Toni Lyn Morelli, Ph.D.
Toni Lyn Morelli is a Research Ecologist at the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, where she uses field studies, ecological modeling, genetics, and translational ecology to help resource managers conserve species in the face of global change.
Toni Lyn grew up near Detroit and received a B.S. in Zoology from Michigan State University. For her Ph.D. at Stony Brook University, she studied lemur behavior, ecology, and genetics in Madagascar. After her Ph.D., Toni Lyn worked as a postdoctoral fellow at UC Berkeley to understand how climate change had affected small mammals and montane meadows over the last century. She has also worked for the U.S. Forest Service, both as a research ecologist at the Pacific Southwest Research Station and as the Technical Advisor to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Toni Lyn uses translational ecology, species distribution modeling, occupancy modeling, geospatial analysis, population and landscape genetics techniques, and decision analysis to facilitate natural resource management and habitat and species conservation in the face of climate and land use change and invasive species. Current projects include studying the impacts of climate change in boreal ecosystems; helping the National Park Service update its taxonomy and analyze citizen science data; organizing a continent-wide network on Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Management; and a continued focus on operationalizing the concept of climate change refugia.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Stony Brook University
B.S. in Zoology, Michigan State University
Affiliations and Memberships*
Member of the USGS EMA DEIA Leadership Council, 2022
Member of the NECASC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, 2021-2022
Leader of the USGS CASC DEIA Recruitment and Retention Working Group, 2021-2022
Member of the USGS CASC Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Leadership Council, 2020-2022
Co-Leader of the CASC Inclusive Mentoring Working Group, 2021-2022
Associate Editor for Conservation Science & Practice, 2018-2022; recognized as 1 of 2 top CSP AEs
Member of the American Geophysical Union
Member of The Ecological Society of America
Member of the Society of Conservation Biology
Member of The Wildlife Society
Honors and Awards
Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Climate Adaptation Leadership Award for Broad Participation (to NE Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Management Network)
University of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Conservation (ECo) Inaugural Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Faculty Award, 2021
USFWS Species Support Partnership (NE Region) Research Grant, 2021-2023
USGS Natural Resources Preservation Program (NE Region) Research Grant, 2019-21
USGS Ecosystems Mission Area Invasive Species Program Research Grant, 2020-2022
National Climate Adaptation Science Center Research Grant (co-I), 2020-2022
Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center Research Grant, 2019-2020
USGS-NPS Natural Resource Preservation Partnership, 2019-2020
Second Century Stewardship Fellowship 2018 (Postdoctoral Supervisee)
Community for Data Integration, USGS, 2017 (Co-PI)
Community for Data Integration, USGS, 2018 (Co-PI)
National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants 2017 Climate Adaptation Leadership Award for Natural Resources (awarded to the Massachusetts Wildlife Climate Action Tool Partnership)
YES Internship Awards (x2), USGS, 2017
USGS STAR Award, 2016
National Park Service Grant, Bioblitz Analysis, 2016
Science and Products
Climate Adaptation in Northeastern Forests to Support Birds of Conservation Concern and Ecosystem Services
Managing Ecological Transformation to Enhance Carbon Storage and Biodiversity
Climate-Adaptive Population Supplementation (CAPS) to Enhance Fishery and Forestry Outcomes
A Regional Synthesis of Climate Data to Inform the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plans in the Northeast U.S.
