Joseph R Benjamin
I am a Research Biologist at the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center in Boise, Idaho. My research provides natural resource managers with tools to make more informed decisions regarding the conservation of species and ecosystems.
My team works closely with cooperators to develop ecological models and decision-support tools that meet the needs of decision makers. We develop ecological models that integrate population dynamics, trophic interactions, and environmental variation at multiple scales to improve our understanding of ecosystem dynamics, including impacts of disturbances. Our decision-support models are used to explore management options for aquatic and terrestrial species and landscapes.
Professional Experience
2024 - Present: USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Research Biologist, Boise, ID
2014 - 2024: USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Ecologist/Biologist, Boise, ID
2013 - 2014: Quantitative Consultants, Inc., Staff Scientist, Boise, ID
2010 - 2013: USGS Columbia River Research Laboratory, Fish Biologist, Cook, WA
2006 - 2010: Department of Biology, Idaho State University, Research Assistant, Pocatello, ID
2002 - 2006: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fisheries Biologist, Boise, ID
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Biology, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID (2010)
M.S., Biology, Boise State University, Boise, ID (2006)
B.S., Biology, Boise State University, Boise, ID (1996)
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Fisheries Society
Ecological Society of America
Society for Freshwater Science
Science and Products
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Quantification of the indirect use value of functional group diversity based on the ecological role of species in the ecosystem
Using a food web model to inform the design of river restoration—An example at the Barkley Bear Segment, Methow River, north-central Washington
Structured decision making for conservation of bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in Long Creek, Klamath River Basin, south-central Oregon
Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) telemetry and associated habitat data collected in a geodatabase from the upper Boise River, southwestern Idaho
Incorporating food web dynamics into ecological restoration: A modeling approach for river ecosystems
Thermal regimes, nonnative trout, and their influences on native Bull Trout in the Upper Klamath River Basin, Oregon
Aquatic Trophic Productivity model: A decision support model for river restoration planning in the Methow River, Washington
Response of ecosystem metabolism to low densities of spawning Chinook salmon
Spatio-temporal variability in movement, age, and growth of mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) in a river network based upon PIT tagging and otolith chemistry
Theoretical life history responses of juvenile Oncorhynchus mykiss to changes in food availability using a dynamic state-dependent approach
Potential effects of changes in temperature and food resources on life history trajectories of juvenile Oncorhynchus mykiss
Invasion by nonnative brook trout in Panther Creek, Idaho: Roles of local habitat quality, biotic resistance, and connectivity to source habitats
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
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Quantification of the indirect use value of functional group diversity based on the ecological role of species in the ecosystem
Using a food web model to inform the design of river restoration—An example at the Barkley Bear Segment, Methow River, north-central Washington
Structured decision making for conservation of bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in Long Creek, Klamath River Basin, south-central Oregon
Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) telemetry and associated habitat data collected in a geodatabase from the upper Boise River, southwestern Idaho
Incorporating food web dynamics into ecological restoration: A modeling approach for river ecosystems
Thermal regimes, nonnative trout, and their influences on native Bull Trout in the Upper Klamath River Basin, Oregon
Aquatic Trophic Productivity model: A decision support model for river restoration planning in the Methow River, Washington
Response of ecosystem metabolism to low densities of spawning Chinook salmon
Spatio-temporal variability in movement, age, and growth of mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) in a river network based upon PIT tagging and otolith chemistry
Theoretical life history responses of juvenile Oncorhynchus mykiss to changes in food availability using a dynamic state-dependent approach
Potential effects of changes in temperature and food resources on life history trajectories of juvenile Oncorhynchus mykiss
Invasion by nonnative brook trout in Panther Creek, Idaho: Roles of local habitat quality, biotic resistance, and connectivity to source habitats
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.
*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