Kevin Buffington
Kevin Buffington is an ecologist at the Western Ecological Research Center.
EDUCATION
B.S. Biology, 2007, University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire,, Eau Claire, WI.
M.S. Biology, 2010, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID.
Ph.D. Fisheries and Wildlife, anticipated Mar 2017, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Climate change ecology
- Remote Sensing
- Sea-level rise and salt marsh habitats
- Spatial modeling
- Species Distribution Modeling
- Physiological tolerances
- Wildlife biology
Science and Products
Webinar: Sea-Level Rise, El Niño, and Storm Effects on Coastal Tidal Marshes
View this webinar to learn how climate change may affect El Niño events and extreme storms on coastal wetlands.
Filter Total Items: 27
Waterfowl Brood Drone Surveys from Suisun, California 2019 Waterfowl Brood Drone Surveys from Suisun, California 2019
Effective waterfowl management relies on the collection of relevant demographic data to inform land management decisions; however, some types of data are difficult to obtain. For waterfowl, brood surveys are difficult to conduct because wetland habitats often obscure ducklings from being visually assessed. Here, we used Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS) to assess what wetland habitat...
Soil Characteristics and Accretion Rates in Mangrove Forests across Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia Soil Characteristics and Accretion Rates in Mangrove Forests across Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia
Soil cores were collected in mangrove forests across Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia to understand spatial variation in accretion rates. Cores were dated using lead-210 and processed for bulk density and organic matter percent through loss-on-ignition analysis. A total of 30 cores were successfully dated across seven regions around the island.
When and where could rising seas cross thresholds for initiating wetland drowning across conterminous United States? When and where could rising seas cross thresholds for initiating wetland drowning across conterminous United States?
Recent data syntheses have clarified future relative sea-level rise exposure and sensitivity thresholds for drowning. We integrated these advances to estimate when and where rising sea levels could cross thresholds for initiating wetland drowning across the conterminous United States. We evaluated three sea-level rise thresholds for wetland drowning (4, 7, and 10 mm/yr). Our study area...
Marsh Vegetation Surveys Across the San Francisco Bay Estuary, 2008-2018 Marsh Vegetation Surveys Across the San Francisco Bay Estuary, 2008-2018
Fifty-one tidal marsh sites across five regions (sub-embayments) were surveyed in the Delta, Suisun Bay, San Pablo Bay, central San Francisco Bay, and South San Francisco Bay. Vegetation surveys spanned ten years, from July 2008 to January 2018. A total of 5,112 plots were surveyed. Plots were positioned on transects along an elevation gradient and evenly distributed across each site...
Data Describing Site Characteristics Including Conifer Regeneration Following the 2018 Carr Fire in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Data Describing Site Characteristics Including Conifer Regeneration Following the 2018 Carr Fire in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
This dataset provides seedling density and site characteristics for 131 plots in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area in California, USA. Site characteristics include modeled seed availability and terrain indices calculated using a 1 meter resolution digital elevation model (DEM).
Elevation and Mangrove Cover Projections under Sea-Level Rise Scenarios at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, Florida, 2020-2100 Elevation and Mangrove Cover Projections under Sea-Level Rise Scenarios at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, Florida, 2020-2100
Elevation projections from the WARMER-Mangroves model for J N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge across a range of sea-level rise scenarios (53, 115, and 183 cm by 2100). The model was calibrated using dated soil cores sampled from the basin hydrologic zone. These data support the following publication: Buffington, K.J., Thorne, K.M., Krauss, K.W., Conrad, J.K., Drexler, J.Z., and...
Filter Total Items: 43
Learning from a high-severity fire event—Conditions following the 2018 Carr Fire at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Learning from a high-severity fire event—Conditions following the 2018 Carr Fire at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
The 2018 Carr Fire burned more than 90 percent of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, with much of the park burning at high severity. California yellow pine and mixed conifer forests are not well adapted to large, high-severity fires, and forest recovery after these events may be problematic. Large, high-severity fire patches pose difficulties for recruitment with interiors that are...
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Micah Wright, Karen M. Thorne, Jill Beckmann, Kevin Buffington, Lyndsay L. Rankin, Audrey Colley, Eamon A. Engber
Rising seas could cross thresholds for initiating coastal wetland drowning within decades across much of the United States Rising seas could cross thresholds for initiating coastal wetland drowning within decades across much of the United States
Accelerated sea-level rise is an existential threat to coastal wetlands, but the timing and extent of wetland drowning are debated. Recent data syntheses have clarified future relative sea-level rise exposure and sensitivity thresholds for drowning. Here, we integrate these advances to estimate when and where rising sea levels could cross thresholds for initiating wetland drowning across...
Authors
Michael Osland, Bogdan Chivoiu, James Grace, Nicholas Enwright, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, Kevin Buffington, Karen M. Thorne, Joel A. Carr, William V. Sweet, Brady Couvillion
Application of lidar to assess the habitat selection of an endangered small mammal in an estuarine wetland environment Application of lidar to assess the habitat selection of an endangered small mammal in an estuarine wetland environment
Light detection and ranging (lidar) has emerged as a valuable tool for examining the fine-scale characteristics of vegetation. However, lidar is rarely used to examine coastal wetland vegetation or the habitat selection of small mammals. Extensive anthropogenic modification has threatened the endemic species in the estuarine wetlands of the California coast, such as the endangered salt...
