Geneva Chong is a Bureau Approving Official in the Office of Science Quality and Integrity.
Geneva Chong is an ecologist whose worldview is shaped by undergraduate training in plant genetics and traditional agricultural systems and graduate training in biology and landscape ecology. Before joining the Bureau Approving Official Team in 2021, her research examined the effects of climate and land-use change on ecological processes such as fire regimes, plant productivity, and wildlife migration. Earlier work ranged from testing methods to restore pinyon-juniper woodlands with native grass species in New Mexico to designing methods to quantify plant diversity and detect rare plant species. Geneva was born in New Hampshire, and she has been located in Jackson, Wyoming, since 2003.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. in Ecology, 2002, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado. Dissertation: Multi-scale sampling of native and non-native plant diversity: examples of data analyses and applications.
M.S. in Biology, 1994, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Thesis: Recommendations to improve revegetation success in a piñon-juniper woodland in New Mexico: a hierarchical approach.
B.S. in Agriculture, 1991, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
Science and Products
Wind-energy development alters pronghorn migration at multiple scales
Eyes on the herd: Quantifying ungulate density from satellite, unmanned aerial systems, and GPScollar data
Variable effects of wind-energy development on seasonal habitat selection of pronghorn
U.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2018 annual report
Human activities and weather drive contact rates of wintering elk
Comparative performance and trend of remotely sensed phenology and productivity metrics across the Western United States
Influence of fire refugia spatial pattern on post-fire forest recovery in Oregon’s Blue Mountains
U.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2017 annual report
U.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2016 annual report
Vegetation responses to sagebrush-reduction treatments measured by satellites
Building collaboration between the North Central CSC and regional partners through liaison teams
Monitoring the southwestern Wyoming landscape—A foundation for management and science
Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI)
Impacts of climate change on habitat quality: plant phenology interactions with animal use and fitness
Identification of Fire Refugia in Rocky Mountain Ecosystems of the U.S. and Canada: Development and Application of the Refugium Concept for Biodiversity Conservation over Large Spatial and Temporal Scales
Geneva Chong's Past Projects
Building Collaboration Between the North Central CSC and Regional Partners Through Liaison Teams
Continued Capacity Building in the North-Central U.S.: Tribal Engagement and PhenoCam Analysis
Remotely sensed elk locations on the National Elk Refuge, Wyoming, 2017-2019
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 27
Wind-energy development alters pronghorn migration at multiple scales
Migration is a critical behavioral strategy necessary for population persistence and ecosystem functioning, but migration routes have been increasingly disrupted by anthropogenic activities, including energy development. Wind energy is the world's fastest growing source of electricity and represents an important alternative to hydrocarbon extraction, but its effects on migratory species beyond birAuthorsMegan Cochran Milligan, Aaron Johnston, Jeffery L. Beck, Kaitlyn L. Taylor, Embere Hall, Lee Knox, Teal Cufaude, Cody Wallace, Geneva W. Chong, Matthew KauffmanEyes on the herd: Quantifying ungulate density from satellite, unmanned aerial systems, and GPScollar data
Novel approaches to quantifying density and distributions could help biologists adaptively manage wildlife populations, particularly if methods are accurate, consistent, cost-effective, rapid, and sensitive to change. Such approaches may also improve research on interactions between density and processes of interest, such as disease transmission across multiple populations. We assess how satelliteAuthorsTabitha Graves, Michael Yarnall, Aaron Johnston, Todd M. Preston, Geneva W. Chong, Eric K Cole, William Michael Janousek, Paul C. CrossVariable effects of wind-energy development on seasonal habitat selection of pronghorn
In the face of climate change, wind energy represents an important alternative to oil and gas extraction to meet increasing energy demands, but it has the potential to disrupt wildlife populations. Because behavioral adjustments, such as altered habitat selection, are a primary way that long-lived species respond to novel disturbances, we evaluated effects of wind energy development on pronghorn (AuthorsMegan Cochran Milligan, Aaron Johnston, Jeff L Beck, Kurt T. Smith, Kaitlyn L. Taylor, Embere Hall, Lee Knox, Teal Cufaude, Cody Wallace, Geneva W. Chong, Matthew KauffmanU.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2018 annual report
