Jay Diffendorfer
I'm an applied ecologist working at the Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center.
Trained as an ecologist, I originally worked on spatial ecology and conservation biology, including a USGS-funded post doc at University of Miami modelling reptile and amphibian responses to possible restoration scenarios in the Everglades. I then worked as an assistant and full professor at San Diego State University, studying relationships between urbanization, fire, and invasive species on a native flora and fauna in southern California. This field-oriented research involved radiotelemetry, capture-recapture, and vegetation studies. I left San Diego State University and spent 4 years at the Illinois Natural History Survey where my research began to expand into disease ecology and agro-ecosystems. Since arriving at USGS in 2008, I have continued to expand my research focus and currently work on science related to the energy-environment nexus, ecosystem services, and applied ecology.
Professional Experience
2014- Research Scientist and Supervisor, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, USGS, Lakewood, Colorado
2008-2014 Research Scientist, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, USGS, Lakewood, Colorado
2004-2008 Associate Scientist, Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, Illinois
1998-2004 Assistant/Associate Professor, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
1995-1998 Postdoctoral research with USGS, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
Education and Certifications
University of Kansas, Ph.D., (Ecology), 1995
Ohio University, BS, (Wildlife Biology), 1989
Science and Products
Science strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2013-2023
Mapping surface disturbance of energy-related infrastructure in southwest Wyoming--An assessment of methods
U.S. Geological Survey Science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative-2010 Annual Report
Assessing effects of energy development in Colorado and New Mexico
Locations and attributes of wind turbines in New Mexico, 2009
Locations and attributes of wind turbines in Colorado, 2009
Accounting for the ecosystem services of migratory species: Quantifying migration support and spatial subsidies
U.S. Geological Survey Science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative-2009 Annual Report
Behavioral response of the coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum) to habitat fragment size and isolation in an urban landscape
U.S. Geological Survey Science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative - 2008 Annual Report
The relative importance of disturbance and exotic-plant abundance in California coastal sage scrub
Applying linear programming to estimate fluxes in ecosystems or food webs: An example from the herpetological assemblage of the freshwater Everglades
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
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Science strategy for Core Science Systems in the U.S. Geological Survey, 2013-2023
Core Science Systems is a new mission of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that grew out of the 2007 Science Strategy, “Facing Tomorrow’s Challenges: U.S. Geological Survey Science in the Decade 2007–2017.” This report describes the vision for this USGS mission and outlines a strategy for Core Science Systems to facilitate integrated characterization and understanding of the complex earth system.AuthorsR. Sky Bristol, Ned H. Euliss, Nathaniel L. Booth, Nina Burkardt, Jay E. Diffendorfer, Dean B. Gesch, Brian E. McCallum, David M. Miller, Suzette A. Morman, Barbara S. Poore, Richard P. Signell, Roland J. VigerMapping surface disturbance of energy-related infrastructure in southwest Wyoming--An assessment of methods
We evaluated how well three leading information-extraction software programs (eCognition, Feature Analyst, Feature Extraction) and manual hand digitization interpreted information from remotely sensed imagery of a visually complex gas field in Wyoming. Specifically, we compared how each mapped the area of and classified the disturbance features present on each of three remotely sensed images, inclAuthorsStephen S. Germaine, Michael S. O'Donnell, Cameron L. Aldridge, Lori Baer, Tammy S. Fancher, Jamie McBeth, Robert R. McDougal, Robert Waltermire, Zachary H. Bowen, James Diffendorfer, Steven Garman, Leanne HansonU.S. Geological Survey Science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative-2010 Annual Report
