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Wesley Newton

Wesley Newton is a Statistician (Emeritus) at the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center in Jamestown, North Dakota.

Wes Newton has been a statistical consultant and analyst working on a diversity of ecological studies in the northern prairies and elsewhere for most of his career.  He most enjoys the challenges of working with researchers on ways to answer theirs and natural resource managers questions, often from “messy” data, using a broad range of statistical methods. Wes states that it’s a great job as he gets to apply his chosen profession, statistics, to a fascinating subject, wildlife biology and ecology.

Professional Experience

  • Statistician and Supervisory Statistician, U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, North Dakota

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. Natural Resources Management, North Dakota State University

  • M.S. Applied Statistics, Utah State University

  • B.S. General Biology, Mesa State College (now Colorado Mesa University)

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 23

Assessing the use of long-term lek survey data to evaluate the effect of landscape characteristics and wind facilities on sharp-tailed grouse lek dynamics in North Dakota and South Dakota

The contribution of renewable energy to meet worldwide demand continues to grow. In the United States, wind energy is one of the fastest growing renewable energy sectors. Throughout the Great Plains of the United States, wind facilities often are placed in open landscapes of high-elevation grasslands, and those same habitats support sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus), a resident gamebi
Authors
Jill A. Shaffer, Deborah A. Buhl, Wesley E. Newton
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Long-term multidecadal data from a prairie-pothole wetland complex reveal controls on aquatic-macroinvertebrate communities

Interactions between climate and hydrogeologic settings contribute to the hydrologic and chemical variability among depressional wetlands, which influences their aquatic communities. These interactions and resulting variability have led to inconsistent results in terms of identifying reliable predictors of aquatic-macroinvertebrate community composition for depressional wetlands. This is especiall
Authors
Kyle McLean, David M. Mushet, Wesley E. Newton, Jon N. Sweetman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Capturing spatiotemporal patterns in presence-absence data to inform monitoring and sampling designs for the threatened Dakota skipper (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) in the Great Plains of the United States

Declines among species of insect pollinators, especially butterflies, has garnered attention from scientists and managers. Often these declines have spurred governments to declare some species as threatened or endangered. We used existing presence–absence data from surveys for the threatened Dakota skipper Hesperia dacotae (Skinner) to build statistical maps of species presence that could be used
Authors
Max Post van der Burg, Jane E. Austin, Mark T. Wiltermuth, Wesley E. Newton, Garrett J. MacDonald
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Aquatic vegetation and invertebrate communities of Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

Observed degradation of aquatic systems at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, located in west-central Minnesota, have been associated with sediment-laden inflows from riverine systems. To support management, a study was conducted during 2013–2014 with overall goals of characterizing the aquatic invertebrate and vegetation communities of the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge and exploring relatio
Authors
Brian Tangen, Raymond Finocchiaro, Wesley E. Newton, Charles F. Dahl
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Response of vegetation in open and partially wooded fens to prescribed burning at Seney National Wildlife Refuge

The health and function of northern peatlands, particularly for fens, are strongly affected by fire and hydrology. Fens are important to several avian species of conservation interest, notably the yellow rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis). Fire suppression and altered hydrology often result in woody encroachment, altering the plant community and structure. Woody encroachment and its effects on biod
Authors
Jane E. Austin, Wesley E. Newton
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Wildland Fire Science

Adaptive management in native grasslands managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—Implications for grassland birds

Burning and grazing are natural processes in native prairies that also serve as important tools in grassland management to conserve plant diversity, to limit encroachment of woody and invasive plants, and to maintain or improve prairies. Native prairies managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in the Prairie Pothole Region of the northern Great Plains have been extensively invaded by no
Authors
Lawrence D. Igl, Wesley E. Newton, Todd A. Grant, Cami S. Dixon
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Wildland Fire Science

Intermittent surface water connectivity: Fill and spill vs. fill and merge dynamics