The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) was established in 2007 as a collaborative interagency partnership to develop and implement science-based conservation actions. During the past 11 years, partners from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), State and Federal land management agencies, universities, and the public have collaborated to implement a long-term (more than 10 years) science-basAuthorsPatrick J. Anderson, Cameron L. Aldridge, Jason S. Alexander, Timothy J. Assal, Steven Aulenbach, Zachary H. Bowen, Anna D. Chalfoun, Geneva W. Chong, Holly Copeland, David R. Edmunds, Steve Germaine, Tabitha Graves, Julie A. Heinrichs, Collin G. Homer, Christopher Huber, Aaron Johnston, Matthew J. Kauffman, Daniel J. Manier, Ryan R. McShane, Cheryl A. Eddy-Miller, Kirk A. Miller, Adrian P. Monroe, Michael S. O'Donnell, Anna Ortega, Annika W. Walters, Daniel J. Wieferich, Teal B. Wyckoff, Linda ZeigenfussHuman activities and weather drive contact rates of wintering elk
Wildlife aggregation patterns can influence disease transmission. However, limited research evaluates the influence of anthropogenic and natural factors on aggregation. Many managers would like to reduce wildlife contact rates, driven by aggregation, to limit disease transmission. We develop a novel analytical framework to quantify how management activities such as supplemental feeding and huntingAuthorsWilliam Michael Janousek, Tabitha Graves, Ethan Berman, Geneva W. Chong, Eric K Cole, Sarah Dewey, Aaron Johnston, Paul C. CrossComparative performance and trend of remotely sensed phenology and productivity metrics across the Western United States
Vegetation phenology and productivity play a crucial role in surface energy balance, plant and animal distribution, and animal movement and habitat use and can be measured with remote sensing metrics including start of season (SOS), peak instantaneous rate of green-up date (PIRGd), peak of season (POS), end of season (EOS), and integrated vegetation indices. However, for most metrics, we do not yeAuthorsTabitha Graves, Ethan Edward Berman, Nathaniel Mikle, Jerod Merkle, Aaron Johnston, Geneva W. ChongInfluence of fire refugia spatial pattern on post-fire forest recovery in Oregon’s Blue Mountains
ContextFire regimes in many dry forests of western North America are substantially different from historical conditions, and there is concern about the ability of these forests to recover following severe wildfire. Fire refugia, unburned or low-severity burned patches where trees survived fire, may serve as essential propagule sources that enable forest regeneration.ObjectivesTo quantify the influAuthorsWilliam M Downing, Meg A. Krawchuk, Garrett W Meigs, Sandra L. Haire, Jonathan D. Coop, Ryan B Walker, Ellen Whitman, Geneva W. Chong, Carol MillerU.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2017 annual report
The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) was established in 2008 to address the scientific and conservation questions associated with land use changes because of energy development and other factors in southwest Wyoming. Over the past decade, partners from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), State and Federal land management agencies, universities, and the public have collaborated to implemAuthorsLinda Zeigenfuss, Ellen Aikens, Cameron L. Aldridge, Patrick J. Anderson, Timothy J. Assal, Zachary H. Bowen, Anna D. Chalfoun, Geneva W. Chong, Cheryl A. Eddy-Miller, Stephen S. Germaine, Tabitha Graves, Collin G. Homer, Christopher Huber, Aaron Johnston, Matthew J. Kauffman, Daniel J. Manier, Ryan R. McShane, Kirk A. Miller, Adrian P. Monroe, Anna Ortega, Annika W. Walters, Teal B. WyckoffU.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative—2016 annual report
This is the ninth annual report highlighting U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) science and decision-support activities conducted for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI). The activities address specific management needs identified by WLCI partner agencies. In fiscal year (FY) 2016, there were 26 active USGS WLCI science-based projects. Of these 26 projects, one project was new for FY20AuthorsZachary H. Bowen, Ellen Aikens, Cameron L. Aldridge, Patrick J. Anderson, Timothy J. Assal, Anna D. Chalfoun, Geneva W. Chong, Cheryl A. Eddy-Miller, Steven L. Garman, Steve Germaine, Collin G. Homer, Aaron Johnston, Matthew J. Kauffman, Daniel J. Manier, Cynthia P. Melcher, Kirk A. Miller, Annika W. Walters, Jerrod D. Wheeler, Daniel J. Wieferich, Anna B. Wilson, Teal B. Wyckoff, Linda ZeigenfussByEcosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS) Program, Species Management Research Program, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Fort Collins Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Wyoming-Montana Water Science CenterVegetation responses to sagebrush-reduction treatments measured by satellites
