Mike Duniway, Ph.D.
Dr. Michael (Mike) Duniway is a soil scientist focused on soils and soil processes in dryland ecosystems and the interactions between environmental and land-use drivers, vegetation, soils, and geomorphology. His areas of focus include restoration, ecohydrology, effects of land-use (grazing, energy, and recreation), dust production, plant-soil feedbacks, and soil mapping and interpretations.
In his research and outreach activities, Dr. Duniway seeks to provide information for land managers and owners to facilitate sustainable land-use activities. He works closely with federal agency partners (Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, National Resource Conservation Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and others such as The Nature Conservancy's Canyonlands Research Center) in designing research studies, conducting technology transfer, and outreach activities. Some primary current research focuses include understanding the impacts of drought on Colorado Plateau landscapes, evaluating the recovery of oil and gas pads on the Colorado Plateau and opportunities for improved restoration practices, developing novel restoration techniques for highly disturbed lands using biological soil crusts and physical barriers, and basic research into the importance of soils for dryland ecosystem processes.
Professional Experience
2011-Present: Research Ecologist, USGS Southwest Biological Science Center, Moab, UT
2010-2011: Research Soil Scientist, US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Jornada, Las Cruces, NM
2006-2010: Research Soil Scientist (post doc), US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Jornada, Las Cruces, NM
2012-Present: Adjunct Faculty, Utah State University, Logan, UT
2007-Present: Adjunct Faculty, NM State University, Las Cruces, NM
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., 2006 — Agronomy (Soil Science), New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
B.S., 1994 — Environmental Resource Science, University of California, Davis, CA
Science and Products
Regional ensemble modeling reduces uncertainty for digital soil mapping
Improving Landsat predictions of rangeland fractional cover with multitask learning and uncertainty
Evaluating natural experiments in ecology: Using synthetic controls in assessments of remotely sensed land treatments
Ultra‐high‐resolution mapping of biocrusts with Unmanned Aerial Systems
A hybrid approach for predictive soil property mapping using conventional soil survey data
Seasonal and individual event-responsiveness are key determinants of carbon exchange across plant functional types
Assessment of rangeland ecosystem conditions in Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, Arizona
Bridging the research-management gap: Landscape ecology in practice on public lands in the western United States
Supporting the development and use of native plant materials for restoration on the Colorado Plateau (Fiscal Year 19 Report)
Inoculation and habitat amelioration efforts in biological soil crust recovery vary by desert and soil texture
Grazing-induced changes to biological soil crust cover mediate hillslope erosion in a long-term exclosure experiment
Microsite enhancements for soil stabilization and rapid biocrust colonization in degraded drylands
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
Regional ensemble modeling reduces uncertainty for digital soil mapping
Improving Landsat predictions of rangeland fractional cover with multitask learning and uncertainty
Evaluating natural experiments in ecology: Using synthetic controls in assessments of remotely sensed land treatments
Ultra‐high‐resolution mapping of biocrusts with Unmanned Aerial Systems
A hybrid approach for predictive soil property mapping using conventional soil survey data
Seasonal and individual event-responsiveness are key determinants of carbon exchange across plant functional types
Assessment of rangeland ecosystem conditions in Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, Arizona
Bridging the research-management gap: Landscape ecology in practice on public lands in the western United States
Supporting the development and use of native plant materials for restoration on the Colorado Plateau (Fiscal Year 19 Report)
Inoculation and habitat amelioration efforts in biological soil crust recovery vary by desert and soil texture
Grazing-induced changes to biological soil crust cover mediate hillslope erosion in a long-term exclosure experiment
Microsite enhancements for soil stabilization and rapid biocrust colonization in degraded drylands
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.