Jeff Marion, Ph.D.
Jeff is a Research Biologist at the Eastern Ecological Science Center at Blacksburg, VA.
Jeff Marion grew up exploring the woods, streams, and caves of Kentucky, developing strong interests in nature study and high adventure outdoor activities. One of four Eagle Scouts in his family, he served for five summers at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, teaching backpacking and climbing skills. Coursework in biology, ecology, and geology at Wittenberg University led to a B.S. in Biology (1979), and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Recreation Resources Management from the University of Minnesota (1982/84). Graduate studies focused on recreation ecology research, combining strong personal interests in the ecological sciences with his continuing passion for outdoor recreational pursuits, particularly backpacking, climbing, caving, and canoeing. His doctoral research measured camping-associated environmental impacts in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness to investigate relationships between biophysical impacts, amount ofuse, and plant community, soil, and ecological classifications.
Professional Experience
8/97-2001 - DOI, U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Title: Research Biologist Duties: Unit Leader for the PWRC Virginia Tech Field Station. Conducted recreation ecology research to evaluate visitor impacts to protected natural areas.
11/94-7/97 - DOI, National Biological Survey, Div. of Cooperative Research, Blacksburg, VA Title: Research Biologist Duties: Unit Leader, Cooperative Park Studies Unit. Conducted recreation ecology research.
6/85-10/94 - DOI, National Park Service, Mid-Atlantic Region Title: Research Biologist Duty Stations: 1) Virginia Tech; Blacksburg, VA and 2) Delaware Water Gap NRA; Milford, PA Dates: 1) 10/89-10/94 2) 6/85-9/89 Duties: Unit Leader, Cooperative Park Studies Unit (when at VT). Conducted recreation ecology research.
12/84-5/85 - University of Wisconsin, Park, Recreation & Resource Management program, River Falls, WI Title: Assistant Professor
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Recreation Resources Management, 3/82-7/84, Univ. of Minnesota - Forest Resources
M.S. Recreation Resources Management, 9/80-3/82, Univ. of Minnesota - Forest Resources
Environmental Science, 9/79-6/80, Duke University - School of the Environment (transferred)
B.A. Biology, 9/75-6/79, Wittenberg University
Science and Products
The science of trail surveys: Recreation ecology provides new tools for managing wilderness trails
Informal and formal trail monitoring protocols and baseline conditions: Acadia National Park
Recreation impacts to cliff resources in the Potomac Gorge: Final report, June 2011
Assessment and monitoring of recreation impacts and resource conditions on mountain summits: Examples from the Northern Forest, USA
Sustaining visitor use in protected areas: Future opportunities in recreation ecology research based on the USA experience
Deterring off-trail hiking in protected natural areas: Evaluating options with surveys and unobtrusive observation: Final report
Backcountry recreation site and trail conditions: Haleakala National Park final report, May 2009
The influence of use-related, environmental, and managerial factors on soil loss from recreational trails
Monitoring and assessing trail conditions at Acadia National Park
Indicators and standards of quality for trail and campsite conditions at Isle au Haut
A Review and Synthesis of the Scientific Information Related to the Biology and Management of Species of Special Concern at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina
Managing visitor impacts in parks: A multi-method study of the effectiveness of alternative management practices
Science and Products
- Science
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- Publications
Filter Total Items: 121
The science of trail surveys: Recreation ecology provides new tools for managing wilderness trails
Recreation ecology examines the effects of recreation on protected area ecosystems. One core focus of recreation ecology research is trail science, including the development of efficient protocols to assess and monitor the type and severity of resource impacts, analyses to improve knowledge of factors that influence trail conditions, and studies to assist land managers in improving trail design, mAuthorsJeffrey L. Marion, Jeremy F. Wimpey, Logan O. ParkInformal and formal trail monitoring protocols and baseline conditions: Acadia National Park
