Kathryn A Thomas, Ph.D.
Dr. Kathryn Thomas is a research ecologist with the Southwest Biological Science Center, currently stationed in Tucson, Arizona.
Kathryn Thomas has worked the Southwestern deserts since 1989 and for the USGS since 1995. Her areas of expertise are in biodiversity studies during the Anthropocene, including studies of vegetation ecology, plant-insect interactions (pollinators), and invasive species (Russian thistle, introduced tree-feeding insects) on species, community, and landscape scales.
Professional Experience
Research Ecologist, 1995-2010, 2012-present: Southwest Biological Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Tucson & Flagstaff, Arizona
Adjunct professor, 2014-present: University of Arizona School of Natural Resources and the Environment
Information Management Liaison, 2010 - 2012: Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Program, Portland, Oregon
Plant Phenology Program Coordinator, 2007-2010: USA National Phenology Network, Tucson, Arizona
Adjunct professor, 1997-2005: Northern Arizona University, Geography Department
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Geography: University of California at Santa Barbara, CA. "Vegetation and floristic diversity in the Mojave Desert of California: A regional conservation evaluation"
M.S., Environmental Horticulture: University of California at Davis, CA. "Vegetative propagation and Actinorhizal nodulation of Ceanothus spp."
B.S., Biology: University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
Graduate Certificate in Medical Entomology, University of Florida
The Lepidoptera Course, American Museum of Natural History, Portal, Arizona
The Bee Course, American Museum of Natural History, Portal, Arizona
Certificate of Emergency Management Planning, University of Washington
Science and Products
Survival of the endangered Pima pineapple cactus: Does clearing before prescribed fire alter survival postfire?
Vegetation of semi-stable rangeland dunes of the Navajo Nation, Southwestern USA
Organization of marine phenology data in support of planning and conservation in ocean and coastal ecosystems
Standardized phenology monitoring methods to track plant and animal activity for science and resource management applications
Plant distributions in the southwestern United States; a scenario assessment of the modern-day and future distribution ranges of 166 Species
2009 Data Summary USA-NPN Technical Series
Vegetation classification and distribution mapping report: Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Petrified Forest National Park Invasive Plant Species Survey and Mapping; 2002-2005
Vegetation classification and distribution mapping report: Mesa Verde National Park
The Restoration Rapid Assessment Tool: An Access/Visual Basic application
Modeling habitat of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the Mojave and parts of the Sonoran Deserts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona
An annual plant growth proxy in the Mojave Desert using MODIS-EVI data
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 30
Survival of the endangered Pima pineapple cactus: Does clearing before prescribed fire alter survival postfire?
Federal land managers and ranchers often use prescribed fire as a tool to reduce invading woody plants within desert grasslands of the arid southwestern United States. Managers must evaluate the threat of the burn toward the health and survival of plants of concern including how preemptive clearing before prescribed fire might benefit these species. One example is the endangered Pima pineapple cacAuthorsKathryn A. Thomas, Christopher Jarchow, Julie A. CrawfordVegetation of semi-stable rangeland dunes of the Navajo Nation, Southwestern USA
Dune destabilization and increased mobility is a worldwide issue causing ecological, economic, and health problems for the inhabitants of areas with extensive dune fields. Dunes cover nearly a third of the Navajo Nation within the Colorado Plateau of southwestern USA. There, higher temperatures and prolonged drought beginning in 1996 have produced significant increases in dune mobility. VegetationAuthorsKathryn A. Thomas, Margaret H. RedsteerOrganization of marine phenology data in support of planning and conservation in ocean and coastal ecosystems
Among the many effects of climate change is its influence on the phenology of biota. In marine and coastal ecosystems, phenological shifts have been documented for multiple life forms; however, biological data related to marine species' phenology remain difficult to access and is under-used. We conducted an assessment of potential sources of biological data for marine species and their availabilitAuthorsKathryn A. Thomas, Mark D. Fornwall, Jake F. Weltzin, R.B. GriffisStandardized phenology monitoring methods to track plant and animal activity for science and resource management applications
