Susan K McIlroy, PhD
Susan is a Staff Scientist with the Office of Science Quality and Integrity (OSQI).
Susan began her career at the USGS in 2010 working for the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center (FRESC). While an Ecologist at FRESC, she studied vegetation response to fire and other disturbance in the western United States. Susan transitioned to OSQI in 2024, where she is primarily contributing to the Laboratory Advisory Board (LAB!). As part of the LAB!, Susan interacts with USGS scientists to understand their needs, shares helpful tools and trainings, and contributes to recommendations and guidance regarding lab-specific issues across the Bureau.
Professional Experience
2024 - present: Staff Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Science Quality and Integrity
2010 - 2024: Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Boise, Idaho
2009 - 2010: Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California, Berkeley, California
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley
M.S., Land Rehabilitation, Montana State University
B.A., Sociology/Anthropology, Lewis and Clark College
Science and Products
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Filter Total Items: 14
Fuels guide and database for intact and invaded big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) ecological sites—User manual Fuels guide and database for intact and invaded big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) ecological sites—User manual
The Fuels Guide and Database (FGD) is intended to provide fuel loading and vegetation information for big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) ecological sites in the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (hereinafter the NCA) in southern Idaho. Sagebrush ecosystems in the NCA and throughout much of the Great Basin are highly influenced by non-native plants that...
Authors
Douglas J. Shinneman, Justin L. Welty, Robert S. Arkle, David S. Pilliod, Nancy F. Glenn, Susan K. McIlroy, Anne S. Halford
Methodological considerations of terrestrial laser scanning for vegetation monitoring in the sagebrush steppe Methodological considerations of terrestrial laser scanning for vegetation monitoring in the sagebrush steppe
Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) provides fast collection of high-definition structural information, making it a valuable field instrument to many monitoring applications. A weakness of TLS collections, especially in vegetation, is the occurrence of unsampled regions in point clouds where the sensor’s line-of-sight is blocked by intervening material. This problem, referred to as...
Authors
Kyle E. Anderson, Nancy Glenn, Lucas Spaete, Douglas J. Shinneman, David S. Pilliod, Robert Arkle, Susan McIlroy, DeWayne R. Derryberry
Lidar aboveground vegetation biomass estimates in shrublands: Prediction, uncertainties and application to coarser scales Lidar aboveground vegetation biomass estimates in shrublands: Prediction, uncertainties and application to coarser scales
Our study objectives were to model the aboveground biomass in a xeric shrub-steppe landscape with airborne light detection and ranging (Lidar) and explore the uncertainty associated with the models we created. We incorporated vegetation vertical structure information obtained from Lidar with ground-measured biomass data, allowing us to scale shrub biomass from small field sites (1 m...
Authors
Aihua Li, Shital Dhakal, Nancy F. Glenn, Luke P. Spaete, Douglas J. Shinneman, David S. Pilliod, Robert Arkle, Susan McIlroy
Estimating vegetation biomass and cover across large plots in shrub and grass dominated drylands using terrestrial lidar and machine learning Estimating vegetation biomass and cover across large plots in shrub and grass dominated drylands using terrestrial lidar and machine learning
Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) has been shown to enable an efficient, precise, and non-destructive inventory of vegetation structure at ranges up to hundreds of meters. We developed a method that leverages TLS collections with machine learning techniques to model and map canopy cover and biomass of several classes of short-stature vegetation across large plots. We collected high...
Authors
Kyle E. Anderson, Nancy F. Glenn, Lucas P. Spaete, Douglas J. Shinneman, David S. Pilliod, Robert Arkle, Susan McIlroy, DeWayne R. Derryberry
Identifying key climate and environmental factors affecting rates of post-fire big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) recovery in the northern Columbia Basin, USA Identifying key climate and environmental factors affecting rates of post-fire big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) recovery in the northern Columbia Basin, USA
Sagebrush steppe of North America is considered highly imperilled, in part owing to increased fire frequency. Sagebrush ecosystems support numerous species, and it is important to understand those factors that affect rates of post-fire sagebrush recovery. We explored recovery of Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp.wyomingensis) and basin big sagebrush (A. tridentata ssp...
Authors
Douglas J. Shinneman, Susan McIlroy
Landsat 8 and ICESat-2: Performance and potential synergies for quantifying dryland ecosystem vegetation cover and biomass Landsat 8 and ICESat-2: Performance and potential synergies for quantifying dryland ecosystem vegetation cover and biomass
The Landsat 8 mission provides new opportunities for quantifying the distribution of above-ground carbon at moderate spatial resolution across the globe, and in particular drylands. Furthermore, coupled with structural information from space-based and airborne laser altimetry, Landsat 8 provides powerful capabilities for large-area, long-term studies that quantify temporal and spatial...
Authors
Nancy F. Glenn, Amy Neuenschwander, Lee A. Vierling, Lucas Spaete, Aihua Li, Douglas J. Shinneman, David S. Pilliod, Robert Arkle, Susan McIlroy
Non-USGS Publications**
McIlroy, S.K., Montagne, C., Jones, C.A., McGlynn, B.L., 2008, Identifying linkages between land use, geomorphology, and aquatic habitat in a mixed-use watershed: Environmental Management, v. 42, no. 5, p. 867-876, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-008-9166-7.
McIlroy, S.K., Allen-Diaz, B.H., Berg, A.C., 2011, Using digital photography to examine grazing in montane meadows: Rangeland Ecology and Management, v. 64, no. 2, p. 187-195.
McIlroy, S.K., Allen-Diaz, B.H., 2012, Plant community distribution along water table and grazing gradients in montane meadows of the Sierra Nevada Range (California, USA): Wetlands Ecology Management, v. 20, no. 4, p. 287-296, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-012-9253-7.
