David R Smith, Ph.D.
Dave is a Research Statistician (Biology) at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in Kearneysville, WV.
Dave Smith graduated from Colorado State (MS in Fish and Wildlife Biology) and University of Georgia (MS in Statistics and PhD in Forest Resources). Currently, he is a biological statistician at the USGS Leetown Science Center where he focuses on applied quantitative ecology in support of natural resource management and environmental decision making.
His research activities mostly focus on the following topics:
- Adaptive sampling of rare and clustered populations
- Conservation and science of horseshoe crabs in North America and Asia
- Conservation of freshwater mussels
- Application of structured decision making and adaptive management to natural resource management
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 118
Estimating tag loss of the Atlantic Horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, using a multi-state model Estimating tag loss of the Atlantic Horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, using a multi-state model
The Atlantic Horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, is a valuable resource along the Mid-Atlantic coast which has, in recent years, experienced new management paradigms due to increased concern about this species role in the environment. While current management actions are underway, many acknowledge the need for improved and updated parameter estimates to reduce the uncertainty within the...
Authors
Catherine Alyssa Butler, Conor P. McGowan, J. Barry Grand, David Smith
Experimental and environmental factors affect spurious detection of ecological thresholds Experimental and environmental factors affect spurious detection of ecological thresholds
Threshold detection methods are increasingly popular for assessing nonlinear responses to environmental change, but their statistical performance remains poorly understood. We simulated linear change in stream benthic macroinvertebrate communities and evaluated the performance of commonly used threshold detection methods based on model fitting (piecewise quantile regression [PQR]), data
Authors
Jonathan P. Daily, Nathaniel P. Hitt, David Smith, Craig D. Snyder
Patterns of mortality in free-ranging California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) Patterns of mortality in free-ranging California condors (Gymnogyps californianus)
We document causes of death in free-ranging California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus) from the inception of the reintroduction program in 1992 through December 2009 to identify current and historic mortality factors that might interfere with establishment of self-sustaining populations in the wild. A total of 135 deaths occurred from October 1992 (the first post-release death) through...
Authors
B.A. Rideout, I. Stalis, R. Papendick, A. Pessier, B. Puschner, M.E. Finkelstein, D. R. Smith, Matthew Johnson, M. Mace, R. Stroud, J. Brandt, J. Burnett, C. Parish, J. Petterson, C. Witte, C. Stringfield, K. Orr, J. Zuba, M. Wallace, J. Grantham
Shale Gas Development and Brook Trout: Scaling Best Management Practices to Anticipate Cumulative Effects Shale Gas Development and Brook Trout: Scaling Best Management Practices to Anticipate Cumulative Effects
Shale gas development may involve trade-offs between energy development and benefits provided by natural ecosystems. However, current best management practices (BMPs) focus on mitigating localized ecological degradation. We review evidence for cumulative effects of natural gas development on brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and conclude that BMPs should account for potential watershed...
Authors
David Smith, Craig D. Snyder, Nathaniel P. Hitt, John A. Young, Stephen P. Faulkner
Multispecies modeling for adaptive management of horseshoe crabs and red knots in the Delaware Bay Multispecies modeling for adaptive management of horseshoe crabs and red knots in the Delaware Bay
Adaptive management requires that predictive models be explicit and transparent to improve decisions by comparing management actions, directing further research and monitoring, and facilitating learning. The rufa subspecies of red knots (Calidris canutus rufa), which has recently exhibited steep population declines, relies on horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) eggs as their primary food...
Authors
Conor P. McGowan, David R. Smith, J. A. Sweka, Julien Martin, James D. Nichols, R. Wong, J. E. Lyons, L. J. Niles, K. Kalasz, J. Brust, M. Klopfer, B. Spear
Non-native fish control below Glen Canyon Dam - Report from a structured decision-making project Non-native fish control below Glen Canyon Dam - Report from a structured decision-making project
This report describes the results of a structured decision-making project by the U.S. Geological Survey to provide substantive input to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) for use in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment concerning control of non-native fish below Glen Canyon Dam. A forum was created to allow the diverse cooperating agencies and Tribes to discuss, expand...