Phenology offers critical insights into the responses of species to climate change; shifts in species’ phenologies can result in disruptions to the ecosystem processes and services upon which human livelihood depends. To better detect such shifts, scientists need long-term phenological records covering many taxa and across a broad geographic distribution. To date, phenological observation effortsAuthorsEllen G. Denny, Katharine L. Gerst, Abraham J. Miller-Rushing, Geraldine L. Tierney, Theresa Crimmins, Carolyn A.F. Enquist, Patricia Guertin, Alyssa H. Rosemartin, Mark D. Schwartz, Kathryn A. Thomas, Jake F. WeltzinPlant distributions in the southwestern United States; a scenario assessment of the modern-day and future distribution ranges of 166 Species
The authors developed spatial models of the predicted modern-day suitable habitat (SH) of 166 dominant and indicator plant species of the southwestern United States (herein referred to as the Southwest) and then conducted a coarse assessment of potential future changes in the distribution of their suitable habitat under three climate-change scenarios for two time periods. We used Maxent-based spatAuthorsKathryn A. Thomas, Patricia P. Guertin, Leila Gass2009 Data Summary USA-NPN Technical Series
The USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN) engages volunteer observers to collect phenology observations of plants and animals using consistent standards and to contribute to the USA-NPN National Phenology Database. In March 2009, the USA-NPN National Coordinating Office implemented an online monitoring program for 213 plant species. In this pilot year of the program, 547 observers reported phenAuthorsTheresa Crimmins, Alyssa H. Rosemartin, Kathryn A. Thomas, R. Lee Marsh, Ellen G. Denny, Jake F. WeltzinVegetation classification and distribution mapping report: Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Executive Summary: The classification and distribution mapping of the vegetation of Canyon de Chelly National Monument (CACH) and surrounding environment was accomplished through a multi-agency effort between 2003 and 2007. The National Park Service’s Southern Colorado Plateau Network facilitated the team that conducted the work, which comprised the U.S. Geological Survey’s Southwest Biological ScAuthorsK.A. Thomas, M.L. McTeague, Lindsay Ogden, K. Schulz, Tammy S. Fancher, Robert Waltermire, A. CullyPetrified Forest National Park Invasive Plant Species Survey and Mapping; 2002-2005
We conducted a survey for invasive nonnative plant species at Petrified Forest National Park from 2002 through 2005. The survey employed a unique sampling design consisting of a grid of consecutive one-hectare cells as the sampling units. Our use of predetermined sampling units allowed all observations to be referenced to a fixed area with geographic coordinates that easily transferred to a geograAuthorsKathryn A. Thomas, Randall J. Hunt, Terry R. Arundel, P. GuertinVegetation classification and distribution mapping report: Mesa Verde National Park
The classification and distribution mapping of the vegetation of Mesa Verde National Park (MEVE) and surrounding environment was achieved through a multi-agency effort between 2004 and 2007. The National Park Service’s Southern Colorado Plateau Network facilitated the team that conducted the work, which comprised the U.S. Geological Survey’s Southwest Biological Science Center, Fort Collins ResearAuthorsKathryn A. Thomas, Monica L. McTeague, Lindsay Ogden, M. Lisa Floyd, Keith Schulz, Beverly A. Friesen, Tammy S. Fancher, Robert G. Waltermire, Anne CullyThe Restoration Rapid Assessment Tool: An Access/Visual Basic application
Managers of parks and natural areas are increasingly faced with difficult decisions concerning restoration of disturbed lands. Financial and workforce resources often limit these restoration efforts, and rarely can a manager afford to address all concerns within the region of interest. With limited resources, managers and scientists have to decide which areas will be targeted for restoration and tAuthorsRon Hiebert, D. L. Larson, K. Thomas, N. Tancreto, D. Haines, A. Richey, T. Dow, L. DreesModeling habitat of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the Mojave and parts of the Sonoran Deserts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona
Habitat modeling is an important tool used to simulate the potential distribution of a species for a variety of basic and applied questions. The desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is a federally listed threatened species in the Mojave Desert and parts of the Sonoran Desert of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. Land managers in this region require reliable information about the potential distAuthorsKenneth E. Nussear, Todd C. Esque, Richard D. Inman, Leila Gass, Kathryn A. Thomas, Cynthia S.A. Wallace, Joan B. Blainey, David M. Miller, Robert H. WebbAn annual plant growth proxy in the Mojave Desert using MODIS-EVI data
In the arid Mojave Desert, the phenological response of vegetation is largely dependent upon the timing and amount of rainfall, and maps of annual plant cover at any one point in time can vary widely. Our study developed relative annual plant growth models as proxies for annual plant cover using metrics that captured phenological variability in Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)AuthorsC.S.A. Wallace, K.A. Thomas - Web Tools