This is the third report produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) to detail annual work activities. The first report described activities for 2007 and 2008, and the second report covered work activities for FY09. This third report covers work activities conducted in FY2010, and it continues the 2009 approach of reporting on all the indiAuthorsZachary H. Bowen, Cameron L. Aldridge, Patrick J. Anderson, Timothy J. Assal, Laura Biewick, Steven W. Blecker, Gregory K. Boughton, R. Sky Bristol, Natasha B. Carr, Anna D. Chalfoun, Geneva W. Chong, Melanie L. Clark, Jay E. Diffendorfer, Bradley C. Fedy, Katharine Foster, Steven L. Garman, Steve Germaine, JoAnn Holloway, Collin G. Homer, Matthew J. Kauffman, Douglas Keinath, Natalie Latysh, Daniel J. Manier, Robert R. McDougal, Cynthia P. Melcher, Kirk A. Miller, Jessica Montag, Christopher J. Potter, Spencer Schell, Sarah L. Shafer, David B. Smith, Lisa L. Stillings, Michele L. Tuttle, Anna B. WilsonAssessing effects of energy development in Colorado and New Mexico
No abstract available.AuthorsN.B. Carr, J.E. Diffendorfer, N.E. Latysh, K.J. Leib, Anne-Marie Matherne, Christine TurnerLocations and attributes of wind turbines in New Mexico, 2009
The New Mexico wind-turbine data series provides geospatial data for all wind turbines established within the State as of August 2009. Attributes specific to each turbine include: turbine location, manufacturer and model, rotor diameter, hub height, rotor height, potential megawatt output, land ownership, and county. Wind energy facility data for each turbine include: facility name, facility powerAuthorsNatasha B. Carr, Jay E. Diffendorfer, Tammy S. Fancher, Natalie E. Latysh, Kenneth J. Leib, Anne-Marie Matherne, Christine TurnerLocations and attributes of wind turbines in Colorado, 2009
The Colorado wind-turbine data series provides geospatial data for all wind turbines established within the State as of August 2009. Attributes specific to each turbine include: turbine location, manufacturer and model, rotor diameter, hub height, rotor height, potential megawatt output, land ownership, and county. Wind energy facility data for each turbine include: facility name, facility power cAuthorsNatasha B. Carr, Jay E. Diffendorfer, Tammy S. Fancher, Natalie E. Latysh, Kenneth J. Leib, Anne-Marie Matherne, Christine TurnerAccounting for the ecosystem services of migratory species: Quantifying migration support and spatial subsidies
Migratory species support ecosystem process and function in multiple areas, establishing ecological linkages between their different habitats. As they travel, migratory species also provide ecosystem services to people in many different locations. Previous research suggests there may be spatial mismatches between locations where humans use services and the ecosystems that produce them. This occursAuthorsDarius J. Semmens, James E. Diffendorfer, Laura López-Hoffman, Carl D. ShapiroU.S. Geological Survey Science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative-2009 Annual Report
This is the second report produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) to detail annual work activities. The first report described work activities for 2007 and 2008; this report covers work activities conducted in 2009. Important differences between the two reports are that (1) this report does not lump all the Effectiveness Monitoring actAuthorsZachary H. Bowen, Cameron L. Aldridge, Patrick J. Anderson, Timothy J. Assal, Laura R. H. Biewick, Steven W. Blecker, R. Sky Bristol, Natasha B. Carr, Anna D. Chalfoun, Geneva W. Chong, James E. Diffendorfer, Bradley C. Fedy, Steven L. Garman, Stephen S. Germaine, Richard I. Grauch, JoAnn M. Holloway, Collin G. Homer, Matthew Kauffman, Douglas Keinath, Natalie Latysh, Daniel J. Manier, Robert R. McDougal, Cynthia P. Melcher, Kirk A. Miller, Jessica Montag, Constance J. Nutt, Christopher J. Potter, Hall Sawyer, Spencer Schell, Sarah L. Shafer, David B. Smith, Lisa L. Stillings, Michele L. Tuttle, Anna B. WilsonBehavioral response of the coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum) to habitat fragment size and isolation in an urban landscape
Habitat fragmentation is a significant threat to biodiversity worldwide. Habitat loss and the isolation of habitat fragments disrupt biological communities, accelerate the extinction of populations, and often lead to the alteration of behavioral patterns typical of individuals in large, contiguous natural areas. We used radio-telemetry to study the space-use behavior of the Coachwhip, a larger-bodAuthorsMilan J. Mitrovich, Jay E. Diffendorfer, Robert N. FisherU.S. Geological Survey Science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative - 2008 Annual Report
The Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) was launched in 2007 in response to concerns about threats to the State's world class wildlife resources, especially the threat posed by rapidly increasing energy development in southwest Wyoming. The overriding purpose of the WLCI is to assess and enhance aquatic and terrestrial habitats at a landscape scale, while facilitating responsible enerAuthorsZachary H. Bowen, Cameron L. Aldridge, Patrick J. Anderson, Timothy J. Assal, Lori Anne Baer, R. Sky Bristol, Natasha B. Carr, Geneva W. Chong, Jay E. Diffendorfer, Bradley C. Fedy, Steven L. Garman, Steve Germaine, Richard I. Grauch, Collin G. Homer, Daniel J. Manier, Matthew J. Kauffman, Natalie Latysh, Cynthia P. Melcher, Kirk A. Miller, Jessica Montag, Constance J. Nutt, Christopher Potter, Hall Sawyer, David B. Smith, Michael J. Sweat, Anna B. WilsonThe relative importance of disturbance and exotic-plant abundance in California coastal sage scrub
Many ecosystems of conservation concern require some level of disturbance to sustain their species composition and ecological function. However, inappropriate disturbance regimes could favor invasion or expansion of exotic species. In southern California coastal sage scrub (CSS) fire is a natural disturbance, but because of human influence, frequencies may now be unnaturally high. Other anthropogeAuthorsG.M. Fleming, J.E. Diffendorfer, P.H. ZedlerApplying linear programming to estimate fluxes in ecosystems or food webs: An example from the herpetological assemblage of the freshwater Everglades
We present the application of Linear Programming for estimating biomass fluxes in ecosystem and food web models. We use the herpetological assemblage of the Everglades as an example. We developed food web structures for three common Everglades freshwater habitat types: marsh, prairie, and upland. We obtained a first estimate of the fluxes using field data, literature estimates, and professional juAuthorsJames E. Diffendorfer, Paul M. Richards, George H. Dalrymple, Donald L. DeAngelisNon-USGS Publications**
Lips, K.A., Diffendorfer, J.E., Mendelson J.R., and Sears, M.W., 2008, Riding the wave: reconciling the role of disease and climate change in amphibian declines: Public Library of Science Biology, v.6, issue 3: e72. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0060072.Sears, M.W., Diffendorfer, J.E., Lips, K.A., and Mendelson, J.R., 2008, Amphibian declines and issues of inference: response to Parmesan and Singer. Public Library of Science Biology.Kelly, A.C., Mateus-Pinilla, N.E., Diffendorfer, J.E., Jewell, E., Ruiz, M.O., Killefer, J., Shelton, P., Beissel, T., and Novakofski, J., 2008, Prion sequence polymorphisms and chronic wasting disease resistance in Illinois white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus): Prion, v. 2, p. 1-9.Diffendorfer, J.E., Fleming, G.M., Duggan, J.M., Chapman, R.E., Rahn, M.E., Mitrovitch, M.J., and Fisher, R.N., 2007, Developing terrestrial, multi-taxon indices of biological integrity: An example from coastal sage scrub: Biological Conservation, v. 140, p. 130-141.Diffendorfer, J.E., Spencer, W.S., Tremor, S., and Beyers, J., 2007, Effects of fire severity and distance from unburned edge on mammalian community post-fire recovery: Final Report for project 04-2-1-94 to the Joint Fire Sciences Program: 37 p.Mateus-Pinilla, N.E., Novakofski, J.E., Kelly, A., Diffendorfer, J.E., Pinkerton, M., Whittington, J.K., and Ruiz, M., 2007, W-146-R-02 Annual federal aid performance report, wildlife and chronic wasting disease surveillance: Illinois Department of Natural Resources, 19p.Mateus-Pinilla, N.E., Novakofski, J.E., Kelly, A., Diffendorfer, J.E., Pinkerton, M., Whittington, J.K., and Ruiz, M., 2006, W-146-R-01 Annual Federal Aid Performance Report, wildlife and chronic wasting disease surveillance: Illinois Department of Natural Resources, 34p.Mateus-Pinilla, N.E., Novakofski, J.E., Diffendorfer, J.E., Killefer, J., 2006, Genetic relatedness and gene flow of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the chronic wasting disease prevalent region of Illinois: Illinois Department of Natural Resources and International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA).Rahn, M.E., Doremus, H., and Diffendorfer, J.E., 2006, Species coverage in multispecies habitat conservation plans: Where's the science? BioScience, v. 56, p. 