Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

McKenzie K. H. Smith

I am a Biologist with the Great Lakes Science Center where I support science to sustain, manage, and restore Great Lakes coastal ecosystems. 

I am a broadly trained ecologist with experience using traditional survey methods, molecular techniques, and advanced technologies to describe wetland communities and inform strategies for their effective management. At the Great Lakes Science Center, I contribute to projects developing management tools for undesirable plant species and enhancing wetland restoration. In addition to data collection, I employ statistical methods to document, analyze, and interpret information about these systems. I also assist in preparing and disseminating the resulting data and reports to our organizational partners and the public.

Professional Experience

  • Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey | 2024-present

  • Biological Services Contractor, (contractor of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) | 2024

  • Biologist, Five Rivers Services (contractor of U.S. Geological Survey) | 2017-2019

  • Student Services Contractor, (contractor of U.S. Geological Survey) | 2015-2017

  • Field Technician, Erie County Soil and Water Conservation District | 2014

Education and Certifications

  • M.S., Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University | 2023

  • B.A., Biology, Politics, Oberlin College | 2015

Honors and Awards

  • Graduate Research Scholar, Louisiana Sea Grant | 2023

Science and Products

Physical and Biological Monitoring Data Collected from Restored Wetland Units at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, Saginaw, MI, USA (2022) Physical and Biological Monitoring Data Collected from Restored Wetland Units at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, Saginaw, MI, USA (2022)

These data describe water chemistry and fish, macroinvertebrate and vegetation communities within recently restored, historically-restored, and unrestored wetland management units of the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR; Michigan, USA). Data were collected in 2022 according to protocols and methods described in Curwin et al. 2023. These methods were developed through previous...
By
Great Lakes Science Center

Physical and Biological Monitoring Data Collected from Restored Wetland Units at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, Saginaw, MI, USA (2021) Physical and Biological Monitoring Data Collected from Restored Wetland Units at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, Saginaw, MI, USA (2021)

These data describe water chemistry and fish, macroinvertebrate and vegetation communities within recently restored, historically-restored, and unrestored wetland management units of the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR; Michigan, USA). Data were collected in 2021 according to protocols and methods described in Conrad et al. 2022. These methods developed through previous years...
By
Great Lakes Science Center

Fish activity and movement information derived from acoustic monitoring of a restored Lake Erie coastal wetland from 2011-2014 Fish activity and movement information derived from acoustic monitoring of a restored Lake Erie coastal wetland from 2011-2014

These data describe estimates of large-bodied fish activity and their direction of movement with respect to a restored wetland located in Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA. Acoustic sonar technology was used to monitor fish activity following restoration and reconnection of a hydrologically isolated wetland pool to the wider Lake Erie system. Fish activity was...
By
Great Lakes Science Center
No results found.

Publication by This Scientist

Non-USGS Publications**

Farrer, E.C., Van Bael, S.A., Clay, K., and Smith, M. Plant-Microbial Symbioses in Coastal Systems: Their Ecological Importance and Role in Coastal Restoration. Estuaries and Coasts. 2022.
Farrer, E.C., Birnbaum, C., Waryszak, P., Halbrook, S., Brady, M., Bumby, C., Candaele, H., Kulick, D., Lee, S., Schroeder, C., Smith, M., and Wilber, W. Above and belowground impacts of an invasive species vary across the landscape. Journal of Ecology. 2020.

**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

Physical and Biological Monitoring Data Collected from Restored Wetland Units at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, Saginaw, MI, USA (2022) Physical and Biological Monitoring Data Collected from Restored Wetland Units at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, Saginaw, MI, USA (2022)

These data describe water chemistry and fish, macroinvertebrate and vegetation communities within recently restored, historically-restored, and unrestored wetland management units of the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR; Michigan, USA). Data were collected in 2022 according to protocols and methods described in Curwin et al. 2023. These methods were developed through previous...
By
Great Lakes Science Center

Physical and Biological Monitoring Data Collected from Restored Wetland Units at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, Saginaw, MI, USA (2021) Physical and Biological Monitoring Data Collected from Restored Wetland Units at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, Saginaw, MI, USA (2021)

These data describe water chemistry and fish, macroinvertebrate and vegetation communities within recently restored, historically-restored, and unrestored wetland management units of the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR; Michigan, USA). Data were collected in 2021 according to protocols and methods described in Conrad et al. 2022. These methods developed through previous years...
By
Great Lakes Science Center

Fish activity and movement information derived from acoustic monitoring of a restored Lake Erie coastal wetland from 2011-2014 Fish activity and movement information derived from acoustic monitoring of a restored Lake Erie coastal wetland from 2011-2014

These data describe estimates of large-bodied fish activity and their direction of movement with respect to a restored wetland located in Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA. Acoustic sonar technology was used to monitor fish activity following restoration and reconnection of a hydrologically isolated wetland pool to the wider Lake Erie system. Fish activity was...
By
Great Lakes Science Center
No results found.

Publication by This Scientist

Non-USGS Publications**

Farrer, E.C., Van Bael, S.A., Clay, K., and Smith, M. Plant-Microbial Symbioses in Coastal Systems: Their Ecological Importance and Role in Coastal Restoration. Estuaries and Coasts. 2022.
Farrer, E.C., Birnbaum, C., Waryszak, P., Halbrook, S., Brady, M., Bumby, C., Candaele, H., Kulick, D., Lee, S., Schroeder, C., Smith, M., and Wilber, W. Above and belowground impacts of an invasive species vary across the landscape. Journal of Ecology. 2020.

**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.

Was this page helpful?