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
Optimization of decision rules for hydroelectric operation to reduce both eel mortality and unnecessary turbine shutdown: A search for a win-win solution Optimization of decision rules for hydroelectric operation to reduce both eel mortality and unnecessary turbine shutdown: A search for a win-win solution
Worldwide populations of freshwater eels have declined with one of the contributing causes related to mortality during passage through hydropower turbines. An inherent trade‐off underlies turbine management where the competing demand for more hydropower comes at the expense of eel survival. A win–win solution exists when an option performs better on all competing demands compared to...
Authors
David Smith, Paul L. Fackler, Sheila Eyler, Laura Villegas, Stuart A. Welsh
Group inverse sampling: An economical approach to inverse sampling Group inverse sampling: An economical approach to inverse sampling
Inverse sampling is an adaptive design in the sense that the final sampling effort during a search for rare events will depend on what is found during the survey. Conventional inverse sampling (CIS) designs successively select individual sampling units to find, for example, the k th rare event. In real sampling situations, use of successive one‐by‐one sampling can be cost prohibitive...
Authors
Bardia Panahbehagh, David Smith
Developing a landscape‐scale, multi‐species, and cost‐efficient conservation strategy for imperilled aquatic species in the Upper Tennessee River Basin, USA Developing a landscape‐scale, multi‐species, and cost‐efficient conservation strategy for imperilled aquatic species in the Upper Tennessee River Basin, USA
Strategic conservation of imperilled species faces several major challenges including uncertainty in species response to management actions, budgetary constraints that limit options, and the need to scale expected conservation benefits from local to landscape levels and from single to multiple species.A structured decision‐making process was applied to address these challenges and...
Authors
David Smith, Robert S. Butler, Jess Jones, Catherine Gatenby, Roberta Hylton, Mary Parkin, Cindy Schulz
Conservation status of the American horseshoe crab, (Limulus polyphemus): A regional assessment Conservation status of the American horseshoe crab, (Limulus polyphemus): A regional assessment
Horseshoe crabs have persisted for more than 200 million years, and fossil forms date to 450 million years ago. The American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus), one of four extant horseshoe crab species, is found along the Atlantic coastline of North America ranging from Alabama to Maine, USA with another distinct population on the coasts of Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo in the...
Authors
David Smith, H. Brockmann, Mark Beekey, Tim King, Mike Millard, Jaime Zaldivar-Rae
Downstream passage and impact of turbine shutdowns on survival of silver American Eels at five hydroelectric dams on the Shenandoah River Downstream passage and impact of turbine shutdowns on survival of silver American Eels at five hydroelectric dams on the Shenandoah River
Hydroelectric dams impact the downstream migrations of silver American Eels Anguilla rostrata via migratory delays and turbine mortality. A radiotelemetry study of American Eels was conducted to determine the impacts of five run-of-the-river hydroelectric dams located over a 195-km stretch of the Shenandoah River, Virginia–West Virginia, during fall 2007–summer 2010. Overall, 96 radio...
Authors
Sheila Eyler, Stuart A. Welsh, David Smith, Mary Rockey
Developing a conservation strategy to maximize persistence of an endangered freshwater mussel species while considering management effectiveness and cost Developing a conservation strategy to maximize persistence of an endangered freshwater mussel species while considering management effectiveness and cost
We used a structured decision-making process to develop conservation strategies to increase persistence of Dwarf Wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) in North Carolina, USA, while accounting for uncertainty in management effectiveness and considering costs. Alternative conservation strategies were portfolios of management actions that differed by location of management actions on the...
Authors
David Smith, Sarah McRae, Tom Augspurger, Judith Ratcliffe, Robert Nichols, Chris Eads, Tim Savidge, Arthur Bogan
Horseshoe crab spawning activity in Delaware Bay, USA, after harvest reduction: A mixed-model analysis Horseshoe crab spawning activity in Delaware Bay, USA, after harvest reduction: A mixed-model analysis
A Delaware Bay, USA, standardized survey of spawning horseshoe crabs, Limulus polyphemus, was carried out in 1999 − 2013 through a citizen science network. Previous trend analyses of the data were at the state (DE or NJ) or bay-wide levels. Here, an alternative mixed-model regression analysis was used to estimate trends in female and male spawning densities at the beach level (n = 26)...