Authors
J.S. Hagani, J.Y. Takekawa, S.M. Skalos, Michael L. Casazza, M.K. Riley, S.A. Estrella, L. Barthman-Thompson, K.R. Smith, Kevin Buffington, Karen M. Thorne
Stress gradients structure spatial variability in coastal tidal marsh plant composition and diversity in a major Pacific coast estuary Stress gradients structure spatial variability in coastal tidal marsh plant composition and diversity in a major Pacific coast estuary
Understanding the drivers of variability in plant diversity from local to landscape spatial scales is a challenge in ecological systems. Environmental gradients exist at several spatial scales and can be nested hierarchically, influencing patterns of plant diversity in complex ways. As plant community dynamics influence ecosystem function, understanding the drivers of plant community...
Authors
Lyndsay L. Rankin, Scott F. Jones, Christopher N. Janousek, Kevin Buffington, John Takekawa, Karen M. Thorne
Spatially explicit models of seed availability improve predictions of conifer regeneration following the 2018 Carr Fire in northern California Spatially explicit models of seed availability improve predictions of conifer regeneration following the 2018 Carr Fire in northern California
For many conifer species in dry conifer forests of North America, seeds must be present for postfire regeneration to occur, suggesting that seed dispersal from surviving trees plays a critical role in postfire forest recovery. However, the application of tree fecundity and spatial arrangement to postfire conifer recovery predictions have only recently become more common, and is often...
Authors
Micah Wright, Phillip J. van Mantgem, Kevin Buffington, Karen M. Thorne, Eamon Engber, Sean Smith
Mangrove habitat persistence and carbon vulnerability associated with increased nutrient loading and sea-level rise at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge (Sanibel Island, Florida, USA) Mangrove habitat persistence and carbon vulnerability associated with increased nutrient loading and sea-level rise at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge (Sanibel Island, Florida, USA)
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge (DDNWR) is located on Sanibel Island along the southwestern coast of Florida, USA. Sanibel Island is heavily developed, but DDNWR provides protection for a large mangrove area that supports biodiversity and recreational opportunity. However, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) eutrophication attributed to agriculture discharge along the...
Authors
Ken Krauss, Jeremy R. Conrad, Jamie A. Duberstein, Eric Ward, Judith Z. Drexler, Kevin Buffington, Karen M. Thorne, Brian W. Benscoter, Haley Miller, Natalie T. Faron, Sergio Merino, Andrew From, Elitsa I. Peneva-Reed, Zhiliang Zhu
Science and Products
Webinar: Sea-Level Rise, El Niño, and Storm Effects on Coastal Tidal Marshes
View this webinar to learn how climate change may affect El Niño events and extreme storms on coastal wetlands.
Filter Total Items: 27
Waterfowl Brood Drone Surveys from Suisun, California 2019 Waterfowl Brood Drone Surveys from Suisun, California 2019
Effective waterfowl management relies on the collection of relevant demographic data to inform land management decisions; however, some types of data are difficult to obtain. For waterfowl, brood surveys are difficult to conduct because wetland habitats often obscure ducklings from being visually assessed. Here, we used Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS) to assess what wetland habitat...
Soil Characteristics and Accretion Rates in Mangrove Forests across Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia Soil Characteristics and Accretion Rates in Mangrove Forests across Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia
Soil cores were collected in mangrove forests across Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia to understand spatial variation in accretion rates. Cores were dated using lead-210 and processed for bulk density and organic matter percent through loss-on-ignition analysis. A total of 30 cores were successfully dated across seven regions around the island.
When and where could rising seas cross thresholds for initiating wetland drowning across conterminous United States? When and where could rising seas cross thresholds for initiating wetland drowning across conterminous United States?
Recent data syntheses have clarified future relative sea-level rise exposure and sensitivity thresholds for drowning. We integrated these advances to estimate when and where rising sea levels could cross thresholds for initiating wetland drowning across the conterminous United States. We evaluated three sea-level rise thresholds for wetland drowning (4, 7, and 10 mm/yr). Our study area...
Marsh Vegetation Surveys Across the San Francisco Bay Estuary, 2008-2018 Marsh Vegetation Surveys Across the San Francisco Bay Estuary, 2008-2018
Fifty-one tidal marsh sites across five regions (sub-embayments) were surveyed in the Delta, Suisun Bay, San Pablo Bay, central San Francisco Bay, and South San Francisco Bay. Vegetation surveys spanned ten years, from July 2008 to January 2018. A total of 5,112 plots were surveyed. Plots were positioned on transects along an elevation gradient and evenly distributed across each site...
Data Describing Site Characteristics Including Conifer Regeneration Following the 2018 Carr Fire in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Data Describing Site Characteristics Including Conifer Regeneration Following the 2018 Carr Fire in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
This dataset provides seedling density and site characteristics for 131 plots in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area in California, USA. Site characteristics include modeled seed availability and terrain indices calculated using a 1 meter resolution digital elevation model (DEM).
