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Kyle I McLean, PhD

Kyle McLean is a Research Ecologist at the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center in Jamestown, North Dakota.

Dr. McLean has investigated fish, amphibian, and invertebrate community response to temporal changes in hydrology and water chemistry in prairie-pothole wetlands.  He continues to use long-term monitoring data from the Cottonwood Lake Study Area to identify how spatial and temporal variation of wetland habitats influence wetland biodiversity. Dr. McLean is also working on prairie-stream projects with the US Environmental Protection Agency investigating freshwater mussel distribution and ecology on the Pipestem Creek and monitoring streamflow permanence in the Upper James River watershed in central North Dakota.

Professional Experience

  • 2021-Present: Research Ecologist, U.S., Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND

  • 2016-2020: Student Trainee (Ecology), U.S., Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND

  • 2015-2016:  Ecologist (Term), U.S., Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND

  • 2009-2011:  Biological Science Technician (Student Contractor), U.S., Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, ND

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. (2020) Environmental and Conservation Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND

  • M.S. (2015) Environmental and Conservation Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND

  • B.S. (2011)  Fisheries and Wildlife Science, Biology, Valley City State University, Valley City, ND 

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 17

Lessons learned from wetlands research at the Cottonwood Lake Study Area, Stutsman County, North Dakota, 1967–2021

Depressional wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America have a long history of investigation owing to their importance in maintaining migratory-bird populations, especially waterfowl. One area of particularly intensive study is the Cottonwood Lake study area in Stutsman County, North Dakota. Studies at the Cottonwood Lake study area began in 1967 and continue through the present (2022
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Climate and land use driven ecosystem homogenization in the Prairie Pothole Region

The homogenization of freshwater ecosystems and their biological communities has emerged as a prevalent and concerning phenomenon because of the loss of ecosystem multifunctionality. The millions of prairie-pothole wetlands scattered across the Prairie Pothole Region (hereafter PPR) provide critical ecosystem functions at local, regional, and continental scales. However, an estimated loss of 50% o
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Temporal coherence patterns of prairie pothole wetlands indicate the importance of landscape linkages and wetland heterogeneity in maintaining biodiversity

Wetland ecosystems are diverse, productive habitats that are essential reservoirs of biodiversity. Not only are they home to numerous wetland-specialist species, but they also provide food, water, and shelter that support terrestrial wildlife populations. However, like observed patterns of biodiversity loss, wetland habitats have experienced widespread loss and degradation. In order to conserve an
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Perils of life on the edge: Climatic threats to global diversity patterns of wetland macroinvertebrates

Climate change is rapidly driving global biodiversity declines. How wetland macroinvertebrate assemblages are responding is unclear, a concern given their vital function in these ecosystems. Using a data set from 769 minimally impacted depressional wetlands across the globe (467 temporary and 302 permanent), we evaluated how temperature and precipitation (average, range, variability) affects the r
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Research and Development Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Long-term multidecadal data from a prairie-pothole wetland complex reveal controls on aquatic-macroinvertebrate communities

Interactions between climate and hydrogeologic settings contribute to the hydrologic and chemical variability among depressional wetlands, which influences their aquatic communities. These interactions and resulting variability have led to inconsistent results in terms of identifying reliable predictors of aquatic-macroinvertebrate community composition for depressional wetlands. This is especiall
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Does taxonomic and numerical resolution affect the assessment of invertebrate community structure in New World freshwater wetlands?

The efficiency of biodiversity assessments and biomonitoring studies is commonly challenged by limitations in taxonomic identification and quantification approaches. In this study, we assessed the effects of different taxonomic and numerical resolutions on a range of community structure metrics in invertebrate compositional data sets from six regions distributed across North and South America. We
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Climate- versus geographic-dependent patterns in the spatial distribution ofmacroinvertebrate assemblages in New World depressional wetlands

Analyses of biota at lower latitudes may presage impacts of climate change on biota at higher latitudes. Macroinvertebrate assemblages in depressional wetlands may be especially sensitive to climate change because weather‐related precipitation and evapotranspiration are dominant ecological controls on habitats, and organisms of depressional wetlands are temperature‐sensitive ectotherms. We aimed t
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Research and Development Program, Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Invertebrate communities of Prairie-Pothole wetlands in the age of the aquatic Homogenocene

Simplification of communities is a common consequence of anthropogenic modification. However, the prevalence and mechanisms of biotic homogenization among wetland systems require further examination. Biota of wetlands in the North American Prairie Pothole Region are adapted to high spatial and temporal variability in ponded-water duration and salinity. Recent climate change, however, has resulted
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Research and Development Program, Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Alternative stable states in inherently unstable systems

Alternative stable states are nontransitory states within which communities can exist. However, even highly dynamic communities can be viewed within the framework of stable‐state theory if an appropriate “ecologically relevant” time scale is identified. The ecologically relevant time scale for dynamic systems needs to conform to the amount of time needed for a system's community to complete an ent
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Research and Development Program, Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

