Dan Slone works with population and habitat data analyses and simulation models, generally with West Indian manatees, Florida crocodillians, and seagrasses.
Professional Experience
Research Ecologist, USGS Florida Integrated Science Center, Sirenia Project, Gainesville, FL: August 2004 – Present.
Research Ecologist, USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, Forest insect Research, Pineville, LA: June 2001 – August 2004.
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Entomology/Nematology Dept., University of Florida: April 1999 – May 2001.
Substitute instructor for Insect Population Biology, Ent./Nem. Dept., University of Florida: March 2000.
Graduate Research Assistant, Entomology Department, Oregon State University: June 1995 - April 1999.
Instructor for Map-Making and Orienteering workshop, H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest: June 1997.
Teaching Assistant for Integrated Pest Management, Entomology Dept., Oregon State U.: Sept-Dec 1997.
Assistant instructor, computer and statistical techniques for Computers and I.P.M., Entomology Department, Oregon State University: Jan-Mar 1998.
Committee member for Ph.D Student, ECOSUR. 2007 – Present.
Committee member and thesis project advisor (not major advisor) for Ph.D Student, University of Florida Entomology Dept. 2005 – Present.
Provided graduate research assistantship, served on committee, and advised on thesis project for MS Student, University of Florida Entomology Dept. 2001 – 2005.
Provided graduate assistantship to MS student, University of Florida Fish and Wildlife Co-op unit, 2002 – 2003.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Entomology, Oregon State University, 1999 [Ph.D. Dissertation: Spatial Patterns of Predaceous and Phytophagous Apple Mites (Acari: Eriophyidae, Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae, Tetranychidae)]
B.A., Biology (with honors) and B.A., Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1992
Science and Products
Quality of thermal refuges influences use by the cold-intolerant Florida manatee
How do ambient conditions and management actions affect manatee movements and habitat use?
Movements and habitat use of the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in the northern Gulf of Mexico
Analysis of body condition indices reveals different ecotypes of the Antillean manatee
Invasion frustration: Can biotic resistance explain the small geographic range of non-native croaking gourami Trichopsis vittata (Cuvier, 1831) in Florida, USA?
Traveling to thermal refuges during stressful temperatures leads to foraging constraints in a central-place forager
Coastal habitat change and marine megafauna behavior: Florida manatees encountering reduced food provisions in a prominent winter refuge
Movements and habitat use locations of manatees within Kings Bay Florida during the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge winter season (November 15–March 31)
Consortial brown tide − picocyanobacteria blooms in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba
Timing of warm water refuge use in Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge by manatees—Results and insights from Global Positioning System telemetry data
Landscape complementation revealed through bipartite networks: An example with the Florida manatee
Manatee grazing impacts on a mixed species seagrass bed
Health Effects and Behavioral Response of Florida Manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) to Persistent Algal Bloom and Associated Loss of Seagrass Resources in Brevard County, Florida
Effects of Native and Non-native Fishes on Native Apple Snail Population Dynamics
Development of a Quantitative Risk Assessment Tool to Predict Invasiveness of Non-native Freshwater Fishes in Everglades National Park
Past and Future Modeling of Ecological Indicators for the South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative
Manatee Distribution and Habitat Use in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Monitoring and Assessing Effects of the Picayune Strand Restoration Project (PSRP) on the Florida Manatee
Seagrass Beds and Manatee Foraging Areas in the Ten Thousand Islands: Mapping and Characterizing by Incorporating Manatee GPS Tracking Data and Habitat Information
Winter Manatee Foraging Behavior and the Decline of Seagrass Beds in the Northern Indian River Lagoon
How will Florida’s Biodiversity Respond to Climate Change?
GPS telemetry of Florida manatees and riverine water temperatures from southwest Florida 2002-2015
GPS Telemetry and other data sets of Florida manatees from Crystal River, FL 2006-2018
Manatee tracking, sighting and environmental data from the Northern Gulf of Mexico, 2013-2019
Morphological measurements of Antillean manatees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Can biotic resistance explain the small geographic range of non-native croaking gourami Trichopsis vittata (Cuvier, 1831) in Florida, USA?
