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
A management-oriented framework for selecting metrics used to assess habitat- and path-specific quality in spatially structured populations
Quasi-extinction risk and population targets for the Eastern, migratory population of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus)
Prioritizing avian species for their risk of population-level consequences from wind energy development
Effects of wind energy generation and white-nose syndrome on the viability of the Indiana bat
Assessing local population vulnerability to wind energy development with branching process models: an application to wind energy development
Onshore industrial wind turbine locations for the United States up to March 2014
Insufficient sampling to identify species affected by turbine collisions
Effects of fragmentation on the spatial ecology of the California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae)
Optimizing conservation strategies for Mexican freetailed bats: a population viability and ecosystem services approach
Preliminary methodology to assess the national and regional impact of U.S. wind energy development on birds and bats
A stage-structured, spatially explicit migration model for Myotis bats: mortality location affects system dynamics
Two decision-support tools for assessing the potential effects of energy development on hydrologic resources as part of the Energy and Environment in the Rocky Mountain Area interactive energy atlas
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
A management-oriented framework for selecting metrics used to assess habitat- and path-specific quality in spatially structured populations
Quasi-extinction risk and population targets for the Eastern, migratory population of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus)
Prioritizing avian species for their risk of population-level consequences from wind energy development
Effects of wind energy generation and white-nose syndrome on the viability of the Indiana bat
Assessing local population vulnerability to wind energy development with branching process models: an application to wind energy development
Onshore industrial wind turbine locations for the United States up to March 2014
Insufficient sampling to identify species affected by turbine collisions
Effects of fragmentation on the spatial ecology of the California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae)
Optimizing conservation strategies for Mexican freetailed bats: a population viability and ecosystem services approach
Preliminary methodology to assess the national and regional impact of U.S. wind energy development on birds and bats
A stage-structured, spatially explicit migration model for Myotis bats: mortality location affects system dynamics
Two decision-support tools for assessing the potential effects of energy development on hydrologic resources as part of the Energy and Environment in the Rocky Mountain Area interactive energy atlas
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.