Richard D Inman, PhD
Rich Inman is a biologist at the Fort Collins Science Center, whose research spans the intersection of geographic information science, landscape ecology and conservation biology.
I address broad questions about the mechanisms influencing patterns of biodiversity, such as how ecological processes and land management actions can alter habitat and species distributions through time. A key goal of my work is to provide a scientifically rigorous basis for spatially explicit natural resource management decisions; therefore, my research interests are driven largely by the information needs of regional conservation efforts and planning agencies.
Professional Experience
Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, 2023-Present
Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey, 2021-2023
Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey, 2008-2021
Biological Science Technician, U.S. Geological Survey, 2006-2008
Research Assistant, University of Nevada, 2005-2006
Desert Tortoise Assistant Project Manager, The Redlands Institute, 2001-2004
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Geography, Arizona State University, 2018
M.S. Biology, University of Nevada Reno, 2008
B.S. Environmental Science & Biology, University of Redlands 2001
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 29
Evolutionary hotspots in the Mojave Desert Evolutionary hotspots in the Mojave Desert
Genetic diversity within species provides the raw material for adaptation and evolution. Just as regions of high species diversity are conservation targets, identifying regions containing high genetic diversity and divergence within and among populations may be important to protect future evolutionary potential. When multiple co-distributed species show spatial overlap in high genetic...
Authors
Amy G. Vandergast, Richard D. Inman, Kelly R. Barr, Kenneth E. Nussear, Todd C. Esque, Stacie A. Hathaway, Dustin A. Wood, Philip A. Medica, Jesse W. Breinholt, Catherine L. Stephen, Andrew D. Gottscho, Sharyn B. Marks, W. Bryan Jennings, Robert N. Fisher
Introduction Introduction
The Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis), named just over a century ago (Merriam 1889), is precinctive to the western Mojave Desert in California, USA, and occupies portions of Kern, Los Angeles, Inyo and San Bernardino counties (Best 1995). Early estimates of the geographic range of the squirrel are just 20,000 km2 in area (Hall 1981, Zeiner et al. 1988‐ 1990), one of...
Authors
Todd C. Esque, Kenneth E. Nussear, Richard D. Inman, Marjorie D. Matocq, Peter J. Weisberg, Thomas E. Dilts, Philip Leitner
Summary, synthesis, and significance Summary, synthesis, and significance
The initial habitat suitability model estimates pre‐European suitable habitat of the Mohave ground squirrel (MGS, Xerospermophilus mohavensis) covering 19,023 km2. Impact scenarios predicted that between 10 percent and 16 percent of suitable habitat has been lost to historical human disturbances, and up to an additional 10 percent may be affected by renewable energy development in the...
Authors
Todd C. Esque, Kenneth E. Nussear, Richard D. Inman, Marjorie D. Matocq, Peter J. Weisberg, Thomas E. Dilts, Phillip Leitner
Modeling habitat of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the Mojave and parts of the Sonoran Deserts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona Modeling habitat of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the Mojave and parts of the Sonoran Deserts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona
Habitat modeling is an important tool used to simulate the potential distribution of a species for a variety of basic and applied questions. The desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is a federally listed threatened species in the Mojave Desert and parts of the Sonoran Desert of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. Land managers in this region require reliable information about the...
Authors
Kenneth E. Nussear, Todd C. Esque, Richard D. Inman, Leila Gass, Kathryn A. Thomas, Cynthia S.A. Wallace, Joan B. Blainey, David M. Miller, Robert H. Webb
Spatially explicit decision support for selecting translocation areas for Mojave desert tortoises Spatially explicit decision support for selecting translocation areas for Mojave desert tortoises
Spatially explicit decision support systems are assuming an increasing role in natural resource and conservation management. In order for these systems to be successful, however, they must address real-world management problems with input from both the scientific and management communities. The National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, has expanded its training area...