Water temperature in Three Sisters Springs, and water temperature and level in Magnolia Spring: Winter 2014-15
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 34
Quality of thermal refuges influences use by the cold-intolerant Florida manatee
ABSTRACT: Thermal refuges are habitats used by species for behavioral thermoregulation. These habitats can be highly dynamic and are often influenced by fluctuations in local climate. When protected species require thermal refuges, it is necessary to identify stable and high-quality areas by evaluating species use in response to variation in thermal refuge quality. Here, we assessed behavioral theAuthorsCatherine G. Haase, Robert J. Fletcher Jr., Daniel Slone, James P. Reid, Susan M. ButlerHow do ambient conditions and management actions affect manatee movements and habitat use?
Kings Bay in northwest Florida, USA, is an important winter home of the largest aggregation of Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), and the only location in the United States where visitors legally swim and interact with manatees. In addition to ambient conditions, visitors to the area and management actions have the potential to influence manatee behaviors. We tracked 32 manatees witAuthorsDaniel Slone, Susan M. Butler, James P. Reid, Joyce Kleen, Joyce PalmerMovements and habitat use of the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in the northern Gulf of Mexico
No abstract available.AuthorsDaniel Slone, Susan M. Butler, James P. Reid, Cathy Beck, Robert BondeAnalysis of body condition indices reveals different ecotypes of the Antillean manatee
Assessing the body condition of wild animals is necessary to monitor the health of the population and is critical to defining a framework for conservation actions. Body condition indices (BCIs) are a non-invasive and relatively simple means to assess the health of individual animals, useful for addressing a wide variety of ecological, behavioral, and management questions. The Antillean manatee (TrAuthorsD. N. Castelblanco-Martínez, Daniel Slone, S. S. Landeo-Yauri, E. A. Ramos, Anmari Álvarez-Alemán, Fernanda L. N. Attademo, Cathy A. Beck, Robert K. Bonde, Susan M. Butler, L. J. Cabrias-Contreras, D. Caicedo-Herrera, Jamal Galves, I. V. Gómez-Camelo, D. González-Socoloske, D. Jiménez-Domínguez, Fabia O. Luna, Y. Mona-Sanabria, J. B. Morales-Vela, L. D. Olivera-Gomez, Janneth Adriana Padilla-Saldívar, James A. Powell, James P. Reid, G. Rieucau, Antonio A. Mignucci-GianonniInvasion frustration: Can biotic resistance explain the small geographic range of non-native croaking gourami Trichopsis vittata (Cuvier, 1831) in Florida, USA?
Croaking gourami Trichopsis vittata is a non-native fish species that has maintained a reproducing population in Florida, USA, since at least the 1970s. However, unlike most other non-native fishes in Florida, T. vittata has not spread beyond its very small (ca. 5 km²) range. We suspected the inability of T. vittata to colonize new habitats may be due to biotic resistance by the native eastern mosAuthorsPam Schofield, Quenton M. Tuckett, Daniel Slone, Kristen Reaver, Jeffrey H. HillTraveling to thermal refuges during stressful temperatures leads to foraging constraints in a central-place forager
Central-place foragers can be constrained by the distance between habitats. When an organism relies on a central place for thermal refuge, the distance to food resources can potentially constrain foraging behavior. We investigated the effect of distance between thermal refuges and forage patches of the cold-intolerant marine mammal, the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), on foragingAuthorsCatherine G. Haase, Robert J. Fletcher, Daniel H. Slone, James P. Reid, Susan M. ButlerCoastal habitat change and marine megafauna behavior: Florida manatees encountering reduced food provisions in a prominent winter refuge
A decline in submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) within Florida’s spring-fed thermal refuges raises questions about how these systems support winter foraging of Florida manatees Trichechus manatus latirostris. We analyzed telemetry data for 12 manatees over 7 yr to assess their use of Kings Bay, a winter refuge with diminished SAV. After accounting for the effect of water temperature, we hypothesizAuthorsChanda J. Littles, Robert K. Bonde, Susan M. Butler, Charles A. Jacoby, Sky K. Notestein, James P. Reid, Daniel H. Slone, Thomas K. FrazerMovements and habitat use locations of manatees within Kings Bay Florida during the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge winter season (November 15–March 31)
