Kelly O Maloney, Ph.D.
Kelly Maloney is a Research Ecologist at Eastern Ecological Science Center located at Kearneysville, WV.
Dr. Kelly O. Maloney is an ecologist whose research focuses on the effects of anthropogenic activities on the quantity and quality of freshwater resources with a goal to synthesize scientific findings into tools to aid in the monitoring, assessment and management of these precious resources. Dr. Maloney conducts and coordinates a highly diverse range of research to address the informational needs of the DOI, its partners, state agencies and NGOs. Dr. Maloney has centered his research program on two areas: 1) ecological flow requirements of aquatic systems, and 2) effects of anthropogenic activities on aquatic ecosystem structure and function. Within each focal area he conducts research to answer questions at multiple scales, employing a combination of field surveys, statistical analyses, computer simulations and meta-analyses.
Professional Experience
2010-Present - U.S. Geological Survey Eastern Ecological Science Center (previously Leetown Science Center)
post-doctoral at the Illinois Natural History Survey and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
post-doctoral at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Education and Certifications
B.S. Environmental Resource Management, 1994,The Pennsylvania State University
M.S. Earth and Environmental Science, 2000, Lehigh University
M.P.S. Discrete and Statistical Science, 2004, Auburn University
Ph.D. Biological Sciences, 2004, Auburn University
Science and Products
Evaluating methods to establish habitat suitability criteria: A case study in the upper Delaware River Basin, USA
Predicting thermally stressful events in rivers with a strategy to evaluate management alternatives
Stream vulnerability to widespread and emergent stressors: a focus on unconventional oil and gas
Multiple stressors threaten stream physical and biological quality, including elevated nutrients and other contaminants, riparian and in-stream habitat degradation and altered natural flow regime. Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) development is one emerging stressor that spans the U.S. UOG development could alter stream sedimentation, riparian extent and composition, in-stream flow, and water qual
An integrated Riverine Environmental Flow Decision Support System (REFDSS) to evaluate the ecological effects of alternative flow scenarios on river ecosystems
Seasonal patterns in stream periphyton fatty acids and community benthic algal composition in six high quality headwater streams
Sediment and discharge yields within a minimally disturbed, headwater watershed in North Central Pennsylvania, USA, with an emphasis on Superstorm Sandy
Developing and testing temperature models for regulated systems: a case study on the Upper Delaware River
User's manual for the upper Delaware River riverine environmental flow decision support system (REFDSS), Version 1.1.2
Ecological risks of shale oil and gas development to wildlife, aquatic resources and their habitats
Progress toward establishing a national assessment of water availability and use
Habitat persistence for sedentary organisms in managed rivers: the case for the federally endangered dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) in the Delaware River
Applying additive modeling and gradient boosting to assess the effects of watershed and reach characteristics on riverine assemblages
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
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Filter Total Items: 43
Evaluating methods to establish habitat suitability criteria: A case study in the upper Delaware River Basin, USA
Defining habitat suitability criteria (HSC) of aquatic biota can be a key component to environmental flow science. HSC can be developed through numerous methods; however, few studies have evaluated the consistency of HSC developed by different methodologies. We directly compared HSC for depth and velocity developed by the Delphi method (expert opinion) and by two primary literature meta-analyses (AuthorsHeather S. Galbraith, Carrie J. Blakeslee, Jeffrey C. Cole, Colin Talbert, Kelly O. MaloneyPredicting thermally stressful events in rivers with a strategy to evaluate management alternatives
Water temperature is an important factor in river ecology. Numerous models have been developed to predict river temperature. However, many were not designed to predict thermally stressful periods. Because such events are rare, traditionally applied analyses are inappropriate. Here, we developed two logistic regression models to predict thermally stressful events in the Delaware River at the US GeoAuthorsK.O. Maloney, J. C. Cole, M. SchmidStream vulnerability to widespread and emergent stressors: a focus on unconventional oil and gas
Multiple stressors threaten stream physical and biological quality, including elevated nutrients and other contaminants, riparian and in-stream habitat degradation and altered natural flow regime. Unconventional oil and gas (UOG) development is one emerging stressor that spans the U.S. UOG development could alter stream sedimentation, riparian extent and composition, in-stream flow, and water qual
AuthorsSally Entrekin, Kelly O. Maloney, Katherine E. Kapo, Annika W. Walters, Michelle A. Evans-White, Kenneth M. KlemowAn integrated Riverine Environmental Flow Decision Support System (REFDSS) to evaluate the ecological effects of alternative flow scenarios on river ecosystems
In regulated rivers, managers must evaluate competing flow release scenarios that attempt to balance both human and natural needs. Meeting these natural flow needs is complex due to the myriad of interacting physical and hydrological factors that affect ecosystems. Tools that synthesize the voluminous scientific data and models on these factors will facilitate management of these systems. Here, weAuthorsKelly O. Maloney, Colin B. Talbert, Jeffrey C. Cole, Heather S. Galbraith, Carrie J. Blakeslee, Leanne Hanson, Christopher L. Holmquist-JohnsonSeasonal patterns in stream periphyton fatty acids and community benthic algal composition in six high quality headwater streams
