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 efficacy of combined educational and site management actions in reducing off-trail hiking in an urban-proximate protected area
Assessing the influence of sustainable trail design and maintenance on soil loss
A review and synthesis of recreation ecology research findings on visitor impacts to wilderness and protected natural areas
A review and synthesis of recreation ecology research supporting carrying capacity and visitor use management decisionmaking
The swing of it: Hammock camping
Leave no trace in the outdoors
Sustainably connecting children with nature: an exploratory study of nature play area visitor impacts and their management
Revisiting 'Beyond Leave No Trace'
Informal trail monitoring protocols: Denali National Park and Preserve
A spatial exploration of informal trail networks within Great Falls Park, VA
Recreation impacts to cliff resources in the Potomac Gorge: Final report, June 2011
Formal and informal trail monitoring protocols and baseline conditions: Great Falls Park and Potomac Gorge. Final research report
Science and Products
- Science
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Filter Total Items: 121
The efficacy of combined educational and site management actions in reducing off-trail hiking in an urban-proximate protected area
Park and protected area managers are tasked with protecting natural environments, a particularly daunting challenge in heavily visited urban-proximate areas where flora and fauna are already stressed by external threats. In this study, an adaptive management approach was taken to reduce extensive off-trail hiking along a popular trail through an ecologically diverse and significant area in the CheAuthorsKaren S. Hockett, Jeffrey L. Marion, Yu-Fai LeungAssessing the influence of sustainable trail design and maintenance on soil loss
Natural-surfaced trail systems are an important infrastructure component providing a means for accessing remote protected natural area destinations. The condition and usability of trails is a critical concern of land managers charged with providing recreational access while preserving natural conditions, and to visitors seeking high quality recreational opportunities and experiences. While an adeqAuthorsJeffrey L. Marion, Jeremy WimpeyA review and synthesis of recreation ecology research findings on visitor impacts to wilderness and protected natural areas
The 50th anniversary of the US Wilderness Act of 1964 presents a worthy opportunity to review our collective knowledge on how recreation visitation affects wilderness and protected natural area resources. Studies of recreation impacts, examined within the recreation ecology field of study, have spanned 80 years and generated more than 1,200 citations. This article examines the recreation ecology lAuthorsJeffrey L. Marion, Yu-Fai Leung, Holly Eagleston, Kaitlin BurroughsA review and synthesis of recreation ecology research supporting carrying capacity and visitor use management decisionmaking
Resource and experiential impacts associated with visitation to wilderness and other similar backcountry settings have long been addressed by land managers under the context of “carrying capacity” decisionmaking. Determining a maximum level of allowable use, below which high-quality resource and experiential conditions would be sustained, was an early focus in the 1960s and 1970s. However, decadesAuthorsJeffrey L. MarionThe swing of it: Hammock camping
Hammock camping is dramatically expanding along the Appalachian Trail and raising both questions and concerns among Trail land managers, club members, and backpackers. This article examines some of the advantages and disadvantages of hammock camping, including resource and social impacts. Some Leave No Trace hammock camping practices are included for those using hammocks at well-established campsiAuthorsJeffrey L. MarionLeave no trace in the outdoors
The essential guide for enjoying the outdoors without harming the environment. - Details the seven core principles of Leave No Trace ethics and practices - Covers hiking, campfires, food storage, and personal hygiene - Endorsed by the USDI National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and the USDA Forest ServiceAuthorsJeffrey L. MarionSustainably connecting children with nature: an exploratory study of nature play area visitor impacts and their management
Parks are developing nature play areas to improve children's health and “connect” them with nature. However, these play areas are often located in protected natural areas where managers must balance recreation with associated environmental impacts. In this exploratory study, we sought to describe these impacts. We also investigated which ages, gender, and play group sizes most frequently caused imAuthorsMatthew H.E.M. Browning, Jeffrey L. Marion, Timothy G. GregoireRevisiting 'Beyond Leave No Trace'
No abstract available.AuthorsJeffrey L. Marion, Ben Lawhon, Wade M. Vagias, Peter NewmanInformal trail monitoring protocols: Denali National Park and Preserve
The National Park Service (NPS) accommodates nearly 300 million visitors per year, visitation that presents managers with substantial challenges at some 394 park units across some 83.6 million acres of protected lands. An increasing number of visitors inevitably contribute negative effects to fragile natural and cultural resources. Such visitation - related resource impacts can degrade natural conAuthorsJeffrey L. Marion, Jeremy WimpeyA spatial exploration of informal trail networks within Great Falls Park, VA
Informal (visitor-created) trails represent a threat to the natural resources of protected natural areas around the globe. These trails can remove vegetation, displace wildlife, alter hydrology, alter habitat, spread invasive species, and fragment landscapes. This study examines informal and formal trails within Great Falls Park, VA, a sub-unit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, managed byAuthorsJeremy Wimpey, Jeffrey L. MarionRecreation 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. DavisFormal and informal trail monitoring protocols and baseline conditions: Great Falls Park and Potomac Gorge. Final research report
This report presents the results of research on the conditions of formal and informal (visitorcreated) trails conducted within the Great Falls Park (GFP) portion of George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP), Virginia, and the adjacent Maryland portions of the C&O Canal National Historical Park (CHOH). This research was prompted primarily by concerns about the impact of extensive informal trail netAuthorsJeremy Wimpey, Jeffrey L. Marion - News