Kings Bay, Florida, is one of the most important natural winter habitat locations for the federally threatened Trichechus manatus latirostris (Florida manatee). Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1983 specifically to provide protection for manatees and their critical habitat. To aid managers at the refuge and other agencies with this task, spatial analyses of local habitat uAuthorsDaniel H. Slone, Susan M. Butler, James P. ReidConsortial brown tide − picocyanobacteria blooms in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba
A brown tide bloom of Aureoumbra lagunensis developed in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba during a period of drought in 2013 that followed heavy winds and rainfall from Hurricane Sandy in late October 2012. Based on satellite images and water turbidity measurements, the bloom appeared to initiate in January 2013. The causative species (A. lagunensis) was confirmed by microscopic observation, and pigment and gAuthorsNathan S Hall, R. Wayne Litaker, W. Judson Kenworthy, Mark W. Vandersea, William G. Sunda, James P. Reid, Daniel H. Slone, Susan M. ButlerTiming of warm water refuge use in Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge by manatees—Results and insights from Global Positioning System telemetry data
Managers at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge (CRNWR) desire to update their management plan regarding the operation of select springs including Three Sisters Springs. They wish to refine existing parameters used to predict the presence of federally threatened Trichechus manatus latirostris (Florida manatee) in the springs and thereby improve their manatee mAuthorsDaniel H. Slone, Susan M. Butler, James P. Reid, Catherine G. HaaseLandscape complementation revealed through bipartite networks: An example with the Florida manatee
Context Landscape complementation, or how landscapes that contain two or more non-substitutable and spatially separated resources facilitate resource use, is critical for many populations. Implicit to the problem of landscape complementation is the movement of individuals to access multiple resources. Conventional measures of complementation, such as habitat area or distance between habitats, do nAuthorsCatherine G. Haase, Robert J. Fletcher, Daniel H. Slone, James P. Reid, Susan M. ButlerManatee grazing impacts on a mixed species seagrass bed
The endangered manatee Trichechus manatus is one of few large grazers in seagrass systems. To assess the long-term impacts of repeated grazing on seagrasses, we selected a study site within Kennedy Space Center in the northern Banana River, Brevard County, Florida, that was typically grazed by large numbers of manatees in spring. Two 13x13 m manatee exclosures and 2 paired open plots of equal sizeAuthorsLynn W. Lefebvre, Jane A. Provancha, Daniel H. Slone, W. Judson Kenworthy - Science
Health Effects and Behavioral Response of Florida Manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) to Persistent Algal Bloom and Associated Loss of Seagrass Resources in Brevard County, Florida
USGS researchers are working with partners to assess the health and foraging behavior of Florida manatees in the northern Indian River Lagoon and Banana River, areas that have experienced declining seagrasses due to an extended phytoplankton bloom.Effects of Native and Non-native Fishes on Native Apple Snail Population Dynamics
The Florida apple snail is a critical component of the state's wetland food webs. USGS scientists assess the effects of native and non-native fishes on the native snail populations.Development of a Quantitative Risk Assessment Tool to Predict Invasiveness of Non-native Freshwater Fishes in Everglades National Park
The introduction of non-native fishes is a problem across the United States, particularly in Florida. USGS scientists are developing a decision support tool to help natural resourece managers prioritize which species to focus prevention, detection, rapid response, and control efforts.Past and Future Modeling of Ecological Indicators for the South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative
The South Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) has developed a Conservation Blueprint: a “living spatial plan to conserve natural and cultural resources for future generations.” This blueprint is a data-driven plan based on terrestrial, freshwater, marine, and cross-ecosystem indicators to measure the overall health of South Atlantic ecosystems.Manatee Distribution and Habitat Use in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
