John A Young
John Young is a Research Biologist (Biogeography/GIS) at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center and Lead of the EESC Remote Sensing and GIS Team.
John Young is a Research Biologist (Biogeography/GIS) whose research interests include developing innovative applications of GIS and remote sensing technologies to assess the impact of landscape structure on the distribution of aquatic and terrestrial species and their habitats. His past research activities have included assessing watershed land use effects on aquatic communities, modeling the distribution of endangered, rare, and at risk plants and animals, remote sensing monitoring and assessment of forest vegetation communities, and characterizing forest structure and change using aerial lidar. His work has also included development of risk and vulnerability models using multi-criteria decision support tools and geospatial modeling, and development of spatial sampling designs for field data collection.
Professional Experience
2000 to present USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center (formerly USGS Leetown Science Center), Kearneysville, WV, Research Biologist (Biogeography/GIS).
1994-2000 USGS Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, Biologist (GIS Coordinator).
1991-1994 U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Olympia, WA, Geographer/GIS Coordinator.
Education and Certifications
M.S. Geography, 1992, Virginia Tech
B.A. Geography, 1987, Virginia Tech
Affiliations and Memberships*
International Association of Landscape Ecologists, International Biogeography Society
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 24
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Filter Total Items: 55
The use of local indicators of spatial association to improve LiDAR-derived predictions of potential amphibian breeding ponds The use of local indicators of spatial association to improve LiDAR-derived predictions of potential amphibian breeding ponds
We examined whether spatially explicit information improved models that use LiDAR return signal intensity to discriminate in-pond habitat from terrestrial habitat at 24 amphibian breeding ponds. The addition of Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) to LiDAR return intensity data significantly improved predictive models at all ponds, reduced residual error by as much as 74%, and...
Authors
J.T. Julian, J.A. Young, J. W. Jones, C.D. Snyder, C. W. Wright
Natural resource assessment: an approach to science based planning in national parks Natural resource assessment: an approach to science based planning in national parks
We conducted a natural resource assessment at two national parks, New River Gorge National River and Shenandoah National Park, to help meet the goals of the Natural Resource Challenge-a program to help strengthen natural resource management at national parks. We met this challenge by synthesizing and interpreting natural resource information for planning purposes and we identified...
Authors
C.G. Mahan, J.P. Vanderhorst, J.A. Young
Hydrogeology and water quality of the Leetown area, West Virginia Hydrogeology and water quality of the Leetown area, West Virginia
The U.S. Geological Survey’s Leetown Science Center and the co-located U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture both depend on large volumes of cold clean ground water to support research operations at their facilities. Currently, ground-water demands are provided by three springs and two standby production wells used to augment supplies during...
Authors
Mark D. Kozar, Kurt J. McCoy, David J. Weary, Malcolm S. Field, Herbert A. Pierce, William Bane Schill, John A. Young
Intersex (Testicular Oocytes) in smallmouth bass from the Potomac River and selected nearby drainages Intersex (Testicular Oocytes) in smallmouth bass from the Potomac River and selected nearby drainages
Intersex, or the presence of characteristics of both sexes, in fishes that are normally gonochoristic has been used as an indicator of exposure to estrogenic compounds. In 2003, during health assessments conducted in response to kills and a high prevalence of skin lesions observed in smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu in the South Branch of the Potomac River, the presence of immature...
Authors
Vicki S. Blazer, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Deborah D. Iwanowicz, David R. Smith, John A. Young, J.D. Hedrick, S.W. Foster, S.J. Reeser
Aquatic habitats of Canaan Valley, West Virginia: Diversity and environmental threats Aquatic habitats of Canaan Valley, West Virginia: Diversity and environmental threats
We conducted surveys of aquatic habitats during the spring and summer of 1995 in Canaan Valley, WV, to describe the diversity of aquatic habitats in the valley and identify issues that may threaten the viability of aquatic species. We assessed physical habitat and water chemistry of 126 ponds and 82 stream sites, and related habitat characteristics to landscape variables such as geology...
Authors
C.D. Snyder, J.A. Young, B. M. Stout
The use of artificial impoundments by two amphibian species in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area The use of artificial impoundments by two amphibian species in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
We compared breeding activity of Ambystoma maculatum (Spotted Salamander) and Rana sylvatica (Wood Frog) in artificial impoundments to patterns in natural wetlands over a three-year period in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Rana sylvatica were 5.6 times more likely to use natural bodies of water for breeding than artificial impoundments, while A. maculatum were 2.7 times...