Fatty acids are integral components of periphyton and differ among algal taxa. We examined seasonal patterns in periphyton fatty acids in six minimally disturbed headwater streams in Pennsylvania’s Appalachian Mountains, USA. Environmental data and periphyton were collected across four seasons for fatty acid and algal taxa content. Non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination suggested significaAuthorsDale C. Honeyfield, Kelly O. MaloneySediment and discharge yields within a minimally disturbed, headwater watershed in North Central Pennsylvania, USA, with an emphasis on Superstorm Sandy
We estimated discharge and suspended sediment (SS) yield in a minimally disturbed watershed in North Central Pennsylvania, USA, and compared a typical storm (September storm, 4.80 cm) to a large storm (Superstorm Sandy, 7.47 cm rainfall). Depending on branch, Sandy contributed 9.7–19.9 times more discharge and 11.5–37.4 times more SS than the September storm. During the September storm, the upperAuthorsKelly O. Maloney, Dustin R. ShullDeveloping and testing temperature models for regulated systems: a case study on the Upper Delaware River
Water temperature is an important driver of many processes in riverine ecosystems. If reservoirs are present, their releases can greatly influence downstream water temperatures. Models are important tools in understanding the influence these releases may have on the thermal regimes of downstream rivers. In this study, we developed and tested a suite of models to predict river temperature at a locaAuthorsJeffrey C. Cole, Kelly O. Maloney, Matthias Schmid, James E. McKennaUser's manual for the upper Delaware River riverine environmental flow decision support system (REFDSS), Version 1.1.2
Between 2002 and 2006, the Fort Collins Science Center (FORT) at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted field surveys, organized workshops, and performed analysis of habitat for trout and shad in the Upper Delaware River Basin. This work culminated in the development of decision support system software (the Delaware River DSS–DRDSS, Bovee and others, 2007) that works in conjunction with the DAuthorsColin Talbert, Kelly O. Maloney, Chris Holmquist-Johnson, Leanne HansonEcological risks of shale oil and gas development to wildlife, aquatic resources and their habitats
Technological advances in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling have led to the exploration and exploitation of shale oil and gas both nationally and internationally. Extensive development of shale resources has occurred within the United States over the past decade, yet full build out is not expected to occur for years. Moreover, countries across the globe have large shale resources and arAuthorsMargaret C. Brittingham, Kelly O. Maloney, Aïda M. Farag, David D. Harper, Zachary H. BowenProgress toward establishing a national assessment of water availability and use
The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-11) was passed into law on March 30, 2009. Subtitle F, also known as the SECURE Water Act, calls for the establishment of a "national water availability and use assessment program" within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). A major driver for this recommendation was that national water availability and use have not been comprehensivelyAuthorsWilliam M. Alley, Eric J. Evenson, Nancy L. Barber, Breton W. Bruce, Kevin F. Dennehy, Mary Freeman, Ward O. Freeman, Jeffrey M. Fischer, William B. Hughes, Jonathan Kennen, Julie E. Kiang, Kelly O. Maloney, MaryLynn Musgrove, Barbara E. Ralston, Steven Tessler, James P. VerdinHabitat persistence for sedentary organisms in managed rivers: the case for the federally endangered dwarf wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) in the Delaware River
1. To manage the environmental flow requirements of sedentary taxa, such as mussels and aquatic insects with fixed retreats, we need a measure of habitat availability over a variety of flows (i.e. a measure of persistent habitat). Habitat suitability measures in current environmental flow assessments are measured on a ‘flow by flow’ basis and thus are not appropriate for these taxa. Here, we preseAuthorsKelly O. Maloney, William A. Lellis, Randy M. Bennett, Terry J. WaddleApplying additive modeling and gradient boosting to assess the effects of watershed and reach characteristics on riverine assemblages
Issues with ecological data (e.g. non-normality of errors, nonlinear relationships and autocorrelation of variables) and modelling (e.g. overfitting, variable selection and prediction) complicate regression analyses in ecology. Flexible models, such as generalized additive models (GAMs), can address data issues, and machine learning techniques (e.g. gradient boosting) can help resolve modelling isAuthorsKelly O. Maloney, Matthias Schmid, Donald E. WellerNon-USGS Publications**
Dale, V. H., P. J. Mulholland, L. M. Olsen, J. W. Feminella, K. O. Maloney, D. C. White, A. Peacock, and T. Foster. 2004. Selecting a suite of ecological indicators for resource management. L. A. Kapustka, H. Gilbraith, M. Luxon, and G. R. Biddinger (editors). Landscape ecology and wildlife habitat evaluation: critical information for ecological risk assessment, land-use, management activities and biodiversity enhancement practices. American Society for Testing and Materials STP 1458. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA.Maloney, K.O. and D.E. Weller. 2011. Anthropogenic disturbance and streams: land use and land-use change affect stream ecosystems via multiple pathways. Freshwater Biology 56: 611-626. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1365-2427.2010.02522.x**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.
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