Nathan Kleist, PhD
Nathan Kleist is a Biologist at FORT with the Ecosystem and Landscape Dynamics Research Branch.
Nathan has a diverse background in ecology including wildlife biology and noise and acoustic ecology. At FORT, his work centers around co-producing new approaches for BLM to integrate landscape scale remotely sensed data to monitor rangeland health. He also works on the development of structured science syntheses of key management topics that align with NEPA's analytical steps while providing a thorough review of science.
Professional Experience
Biologist, United States Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Landscape Dynamics Research Branch, Fort Collins, CO; 2023-Present.
Ecologist, United States Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Landscape Dynamics Research Branch, Fort Collins, CO; 2020-2023.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow. National Park Service and Dept. of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO; 2018-2020
Visiting Assistant Professor. Department of Environmental Science and Ecology, The College at Brockport, SUNY. Brockport, NY; 2017-2018.
Principles of Ecology Field Lab Coordinator. Department. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO; 2016.
Lead Lecturer. Conservation Biology. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO; Summers 2015 & 2016.
Education and Certifications
Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (2017) University of Colorado-Boulder, Boulder, Colorado
Bachelor of Science in Technical Communication (2005) University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, Wisconsin
Science and Products
Annotated bibliography of scientific research on Gunnison sage-grouse published from January 2005 to September 2022 Annotated bibliography of scientific research on Gunnison sage-grouse published from January 2005 to September 2022
Integrating recent scientific knowledge into management decisions supports effective natural resource management and can lead to better resource outcomes. However, finding and accessing scientific knowledge can be time consuming and costly. To assist in this process, the U.S. Geological Survey is creating a series of annotated bibliographies on topics of management concern for western...
Authors
Logan M. Maxwell, Elisabeth C. Teige, Samuel E. Jordan, Tait K. Rutherford, Ella M. Samuel, Lea B. Selby, Alison C. Foster, Nathan J. Kleist, Sarah K. Carter
Quantifying aspects of rangeland health at watershed scales in Colorado using remotely sensed data products Quantifying aspects of rangeland health at watershed scales in Colorado using remotely sensed data products
During grazing permit renewals, the Bureau of Land Management assesses land health using indicators typically measured using field-based data collected from individual sites within grazing allotments. However, agency guidance suggests assessments be completed at larger spatial scales.We explored how the current generation of remotely sensed data products could be used to quantify aspects...
Authors
Nathan J. Kleist, Christopher T Domschke, S E Litschert, J Hunter Seim, Sarah K. Carter
Annotated bibliography of scientific research on pygmy rabbits published from 1990 to 2020 Annotated bibliography of scientific research on pygmy rabbits published from 1990 to 2020
Integrating recent scientific knowledge into management decisions supports effective natural resource management and can lead to better resource outcomes. However, finding and accessing scientific knowledge can be time consuming and costly. To assist in this process, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is creating a series of annotated bibliographies on topics of management concern for...
Authors
Nathan J. Kleist, Joshua S. Willems, Heidi L. Bencin, Alison C. Foster, Laine E. McCall, Jennifer K. Meineke, Erin E. Poor, Sarah K. Carter
Annotated bibliography of scientific research on Ventenata dubia published from 2010 to 2020 Annotated bibliography of scientific research on Ventenata dubia published from 2010 to 2020
Integrating recent science into management decisions supports effective natural resource management and can lead to better resource outcomes. However, finding and accessing science information can be time consuming and costly. To assist in this process, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is creating a series of annotated bibliographies on topics of management concern for western lands...
Authors
Erin E. Poor, Nathan J. Kleist, Heidi L. Bencin, Alison C. Foster, Sarah K. Carter
Non-USGS Publications**
Kleist, N.J., Fristrup, K.M., Buxton, R.T., McKenna, M.F., Job, J.R., Angeloni, L.M., Crooks, K., and Wittemyer, G., 2023, Anthropogenic noise events perturb acoustic communication networks: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, v. 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1149097
Kleist, N.J., Buxton, R.T., Lendrum, P., Linares, C., Crooks, K., and Wittemyer, G. (2021). Noise and landscape features influence habitat use of mammalian herbivores in a natural gas field. Journal of Animal Ecology. 00, 0–11. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13416
Vincelette, H., Buxton, R.T., Kleist, N.J., McKenna, M.F., Wittemyer, G., and Betchkal, D. (2020). Insights on the Effect of Aircraft Traffic on Avian Vocal Activity. Ibis. 2, 353-365. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12885.
Walters, M. J., Guralnick, R. P., Kleist, N. J., & Robinson, S. K. (2019). Urban background noise affects breeding song frequency and syllable-type composition in the Northern Mockingbird. The Condor, 121, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/duz002.
Kleist, N. J., Guralnick, R. P., Cruz, A., Lowry, C. A., & Francis, C. D. (2018). Chronic anthropogenic noise disrupts glucocorticoid signaling and has multiple effects on fitness in an avian community. PNAS (cover article), 115(4): E648–E657. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1709200115.
Kleist, N. J., Guralnick, R. P., Cruz, A., & Francis, C. D. (2017). Sound settlement: Noise surpasses land cover in explaining breeding habitat selection of secondary cavity nesting birds. Ecological Applications, 27(1):260–273. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1437.
Kleist, N.J., Guralnick, R.P., Cruz, A., & Francis, C.D. (2016). Anthropogenic noise weakens territorial response to intruder’s songs. Ecosphere, 7(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1259.
Bunkley, J. P., McClure, C. J. W., Kleist, N. J., Francis, C. D., & Barber, J. R. (2015). Anthropogenic noise alters bat activity levels and echolocation calls. Global Ecology and Conservation, 3, 62–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2014.11.002.
