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: 117
Using structured decision making to evaluate potential management responses to detection of dreissenid mussel (Dreissena spp.) environmental DNA Using structured decision making to evaluate potential management responses to detection of dreissenid mussel (Dreissena spp.) environmental DNA
Environmental (e)DNA tools are sensitive and cost-effective for early detection of invasive species. However, the uncertainty associated with the interpretation of positive eDNA detections makes it challenging to determine appropriate natural resource management responses. Multiple sources of error can give rise to positive detections of eDNA in a sample when individuals of that species...
Authors
Adam Sepulveda, David Smith, Katherine M. O'Donnell, Nathan Owens, Brittany White, Cathy Richter, Christopher Merkes, Skylar Wolf, Mike Rau, Matthew Neilson, Wesley M. Daniel, Christine Dumoulin, Margaret Hunter
Performance of a carbon dioxide injection system at a navigation lock to control the spread of aquatic invasive species Performance of a carbon dioxide injection system at a navigation lock to control the spread of aquatic invasive species
Natural resource agencies need effective strategies to control the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) such as invasive fish, which can expand their range using rivers as hydrological pathways to access new areas. Lock and dam structures within major rivers are prospective locations to deploy techniques, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) infusion into lock water, that could impede...
Authors
Thomas Zolper, David Smith, P. Jackson, Aaron Cupp
Telemetry reveals migratory drivers and disparate space use across seasons and age-groups in American horseshoe crabs Telemetry reveals migratory drivers and disparate space use across seasons and age-groups in American horseshoe crabs
Identifying mechanisms that underpin animal migration patterns and examining variability in space use within populations is crucial for understanding population dynamics and management implications. In this study, we quantified the migration rates, seasonal changes in migratory connectivity, and residency across population demographics (age and sex) to understand the proximate cues of...
Authors
Justin Bopp, Matthew Sclafani, Michael Frisk, Kim McKown, Catherine Zeigler, David Smith, Robert Cerrato
Adaptive two-stage inverse sampling design to estimate density, abundance, and occupancy of rare and clustered populations Adaptive two-stage inverse sampling design to estimate density, abundance, and occupancy of rare and clustered populations
Sampling rare and clustered populations is challenging because of the effort required to find rare units. Heuristically, a practitioner would prefer to discontinue sampling in areas where rare units of interest are apparently extremely sparse or absent. We take advantage of the characteristics of inverse sampling to adaptively inform practitioners when it is efficient to move on to...
Authors
Mohammad Salehi, David Smith
Decision analysis of barrier placement and targeted removal to control invasive carp in the Tennessee River Basin Decision analysis of barrier placement and targeted removal to control invasive carp in the Tennessee River Basin
Controlling range expansion of invasive carp (specifically Hypophthalmichthys spp.) on the Tennessee River is important to conserve the ecological and economic benefits provided by the river. We collaborated with State and Federal agencies (the stakeholder group) to develop a decision framework and decision support model to evaluate strategies to control carp expansion in the Tennessee...
Authors
Max Post van der Burg, David Smith, Aaron Cupp, Mark Rogers, Duane Chapman
Impacts of sediment removal from and placement in coastal barrier island systems Impacts of sediment removal from and placement in coastal barrier island systems
Executive Summary On June 24, 2019, Congressman Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, sent a letter to the directors of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey to request their assistance in answering questions regarding coastal sediment resource management within the Coastal Barrier Resources System as defined by the...
Authors
Jennifer Miselis, James Flocks, Sara Zeigler, Davina Passeri, David Smith, Jill Bourque, Christopher Sherwood, Christopher Smith, Daniel Ciarletta, Kathryn Smith, Kristen Hart, David C. Kazyak, Alicia Berlin, Bianca Prohaska, Teresa Calleson, Kristi Yanchis
The contribution of water radiolysis to marine sedimentary life The contribution of water radiolysis to marine sedimentary life
Water radiolysis continuously produces H2 and oxidized chemicals in wet sediment and rock. Radiolytic H2 has been identified as the primary electron donor (food) for microorganisms in continental aquifers kilometers below Earth’s surface. Radiolytic products may also be significant for sustaining life in subseafloor sediment and subsurface environments of other planets. However, the...
Authors
Justine Sauvage, Ashton Flinders, Arthur Spivack, Robert Pockalny, Ann Dunlea, Chloe Anderson, David Smith, Richard Murray, Steven D’Hondt
Using expert knowledge to support Endangered Species Act decision‐making for data‐deficient species Using expert knowledge to support Endangered Species Act decision‐making for data‐deficient species
Many questions relevant to conservation decision making are characterized by extreme uncertainty due to lack of empirical data and complexity of the underlying ecological processes, leading to a rapid increase in the use of structured protocols to elicit expert knowledge. Published ecological applications often employ a modified Delphi method, where experts provide judgments anonymously...