Intermittent surface connectivity can influence aquatic systems, since chemical and biotic movements are often associated with water flow. Although often referred to as fill and spill, wetlands also fill and merge. We examined the effects of these connection types on water levels, ion concentrations, and biotic communities of eight prairie pothole wetlands between 1979 and 2015. Fill and spill cau
Authors
Scott G. Leibowitz, David M. Mushet, Wesley E. Newton
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Research and Development Program, Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Differential wolf-pack-size persistence and the role of risk when hunting dangerous prey

Risk to predators hunting dangerous prey is an emerging area of research and could account for possible persistent differences in gray wolf (Canis lupus) pack sizes. We documented significant differences in long-term wolf-pack-size averages and variation in the Superior National Forest (SNF), Denali National Park and Preserve, Yellowstone National Park, and Yukon, Canada (p<0.01). The SNF differe
Authors
Shannon M. Barber-Meyer, L. David Mech, Wesley E. Newton, Bridget Borg
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

USGS lidar science strategy—Mapping the technology to the science

Summary The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) utilizes light detection and ranging (lidar) and enabling technologies to support many science research activities. Lidar-derived metrics and products have become a fundamental input to complex hydrologic and hydraulic models, flood inundation models, fault detection and geologic mapping, topographic and land-surface mapping, landslide and volcano hazards
Authors
Jason M. Stoker, John Brock, Christopher E. Soulard, Kernell G. Ries, Larry J. Sugarbaker, Wesley E. Newton, Patricia K. Haggerty, Kathy Lee, John A. Young
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, National Geospatial Program, 3D Elevation Program

Potential nitrogen critical loads for northern Great Plains grassland vegetation

The National Park Service is concerned that increasing atmospheric nitrogen deposition caused by fossil fuel combustion and agricultural activities could adversely affect the northern Great Plains (NGP) ecosystems in its trust. The critical load concept facilitates communication between scientists and policy makers or land managers by translating the complex effects of air pollution on ecosystems
Authors
Amy J. Symstad, Anine T. Smith, Wesley E. Newton, Alan K. Knapp
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Guild-specific responses of avian species richness to LiDAR-derived habitat heterogeneity

Ecological niche theory implies that more heterogeneous habitats have the potential to support greater biodiversity. Positive heterogeneity-diversity relationships have been found for most studies investigating animal taxa, although negative relationships also occur and the scale dependence of heterogeneity-diversity relationships is little known. We investigated multi-scale, heterogeneity-diversi
Authors
Peter J. Weisberg, Thomas E. Dilts, Miles E. Becker, Jock S. Young, Diane C. Wong-Kone, Wesley E. Newton, Elisabeth M. Ammon
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Strategies for preventing invasive plant outbreaks after prescribed fire in ponderosa pine forest

Land managers use prescribed fire to return a vital process to fire-adapted ecosystems, restore forest structure from a state altered by long-term fire suppression, and reduce wildfire intensity. However, fire often produces favorable conditions for invasive plant species, particularly if it is intense enough to reveal bare mineral soil and open previously closed canopies. Understanding the enviro
Authors
Amy J. Symstad, Wesley E. Newton, Daniel J. Swanson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
link
Photo of sharp-tailed grouse

Impacts of wind-turbine energy complexes on northern prairie grouse

Wind-energy development in the northern Great Plains primarily occurs along the Missouri Coteau and Missouri River Plateau in North Dakota and South Dakota. While these areas rank high in wind-energy potential they also contain important breeding habitat for sharp-tailed grouse and greater prairie-chickens. The impact of these wind-energy developments on prairie grouse populations and trends in...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
link

Impacts of wind-turbine energy complexes on northern prairie grouse

Wind-energy development in the northern Great Plains primarily occurs along the Missouri Coteau and Missouri River Plateau in North Dakota and South Dakota. While these areas rank high in wind-energy potential they also contain important breeding habitat for sharp-tailed grouse and greater prairie-chickens. The impact of these wind-energy developments on prairie grouse populations and trends in...
Learn More
link
Image of lidar point-cloud data

