Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Debra A Willard, Ph.D.
I am a palynologist (pollen and spores) with expertise in paleoecology and biostratigraphy. My biostratigraphic expertise extends from the Carboniferous to the Holocene, with an emphasis on Euramerica (Paleozoic) and the Northern Hemisphere. My paleoecological expertise includes the late Paleozoic and the Paleogene to Holocene intervals.
Editorial Boards
- Global and Planetary Change
- Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution – Paleoecology section Review Editor
- Quaternary
- Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology
Science and Products
Holocene and Modern Drivers of Wetland Change
On a global scale, wetland systems are affected by precipitation extremes, changing sea level, and population growth, influencing their capacity to moderate storm surge, filter contaminants, and provide habitats for fish and wildlife. This research takes a long-term perspective on the resilience of wetlands to a range of environmental- and human-induced changes and supports wetland management by...
Broader view of North American climate over the past two millennia: Synthesizing paleoclimate records from diverse archives
Regional- to continental-scale paleoclimate syntheses of temperature and hydroclimate in North America are essential for understanding long-term spatiotemporal variability in climate, and for properly assessing risk on decadal and longer timescales. However, existing syntheses rely almost exclusively on tree-ring records, which are known to underestimate low-frequency variability and...
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
The Great Dismal Swamp
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
The Great Dismal Swamp
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
Science and Products
Holocene and Modern Drivers of Wetland Change
On a global scale, wetland systems are affected by precipitation extremes, changing sea level, and population growth, influencing their capacity to moderate storm surge, filter contaminants, and provide habitats for fish and wildlife. This research takes a long-term perspective on the resilience of wetlands to a range of environmental- and human-induced changes and supports wetland management by...
Broader view of North American climate over the past two millennia: Synthesizing paleoclimate records from diverse archives
Regional- to continental-scale paleoclimate syntheses of temperature and hydroclimate in North America are essential for understanding long-term spatiotemporal variability in climate, and for properly assessing risk on decadal and longer timescales. However, existing syntheses rely almost exclusively on tree-ring records, which are known to underestimate low-frequency variability and...
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Great Dismal Swamp
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
Scientists are collecting core samples from the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia to understand natural conditions before centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting. This is a collaborative project between the USGS and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
The Great Dismal Swamp
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
The Great Dismal Swamp
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
Photograph of the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government