Authors
Daniel Fitzgerald, David Smith, David Culver, Daniel Feller, Daniel Fong, Jeff Hajenga, Matthew Niemiller, Daniel Nolfi, Wil Orndorff, Barbara Douglas, Kelly Maloney, John Young
The Long-term effect of bleeding for Limulus amebocyte lysate on annual survival and recapture of tagged horseshoe crabs The Long-term effect of bleeding for Limulus amebocyte lysate on annual survival and recapture of tagged horseshoe crabs
In the U.S., 525,000 horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) per year have been captured during 2013–2017, brought to biomedical facilities, and bled to produce Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL), then mostly released to the area of capture. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission estimates short-term bleeding-induced mortality to be 15% (4% to 30%), resulting in mortality of...
Authors
David Smith, Joshua Newhard, Conor McGowan, C. Butler
A Bayesian framework for assessing extinction risk based on ordinal categories of population condition and projected landscape change A Bayesian framework for assessing extinction risk based on ordinal categories of population condition and projected landscape change
Many at-risk species lack standardized surveys across their range or quantitative data capable of detecting demographic trends. As a result, extinction risk assessments often rely on ordinal categories of risk based on explicit criteria or expert elicitation. This study demonstrates a Bayesian approach to assessing extinction risk based on this common data structure, using three...
Authors
Daniel Fitzgerald, Andrew Henderson, Kelly Maloney, Mary Freeman, John Young, Amanda Rosenberger, David C. Kazyak, David Smith
Estimation of vital population rates to assess the relative health of mussel assemblages in the Upper Mississippi River Estimation of vital population rates to assess the relative health of mussel assemblages in the Upper Mississippi River
Native freshwater mussels are a guild of benthic, filter feeding invertebrates that perform important ecological functions in rivers. Because of their long lifespans (30–50 years or longer), mussels are slow to respond to human‐induced alterations. Thus, development of sensitive indicators of mussel population responses to river conditions and management would be beneficial. Compared to...
Authors
Teresa Newton, Steven J. Zigler, Patricia R. Ries, Mike Davis, David Smith
Addressing disease risk to develop a health program for bighorn sheep in Montana Addressing disease risk to develop a health program for bighorn sheep in Montana
No abstract available.
Authors
Sarah Sells, Michael Mitchell, Justin A. Gude
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 117
Using structured decision making to evaluate potential management responses to detection of dreissenid mussel (Dreissena spp.) environmental DNA Using structured decision making to evaluate potential management responses to detection of dreissenid mussel (Dreissena spp.) environmental DNA
Environmental (e)DNA tools are sensitive and cost-effective for early detection of invasive species. However, the uncertainty associated with the interpretation of positive eDNA detections makes it challenging to determine appropriate natural resource management responses. Multiple sources of error can give rise to positive detections of eDNA in a sample when individuals of that species...
Authors
Adam Sepulveda, David Smith, Katherine M. O'Donnell, Nathan Owens, Brittany White, Cathy Richter, Christopher Merkes, Skylar Wolf, Mike Rau, Matthew Neilson, Wesley M. Daniel, Christine Dumoulin, Margaret Hunter
Performance of a carbon dioxide injection system at a navigation lock to control the spread of aquatic invasive species Performance of a carbon dioxide injection system at a navigation lock to control the spread of aquatic invasive species
Natural resource agencies need effective strategies to control the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) such as invasive fish, which can expand their range using rivers as hydrological pathways to access new areas. Lock and dam structures within major rivers are prospective locations to deploy techniques, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) infusion into lock water, that could impede...
Authors
Thomas Zolper, David Smith, P. Jackson, Aaron Cupp
Telemetry reveals migratory drivers and disparate space use across seasons and age-groups in American horseshoe crabs Telemetry reveals migratory drivers and disparate space use across seasons and age-groups in American horseshoe crabs
Identifying mechanisms that underpin animal migration patterns and examining variability in space use within populations is crucial for understanding population dynamics and management implications. In this study, we quantified the migration rates, seasonal changes in migratory connectivity, and residency across population demographics (age and sex) to understand the proximate cues of...
Authors
Justin Bopp, Matthew Sclafani, Michael Frisk, Kim McKown, Catherine Zeigler, David Smith, Robert Cerrato
Adaptive two-stage inverse sampling design to estimate density, abundance, and occupancy of rare and clustered populations Adaptive two-stage inverse sampling design to estimate density, abundance, and occupancy of rare and clustered populations
Sampling rare and clustered populations is challenging because of the effort required to find rare units. Heuristically, a practitioner would prefer to discontinue sampling in areas where rare units of interest are apparently extremely sparse or absent. We take advantage of the characteristics of inverse sampling to adaptively inform practitioners when it is efficient to move on to...