Francis, C. D., Kleist, N.J., Ortega, C. P., & Cruz, A. (2012). Noise pollution alters ecological services: enhanced pollination and disrupted seed dispersal. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 279:2727–2735. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.0230.
Francis, C.D., Kleist, N.J., Davidson, B.*, Ortega, C.P., & Cruz, A. (2012). Behavioral responses by two songbirds to natural-gas-well compressor noise. Ornithological Monographs, 74, 36–46. https://doi.org/10.1525/om.2012.74.1.36.
**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
Annotated bibliography of scientific research on Gunnison sage-grouse published from January 2005 to September 2022 Annotated bibliography of scientific research on Gunnison sage-grouse published from January 2005 to September 2022
Integrating recent scientific knowledge into management decisions supports effective natural resource management and can lead to better resource outcomes. However, finding and accessing scientific knowledge can be time consuming and costly. To assist in this process, the U.S. Geological Survey is creating a series of annotated bibliographies on topics of management concern for western...
Authors
Logan M. Maxwell, Elisabeth C. Teige, Samuel E. Jordan, Tait K. Rutherford, Ella M. Samuel, Lea B. Selby, Alison C. Foster, Nathan J. Kleist, Sarah K. Carter
Quantifying aspects of rangeland health at watershed scales in Colorado using remotely sensed data products Quantifying aspects of rangeland health at watershed scales in Colorado using remotely sensed data products
During grazing permit renewals, the Bureau of Land Management assesses land health using indicators typically measured using field-based data collected from individual sites within grazing allotments. However, agency guidance suggests assessments be completed at larger spatial scales.We explored how the current generation of remotely sensed data products could be used to quantify aspects...
Authors
Nathan J. Kleist, Christopher T Domschke, S E Litschert, J Hunter Seim, Sarah K. Carter
Annotated bibliography of scientific research on pygmy rabbits published from 1990 to 2020 Annotated bibliography of scientific research on pygmy rabbits published from 1990 to 2020
Integrating recent scientific knowledge into management decisions supports effective natural resource management and can lead to better resource outcomes. However, finding and accessing scientific knowledge can be time consuming and costly. To assist in this process, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is creating a series of annotated bibliographies on topics of management concern for...
Authors
Nathan J. Kleist, Joshua S. Willems, Heidi L. Bencin, Alison C. Foster, Laine E. McCall, Jennifer K. Meineke, Erin E. Poor, Sarah K. Carter
Annotated bibliography of scientific research on Ventenata dubia published from 2010 to 2020 Annotated bibliography of scientific research on Ventenata dubia published from 2010 to 2020
Integrating recent science into management decisions supports effective natural resource management and can lead to better resource outcomes. However, finding and accessing science information can be time consuming and costly. To assist in this process, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is creating a series of annotated bibliographies on topics of management concern for western lands...
Authors
Erin E. Poor, Nathan J. Kleist, Heidi L. Bencin, Alison C. Foster, Sarah K. Carter
Non-USGS Publications**
Kleist, N.J., Fristrup, K.M., Buxton, R.T., McKenna, M.F., Job, J.R., Angeloni, L.M., Crooks, K., and Wittemyer, G., 2023, Anthropogenic noise events perturb acoustic communication networks: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, v. 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2023.1149097
Kleist, N.J., Buxton, R.T., Lendrum, P., Linares, C., Crooks, K., and Wittemyer, G. (2021). Noise and landscape features influence habitat use of mammalian herbivores in a natural gas field. Journal of Animal Ecology. 00, 0–11. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13416
Vincelette, H., Buxton, R.T., Kleist, N.J., McKenna, M.F., Wittemyer, G., and Betchkal, D. (2020). Insights on the Effect of Aircraft Traffic on Avian Vocal Activity. Ibis. 2, 353-365. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12885.
Walters, M. J., Guralnick, R. P., Kleist, N. J., & Robinson, S. K. (2019). Urban background noise affects breeding song frequency and syllable-type composition in the Northern Mockingbird. The Condor, 121, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/duz002.
Kleist, N. J., Guralnick, R. P., Cruz, A., Lowry, C. A., & Francis, C. D. (2018). Chronic anthropogenic noise disrupts glucocorticoid signaling and has multiple effects on fitness in an avian community. PNAS (cover article), 115(4): E648–E657. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1709200115.
Kleist, N. J., Guralnick, R. P., Cruz, A., & Francis, C. D. (2017). Sound settlement: Noise surpasses land cover in explaining breeding habitat selection of secondary cavity nesting birds. Ecological Applications, 27(1):260–273. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1437.
Kleist, N.J., Guralnick, R.P., Cruz, A., & Francis, C.D. (2016). Anthropogenic noise weakens territorial response to intruder’s songs. Ecosphere, 7(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1259.
Bunkley, J. P., McClure, C. J. W., Kleist, N. J., Francis, C. D., & Barber, J. R. (2015). Anthropogenic noise alters bat activity levels and echolocation calls. Global Ecology and Conservation, 3, 62–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2014.11.002.
Francis, C. D., Kleist, N.J., Ortega, C. P., & Cruz, A. (2012). Noise pollution alters ecological services: enhanced pollination and disrupted seed dispersal. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 279:2727–2735. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.0230.
Francis, C.D., Kleist, N.J., Davidson, B.*, Ortega, C.P., & Cruz, A. (2012). Behavioral responses by two songbirds to natural-gas-well compressor noise. Ornithological Monographs, 74, 36–46. https://doi.org/10.1525/om.2012.74.1.36.
**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.