James E Lyons, Ph.D.
Jim is a Research Ecologist at the Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel, MD.
Jim joined USGS as a Research Ecologist at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in 2016. Prior to joining USGS, he was a Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Migratory Bird Management, also located at the Patuxent Research Refuge, from 2006–2016. He received a BS from University of Vermont and MS from Clemson University, both in Wildlife Biology, and a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech in Biology. His research interests include ecology and conservation of migratory birds and applications of decision analysis for natural resource management.
Professional Experience
2020-present, Research Ecologist, USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Patuxent Research Refuge
2016-2020, Research Ecologist, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
2006-2016, Wildlife Biologist, USFWS Division of Migratory Bird Management at the Patuxent Research Refuge
2004-2006, Postdoctoral Research Associate, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
2002-2004, Lecturer, Department of Wildlife, Humboldt State University
2001-2002, Postdoctoral Research Associate, North Carolina State University
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (2001)
M.S. Aquaculture, Fisheries, and Wildlife Biology, Clemson University (1994)
B.S. Wildlife and Fisheries Biology, University of Vermont (1986)
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Ornithological Society
Association of Field Ornithologists
Ecological Society of America
International Wader Study Group
Waterbird Society
The Wildlife Society
Wilson Ornithological Society
Honors and Awards
STAR Award, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For work on the Adaptive Management Consultancy for Prescribed Fire at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (2008)
Rachel Carson Award for Scientific Excellence, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Group Category, Awarded to the Branch of Population and Habitat Assessment (2009)
STAR Award, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For work to develop a Strategic Plan to Monitor the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes for the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (2009)
STAR Award, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For work on Adaptive Monitoring of Salt Marsh Surface Elevation Dynamics and Prescribed Fire at Blackwater NWR(2014)
Elective Member, American Ornithologists’ Union (2014)
2018-2019 Top Downloaded Paper, Restoration Ecology
Honor Award for Conservation Partners, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Regional Director. “Gulf of Mexico Avian Monitoring Network” (2021)
Decision Analysis Society, Practice Award Finalist, Adaptive Management of Horseshoe Crab Harvest and Red Knot Conservation in the Delaware Bay
Science and Products
Structured decision making and optimal bird monitoring in the northern Gulf of Mexico
Optimization of salt marsh management at the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, New York, through use of structured decision making
Species-specific demographic and behavioral responses to food availability during migratory stopover
Multicriteria decisions and portfolio analysis: Land acquisition for biological and social objectives
Optimization of salt marsh management at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey, through use of structured decision making
Stopover ecology of red knots in southwestern James Bay during southbound migration
Using decision science for monitoring threatened western snowy plovers to inform recovery
Optimization of salt marsh management at the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, Connecticut, through use of structured decision making
Research priorities for migratory birds under climate change—A qualitative value of information assessment
Optimization of tidal marsh management at the Cape May and Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuges, New Jersey, through use of structured decision making
Decision implementation and the double-loop process in adaptive management of horseshoe crab harvest in Delaware Bay
Addressing disease risk to develop a health program for bighorn sheep in Montana
Science and Products
- Science
- Data
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 60
Structured decision making and optimal bird monitoring in the northern Gulf of Mexico
The avian conservation community struggles to design and implement large scale, long-term coordinated bird monitoring programs within the northern Gulf of Mexico due to the complexity of the conservation enterprise in the region; this complexity arises from the diverse stakeholders, multiple jurisdictions, complex ecological processes, myriad habitats, and over 500 species of birds using the regioAuthorsAuriel M.V. Fournier, R. Randy Wilson, James E. Lyons, Jeffrey S. Gleason, Evan M. Adams, Laurel M. Barnhill, Janell M. Brush, Robert J. Cooper, Stephen J. DeMaso, Melanie J.L. Driscoll, Mitchell J. Eaton, Peter C. Frederick, Michael G. Just, Michael A. Seymour, John M. Tirpak, Mark S. WoodreyOptimization of salt marsh management at the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, New York, through use of structured decision making