613-619.Mendelson, J.R., Lips, K.R., Gagliardo, R.W., Rabb, G. B., Collins, J.P., Diffendorfer, J.E., Daszak, P., D Ibáñez, R., Zippel, K.C., Lawson, D.P., Wright, K.M., Stuart, S.N., Gascon, C., da Silva, H.R., Burrowes, P.A., Joglar, R.L., La Marca, E., Lötters, S., du Preez, L.H., Weldon, C., Hyatt, A., Rodriguez-Mahecha, J.V., Hunt, S., Robertson, H. Lock, B., Raxworthy, C.J., Frost, D.R., Lacy, R.C., Alford, R.A., Campbell, J.A., Parra-Olea, G. Bolaños, F, Domingo, J.J.C., Halliday, T., Murphy, J.B., Wake, M.H., Coloma, L.A., Kuzmin, S.L., Price, M.S., Howell, K.M., Lau, M., Pethiyagoda, R., Boone, M., Lannoo, M. J., Blaustein, A. R., Dobson, A., Griffiths, R.A., Wake, D.B., Brodie Jr E.D., 2006, Confronting amphibian declines and extinctions: Science, v. 313, 48 p.Mendelson, J.R., Lips, K.R., Diffendorfer, J.E., Gagliardo, R.W., Rabb, G.B., Collins, J.P., , Daszak, P., Ibáñez, R., Zippel, K.C., Stuart, S.N., Gascon, C., da Silva, Burrowes, P.A., Lacy, R.C., Bolaños, F, Coloma, L.A., Wright, K.M., Wake, D. B. 2006. Response to: Pounds et al.: responding to amphibian loss: Science, v. 314, p. 1541-1542.Diffendorfer, J.E., Rochester, C., Fisher, R.N., and Brown, T.K., 2005, Movement and space use by coastal rosy boas (Lichanura trivirgata roseofusca) in Coastal Southern California: Journal of Herpetology, v. 39, p. 24-36.Morris, D.W., Diffendorfer, J.E., and Lundberg, P., 2004, Dispersal among habitats varying in fitness: reciprocating migration through ideal habitat selection: Oikos, v. 107, p. 559-575.Morris D.W., and Diffendorfer, J.E., 2004, Reciprocating dispersal by habitat-selecting white-footed mice: Oikos v. 107, p. 549-558.Diffendorfer, J.E., and Doherty P.F., 2004, Lifting Cassandra's curse: Conservation Biology v. 18, p. 600.Diffendorfer, J.E., Fleming G.M., Duggan, J., Chapman R., Hogan, D., 2004, Final report for creating and index of biological integrity for coastal sage scrub: A tool for habitat quality assessment and monitoring: Prepared for California Department of Fish and Game. 248 p.Gaines, M.S., Sasso, C.R., Diffendorfer, J.E., and Beck, H., 2003, Effects of tree island size and water on the population dynamics of small mammals in the Everglades: in van der Valk, A., and Sklar, F., ed., Tree Islands of the Everglades: Kluwer Academic.Betzler, J., Diffendorfer, J.E., Fleury, S., Hawke, M., Klein, M., Morrison, S., Nichols, G., Oberbauer, T., Rochester, C., Webb, M., and Williams, K., 2003, A summary of affected flora and fauna in the San Diego County fires of 2003: Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Program Reports, 36 p. + Appendices.Diffendorfer, J.E. and Deutschman D.D., 2003, Monitoring the Stephen’s kangaroo rat: An analysis of monitoring methods and recommendations for future monitoring. Prepared for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 51 p.Diffendorfer, J.E. Chapman, R.E., Duggan, J.M., Fleming G.M., Mitrovitch M., Rahn M.E., and Rosario, R. del., 2002, Coastal Sage Scrub response to disturbance: A literature review and annotated bibliography. Prepared for the California Department of Fish and Game, 87 p.Diffendorfer, J.E. and Rosario, R. del., 2002, Assessing habitat quality and disturbance in Coastal Sage Scrub using an index of biological integrity: Prepared for California Department of Fish and Game, 29 p.Diffendorfer, J.E., Chapman, R.E., Duggan, J.M., Fleming, G.M., 2002, An analysis of monitoring data in light of small mammal, plant, and bird responses to disturbance in CSS and the development of an Index of Biological Integrity: Prepared for the California Department of Fish and Game, 33 p.Diffendorfer, J.E., and Slade, N.S., 2002, Long-distance movements in Cotton Rats (Sigmodon hispidus) and Prairie Voles (Microtus ochrogaster) in Northeastern Kansas: American Midland Naturalist, v. 148, p. 309-319.Diffendorfer, J.E., Richards, P.M., Dalrymple, G.H., and DeAngelis, D.L., 2001, Applying linear programming to estimate fluxes in ecosystems or food webs: an example from the herpetological assemblages of freshwater Everglades: Ecological Modeling, v. 144, p. 99-120.Noss R., Allen E., Ballmer, G., Diffendorfer, J.E., Soulé M., Tracy R., and Webb R., 2001, Independent science advisors review: Coachella Valley multiple species habitat conservation plan/natural communities conservation plan (MSHCP/NCCP): Prepared for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Game, 53 p.Rochester, C.J., Diffendorfer, J.E., and Fisher, R.N., 2001, Natural history of the Rosy Boa (Charina trivirgata): Prepared for U.S. Geological Survey-Species at Risk Technical Report. 