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: 120
An adaptive two-stage sequential design for sampling rare and clustered populations An adaptive two-stage sequential design for sampling rare and clustered populations
How to design an efficient large-area survey continues to be an interesting question for ecologists. In sampling large areas, as is common in environmental studies, adaptive sampling can be efficient because it ensures survey effort is targeted to subareas of high interest. In two-stage sampling, higher density primary sample units are usually of more interest than lower density primary...
Authors
J.A. Brown, M.M. Salehi, M. Moradi, G. Bell, D. R. Smith
Physical and chemical changes in the foreshore of an estuarine beach: Implications for viability and development of horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus eggs Physical and chemical changes in the foreshore of an estuarine beach: Implications for viability and development of horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus eggs
Knowledge of conditions that favor development of eggs is important for management of species whose population growth is sensitive to early life history survival. Viability and development of the eggs of horseshoe crabs Limulus polyphemus on a sand and gravel beach were evaluated using data gathered on Delaware Bay, USA, from 18 May to 19 June 2004. Eggs were transplanted to pouches and...
Authors
N.L. Jackson, D. R. Smith, K.F. Nordstrom
Tag-based estimates of annual fishing mortality of a mixed atlantic coastal stock of striped bass Tag-based estimates of annual fishing mortality of a mixed atlantic coastal stock of striped bass
Tag-based estimates of annual survival and fishing mortality rates supplement annual stock assessments of migratory striped bass Morone saxatilis in the interjurisdictional fishery along the Atlantic coast. We estimated a 17-year time series of annual survival and fishing mortality (F) rates for striped bass (>711 mm) tagged during winter trawl studies (1988-2004) off the coasts of North...
Authors
S.A. Welsh, D. R. Smith, R.W. Laney, R.C. Tipton
Evaluation of a small beach nourishment project to enhance habitat suitability for horseshoe crabs Evaluation of a small beach nourishment project to enhance habitat suitability for horseshoe crabs
This field study evaluates the effect of nourishing an estuarine beach with gravel to enhance spawning rates by horseshoe crabs. A total of 564??m3 of coarse sand and gravel were emplaced in two 90??m-long treatment segments at Bowers Beach, Delaware, USA from 9 to 11 April 2002. Field data were gathered between 6 April and 24 May 2002 to characterize the two fill segments and the un...
Authors
N.L. Jackson, D. R. Smith, R. Tiyarattanachai, K.F. Nordstrom
Intersex (Testicular Oocytes) in smallmouth bass from the Potomac River and selected nearby drainages Intersex (Testicular Oocytes) in smallmouth bass from the Potomac River and selected nearby drainages
Intersex, or the presence of characteristics of both sexes, in fishes that are normally gonochoristic has been used as an indicator of exposure to estrogenic compounds. In 2003, during health assessments conducted in response to kills and a high prevalence of skin lesions observed in smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu in the South Branch of the Potomac River, the presence of immature...
Authors
Vicki S. Blazer, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Deborah D. Iwanowicz, David R. Smith, John A. Young, J.D. Hedrick, S.W. Foster, S.J. Reeser
Effect of horseshoe crab spawning density on nest disturbance and exhumation of eggs: A simulation study Effect of horseshoe crab spawning density on nest disturbance and exhumation of eggs: A simulation study
Because the Delaware Bay horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) population is managed to provide for dependent species, such as migratory shorebirds, there is a need to understand the process of egg exhumation and to predict eggs available to foraging shorebirds. A simple spatial model was used to simulate horseshoe crab spawning that would occur on a typical Delaware Bay beach during...
Authors
D. R. Smith
An age-structured population model for horseshoe crabs in the Delaware Bay area to assess harvest and egg availability for shorebirds An age-structured population model for horseshoe crabs in the Delaware Bay area to assess harvest and egg availability for shorebirds
The objective of this simulation study was to create an age-structured population model for horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphenols) in the Delaware Bay region using best available estimates of age-specific mortality and recent harvest levels. Density dependence was incorporated using a spatial model relating egg mortality with abundance of spawning females. Combinations of annual female...
Authors
J. A. Sweka, D. R. Smith, M. J. Millard
Transport of horseshoe crab eggs by waves and swash on an estuarine beach: Implications for foraging shorebirds Transport of horseshoe crab eggs by waves and swash on an estuarine beach: Implications for foraging shorebirds
The abundance of horseshoe crab eggs in the swash zone and remaining on the beach after tide levels fall was evaluated to identify how numbers of eggs available to shorebirds differ with fluctuations in spawning numbers of horseshoe crabs, wave energies and beach elevation changes. Field data were gathered 1-6 June 2004 at Slaughter Beach on the west side of Delaware Bay, USA. Counts of...
