natural resources data to inform transportation planning (with Federal Land Highways).
Research Interests and Expertise
- Plant community and ecosystem ecology: range, shrub and forest systems; sagebrush ecosystem
- Plant-Animal Interactions: habitat condition and dynamics, herbivory
- Disturbance ecology: fire, drought, land-use Landscape Ecology - species distribution modeling, patterns and dynamics in abiotic drivers, habitat patterns and dynamics, GIS, spatial statistics
- Monitoring: spatial-temporal monitoring and sampling design; replicated methods; protocols and documentation
Education and Certifications
PhD 2000, Forest Ecology, Warner College of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
B.A. 1991, Philosophy and Religion, Colgate University, Hamilton, New York
Science and Products
Annotated Bibliography of Scientific Research on Greater Sage-Grouse
Understanding Local Resistance and Resilience to Future Habitat Change in the Sagebrush Ecosystem
Soil-Climate Modeling To Improve Understanding of Pattern and Processes in Sagebrush Ecosystems: A Spatially Explicit Soil Classification
Species Distribution Modeling
Energy Development and Changing Land Uses
Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative: Inventory and Long-Term Monitoring
Landscape and Habitat Assessment
The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI)
Soil-climate estimates in the western United States: climate averages (1981-2010)
Sagebrush recovery analyzed with a dynamic reference approach in southwestern Wyoming, USA 1985-2018
Predicted (1989-2015) and forecasted (2015-2114) estimates for rate of change and recovery of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) following energy development in southwestern Wyoming, USA (ver. 2.0, January 2021)
Potential productivity and change estimates for eight grassland species to evaluate vulnerability to climate change in the southern Great Plains
Compilation and Assessment of Resource Values and Hazards to Inform Transportation and Associated Land-use Planning
Predicted (1989-2015) and forecasted (2015-2114) estimates for rate of change and recovery of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) following energy development in southwestern Wyoming, USA
Biophysical assessment for indemnity selection of federal lands in Colorado
Broad-scale assessment of biophysical features in Colorado
Landsat classification of surface water for multiple seasons to monitor inundation of playa wetlands
Spatial estimates of soil moisture for understanding ecological potential and risk: a case study for arid and semi-arid ecosystems
Potential cheatgrass abundance within lightly invaded areas of the Great Basin
Assessing vegetation recovery from energy development using a dynamic reference approach
U.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2018 annual report
Annotated bibliography of scientific research on greater sage-grouse published from 2015 to 2019
Using scenarios to evaluate vulnerability of grassland communities to climate change in the Southern Great Plains of the United States
Potential spread of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) by feral horses (Equus ferus caballus) in Western Colorado
U.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2017 annual report
Biophysical assessment for indemnity selection of Federal Lands in Colorado
Compilation and assessment of resource values and hazards to inform transportation planning and associated land-use planning
U.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2016 annual report
Landsat classification of surface-water presence during multiple years to assess response of playa wetlands to climatic variability across the Great Plains Landscape Conservation Cooperative region
spatial_nsm: Spatial estimates of soil-climate properties using a modified Newhall simulation model
Science and Products
- Science
Annotated Bibliography of Scientific Research on Greater Sage-Grouse
The greater sage-grouse has been a focus of scientific investigation and management action for the past two decades. The sheer number of scientific publications can be a challenge for managers tasked with evaluating and determining the need for potential updates to existing planning documents.Understanding Local Resistance and Resilience to Future Habitat Change in the Sagebrush Ecosystem
The sagebrush ecosystem is home to diverse wildlife, including big-game and Greater sage-grouse. Historic and contemporary land-uses, large wildfires, exotic plant invasion, and woodland expansion all represent threats to this multiple-use landscape. Efforts of federal and state agencies and private landowners across the landscape are focused on restoration and maintenance of conditions that suppoSoil-Climate Modeling To Improve Understanding of Pattern and Processes in Sagebrush Ecosystems: A Spatially Explicit Soil Classification
Resistance and resilience concepts provide an important framework for sagebrush habitat management. Existing spatial products have been developed using NRCS soil data; models using new data and methods can improve these products.Species Distribution Modeling
A requirement for managing a species, be it a common native species, a species of conservation concern, or an invasive species, is having some information on its distribution and potential drivers of distribution. Branch scientists have been tackling the question of where these types of species are and where they might be in the future.Energy Development and Changing Land Uses
Applied research and integrated regional assessments emphasize spatially explicit analyses of ecosystem components affected by energy development and land-use change in the western United States. Topics include sagebrush-steppe ecology; sagebrush habitat assessments; the effets of human activities (including energy development, transportation, and recreation) on habitats and wildlife behavior...Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative: Inventory and Long-Term Monitoring
The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) addresses effects of land-use and climate changes on Southwest Wyoming’s natural resources. In partnership with twelve Federal, State, and local natural resource agencies, and non-governmental organizations– FORT and ten other USGS centers are conducting dozens of integrated science projects to assess the status of Southwest Wyoming’s natural...Landscape and Habitat Assessment