71p.Schweiger, E.W., Diffendorfer, J.E., Holt, R.D., Pierotti, R., and Gaines, M.S., 2000, The interaction of habitat fragmentation plant, and small mammal succession in an old field: Ecological Monographs, v. 70, p. 383-400.Diffendorfer, J.E., Gaines, M.S., and Holt, R.D., 1999, Patterns and impacts of movements at different scales on small mammals: in Barrett, G.W., and Peles, J., eds., The landscape ecology of small mammals: New York, Springer-Verlag, p. 63-88.Schweiger, E.W., Diffendorfer, J.E., Pierotti, R., and Holt, R.D., 1999, The relative importance of small-scale and landscape-level heterogeneity in structuring small mammal distribution: in Barrett, G.W., and Peles, J.D., ed., landscape ecology of small mammals: Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., p. 175-207.Diffendorfer, J.E., 1998, Testing models of source-sink dynamics and balanced dispersal: Oikos, v. 81, p. 417-433.Gaines, M.S., Diffendorfer, J.E., and Lind, L., 1998, The effects of high water on small mammal populations inhabiting hammock islands in Everglades National Park: in Ecological assessment of the 1994-1995 high water conditions in the southern Everglades, National Park Service.Bassett, A., DeAngelis, D.L., and Diffendorfer, J.E., 1997, The effect of functional response on stability of a grazer population on a landscape: Ecological Modelling, v. 101, p. 153-162.Gaines, M.S., Diffendorfer, J.E., Tamarin, R.H., and Whittam, T.S., 1997, The effects of habitat fragmentation on the genetic structure of small mammal populations: Journal of Heredity, v. 88, p. 294-304.Diffendorfer, J.E., Holt, R.D., Slade, N.A., and Gaines, M.S., 1996, Small mammal community patterns in old fields; distinguishing site-specific from regional processes: in Cody, M.L., and Smallwood, J.A., eds., Long-term studies of vertebrate communities: San Diego, CA, Academic Press.Diffendorfer, J.E., Gaines, M.S. and Holt, R.D., 1995, Habitat fragmentation and the movements of three small mammals (Sigmodon hispidus, Microtus ochrogaster, and Peromyscus maniculatus): Ecology, v. 76, p. 837-839.Diffendorfer, J.E., Slade, N.A., Gaines, M.S., and Holt, R.D., 1995, Population dynamics of small mammals in fragmented and continuous old-field habitat: in Lidicker, W.Z., ed., Landscape approaches in mammalian ecology and conservation: Minneapolis, USA, University of Minnesota Press, p. 175-199.Diffendorfer, J.E., 1995, The spatial ecology of small mammals in old fields: a study of movement, demography and community structure in a fragmented landscape: University of Kansas, Ph.D. dissertation, 202 p.Gaines, M.S., Diffendorfer, J.E., Foster, J., Wray, F.P., and Holt, R.D., 1994, The effects of habitat fragmentation on populations of three species of small mammals in Eastern Kansas: Polish Ecological Studies, v. 20, p. 163-175.Holt, R.D., Debinski, D.M., Diffendorfer, J.E., Gaines, M.S., and Martinko, E.A., 1994, Perspectives from an experimental study of habitat fragmentation in an agroecosystem: in Glen, D.M., Greaves, M.P., and Anderson, H.M., eds., Ecology and Integrated Farming Systems: New York, Wiley and Sons.Gaines, M.S., and Diffendorfer, J.E., 1992. Physiological plasticity of electromorphs of blood proteins in free-ranging Microtus ochrogaster: a second look: Ecology, v. 73, p. 1915-1917.Gaines, M.S., Foster, J., Diffendorfer, J.E., Sera, W.E., Holt, R.D., and Robinson, G.R., 1992, Population processes and biological diversity: Transactions of the North American Wildlife and Natural Resource Conference, v. 57, p. 252-262.Gaines, M.S., Robinson, G.R., Diffendorfer, J.E., Holt, R.D., and Johnson, M.L., 1992, The effects of habitat fragmentation on small mammal populations: in McCullough, D.R., and Barret, R.H., eds., Wildlife 2001: Populations: London, Elsevier Applied Science, p. 875-885.Kelly, A., Mateus-Pinilla, N.E., Beissel, T., Diffendorfer, J.E., Killefer, J., Novakofski, J., Shelton, P., 2007, Development of a panel of microsatellite markers for the assessment of genetic structure in white-tailed deer in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin: Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology, 66:433.Schweiger, E.W., Diffendorfer, J.E., Pierotti, R., Holt, R.D., 1999, The relative importance of small-scale and level heterogeneity in structuring small mammal distribution, in Barrett, G.W., and Peles, J.D., ed., Landscape ecology of small mammals: Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., 175-207.**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
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