Lindsey Thurman is a Partnerships Ecologist for the USGS Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, one of the nine regional centers that form the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center network.
Lindsey Thurman is a Partnerships Ecologist for the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (NW CASC). She is a freshwater community ecologist with expertise in amphibian ecology and conservation. Her research currently focuses on identifying climate change refugia for stream-associated amphibian species in timber-managed landscapes. Lindsey is also leading a community of practice among agency, university and non-profit partners centered around species’ adaptive capacity (AC) in a changing climate and improving the incorporation of AC information in natural-resource management and conservation planning through training, guidance and tool development. Her role with the NW CASC is to engage with stakeholders in the region and identify needs related to climate adaptation, including strategies to enhance adaptive capacity and reduce the vulnerability of at-risk species from climate change. Prior to this position, Lindsey was an Ecologist with the USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. in Wildlife Science, Oregon State University
M.S. in Wildlife Science, Oregon State University
B.S. in Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, The University of Florida
Science and Products
Development of a Surface Water Index of Permanence (SWIPe) Database to Assess Surface Water Availability for Ecohydrological Refugia
Exploring Large Downed Wood as Post-Fire Refugia for Terrestrial Salamanders in Pacific Northwest Forests
Evaluating Species’ Adaptive Capacity in a Changing Climate: Applications to Natural-Resource Management in the Northwestern U.S.
Adaptive Capacity: the linchpin for understanding and addressing species vulnerability to climate-change impacts
Geographic and taxonomic variation in adaptive capacity among mountain-dwelling small mammals: implications for conservation status and actions
Treading water: Conservation of headwater-stream associated amphibians in northwestern North America
Applying assessments of adaptive capacity to inform natural-resource management in a changing climate
Is the grass always greener? Land surface phenology reveals differences in peak and season-long vegetation productivity responses to climate and management
Factors influencing distributional shifts and abundance at the range core of a climate-sensitive mammal
Persist in place or shift in space? Evaluating the adaptive capacity of species to climate change
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
- Science
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 genExploring Large Downed Wood as Post-Fire Refugia for Terrestrial Salamanders in Pacific Northwest Forests
Downed wood on the forest floor does more than provide habitat for amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. These decomposing habitat structures modify the temperature and moisture conditions in the forest itself. Inside and around downed wood, local climate conditions, or microclimates, provide wildlife with stable habitats that allow for persistence during and after wildfires. Cooler, wetter micEvaluating Species’ Adaptive Capacity in a Changing Climate: Applications to Natural-Resource Management in the Northwestern U.S.
Natural resource managers are confronted with the pressing challenge to develop conservation plans that address complex ecological and societal needs against the backdrop of a rapidly changing climate. Climate change vulnerability assessments (CCVAs) provide valuable information that helps guide management and conservation actions in this regard. An essential component to CCVAs is understanding adAdaptive Capacity: the linchpin for understanding and addressing species vulnerability to climate-change impacts
When prioritizing natural resource management activities, managers need to understand how plant and animal species differ in terms of their vulnerability to variation in environmental conditions caused by climate change. Species vulnerability to climate change is controlled by (1) exposure to changing environmental conditions, (2) sensitivity to direct and indirect effects of those changing... - Multimedia
- Publications
Geographic and taxonomic variation in adaptive capacity among mountain-dwelling small mammals: implications for conservation status and actions
Contemporary climate change is modifying the distribution, morphology, phenology, physiology, evolution, and interspecific interactions of species. Effects of climate change are mediated not only through the magnitude of change experienced (exposure) and an animal's sensitivity to such changes, but also through the ability of the population or species to adjust to climatic variability and change gAuthorsErik A. Beever, Jennifer L. Wilkening, Peter D. Billman, Lindsey Leigh Thurman, Kristina A. Ernest, David H. Wright, Alisha M. Gill, April C. Craighead, Nolan A. Helmstetter, Leona K. Svancara, Meghan J. Camp, Sabuj Bhattacharyya, Jedediah Fitzgerald, Jocelyn M. R. Hirose, Marie L. Westover, Francis D. Gerraty, Kelly B. Klingler, Danielle A. Schmidt, Dylan K. Ryals, Richard N. Brown, Steven L. Clark, Neil Clayton, Gail H. Collins, Kyle A. Cutting, Daniel F. Doak, Clinton W. Epps, Janet E. Foley, Johnnie French, Charles L. Hayes, Zachary A. Mills, Lucas Moyer-Horner, Lyle B. Nichols, Kate B. Orlofsky, Mary M. Peacock, Nicholas C. Penzel, Johnny Peterson, Nathan G. Ramsay, Tom Rickman, Megan M. Robinson, Hillary L. Robison, Karen M. C. Rowe, Kevin C. Rowe, Michael A. Russello, Adam B. Smith, Joseph A. E. Stewart, Will W. Thompson, James H. Thorne, Matthew D. Waterhouse, Shana S. Weber, Kenneth C. WilsonTreading water: Conservation of headwater-stream associated amphibians in northwestern North America