Authors
David Smith, Timothy J. Robinson
Developing objectives with multiple stakeholders: adaptive management of horseshoe crabs and Red Knots in the Delaware Bay Developing objectives with multiple stakeholders: adaptive management of horseshoe crabs and Red Knots in the Delaware Bay
Structured decision making (SDM) is an increasingly utilized approach and set of tools for addressing complex decisions in environmental management. SDM is a value-focused thinking approach that places paramount importance on first establishing clear management objectives that reflect core values of stakeholders. To be useful for management, objectives must be transparently stated in...
Authors
Conor P. McGowan, James E. Lyons, David Smith
Threshold-dependent sample sizes for selenium assessment with stream fish tissue Threshold-dependent sample sizes for selenium assessment with stream fish tissue
Natural resource managers are developing assessments of selenium (Se) contamination in freshwater ecosystems based on fish tissue concentrations. We evaluated the effects of sample size (i.e., number of fish per site) on the probability of correctly detecting mean whole-body Se values above a range of potential management thresholds. We modeled Se concentrations as gamma distributions...
Authors
Nathaniel Hitt, David R. Smith
Management and monitoring of the endangered Shenandoah salamander under climate change: Workshop report 10-12 April 2012 Management and monitoring of the endangered Shenandoah salamander under climate change: Workshop report 10-12 April 2012
Here we report on a structured decision making (SDM) process to identify management strategies to ensure persistence of the federally endangered Shenandoah salamander (Plethodon shenandoah), given that it may be at increased extinction risk under projected climate change. The focus of this report is the second of two SDM workshops; in the first workshop, participants developed a...
Authors
Evan Campbell Grant, John Wofford, D. R. Smith, J. Dennis, C. Hawkins-Hoffman, J. Schaberl, M. Foley, M. Bogle
Evaluating a multispecies adaptive management framework: Must uncertainty impede effective decision-making? Evaluating a multispecies adaptive management framework: Must uncertainty impede effective decision-making?
Application of adaptive management to complex natural resource systems requires careful evaluation to ensure that the process leads to improved decision-making. As part of that evaluation, adaptive policies can be compared with alternative nonadaptive management scenarios. Also, the value of reducing structural (ecological) uncertainty to achieving management objectives can be quantified...
Authors
David Smith, Conor McGowan, Jonathan P. Daily, James Nichols, John Sweka, James E. Lyons
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 Butler, Conor P. McGowan, J. Grand, David Smith
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 117
Optimization of decision rules for hydroelectric operation to reduce both eel mortality and unnecessary turbine shutdown: A search for a win-win solution Optimization of decision rules for hydroelectric operation to reduce both eel mortality and unnecessary turbine shutdown: A search for a win-win solution
Worldwide populations of freshwater eels have declined with one of the contributing causes related to mortality during passage through hydropower turbines. An inherent trade‐off underlies turbine management where the competing demand for more hydropower comes at the expense of eel survival. A win–win solution exists when an option performs better on all competing demands compared to...
Authors
David Smith, Paul L. Fackler, Sheila Eyler, Laura Villegas, Stuart A. Welsh
Group inverse sampling: An economical approach to inverse sampling Group inverse sampling: An economical approach to inverse sampling
Inverse sampling is an adaptive design in the sense that the final sampling effort during a search for rare events will depend on what is found during the survey. Conventional inverse sampling (CIS) designs successively select individual sampling units to find, for example, the k th rare event. In real sampling situations, use of successive one‐by‐one sampling can be cost prohibitive...
Authors
Bardia Panahbehagh, David Smith
Developing a landscape‐scale, multi‐species, and cost‐efficient conservation strategy for imperilled aquatic species in the Upper Tennessee River Basin, USA Developing a landscape‐scale, multi‐species, and cost‐efficient conservation strategy for imperilled aquatic species in the Upper Tennessee River Basin, USA
Strategic conservation of imperilled species faces several major challenges including uncertainty in species response to management actions, budgetary constraints that limit options, and the need to scale expected conservation benefits from local to landscape levels and from single to multiple species.A structured decision‐making process was applied to address these challenges and...
Authors
David Smith, Robert S. Butler, Jess Jones, Catherine Gatenby, Roberta Hylton, Mary Parkin, Cindy Schulz
Conservation status of the American horseshoe crab, (Limulus polyphemus): A regional assessment Conservation status of the American horseshoe crab, (Limulus polyphemus): A regional assessment
Horseshoe crabs have persisted for more than 200 million years, and fossil forms date to 450 million years ago. The American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus), one of four extant horseshoe crab species, is found along the Atlantic coastline of North America ranging from Alabama to Maine, USA with another distinct population on the coasts of Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo in the...