Elevation and Mangrove Cover Projections under Sea-Level Rise Scenarios at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, Florida, 2020-2100 Elevation and Mangrove Cover Projections under Sea-Level Rise Scenarios at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, Florida, 2020-2100
Elevation projections from the WARMER-Mangroves model for J N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge across a range of sea-level rise scenarios (53, 115, and 183 cm by 2100). The model was calibrated using dated soil cores sampled from the basin hydrologic zone. These data support the following publication: Buffington, K.J., Thorne, K.M., Krauss, K.W., Conrad, J.K., Drexler, J.Z., and...
Filter Total Items: 43
Learning from a high-severity fire event—Conditions following the 2018 Carr Fire at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area Learning from a high-severity fire event—Conditions following the 2018 Carr Fire at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
The 2018 Carr Fire burned more than 90 percent of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, with much of the park burning at high severity. California yellow pine and mixed conifer forests are not well adapted to large, high-severity fires, and forest recovery after these events may be problematic. Large, high-severity fire patches pose difficulties for recruitment with interiors that are...
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Micah Wright, Karen M. Thorne, Jill Beckmann, Kevin Buffington, Lyndsay L. Rankin, Audrey Colley, Eamon A. Engber
Rising seas could cross thresholds for initiating coastal wetland drowning within decades across much of the United States Rising seas could cross thresholds for initiating coastal wetland drowning within decades across much of the United States
Accelerated sea-level rise is an existential threat to coastal wetlands, but the timing and extent of wetland drowning are debated. Recent data syntheses have clarified future relative sea-level rise exposure and sensitivity thresholds for drowning. Here, we integrate these advances to estimate when and where rising sea levels could cross thresholds for initiating wetland drowning across...
Authors
Michael Osland, Bogdan Chivoiu, James Grace, Nicholas Enwright, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, Kevin Buffington, Karen M. Thorne, Joel A. Carr, William V. Sweet, Brady Couvillion
Application of lidar to assess the habitat selection of an endangered small mammal in an estuarine wetland environment Application of lidar to assess the habitat selection of an endangered small mammal in an estuarine wetland environment
Light detection and ranging (lidar) has emerged as a valuable tool for examining the fine-scale characteristics of vegetation. However, lidar is rarely used to examine coastal wetland vegetation or the habitat selection of small mammals. Extensive anthropogenic modification has threatened the endemic species in the estuarine wetlands of the California coast, such as the endangered salt...
Authors
J.S. Hagani, J.Y. Takekawa, S.M. Skalos, Michael L. Casazza, M.K. Riley, S.A. Estrella, L. Barthman-Thompson, K.R. Smith, Kevin Buffington, Karen M. Thorne
Stress gradients structure spatial variability in coastal tidal marsh plant composition and diversity in a major Pacific coast estuary Stress gradients structure spatial variability in coastal tidal marsh plant composition and diversity in a major Pacific coast estuary
Understanding the drivers of variability in plant diversity from local to landscape spatial scales is a challenge in ecological systems. Environmental gradients exist at several spatial scales and can be nested hierarchically, influencing patterns of plant diversity in complex ways. As plant community dynamics influence ecosystem function, understanding the drivers of plant community...
Authors
Lyndsay L. Rankin, Scott F. Jones, Christopher N. Janousek, Kevin Buffington, John Takekawa, Karen M. Thorne
Spatially explicit models of seed availability improve predictions of conifer regeneration following the 2018 Carr Fire in northern California Spatially explicit models of seed availability improve predictions of conifer regeneration following the 2018 Carr Fire in northern California
For many conifer species in dry conifer forests of North America, seeds must be present for postfire regeneration to occur, suggesting that seed dispersal from surviving trees plays a critical role in postfire forest recovery. However, the application of tree fecundity and spatial arrangement to postfire conifer recovery predictions have only recently become more common, and is often...
Authors
Micah Wright, Phillip J. van Mantgem, Kevin Buffington, Karen M. Thorne, Eamon Engber, Sean Smith
Mangrove habitat persistence and carbon vulnerability associated with increased nutrient loading and sea-level rise at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge (Sanibel Island, Florida, USA) Mangrove habitat persistence and carbon vulnerability associated with increased nutrient loading and sea-level rise at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge (Sanibel Island, Florida, USA)
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge (DDNWR) is located on Sanibel Island along the southwestern coast of Florida, USA. Sanibel Island is heavily developed, but DDNWR provides protection for a large mangrove area that supports biodiversity and recreational opportunity. However, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) eutrophication attributed to agriculture discharge along the...
Authors
Ken Krauss, Jeremy R. Conrad, Jamie A. Duberstein, Eric Ward, Judith Z. Drexler, Kevin Buffington, Karen M. Thorne, Brian W. Benscoter, Haley Miller, Natalie T. Faron, Sergio Merino, Andrew From, Elitsa I. Peneva-Reed, Zhiliang Zhu