Headwater streams of the Pacific Northwest of North America are home to 52 amphibian species, spanning a diversity of taxa and life histories. Headwater stream-associated amphibians occur both within coldwater-stream channels and throughout adjacent riparian habitat, reflective of the important role of old-growth forests in providing cool, moist microclimates for these sensitive species. Forests oAuthorsLindsey Leigh Thurman, Christopher Cousins, Sky T. C. Button, Tiffany S. Garcia, Alysha Henderson, Deanna H. Olson, Jonah Piovia-ScottApplying assessments of adaptive capacity to inform natural-resource management in a changing climate
Adaptive capacity (AC)—the ability of a species to cope with or accommodate climate change—is a critical determinant of species vulnerability. Using information on species’ AC in conservation planning is key to ensuring successful outcomes. We identified connections between a list of species’ attributes (e.g., traits, population metrics, and behaviors) that were recently proposed for assessing speAuthorsLindsey Leigh Thurman, John E. Gross, Claudia Mengelt, Erik A. Beever, Laura Thompson, Gregor W. Schuurman, Christopher Hoving, Julian D. OldenIs the grass always greener? Land surface phenology reveals differences in peak and season-long vegetation productivity responses to climate and management
Vegetation phenology—the seasonal timing and duration of vegetative phases—is controlled by spatiotemporally variable contributions of climatic and environmental factors plus additional potential influence from human management. We used land surface phenology derived from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer and climate data to examine variability in vegetation productivity and phenologicaAuthorsDavid J. A. Wood, Scott Powell, Paul C. Stoy, Lindsey Leigh Thurman, Erik A. BeeverFactors influencing distributional shifts and abundance at the range core of a climate-sensitive mammal
Species are frequently responding to contemporary climate change by shifting to higher elevations and poleward to track suitable climate space. However, depending on local conditions and species’ sensitivity, the nature of these shifts can be highly variable and difficult to predict. Here, we examine how the American pika (Ochotona princeps), a philopatric, montane lagomorph, responds to climaticAuthorsPeter D Billman, Erik A. Beever, Dave B. McWethy, Lindsey Leigh Thurman, Kenny C WilsonPersist in place or shift in space? Evaluating the adaptive capacity of species to climate change
Assessing the vulnerability of species to climate change serves as the basis for climate‐adaptation planning and climate‐smart conservation, and typically involves an evaluation of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity (AC). AC is a species’ ability to cope with or adjust to changing climatic conditions, and is the least understood and most inconsistently applied of these three factors. WeAuthorsLindsey L. Thurman, Bruce Stein, Erik A. Beever, Wendy Foden, Sonya Geange, Nancy Green, John E. Gross, David J Lawrence, Olivia E. LeDee, Julian D. Olden, Laura Thompson, Bruce YoungNon-USGS Publications**
Lindsey L. Thurman, Tiffany S Garcia; Differential Plasticity in Response to Simulated Climate Warming in a High-Elevation Amphibian Assemblage. Journal of Herpetology 1 June 2017; 51 (2): 232–239. doi: https://doi.org/10.1670/16-502Piacenza SE, Barner AK, Benkwitt CE, Boersma KS, Cerny-Chipman EB, et al. (2015) Patterns and Variation in Benthic Biodiversity in a Large Marine Ecosystem. PLOS ONE 10(8): e0135135. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0135135Piacenza SE, Thurman LL, Barner AK, Benkwitt CE, Boersma KS, et al. (2015) Evaluating Temporal Consistency in Marine Biodiversity Hotspots. PLOS ONE 10(7): e0133301. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0133301Thurman, L.L., Garcia, T.S. & Hoffman, P.D. Elevational differences in trait response to UV-B radiation by long-toed salamander populations. Oecologia 175, 835–845 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-014-2957-zGarcia, T.S., Thurman, L.L., Rowe, J.C. and Selego, S.M. (2012), Antipredator Behavior of American Bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) in a Novel Environment. Ethology, 118: 867-875. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2012.02074.xAlbano, C. M., Angelo, C. L., Strauch, R. L., & Thurman, L. L. (2013). Potential effects of warming climate on visitor use in three Alaskan national parks. Park Science, 30(1), 37-44.Thurman, L. L. (2017). Amphibian communities and climate change: where ecological processes meet evolutionary interactions. https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/hq37vs743**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.