Authors
K.F. Nordstrom, N.L. Jackson, D. R. Smith, R.G. Weber
Albatross species demonstrate regional differences in North Pacific marine contamination Albatross species demonstrate regional differences in North Pacific marine contamination
Recent concern about negative effects on human health from elevated organochlorine and mercury concentrations in marine foods has highlighted the need to understand temporal and spatial patterns of marine pollution. Seabirds, long-lived pelagic predators with wide foraging ranges, can be used as indicators of regional contaminant patterns across large temporal and spatial scales. Here we...
Authors
M. Finkelstein, B.S. Keitt, D.A. Croll, B. Tershy, Walter M. Jarman, S. Rodriguez-Pastor, D.J. Anderson, P.R. Sievert, D. R. Smith
Seeing the elephant: Importance of spatial and temporal coverage in a large-scale volunteer-based program to monitor horseshoe crabs Seeing the elephant: Importance of spatial and temporal coverage in a large-scale volunteer-based program to monitor horseshoe crabs
As in John Godfrey Saxe's poem about six blind men and an elephant, conclusions drawn from a monitoring program depend critically on where and when observations are made. We examined results from the Delaware Bay horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) spawning survey to evaluate the effect of spatial and temporal coverage on conclusions about spawning activity. Declines due to previously...
Authors
D. R. Smith, S.F. Michels
Survey design for detecting rare freshwater mussels Survey design for detecting rare freshwater mussels
A common objective when surveying freshwater mussels is to detect the presence of rare populations. In certain situations, such as when endangered or threatened species are potentially in the area of a proposed impact, the survey should be designed to ensure a high probability of detecting species presence. Linking survey design to probability of detecting species presence has been done...
Authors
D. R. Smith
Abundance of adult horseshoe crabs (Limulus polylphemus) in Delaware Bay estimated from a bay-wide mark-recapture study Abundance of adult horseshoe crabs (Limulus polylphemus) in Delaware Bay estimated from a bay-wide mark-recapture study
Estimates of the abundance of American horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) are important to determine egg production and to manage populations for the energetic needs of shorebirds that feed on horseshoe crab eggs. In 2003, over 17,500 horseshoe crabs were tagged and released throughout Delaware Bay, and recaptured crabs came from spawning surveys that were conducted during peak...
Authors
D. R. Smith, M. J. Millard, S. Eyler
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 120
An adaptive two-stage sequential design for sampling rare and clustered populations An adaptive two-stage sequential design for sampling rare and clustered populations
How to design an efficient large-area survey continues to be an interesting question for ecologists. In sampling large areas, as is common in environmental studies, adaptive sampling can be efficient because it ensures survey effort is targeted to subareas of high interest. In two-stage sampling, higher density primary sample units are usually of more interest than lower density primary...
Authors
J.A. Brown, M.M. Salehi, M. Moradi, G. Bell, D. R. Smith
Physical and chemical changes in the foreshore of an estuarine beach: Implications for viability and development of horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus eggs Physical and chemical changes in the foreshore of an estuarine beach: Implications for viability and development of horseshoe crab Limulus polyphemus eggs
Knowledge of conditions that favor development of eggs is important for management of species whose population growth is sensitive to early life history survival. Viability and development of the eggs of horseshoe crabs Limulus polyphemus on a sand and gravel beach were evaluated using data gathered on Delaware Bay, USA, from 18 May to 19 June 2004. Eggs were transplanted to pouches and...
Authors
N.L. Jackson, D. R. Smith, K.F. Nordstrom
Tag-based estimates of annual fishing mortality of a mixed atlantic coastal stock of striped bass Tag-based estimates of annual fishing mortality of a mixed atlantic coastal stock of striped bass
Tag-based estimates of annual survival and fishing mortality rates supplement annual stock assessments of migratory striped bass Morone saxatilis in the interjurisdictional fishery along the Atlantic coast. We estimated a 17-year time series of annual survival and fishing mortality (F) rates for striped bass (>711 mm) tagged during winter trawl studies (1988-2004) off the coasts of North...
Authors
S.A. Welsh, D. R. Smith, R.W. Laney, R.C. Tipton
Evaluation of a small beach nourishment project to enhance habitat suitability for horseshoe crabs Evaluation of a small beach nourishment project to enhance habitat suitability for horseshoe crabs
This field study evaluates the effect of nourishing an estuarine beach with gravel to enhance spawning rates by horseshoe crabs. A total of 564??m3 of coarse sand and gravel were emplaced in two 90??m-long treatment segments at Bowers Beach, Delaware, USA from 9 to 11 April 2002. Field data were gathered between 6 April and 24 May 2002 to characterize the two fill segments and the un...