McIlroy, S.K., Lind, A.J., Allen-Diaz, B.H., Roche, L.M., Frost, W.E., Grasso, R.L., Tate, K.W., 2013, Determining the effects of cattle grazing treatments on Yosemite toads (Anaxyrus [=Bufo] canorus) in montane meadows: PLOS ONE, v. 8, no. 11, p. e79263, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0079263.
**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
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
If you are unable to access or download a product, email fresc_outreach@usgs.gov a request, including the full citation, or call (541) 750-1030.
Filter Total Items: 14
Fuels guide and database for intact and invaded big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) ecological sites—User manual Fuels guide and database for intact and invaded big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) ecological sites—User manual
The Fuels Guide and Database (FGD) is intended to provide fuel loading and vegetation information for big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) ecological sites in the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (hereinafter the NCA) in southern Idaho. Sagebrush ecosystems in the NCA and throughout much of the Great Basin are highly influenced by non-native plants that...
Authors
Douglas J. Shinneman, Justin L. Welty, Robert S. Arkle, David S. Pilliod, Nancy F. Glenn, Susan K. McIlroy, Anne S. Halford
Methodological considerations of terrestrial laser scanning for vegetation monitoring in the sagebrush steppe Methodological considerations of terrestrial laser scanning for vegetation monitoring in the sagebrush steppe
Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) provides fast collection of high-definition structural information, making it a valuable field instrument to many monitoring applications. A weakness of TLS collections, especially in vegetation, is the occurrence of unsampled regions in point clouds where the sensor’s line-of-sight is blocked by intervening material. This problem, referred to as...
Authors
Kyle E. Anderson, Nancy Glenn, Lucas Spaete, Douglas J. Shinneman, David S. Pilliod, Robert Arkle, Susan McIlroy, DeWayne R. Derryberry
Lidar aboveground vegetation biomass estimates in shrublands: Prediction, uncertainties and application to coarser scales Lidar aboveground vegetation biomass estimates in shrublands: Prediction, uncertainties and application to coarser scales
Our study objectives were to model the aboveground biomass in a xeric shrub-steppe landscape with airborne light detection and ranging (Lidar) and explore the uncertainty associated with the models we created. We incorporated vegetation vertical structure information obtained from Lidar with ground-measured biomass data, allowing us to scale shrub biomass from small field sites (1 m...
Authors
Aihua Li, Shital Dhakal, Nancy F. Glenn, Luke P. Spaete, Douglas J. Shinneman, David S. Pilliod, Robert Arkle, Susan McIlroy
Estimating vegetation biomass and cover across large plots in shrub and grass dominated drylands using terrestrial lidar and machine learning Estimating vegetation biomass and cover across large plots in shrub and grass dominated drylands using terrestrial lidar and machine learning
Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) has been shown to enable an efficient, precise, and non-destructive inventory of vegetation structure at ranges up to hundreds of meters. We developed a method that leverages TLS collections with machine learning techniques to model and map canopy cover and biomass of several classes of short-stature vegetation across large plots. We collected high...
Authors
Kyle E. Anderson, Nancy F. Glenn, Lucas P. Spaete, Douglas J. Shinneman, David S. Pilliod, Robert Arkle, Susan McIlroy, DeWayne R. Derryberry
Identifying key climate and environmental factors affecting rates of post-fire big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) recovery in the northern Columbia Basin, USA Identifying key climate and environmental factors affecting rates of post-fire big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) recovery in the northern Columbia Basin, USA
Sagebrush steppe of North America is considered highly imperilled, in part owing to increased fire frequency. Sagebrush ecosystems support numerous species, and it is important to understand those factors that affect rates of post-fire sagebrush recovery. We explored recovery of Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp.wyomingensis) and basin big sagebrush (A. tridentata ssp...
Authors
Douglas J. Shinneman, Susan McIlroy
Landsat 8 and ICESat-2: Performance and potential synergies for quantifying dryland ecosystem vegetation cover and biomass Landsat 8 and ICESat-2: Performance and potential synergies for quantifying dryland ecosystem vegetation cover and biomass
The Landsat 8 mission provides new opportunities for quantifying the distribution of above-ground carbon at moderate spatial resolution across the globe, and in particular drylands. Furthermore, coupled with structural information from space-based and airborne laser altimetry, Landsat 8 provides powerful capabilities for large-area, long-term studies that quantify temporal and spatial...
Authors
Nancy F. Glenn, Amy Neuenschwander, Lee A. Vierling, Lucas Spaete, Aihua Li, Douglas J. Shinneman, David S. Pilliod, Robert Arkle, Susan McIlroy
Non-USGS Publications**
McIlroy, S.K., Montagne, C., Jones, C.A., McGlynn, B.L., 2008, Identifying linkages between land use, geomorphology, and aquatic habitat in a mixed-use watershed: Environmental Management, v. 42, no. 5, p. 867-876, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-008-9166-7.
McIlroy, S.K., Allen-Diaz, B.H., Berg, A.C., 2011, Using digital photography to examine grazing in montane meadows: Rangeland Ecology and Management, v. 64, no. 2, p. 187-195.
McIlroy, S.K., Allen-Diaz, B.H., 2012, Plant community distribution along water table and grazing gradients in montane meadows of the Sierra Nevada Range (California, USA): Wetlands Ecology Management, v. 20, no. 4, p. 287-296, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-012-9253-7.
McIlroy, S.K., Lind, A.J., Allen-Diaz, B.H., Roche, L.M., Frost, W.E., Grasso, R.L., Tate, K.W., 2013, Determining the effects of cattle grazing treatments on Yosemite toads (Anaxyrus [=Bufo] canorus) in montane meadows: PLOS ONE, v. 8, no. 11, p. e79263, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0079263.
**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.