Structured decision making is a systematic, transparent process for improving the quality of complex decisions by identifying measurable management objectives and feasible management actions; predicting the potential consequences of management actions relative to the stated objectives; and selecting a course of action that maximizes the total benefit achieved and balances tradeoffs among objectiveAuthorsHilary A. Neckles, James E. Lyons, Jessica L. Nagel, Susan C. Adamowicz, Toni Mikula, Monica R. WilliamsSpecies-specific demographic and behavioral responses to food availability during migratory stopover
Understanding the effects of migratory stopover site conditions on both demographic rates and migratory behaviors is critical for interpreting changes in passage population sizes at stopover sites and predicting responses to future changes and conservation actions. We used a Bayesian formulation of the open robust design model to analyze mark-resight observations of three migratory shorebird speciAuthorsA. M. Tucker, Conor P. McGowan, James E. Lyons, A. Derose-Wilson, N. A. ClarkMulticriteria decisions and portfolio analysis: Land acquisition for biological and social objectives
Resource allocation for land acquisition is a common multi-objective problem that involves complex trade-offs. The National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service currently uses the Targeted Resource Acquisition Comparison Tool (TRACT) to allocate funds from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund (MBCF; established through the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation ActAuthorsAnastasia Ihorvina Krainyk, James E. Lyons, Mindy B. Rice, Kenneth A. Fowler, Gregory J. Soulliere, Michael G. Brasher, Dale D. Humburg, John M. ColuccyOptimization of salt marsh management at the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey, through use of structured decision making
Structured decision making is a systematic, transparent process for improving the quality of complex decisions by identifying measurable management objectives and feasible management actions; predicting the potential consequences of management actions relative to the stated objectives; and selecting a course of action that maximizes the total benefit achieved and balances tradeoffs among objectiveAuthorsHilary A. Neckles, James E. Lyons, Jessica L. Nagel, Susan C. Adamowicz, Toni Mikula, Paul M. Castelli, Virginia RettigStopover ecology of red knots in southwestern James Bay during southbound migration
Many shorebirds rely on small numbers of staging sites during long annual migrations. Numerous shorebird species are declining and understanding the importance of these staging sites is important for successful conservation. We surveyed endangered rufa red knots (Calidris canutus rufa) staging in James Bay, Ontario, Canada, during southbound migration in 2017 and 2018. We used mark‐resight data anAuthorsAmie MacDonald, Paul Smith, Christian Friis, James E. Lyons, Yves Aubry, Erica NolUsing decision science for monitoring threatened western snowy plovers to inform recovery
Western Snowy Plovers (Charadrius nivosus nivosus) are federally listed under the US Endangered Species Act as Threatened. They occur along the US Pacific coastline and are threatened by habitat loss and destruction and excessive levels of predation and human disturbance. Populations have been monitored since the 1970s for distribution, reproduction, and survival. Since the species was federally lAuthorsBruce G. Marcot, James E. Lyons, Daniel C Elbert, Laura ToddOptimization of salt marsh management at the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, Connecticut, through use of structured decision making
Structured decision making is a systematic, transparent process for improving the quality of complex decisions by identifying measurable management objectives and feasible management actions; predicting the potential consequences of management actions relative to the stated objectives; and selecting a course of action that maximizes the total benefit achieved and balances tradeoffs among objectiveAuthorsLaurel E. Low, Hilary A. Neckles, James E. Lyons, Jessica L. Nagel, Susan C. Adamowicz, Toni Mikula, Kristina Vagos, Richard PotvinResearch priorities for migratory birds under climate change—A qualitative value of information assessment
The mission of the U.S. Geological Survey National Climate Adaptation Science Center is to provide actionable, management-relevant research on climate change effects on ecosystems and wildlife to U.S. Department of the Interior bureaus. Providing this kind of useful scientific information requires understanding how natural-resource managers make decisions and identifying research priorities that sAuthorsMadeleine A. Rubenstein, Clark S. Rushing, James E. Lyons, Michael C. RungeOptimization of tidal marsh management at the Cape May and Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuges, New Jersey, through use of structured decision making
Structured decision making is a systematic, transparent process for improving the quality of complex decisions by identifying measurable management objectives and feasible management actions; predicting the potential consequences of management actions relative to the stated objectives; and selecting a course of action that maximizes the total benefit achieved and balances tradeoffs among objectiveAuthorsHilary A. Neckles, James E. Lyons, Jessica L. Nagel, Susan C. Adamowicz, Toni Mikula, Brian Braudis, Heidi HanlonDecision implementation and the double-loop process in adaptive management of horseshoe crab harvest in Delaware Bay
No abstract available.AuthorsConor P. McGowan, David Smith, James E. LyonsAddressing disease risk to develop a health program for bighorn sheep in Montana
No abstract available.AuthorsSarah N. Sells, Michael S. Mitchell, Justin A. Gude - Software
*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