Authors
David Smith, H. Brockmann, Mark Beekey, Tim King, Mike Millard, Jaime Zaldivar-Rae
Downstream passage and impact of turbine shutdowns on survival of silver American Eels at five hydroelectric dams on the Shenandoah River Downstream passage and impact of turbine shutdowns on survival of silver American Eels at five hydroelectric dams on the Shenandoah River
Hydroelectric dams impact the downstream migrations of silver American Eels Anguilla rostrata via migratory delays and turbine mortality. A radiotelemetry study of American Eels was conducted to determine the impacts of five run-of-the-river hydroelectric dams located over a 195-km stretch of the Shenandoah River, Virginia–West Virginia, during fall 2007–summer 2010. Overall, 96 radio...
Authors
Sheila Eyler, Stuart A. Welsh, David Smith, Mary Rockey
Developing a conservation strategy to maximize persistence of an endangered freshwater mussel species while considering management effectiveness and cost Developing a conservation strategy to maximize persistence of an endangered freshwater mussel species while considering management effectiveness and cost
We used a structured decision-making process to develop conservation strategies to increase persistence of Dwarf Wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) in North Carolina, USA, while accounting for uncertainty in management effectiveness and considering costs. Alternative conservation strategies were portfolios of management actions that differed by location of management actions on the...
Authors
David Smith, Sarah McRae, Tom Augspurger, Judith Ratcliffe, Robert Nichols, Chris Eads, Tim Savidge, Arthur Bogan
Horseshoe crab spawning activity in Delaware Bay, USA, after harvest reduction: A mixed-model analysis Horseshoe crab spawning activity in Delaware Bay, USA, after harvest reduction: A mixed-model analysis
A Delaware Bay, USA, standardized survey of spawning horseshoe crabs, Limulus polyphemus, was carried out in 1999 − 2013 through a citizen science network. Previous trend analyses of the data were at the state (DE or NJ) or bay-wide levels. Here, an alternative mixed-model regression analysis was used to estimate trends in female and male spawning densities at the beach level (n = 26)...
Authors
David Smith, Timothy J. Robinson
Developing objectives with multiple stakeholders: adaptive management of horseshoe crabs and Red Knots in the Delaware Bay Developing objectives with multiple stakeholders: adaptive management of horseshoe crabs and Red Knots in the Delaware Bay
Structured decision making (SDM) is an increasingly utilized approach and set of tools for addressing complex decisions in environmental management. SDM is a value-focused thinking approach that places paramount importance on first establishing clear management objectives that reflect core values of stakeholders. To be useful for management, objectives must be transparently stated in...
Authors
Conor P. McGowan, James E. Lyons, David Smith
Threshold-dependent sample sizes for selenium assessment with stream fish tissue Threshold-dependent sample sizes for selenium assessment with stream fish tissue
Natural resource managers are developing assessments of selenium (Se) contamination in freshwater ecosystems based on fish tissue concentrations. We evaluated the effects of sample size (i.e., number of fish per site) on the probability of correctly detecting mean whole-body Se values above a range of potential management thresholds. We modeled Se concentrations as gamma distributions...
Authors
Nathaniel Hitt, David R. Smith
Management and monitoring of the endangered Shenandoah salamander under climate change: Workshop report 10-12 April 2012 Management and monitoring of the endangered Shenandoah salamander under climate change: Workshop report 10-12 April 2012
Here we report on a structured decision making (SDM) process to identify management strategies to ensure persistence of the federally endangered Shenandoah salamander (Plethodon shenandoah), given that it may be at increased extinction risk under projected climate change. The focus of this report is the second of two SDM workshops; in the first workshop, participants developed a...
Authors
Evan Campbell Grant, John Wofford, D. R. Smith, J. Dennis, C. Hawkins-Hoffman, J. Schaberl, M. Foley, M. Bogle
Evaluating a multispecies adaptive management framework: Must uncertainty impede effective decision-making? Evaluating a multispecies adaptive management framework: Must uncertainty impede effective decision-making?
Application of adaptive management to complex natural resource systems requires careful evaluation to ensure that the process leads to improved decision-making. As part of that evaluation, adaptive policies can be compared with alternative nonadaptive management scenarios. Also, the value of reducing structural (ecological) uncertainty to achieving management objectives can be quantified...
Authors
David Smith, Conor McGowan, Jonathan P. Daily, James Nichols, John Sweka, James E. Lyons
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 Butler, Conor P. McGowan, J. Grand, David Smith