Authors
J.T. Julian, C.D. Snyder, J.A. Young
Non-USGS Publications**
Mahan, C. G. and J. A. Young. 2018. Natural resource condition assessment: New River Gorge National River. Technical Report NPS/NERI/NRR—2018/1622.
Mahan, C. G., and J. A. Young. 2016. Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park Natural Resource Condition Assessment. Natural Resource Report NPS/NERO/NRR—2016/1252. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado
**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
Filter Total Items: 24
No Result Found
Filter Total Items: 55
The use of local indicators of spatial association to improve LiDAR-derived predictions of potential amphibian breeding ponds The use of local indicators of spatial association to improve LiDAR-derived predictions of potential amphibian breeding ponds
We examined whether spatially explicit information improved models that use LiDAR return signal intensity to discriminate in-pond habitat from terrestrial habitat at 24 amphibian breeding ponds. The addition of Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) to LiDAR return intensity data significantly improved predictive models at all ponds, reduced residual error by as much as 74%, and...
Authors
J.T. Julian, J.A. Young, J. W. Jones, C.D. Snyder, C. W. Wright
Natural resource assessment: an approach to science based planning in national parks Natural resource assessment: an approach to science based planning in national parks
We conducted a natural resource assessment at two national parks, New River Gorge National River and Shenandoah National Park, to help meet the goals of the Natural Resource Challenge-a program to help strengthen natural resource management at national parks. We met this challenge by synthesizing and interpreting natural resource information for planning purposes and we identified...
Authors
C.G. Mahan, J.P. Vanderhorst, J.A. Young
Hydrogeology and water quality of the Leetown area, West Virginia Hydrogeology and water quality of the Leetown area, West Virginia
The U.S. Geological Survey’s Leetown Science Center and the co-located U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture both depend on large volumes of cold clean ground water to support research operations at their facilities. Currently, ground-water demands are provided by three springs and two standby production wells used to augment supplies during...
Authors
Mark D. Kozar, Kurt J. McCoy, David J. Weary, Malcolm S. Field, Herbert A. Pierce, William Bane Schill, John A. Young
Intersex (Testicular Oocytes) in smallmouth bass from the Potomac River and selected nearby drainages Intersex (Testicular Oocytes) in smallmouth bass from the Potomac River and selected nearby drainages
Intersex, or the presence of characteristics of both sexes, in fishes that are normally gonochoristic has been used as an indicator of exposure to estrogenic compounds. In 2003, during health assessments conducted in response to kills and a high prevalence of skin lesions observed in smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu in the South Branch of the Potomac River, the presence of immature...
Authors
Vicki S. Blazer, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Deborah D. Iwanowicz, David R. Smith, John A. Young, J.D. Hedrick, S.W. Foster, S.J. Reeser
Aquatic habitats of Canaan Valley, West Virginia: Diversity and environmental threats Aquatic habitats of Canaan Valley, West Virginia: Diversity and environmental threats
We conducted surveys of aquatic habitats during the spring and summer of 1995 in Canaan Valley, WV, to describe the diversity of aquatic habitats in the valley and identify issues that may threaten the viability of aquatic species. We assessed physical habitat and water chemistry of 126 ponds and 82 stream sites, and related habitat characteristics to landscape variables such as geology...
Authors
C.D. Snyder, J.A. Young, B. M. Stout
The use of artificial impoundments by two amphibian species in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area The use of artificial impoundments by two amphibian species in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
We compared breeding activity of Ambystoma maculatum (Spotted Salamander) and Rana sylvatica (Wood Frog) in artificial impoundments to patterns in natural wetlands over a three-year period in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Rana sylvatica were 5.6 times more likely to use natural bodies of water for breeding than artificial impoundments, while A. maculatum were 2.7 times...
Authors
J.T. Julian, C.D. Snyder, J.A. Young
Non-USGS Publications**
Mahan, C. G. and J. A. Young. 2018. Natural resource condition assessment: New River Gorge National River. Technical Report NPS/NERI/NRR—2018/1622.
Mahan, C. G., and J. A. Young. 2016. Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park Natural Resource Condition Assessment. Natural Resource Report NPS/NERO/NRR—2016/1252. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado
**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.
*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