Time series of vegetative indices derived from satellite imagery constitute tools to measure ecological effects of natural and management-induced disturbances to ecosystems. Over the past century, sagebrush-reduction treatments have been applied widely throughout western North America to increase herbaceous vegetation for livestock and wildlife. We used indices from satellite imagery to 1) quantifAuthorsAaron Johnston, Erik A. Beever, Jerod Merkle, Geneva W. ChongBuilding collaboration between the North Central CSC and regional partners through liaison teams
The Liaison Project increased communications between the North CentralClimate Science Center (NC CSC), other USGS Science Centers and potential collaboratorsincluding active members of the four Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCC) included inthe NC CSC area. The project was initiated with listening sessions to determine partners’ interestin liaising with the NC CSC, and USGS liaison proposalsAuthorsGeneva W. ChongMonitoring the southwestern Wyoming landscape—A foundation for management and science
Natural resource monitoring involves repeated collections of resource condition data and analyses to detect possible changes and identify underlying causes of changes. For natural resource agencies, monitoring provides the foundation for management and science. Specifically, analyses of monitoring data allow managers to better understand effects of land-use and other changes on important natural rAuthorsDaniel J. Manier, Patrick J. Anderson, Timothy J. Assal, Geneva W. Chong, Cynthia P. Melcher - Science
Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI)
The WLCI is a long-term science based effort to enhance aquatic and terrestrial habitats at a landscape scale in Southwest Wyoming, while facilitating responsible development.Impacts of climate change on habitat quality: plant phenology interactions with animal use and fitness
Weather and climate impact terrestrial wildlife habitat through their influences on plant productivity. Plant phenology – the timing of life-history events such as green-up, flowering and senescence – provides one indicator of the timing and magnitude of productivity. Changes and variability in plant phenology in space and time are indicators of habitat quality, which is a driver of fitness for...Identification of Fire Refugia in Rocky Mountain Ecosystems of the U.S. and Canada: Development and Application of the Refugium Concept for Biodiversity Conservation over Large Spatial and Temporal Scales
We described the climate space of fire regimes in northwestern North America (Whitman and others 2015), and we are refining an approach to identify fire refugia – areas that do not burn or burn with lower severity through multiple fire events. We continue our collaboration to test the function of refugia for biodiversity conservation under current and future climate and fire scenarios. We continue...Geneva Chong's Past Projects
These are Geneva Chong's past projects.Building Collaboration Between the North Central CSC and Regional Partners Through Liaison Teams
The North Central Climate Science Center (NC CSC) is committed to bringing the best possible climate science to bear in order to inform decisions made by Department of the Interior (DOI) planners and other land and resource managers across the country. To help accomplish this mission, key partnerships have been established between the NC CSC and the DOI Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCCs)Continued Capacity Building in the North-Central U.S.: Tribal Engagement and PhenoCam Analysis
Climate change is poised to alter natural systems, the frequency of extreme weather, and human health and livelihoods. In order to effectively prepare for and respond to these challenges in the north-central region of the U.S., people must have the knowledge and tools to develop plans and adaptation strategies. This project was a continuation of an effort begun in 2013 to build stakeholders’ capac... - Data
Remotely sensed elk locations on the National Elk Refuge, Wyoming, 2017-2019
Remotely sensed elk locations were derived from satellite and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) imagery collected during the winter of 2018 and the winter and spring of 2019 at the National Elk Refuge in Jackson, Wyoming and compared to locations from Global Positioning System (GPS) collars from 2017 - 2019. This data release provides the source, date, time, latitude, and longitude of elk locations an