Authors
N.L. Jackson, D. R. Smith, R. Tiyarattanachai, K.F. Nordstrom
Intersex (Testicular Oocytes) in smallmouth bass from the Potomac River and selected nearby drainages Intersex (Testicular Oocytes) in smallmouth bass from the Potomac River and selected nearby drainages
Intersex, or the presence of characteristics of both sexes, in fishes that are normally gonochoristic has been used as an indicator of exposure to estrogenic compounds. In 2003, during health assessments conducted in response to kills and a high prevalence of skin lesions observed in smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu in the South Branch of the Potomac River, the presence of immature...
Authors
Vicki S. Blazer, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Deborah D. Iwanowicz, David R. Smith, John A. Young, J.D. Hedrick, S.W. Foster, S.J. Reeser
Effect of horseshoe crab spawning density on nest disturbance and exhumation of eggs: A simulation study Effect of horseshoe crab spawning density on nest disturbance and exhumation of eggs: A simulation study
Because the Delaware Bay horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) population is managed to provide for dependent species, such as migratory shorebirds, there is a need to understand the process of egg exhumation and to predict eggs available to foraging shorebirds. A simple spatial model was used to simulate horseshoe crab spawning that would occur on a typical Delaware Bay beach during...
Authors
D. R. Smith
An age-structured population model for horseshoe crabs in the Delaware Bay area to assess harvest and egg availability for shorebirds An age-structured population model for horseshoe crabs in the Delaware Bay area to assess harvest and egg availability for shorebirds
The objective of this simulation study was to create an age-structured population model for horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphenols) in the Delaware Bay region using best available estimates of age-specific mortality and recent harvest levels. Density dependence was incorporated using a spatial model relating egg mortality with abundance of spawning females. Combinations of annual female...
Authors
J. A. Sweka, D. R. Smith, M. J. Millard
Transport of horseshoe crab eggs by waves and swash on an estuarine beach: Implications for foraging shorebirds Transport of horseshoe crab eggs by waves and swash on an estuarine beach: Implications for foraging shorebirds
The abundance of horseshoe crab eggs in the swash zone and remaining on the beach after tide levels fall was evaluated to identify how numbers of eggs available to shorebirds differ with fluctuations in spawning numbers of horseshoe crabs, wave energies and beach elevation changes. Field data were gathered 1-6 June 2004 at Slaughter Beach on the west side of Delaware Bay, USA. Counts of...
Authors
K.F. Nordstrom, N.L. Jackson, D. R. Smith, R.G. Weber
Albatross species demonstrate regional differences in North Pacific marine contamination Albatross species demonstrate regional differences in North Pacific marine contamination
Recent concern about negative effects on human health from elevated organochlorine and mercury concentrations in marine foods has highlighted the need to understand temporal and spatial patterns of marine pollution. Seabirds, long-lived pelagic predators with wide foraging ranges, can be used as indicators of regional contaminant patterns across large temporal and spatial scales. Here we...
Authors
M. Finkelstein, B.S. Keitt, D.A. Croll, B. Tershy, Walter M. Jarman, S. Rodriguez-Pastor, D.J. Anderson, P.R. Sievert, D. R. Smith
Seeing the elephant: Importance of spatial and temporal coverage in a large-scale volunteer-based program to monitor horseshoe crabs Seeing the elephant: Importance of spatial and temporal coverage in a large-scale volunteer-based program to monitor horseshoe crabs
As in John Godfrey Saxe's poem about six blind men and an elephant, conclusions drawn from a monitoring program depend critically on where and when observations are made. We examined results from the Delaware Bay horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) spawning survey to evaluate the effect of spatial and temporal coverage on conclusions about spawning activity. Declines due to previously...
Authors
D. R. Smith, S.F. Michels
Survey design for detecting rare freshwater mussels Survey design for detecting rare freshwater mussels
A common objective when surveying freshwater mussels is to detect the presence of rare populations. In certain situations, such as when endangered or threatened species are potentially in the area of a proposed impact, the survey should be designed to ensure a high probability of detecting species presence. Linking survey design to probability of detecting species presence has been done...
Authors
D. R. Smith
Abundance of adult horseshoe crabs (Limulus polylphemus) in Delaware Bay estimated from a bay-wide mark-recapture study Abundance of adult horseshoe crabs (Limulus polylphemus) in Delaware Bay estimated from a bay-wide mark-recapture study
Estimates of the abundance of American horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) are important to determine egg production and to manage populations for the energetic needs of shorebirds that feed on horseshoe crab eggs. In 2003, over 17,500 horseshoe crabs were tagged and released throughout Delaware Bay, and recaptured crabs came from spawning surveys that were conducted during peak...
Authors
D. R. Smith, M. J. Millard, S. Eyler