USGS works with partners to assess manatee distribution and habitat use throughout the Northern Gulf of Mexico.Monitoring and Assessing Effects of the Picayune Strand Restoration Project (PSRP) on the Florida Manatee
Critical information predicting condition changes in manatee habitat resulting from the alteration of freshwater flows to estuaries is needed to develop the PSRP Detailed Design and PSRP Operations Plan components and complete consultation under the Endangered Species Act.Seagrass Beds and Manatee Foraging Areas in the Ten Thousand Islands: Mapping and Characterizing by Incorporating Manatee GPS Tracking Data and Habitat Information
Turbid water conditions make the delineation and characterization of benthic habitats difficult by traditional in situ and remote sensing methods. Consequently, only a small fraction of this valuable resource has been mapped or characterized.Winter Manatee Foraging Behavior and the Decline of Seagrass Beds in the Northern Indian River Lagoon
With high numbers of manatees using the Florida Power and Light power plant warm water refuge during winter, their impact on the seagrass beds in the Indian River Lagoon is considered an important indicator of the long-term capacity of the area to support the manatees. USGS is working with partners to investigate the spatial extent and intensity of manatee use of seagrass beds in the area.How will Florida’s Biodiversity Respond to Climate Change?
Florida is home to 50 endangered species, 23 National Wildlife Refuges, 9 national parks, and 119 state parks. Straddling both temperate and sub-tropical zones, the state is also unique in that it is a long and narrow peninsula, surrounded on three sides by warm water, creating a dynamic environment. The impacts of climate change, such as sea-level rise and severe storms, threaten the state’s uniq... - Data
GPS telemetry of Florida manatees and riverine water temperatures from southwest Florida 2002-2015
These data represent 1) GPS telemetry of 40 Florida manatees from 2002 through 2008, covering southwest Florida from Charlotte Harbor to Florida Bay, and 2) water temperature readings from 10 riverine sites in the Everglades region of southwest Florida using Onset dataloggers from 2008 through 2015.GPS Telemetry and other data sets of Florida manatees from Crystal River, FL 2006-2018
These data represent 1) Telemetry from Florida manatee from Crystal River, FL 2006-2018 2) Observations of manatees, swimmers and paddlecraft from Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River, FL 2014-2017 3) GIS polygons of aquatic landscape features from Crystal River, FL.Manatee tracking, sighting and environmental data from the Northern Gulf of Mexico, 2013-2019
Data sets collected for manatee movement and habitat research in the Northern Gulf of Mexico from 2013-2019. These include manatee GPS tracking, manatee sightings, aquatic vegetation from manatee use areas, and environmental data (salinity and bathymetry at vegetation sampling sites).Morphological measurements of Antillean manatees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
The data were collected by U.S.G.S. biologists and their partners during several field trips from March 2013 to April 2014 in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Data were collected during the manatee health assessments. The U.S. Geological Survey's Sirenia Project is a federal research effort focusing on manatee biology and ecology with a long history of studies in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the internationalCan biotic resistance explain the small geographic range of non-native croaking gourami Trichopsis vittata (Cuvier, 1831) in Florida, USA?
In this report, we evaluate this hypothesis for croaking gourami Trichopsis vittata, a non-native species that has established a reproducing population, but has not successfully spread beyond its very small (5 km2) range. We suspected the inability of T. vittata to colonize new habitats may be due to biotic resistance by the native eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki.Water temperature in Three Sisters Springs, and water temperature and level in Magnolia Spring: Winter 2014-15
Water level and water temperature from Magnolia Spring were recorded with a level datalogger (HOBO U20-001-01-Ti; Onset Computer Corp., Bourne, MA) set to record every 15 min. The datalogger was attached to a Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge signpost (LAT 28.8913, LONG -82.5925). Data were reported in meters of water depth to the logger and degrees Celcius. Water temperature from Three Siste