Authors
Jill S. Heaton, Kenneth E. Nussear, Todd C. Esque, Richard D. Inman, Frank Davenport, Thomas E. Leuteritz, Philip A. Medica, Nathan W. Strout, Paul A. Burgess, Lisa Benvenuti
Non-USGS Publications**
Fricker, GA Fricker, L. Crampton, E. Gallerani, J. Hite, R Inman and T. Gillespie. 2021 Application of lidar for critical endangered bird species conservation on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. Ecosphere 12 (6), e03554.
**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
Filter Total Items: 29
Evolutionary hotspots in the Mojave Desert Evolutionary hotspots in the Mojave Desert
Genetic diversity within species provides the raw material for adaptation and evolution. Just as regions of high species diversity are conservation targets, identifying regions containing high genetic diversity and divergence within and among populations may be important to protect future evolutionary potential. When multiple co-distributed species show spatial overlap in high genetic...
Authors
Amy G. Vandergast, Richard D. Inman, Kelly R. Barr, Kenneth E. Nussear, Todd C. Esque, Stacie A. Hathaway, Dustin A. Wood, Philip A. Medica, Jesse W. Breinholt, Catherine L. Stephen, Andrew D. Gottscho, Sharyn B. Marks, W. Bryan Jennings, Robert N. Fisher
Introduction Introduction
The Mohave ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus mohavensis), named just over a century ago (Merriam 1889), is precinctive to the western Mojave Desert in California, USA, and occupies portions of Kern, Los Angeles, Inyo and San Bernardino counties (Best 1995). Early estimates of the geographic range of the squirrel are just 20,000 km2 in area (Hall 1981, Zeiner et al. 1988‐ 1990), one of...
Authors
Todd C. Esque, Kenneth E. Nussear, Richard D. Inman, Marjorie D. Matocq, Peter J. Weisberg, Thomas E. Dilts, Philip Leitner
Summary, synthesis, and significance Summary, synthesis, and significance
The initial habitat suitability model estimates pre‐European suitable habitat of the Mohave ground squirrel (MGS, Xerospermophilus mohavensis) covering 19,023 km2. Impact scenarios predicted that between 10 percent and 16 percent of suitable habitat has been lost to historical human disturbances, and up to an additional 10 percent may be affected by renewable energy development in the...
Authors
Todd C. Esque, Kenneth E. Nussear, Richard D. Inman, Marjorie D. Matocq, Peter J. Weisberg, Thomas E. Dilts, Phillip Leitner
Modeling habitat of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the Mojave and parts of the Sonoran Deserts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona Modeling habitat of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the Mojave and parts of the Sonoran Deserts of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona
Habitat modeling is an important tool used to simulate the potential distribution of a species for a variety of basic and applied questions. The desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is a federally listed threatened species in the Mojave Desert and parts of the Sonoran Desert of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. Land managers in this region require reliable information about the...
Authors
Kenneth E. Nussear, Todd C. Esque, Richard D. Inman, Leila Gass, Kathryn A. Thomas, Cynthia S.A. Wallace, Joan B. Blainey, David M. Miller, Robert H. Webb
Spatially explicit decision support for selecting translocation areas for Mojave desert tortoises Spatially explicit decision support for selecting translocation areas for Mojave desert tortoises
Spatially explicit decision support systems are assuming an increasing role in natural resource and conservation management. In order for these systems to be successful, however, they must address real-world management problems with input from both the scientific and management communities. The National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, has expanded its training area...
Authors
Jill S. Heaton, Kenneth E. Nussear, Todd C. Esque, Richard D. Inman, Frank Davenport, Thomas E. Leuteritz, Philip A. Medica, Nathan W. Strout, Paul A. Burgess, Lisa Benvenuti
Non-USGS Publications**
Fricker, GA Fricker, L. Crampton, E. Gallerani, J. Hite, R Inman and T. Gillespie. 2021 Application of lidar for critical endangered bird species conservation on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. Ecosphere 12 (6), e03554.
**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.