The Pothole Hydrology-Linked Systems Simulator (PHyLiSS)—Development and application of a systems model for prairie-pothole wetlands

The North American Prairie Pothole Region covers about 770,000 square kilometers of the United States and Canada (including parts of 5 States and 3 provinces: North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Iowa, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta). The Laurentide Ice Sheet shaped the landscape of the region about 12,000 to 14,000 years ago. The retreat of the ice sheet left behind low-permeabili
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Research and Development Program, Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Clinal patterns in genetic variation for northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens): Conservation status and population histories

The security of the northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) varies spatially with populations east and west of North Dakota considered as secure and at risk, respectively. We used genetic markers to characterize the conservation status of northern leopard frog populations across North Dakota. We used multiple regression analyses and model selection to evaluate correlations of expected heterozygosity
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Aquatic-macroinvertebrate communities of Prairie-Pothole wetlands and lakes under a changed climate

Understanding how aquatic-macroinvertebrate communities respond to changes in climate is important for biodiversity conservation in the Prairie Pothole Region and other wetland-rich landscapes. We sampled macroinvertebrate communities of 162 wetlands and lakes previously sampled from 1966 to 1976, a much drier period compared to our 2012–2013 sampling timeframe. To identify possible influences of
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Research and Development Program, Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
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Image Collage of Landsat, pollinator, and volcanologist

Development of a Surface Water Index of Permanence (SWIPe) Database to Assess Surface Water Availability for Ecohydrological Refugia

Surface-water availability has been identified as one of the biggest issues facing society in the 21st century. Where and when water is on the landscape can have profound impacts on the economy, wildlife behavior, recreational use, industrial practices, energy development, and many other aspects of life, society, and the environment. Projections indicate that surface-water availability will be gen
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Climate Adaptation Science Centers
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Development of a Surface Water Index of Permanence (SWIPe) Database to Assess Surface Water Availability for Ecohydrological Refugia

Surface-water availability has been identified as one of the biggest issues facing society in the 21st century. Where and when water is on the landscape can have profound impacts on the economy, wildlife behavior, recreational use, industrial practices, energy development, and many other aspects of life, society, and the environment. Projections indicate that surface-water availability will be gen
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Photograph of an adult Hygrotus water beetle

Temporal and spatial patterning of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in response to changing environmental conditions

An increased understanding of prairie-pothole-wetland macroinvertebrate dynamics is crucial to better inform conservation strategies related to waterfowl production, biodiversity enhancement, and wetland function/health maintenance. Wetlands in general are highly variable in space and time, and wetland macroinvertebrates are adapted to this great variability. Wetland ecosystems are also influenced...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Status and Trends Program (unpublished), Wildlife Program (unpublished), Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
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Temporal and spatial patterning of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in response to changing environmental conditions

An increased understanding of prairie-pothole-wetland macroinvertebrate dynamics is crucial to better inform conservation strategies related to waterfowl production, biodiversity enhancement, and wetland function/health maintenance. Wetlands in general are highly variable in space and time, and wetland macroinvertebrates are adapted to this great variability. Wetland ecosystems are also influenced...
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Prairie pothole wetlands, North Dakota

Development, application, and refinement of a systems model for prairie wetlands

NPWRC is developing, applying, and refining an integrated, process-based, systems model for prairie-pothole wetlands to facilitate forecasts of how climate and land-use change will affect wetland processes and biota. The Pothole Hydrology Linked System Simulator model (PHyLiSS) simulates changes in hydrology, water chemistry, plant communities, invertebrates, and other biota as a result of altered...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Status and Trends Program (unpublished), Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
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Development, application, and refinement of a systems model for prairie wetlands

NPWRC is developing, applying, and refining an integrated, process-based, systems model for prairie-pothole wetlands to facilitate forecasts of how climate and land-use change will affect wetland processes and biota. The Pothole Hydrology Linked System Simulator model (PHyLiSS) simulates changes in hydrology, water chemistry, plant communities, invertebrates, and other biota as a result of altered...
Learn More
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Aerial photo of the prairie pothole region of North American

Development and validation of wetland-connectivity indicators in the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region

We are working in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to (1) quantify cumulative effects of prairie-pothole wetlands on stream communities; (2) explore relationships between aquatic-system connectivity and genetic-, species-, and ecosystem-scale biological diversity at watershed and landscape scales; (3) develop mapping unit descriptors based on biotic community traits for...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
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Development and validation of wetland-connectivity indicators in the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region

We are working in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to (1) quantify cumulative effects of prairie-pothole wetlands on stream communities; (2) explore relationships between aquatic-system connectivity and genetic-, species-, and ecosystem-scale biological diversity at watershed and landscape scales; (3) develop mapping unit descriptors based on biotic community traits for...
Learn More

Science and Products