Authors
Michael C. Runge, Ellen Bean, David Smith, Sonja Kokos
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 118
Estimating tag loss of the Atlantic Horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, using a multi-state model Estimating tag loss of the Atlantic Horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, using a multi-state model
The Atlantic Horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus, is a valuable resource along the Mid-Atlantic coast which has, in recent years, experienced new management paradigms due to increased concern about this species role in the environment. While current management actions are underway, many acknowledge the need for improved and updated parameter estimates to reduce the uncertainty within the...
Authors
Catherine Alyssa Butler, Conor P. McGowan, J. Barry Grand, David Smith
Experimental and environmental factors affect spurious detection of ecological thresholds Experimental and environmental factors affect spurious detection of ecological thresholds
Threshold detection methods are increasingly popular for assessing nonlinear responses to environmental change, but their statistical performance remains poorly understood. We simulated linear change in stream benthic macroinvertebrate communities and evaluated the performance of commonly used threshold detection methods based on model fitting (piecewise quantile regression [PQR]), data
Authors
Jonathan P. Daily, Nathaniel P. Hitt, David Smith, Craig D. Snyder
Patterns of mortality in free-ranging California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) Patterns of mortality in free-ranging California condors (Gymnogyps californianus)
We document causes of death in free-ranging California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus) from the inception of the reintroduction program in 1992 through December 2009 to identify current and historic mortality factors that might interfere with establishment of self-sustaining populations in the wild. A total of 135 deaths occurred from October 1992 (the first post-release death) through...
Authors
B.A. Rideout, I. Stalis, R. Papendick, A. Pessier, B. Puschner, M.E. Finkelstein, D. R. Smith, Matthew Johnson, M. Mace, R. Stroud, J. Brandt, J. Burnett, C. Parish, J. Petterson, C. Witte, C. Stringfield, K. Orr, J. Zuba, M. Wallace, J. Grantham
Shale Gas Development and Brook Trout: Scaling Best Management Practices to Anticipate Cumulative Effects Shale Gas Development and Brook Trout: Scaling Best Management Practices to Anticipate Cumulative Effects
Shale gas development may involve trade-offs between energy development and benefits provided by natural ecosystems. However, current best management practices (BMPs) focus on mitigating localized ecological degradation. We review evidence for cumulative effects of natural gas development on brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and conclude that BMPs should account for potential watershed...
Authors
David Smith, Craig D. Snyder, Nathaniel P. Hitt, John A. Young, Stephen P. Faulkner
Multispecies modeling for adaptive management of horseshoe crabs and red knots in the Delaware Bay Multispecies modeling for adaptive management of horseshoe crabs and red knots in the Delaware Bay
Adaptive management requires that predictive models be explicit and transparent to improve decisions by comparing management actions, directing further research and monitoring, and facilitating learning. The rufa subspecies of red knots (Calidris canutus rufa), which has recently exhibited steep population declines, relies on horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) eggs as their primary food...
Authors
Conor P. McGowan, David R. Smith, J. A. Sweka, Julien Martin, James D. Nichols, R. Wong, J. E. Lyons, L. J. Niles, K. Kalasz, J. Brust, M. Klopfer, B. Spear
Non-native fish control below Glen Canyon Dam - Report from a structured decision-making project Non-native fish control below Glen Canyon Dam - Report from a structured decision-making project
This report describes the results of a structured decision-making project by the U.S. Geological Survey to provide substantive input to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) for use in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment concerning control of non-native fish below Glen Canyon Dam. A forum was created to allow the diverse cooperating agencies and Tribes to discuss, expand...
Authors
Michael C. Runge, Ellen Bean, David Smith, Sonja Kokos