Vernal Pool Inundation Models
A Climate Risk Management Screening and Assessment Review for Madagascar’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy
A Synthesis of Climate Change Refugia Science and Management Actions to Inform Climate Adaptation in the Southwest
Effects of Climate, Disturbance, and Management on the Growth and Dynamics of Temperate and Sub-Boreal Forest Ecosystems within the Lake States and New England
Northeast Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Management
Workflows to Support Integrated Predictive Science Capacity: Forecasting Invasive Species for Natural Resource Planning and Risk Assessment
Understanding Species' Range Shifts in Response to Climate Change: Results from a Systematic National Review
Increasing the Resilience and Resistance of Climate-Vulnerable Species and Ecosystems
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Volume 1
Global data on the relationship between urban biodiversity and ecosystem functioning between 2006 and 2023
SiMPL Wildlife Magnet Project Data Release Volume 1 (2019 - 2023)
Model outputs highlighting how biodiversity loss reduces global terrestrial carbon storage based on climate and land-use changes projected for 2050
Model outputs highlighting how biodiversity loss reduces global terrestrial carbon storage based on climate and land-use changes projected for 2050
Sap Quantity at Study Sites in the Northeast
Sap Quality at Study Sites in the Northeast
Biodiversity promotes urban ecosystem functioning
Observed and potential range shifts of native and non-native species with climate change
Biodiversity loss reduces global terrestrial carbon storage
Aligning renewable energy expansion with climate-driven range shifts
Women in wildlife science: Building equity, diversity, and inclusion
A Great Escape: Resource availability and density-dependence shape population dynamics along trailing range edges
Climate change and the global redistribution of biodiversity: Substantial variation in empirical support for expected range shifts
Climate change and maple syrup: Producer observations, perceptions, knowledge, and adaptation strategies
Lessons learned in knowledge co-production for climate-smart decision-making
Analysis of provisioning ecosystem services and perceptions of climate change for indigenous communities in the Western Himalayan Gurez Valley, Pakistan
Global environmental changes more frequently offset than intensify detrimental effects of biological invasions
Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping? Predicting invasion potential of sleeper species
Science and Products
Climate Adaptation in Northeastern Forests to Support Birds of Conservation Concern and Ecosystem Services
Managing Ecological Transformation to Enhance Carbon Storage and Biodiversity
Climate-Adaptive Population Supplementation (CAPS) to Enhance Fishery and Forestry Outcomes
A Regional Synthesis of Climate Data to Inform the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plans in the Northeast U.S.
Vernal Pool Inundation Models
A Climate Risk Management Screening and Assessment Review for Madagascar’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy
A Synthesis of Climate Change Refugia Science and Management Actions to Inform Climate Adaptation in the Southwest
Effects of Climate, Disturbance, and Management on the Growth and Dynamics of Temperate and Sub-Boreal Forest Ecosystems within the Lake States and New England
Northeast Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Management
Workflows to Support Integrated Predictive Science Capacity: Forecasting Invasive Species for Natural Resource Planning and Risk Assessment
Understanding Species' Range Shifts in Response to Climate Change: Results from a Systematic National Review
Increasing the Resilience and Resistance of Climate-Vulnerable Species and Ecosystems
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Volume 1
Global data on the relationship between urban biodiversity and ecosystem functioning between 2006 and 2023
SiMPL Wildlife Magnet Project Data Release Volume 1 (2019 - 2023)
Model outputs highlighting how biodiversity loss reduces global terrestrial carbon storage based on climate and land-use changes projected for 2050
Model outputs highlighting how biodiversity loss reduces global terrestrial carbon storage based on climate and land-use changes projected for 2050
Sap Quantity at Study Sites in the Northeast
Sap Quality at Study Sites in the Northeast
Biodiversity promotes urban ecosystem functioning
Observed and potential range shifts of native and non-native species with climate change
Biodiversity loss reduces global terrestrial carbon storage
Aligning renewable energy expansion with climate-driven range shifts
Women in wildlife science: Building equity, diversity, and inclusion
A Great Escape: Resource availability and density-dependence shape population dynamics along trailing range edges
Climate change and the global redistribution of biodiversity: Substantial variation in empirical support for expected range shifts
Climate change and maple syrup: Producer observations, perceptions, knowledge, and adaptation strategies
Lessons learned in knowledge co-production for climate-smart decision-making
Analysis of provisioning ecosystem services and perceptions of climate change for indigenous communities in the Western Himalayan Gurez Valley, Pakistan
Global environmental changes more frequently offset than intensify detrimental effects of biological invasions
Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping? Predicting invasion potential of sleeper species
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government