Authors
Mohammad Salehi, David Smith
Decision analysis of barrier placement and targeted removal to control invasive carp in the Tennessee River Basin Decision analysis of barrier placement and targeted removal to control invasive carp in the Tennessee River Basin
Controlling range expansion of invasive carp (specifically Hypophthalmichthys spp.) on the Tennessee River is important to conserve the ecological and economic benefits provided by the river. We collaborated with State and Federal agencies (the stakeholder group) to develop a decision framework and decision support model to evaluate strategies to control carp expansion in the Tennessee...
Authors
Max Post van der Burg, David Smith, Aaron Cupp, Mark Rogers, Duane Chapman
Impacts of sediment removal from and placement in coastal barrier island systems Impacts of sediment removal from and placement in coastal barrier island systems
Executive Summary On June 24, 2019, Congressman Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, sent a letter to the directors of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey to request their assistance in answering questions regarding coastal sediment resource management within the Coastal Barrier Resources System as defined by the...
Authors
Jennifer Miselis, James Flocks, Sara Zeigler, Davina Passeri, David Smith, Jill Bourque, Christopher Sherwood, Christopher Smith, Daniel Ciarletta, Kathryn Smith, Kristen Hart, David C. Kazyak, Alicia Berlin, Bianca Prohaska, Teresa Calleson, Kristi Yanchis
The contribution of water radiolysis to marine sedimentary life The contribution of water radiolysis to marine sedimentary life
Water radiolysis continuously produces H2 and oxidized chemicals in wet sediment and rock. Radiolytic H2 has been identified as the primary electron donor (food) for microorganisms in continental aquifers kilometers below Earth’s surface. Radiolytic products may also be significant for sustaining life in subseafloor sediment and subsurface environments of other planets. However, the...
Authors
Justine Sauvage, Ashton Flinders, Arthur Spivack, Robert Pockalny, Ann Dunlea, Chloe Anderson, David Smith, Richard Murray, Steven D’Hondt
Using expert knowledge to support Endangered Species Act decision‐making for data‐deficient species Using expert knowledge to support Endangered Species Act decision‐making for data‐deficient species
Many questions relevant to conservation decision making are characterized by extreme uncertainty due to lack of empirical data and complexity of the underlying ecological processes, leading to a rapid increase in the use of structured protocols to elicit expert knowledge. Published ecological applications often employ a modified Delphi method, where experts provide judgments anonymously...
Authors
Daniel Fitzgerald, David Smith, David Culver, Daniel Feller, Daniel Fong, Jeff Hajenga, Matthew Niemiller, Daniel Nolfi, Wil Orndorff, Barbara Douglas, Kelly Maloney, John Young
The Long-term effect of bleeding for Limulus amebocyte lysate on annual survival and recapture of tagged horseshoe crabs The Long-term effect of bleeding for Limulus amebocyte lysate on annual survival and recapture of tagged horseshoe crabs
In the U.S., 525,000 horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) per year have been captured during 2013–2017, brought to biomedical facilities, and bled to produce Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL), then mostly released to the area of capture. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission estimates short-term bleeding-induced mortality to be 15% (4% to 30%), resulting in mortality of...
Authors
David Smith, Joshua Newhard, Conor McGowan, C. Butler
A Bayesian framework for assessing extinction risk based on ordinal categories of population condition and projected landscape change A Bayesian framework for assessing extinction risk based on ordinal categories of population condition and projected landscape change
Many at-risk species lack standardized surveys across their range or quantitative data capable of detecting demographic trends. As a result, extinction risk assessments often rely on ordinal categories of risk based on explicit criteria or expert elicitation. This study demonstrates a Bayesian approach to assessing extinction risk based on this common data structure, using three...
Authors
Daniel Fitzgerald, Andrew Henderson, Kelly Maloney, Mary Freeman, John Young, Amanda Rosenberger, David C. Kazyak, David Smith
Estimation of vital population rates to assess the relative health of mussel assemblages in the Upper Mississippi River Estimation of vital population rates to assess the relative health of mussel assemblages in the Upper Mississippi River
Native freshwater mussels are a guild of benthic, filter feeding invertebrates that perform important ecological functions in rivers. Because of their long lifespans (30–50 years or longer), mussels are slow to respond to human‐induced alterations. Thus, development of sensitive indicators of mussel population responses to river conditions and management would be beneficial. Compared to...
Authors
Teresa Newton, Steven J. Zigler, Patricia R. Ries, Mike Davis, David Smith
Addressing disease risk to develop a health program for bighorn sheep in Montana Addressing disease risk to develop a health program for bighorn sheep in Montana
No abstract available.
Authors
Sarah Sells, Michael Mitchell, Justin A. Gude