A central focus of this program is to conduct multi-scale assessments in order to develop related geospatial decision-support tools and methods. The program includes synthesizing broad-scale datasets and developing innovative approaches to assess the vulnerability and resilience of wildlife habitats and ecosystems, relative to land management decisions and ecosystem stressors on Department of the...The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI)
The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) addresses effects of land-use and climate changes on Southwest Wyoming’s natural resources. In partnership with twelve Federal, State, and local natural resource agencies, and non-governmental organizations– FORT and ten other USGS centers are conducting dozens of integrated science projects to assess the status of Southwest Wyoming’s natural... - Data
Soil-climate estimates in the western United States: climate averages (1981-2010)
We provide a collection of data reflecting estimates of soil-climate properties (moisture, temperature, and regimes) based on climate normals (1981-2010). Specifically, we provide estimates for soil moisture (monthly, seasonal, and annual), trends of spring and growing season soil moisture (Theil-Sen estimates), soil temperature and moisture regimes (STMRs; discrete classes defined by United StateSagebrush recovery analyzed with a dynamic reference approach in southwestern Wyoming, USA 1985-2018
Identifying ecologically relevant reference sites is important for evaluating ecosystem recovery, but the relevance of references that are temporally static is unclear in the context of vast landscapes with disturbance and environmental contexts varying over space and time. This question is pertinent for landscapes dominated by sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) which face a suite of threats from disturbaPredicted (1989-2015) and forecasted (2015-2114) estimates for rate of change and recovery of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) following energy development in southwestern Wyoming, USA (ver. 2.0, January 2021)
In 'Predicted (1989-2015) and forecasted (2015-2114) rate of change and recovery of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) following energy development in southwestern Wyoming, USA (ver. 2.0, January 2021)', we provide spatially- and temporally-explicit maps of predictions for the rate of change and time to recovery and percent recovery of sagebrush cover after 100 years (Monroe et al. 2020). The rasters begiPotential productivity and change estimates for eight grassland species to evaluate vulnerability to climate change in the southern Great Plains
This data set includes the relative production scenarios for eight (8) grass species based on linear models from Epstein, et al. (1998). We selected two indicator species for each community: shortgrass prairie: blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis; BOGR) and buffalo grass (Bouteloua dactyloides; BODA); mixedgrass prairie: sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula; BOCU) and little bluestem (Schizachyrium sCompilation and Assessment of Resource Values and Hazards to Inform Transportation and Associated Land-use Planning
Management of transportation networks is affected by, and has effects on, natural and cultural resources through direct and indirect interactions. Until recently, the availability of such spatially explicit information has been limited; however, the data released here to the public will prove valuable for comparing existing networks and planning options with respect to potential impact to, or fromPredicted (1989-2015) and forecasted (2015-2114) estimates for rate of change and recovery of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) following energy development in southwestern Wyoming, USA
In 'Predicted (1989-2015) and forecasted (2015-2114) estimates for rate of change and recovery of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) following energy development in southwestern Wyoming, USA', we provide spatially- and temporally-explicit maps of predictions for the rate of change and time to recovery and percent recovery of sagebrush cover after 100 years (Monroe et al. In Review). The rasters beginningBiophysical assessment for indemnity selection of federal lands in Colorado
Information on the biophysical features of federal lands identified as suitable for transfer to the State of Colorado was requested by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This information is intended for use in conducting an environmental assessment prior to transfer of ownership (conveyance) to the State. The Enabling Act of 1864 provided for the conveyance of federal lands to the State for theBroad-scale assessment of biophysical features in Colorado
Information on ecological communities, soil salinity, and land use was synthesized and summarized for all lands in Colorado. This biophysical information was requested by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for use in conducting an environmental assessment prior to the transfer of ownership (conveyance) of federal lands to the State of Colorado. The Enabling Act of 1864 provided for the conveyanceLandsat classification of surface water for multiple seasons to monitor inundation of playa wetlands
To improve understanding of the distribution of important, ephemeral wetland habitats across the Great Plains, we documented the occurrence and distribution of surface water in playa wetland complexes for four different years across the Great Plains Landscape Conservation Cooperative (GPLCC) region. Years of research on playas has yielded multiple mechanisms and projections for sub-regions of the - Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 32
Spatial estimates of soil moisture for understanding ecological potential and risk: a case study for arid and semi-arid ecosystems
Soil temperature and moisture (soil-climate) affect plant growth and microbial metabolism, providing a mechanistic link between climate and growing conditions. However, spatially explicit soil-climate estimates that can inform management and research are lacking. We developed a framework to estimate spatiotemporal-varying soil moisture (monthly, annual, and seasonal) and temperature-moisture regimPotential cheatgrass abundance within lightly invaded areas of the Great Basin