At Acadia National Park, changing visitor use levels and patterns have contributed to an increasing degree of visitor use impacts to natural and cultural resources. To better understand the extent and severity of these resource impacts and identify effective management techniques, the park sponsored this research to develop monitoring protocols, collect baseline data, and identify suggestions forAuthorsJeffrey L. Marion, Jeremy F. Wimpey, L. ParkRecreation impacts to cliff resources in the Potomac Gorge: Final report, June 2011
Managers of the National Park Service (NPS) are directed by law to accommodate appropriate types and amounts of visitation while ensuring that: any adverse impacts are the minimum necessary, unavoidable, cannot be further mitigated, and do not constitute impairment or derogation of park resources and values. (NPS 2006). The increasing popularity of the national park system presents substantial manAuthorsJeffrey L. Marion, C. Carr, C.A. DavisAssessment and monitoring of recreation impacts and resource conditions on mountain summits: Examples from the Northern Forest, USA
Mountain summits present a unique challenge to manage sustainably: they are ecologically important and, in many circumstances, under high demand for recreation and tourism activities. This article presents recent advances in the assessment of resource conditions and visitor disturbance in mountain summit environments, by drawing on examples from a multiyear, interdisciplinary study of summits in tAuthorsChristopher A. Monz, Jeffrey L. Marion, Kelly A. Goonan, Robert E. Manning, Jeremy Wimpey, Christopher CarrSustaining visitor use in protected areas: Future opportunities in recreation ecology research based on the USA experience
Recreation ecology, the study of environmental consequences of outdoor recreation activities and their effective management, is a relatively new field of scientific study having emerged over the last 50 years. During this time, numerous studies have improved our understanding of how use-related, environmental and managerial factors affect ecological conditions and processes. Most studies have focuAuthorsChristopher A. Monz, David N. Cole, Yu-Fai Leung, Jeffrey L. MarionDeterring off-trail hiking in protected natural areas: Evaluating options with surveys and unobtrusive observation: Final report
This report presents the results of research conducted on the 96-acre Bear Island along the Billy Goat Trail, Section A (BGT) that evaluated visitor motivations for off-trail hiking and the efficacy of four treatments designed to reduce this activity. This research was prompted by concerns about the impact of an extensive informal (visitor-created) trail network on Bear Island, because it providesAuthorsK.A. Hockett, Y.F. Clark, J.L. Leung, L. ParkBackcountry recreation site and trail conditions: Haleakala National Park final report, May 2009
No abstract available.AuthorsJeffrey L. Marion, C. CarrThe influence of use-related, environmental, and managerial factors on soil loss from recreational trails
Recreational uses of unsurfaced trails inevitably result in their degradation, with the type and extent of resource impact influenced by factors such as soil texture, topography, climate, trail design and maintenance, and type and amount of use. Of particular concern, the loss of soil through erosion is generally considered a significant and irreversible form of trail impact. This research investiAuthorsNathaniel D. Olive, Jeffrey L. MarionMonitoring and assessing trail conditions at Acadia National Park
No abstract available.AuthorsJeffrey L. Marion, Jeremy Wimpey, Logan ParkIndicators and standards of quality for trail and campsite conditions at Isle au Haut
No abstract available.AuthorsJeffrey L. MarionA Review and Synthesis of the Scientific Information Related to the Biology and Management of Species of Special Concern at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina
The U.S. Geological Survey's Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (PWRC) conducted a study for the National Park Service (NPS) Southeast Region, Atlanta, GA, and Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CAHA) in North Carolina to review, evaluate, and summarize the available scientific information for selected species of concern at CAHA (piping plovers, sea turtles, seabeach amaranth, American oystercatchersAuthorsJonathan B. Cohen, R. Michael Erwin, John B. French, Jeffrey L. Marion, J. Michael MeyersManaging visitor impacts in parks: A multi-method study of the effectiveness of alternative management practices
How can recreation use be managed to control associated environmental impacts? What management practices are most effective and why? This study explored these and related questions through a series of experimental ?treatments? and associated ?controls? at the summit of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, a heavily used and environmentally fragile area. The treatments included five manageAuthorsL.O. Park, J. L. Marion, R.E. Manning, S.R. Lawson, C. Jacobi - News