ContextAnticipating where an invasive species could become abundant can help guide prevention and control efforts aimed at reducing invasion impacts. Information on potential abundance can be combined with information on the current status of an invasion to guide management towards currently uninvaded locations where the threat of invasion is high.ObjectivesWe aimed to support management by develoAssessing vegetation recovery from energy development using a dynamic reference approach
Ecologically relevant references are useful for evaluating ecosystem recovery, but references that are temporally static may be less useful when environmental conditions and disturbances are spatially and temporally heterogeneous. This challenge is particularly acute for ecosystems dominated by sagebrush (Artemisia spp.), where communities may require decades to recover from disturbance. We demonsU.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2018 annual report
The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) was established in 2007 as a collaborative interagency partnership to develop and implement science-based conservation actions. During the past 11 years, partners from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), State and Federal land management agencies, universities, and the public have collaborated to implement a long-term (more than 10 years) science-basByEcosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Core Research Center, Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Fort Collins Science Center, Nebraska Water Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Core Research CenterAnnotated bibliography of scientific research on greater sage-grouse published from 2015 to 2019
The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter GRSG) has been a focus of scientific investigation and management action for the past two decades. The 2015 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listing determination of “not warranted” was in part due to a large-scale collaborative effort to develop strategies to conserve GRSG populations and their habitat and to reduce threats to both. NewUsing scenarios to evaluate vulnerability of grassland communities to climate change in the Southern Great Plains of the United States
Scenario planning is a useful tool for identifying key vulnerabilities of ecological systems to changing climates, informed by the potential outcomes for a set of divergent, plausible, and relevant climate scenarios. We evaluated potential vulnerabilities of grassland communities to changing climate in the Southern Great Plains (SGP) and the Landscape Conservation Design pilot area (LCD) for the UPotential spread of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) by feral horses (Equus ferus caballus) in Western Colorado
The invasive grass cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) presents major challenges for land management and habitat conservation in the western United States. Feral horses (Equus ferus caballus) have become overabundant in some areas of the West and can impact fragile semiarid ecosystems. Amid ongoing efforts to control cheatgrass in the Great Basin, we conducted a study to determine if feral horses contU.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2017 annual report
The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) was established in 2008 to address the scientific and conservation questions associated with land use changes because of energy development and other factors in southwest Wyoming. Over the past decade, partners from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), State and Federal land management agencies, universities, and the public have collaborated to implemBiophysical assessment for indemnity selection of Federal Lands in Colorado
Information on the biophysical features of Federal lands identified as suitable for transfer to the State of Colorado was requested by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This information is intended for use in conducting an Environmental Assessment prior to the transfer of ownership (conveyance) to the State. The Colorado State Land Board filed a selective application to obtain public land and mCompilation and assessment of resource values and hazards to inform transportation planning and associated land-use planning
Land-use planning has an important role in local, regional, State, and Federal land management, and planning efforts can benefit from consistent, spatially explicit information that can help guide priorities and decisions. The credibility and relevance of information used to inform planning activities depends on the availability of consistent information about the resources and values of interestU.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2016 annual report
This is the ninth annual report highlighting U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) science and decision-support activities conducted for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI). The activities address specific management needs identified by WLCI partner agencies. In fiscal year (FY) 2016, there were 26 active USGS WLCI science-based projects. Of these 26 projects, one project was new for FY20ByEcosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, Land Management Research Program, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS) Program, Species Management Research Program, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Fort Collins Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Wyoming-Montana Water Science CenterLandsat classification of surface-water presence during multiple years to assess response of playa wetlands to climatic variability across the Great Plains Landscape Conservation Cooperative region
To improve understanding of the distribution of ecologically important, ephemeral wetland habitats across the Great Plains, the occurrence and distribution of surface water in playa wetland complexes were documented for four different years across the Great Plains Landscape Conservation Cooperative (GPLCC) region. This information is important because it informs land and wildlife managers about th - Software
spatial_nsm: Spatial estimates of soil-climate properties using a modified Newhall simulation model
We developed a software framework to estimate high-resolution spatiotemporal soil moisture (monthly, annual, and seasonal) and temperature-moisture regimes. Our approach builds on the Newhall simulation model, allowing for the substitution of data and parameters, such as climate, snowmelt, soil properties, alternative potential evapotranspiration equations, and air-soil temperature offsets. The Ne - News