Improving wildlife-habitat modeling and assessments with lidar

Lidar has proven itself as a valuable tool for providing high-resolution digital elevation models and for quantifying forest stand metrics utilized by the forest industry. Studies are only beginning to emerge relating lidar data directly to wildlife species occurrences and abundances. NPWRC has been assessing capabilities of lidar data in various ecosystems to include the mixed forests in Maine...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
link

Improving wildlife-habitat modeling and assessments with lidar

Lidar has proven itself as a valuable tool for providing high-resolution digital elevation models and for quantifying forest stand metrics utilized by the forest industry. Studies are only beginning to emerge relating lidar data directly to wildlife species occurrences and abundances. NPWRC has been assessing capabilities of lidar data in various ecosystems to include the mixed forests in Maine...
Learn More

Adaptive management in native grasslands managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Implications for grassland birds, 2011-2013 data release

This database contains records of grassland bird abundance and vegetation structure on tallgrass and mixed-grass prairies managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Specifically, under the adaptive-management decision framework (Native Prairie Adaptive Management [NPAM] intiative), we surveyed breeding birds and sampled vegetation on 89 native prairie NPAM units managed by the U.S. Fis
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 23

Assessing the use of long-term lek survey data to evaluate the effect of landscape characteristics and wind facilities on sharp-tailed grouse lek dynamics in North Dakota and South Dakota

The contribution of renewable energy to meet worldwide demand continues to grow. In the United States, wind energy is one of the fastest growing renewable energy sectors. Throughout the Great Plains of the United States, wind facilities often are placed in open landscapes of high-elevation grasslands, and those same habitats support sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus), a resident gamebi
Authors
Jill A. Shaffer, Deborah A. Buhl, Wesley E. Newton
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Long-term multidecadal data from a prairie-pothole wetland complex reveal controls on aquatic-macroinvertebrate communities

Interactions between climate and hydrogeologic settings contribute to the hydrologic and chemical variability among depressional wetlands, which influences their aquatic communities. These interactions and resulting variability have led to inconsistent results in terms of identifying reliable predictors of aquatic-macroinvertebrate community composition for depressional wetlands. This is especiall
Authors
Kyle McLean, David M. Mushet, Wesley E. Newton, Jon N. Sweetman
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Capturing spatiotemporal patterns in presence-absence data to inform monitoring and sampling designs for the threatened Dakota skipper (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) in the Great Plains of the United States

Declines among species of insect pollinators, especially butterflies, has garnered attention from scientists and managers. Often these declines have spurred governments to declare some species as threatened or endangered. We used existing presence–absence data from surveys for the threatened Dakota skipper Hesperia dacotae (Skinner) to build statistical maps of species presence that could be used
Authors
Max Post van der Burg, Jane E. Austin, Mark T. Wiltermuth, Wesley E. Newton, Garrett J. MacDonald
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Aquatic vegetation and invertebrate communities of Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

Observed degradation of aquatic systems at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, located in west-central Minnesota, have been associated with sediment-laden inflows from riverine systems. To support management, a study was conducted during 2013–2014 with overall goals of characterizing the aquatic invertebrate and vegetation communities of the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge and exploring relatio
Authors
Brian Tangen, Raymond Finocchiaro, Wesley E. Newton, Charles F. Dahl
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Response of vegetation in open and partially wooded fens to prescribed burning at Seney National Wildlife Refuge

The health and function of northern peatlands, particularly for fens, are strongly affected by fire and hydrology. Fens are important to several avian species of conservation interest, notably the yellow rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis). Fire suppression and altered hydrology often result in woody encroachment, altering the plant community and structure. Woody encroachment and its effects on biod
Authors
Jane E. Austin, Wesley E. Newton
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Wildland Fire Science

Adaptive management in native grasslands managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—Implications for grassland birds

Burning and grazing are natural processes in native prairies that also serve as important tools in grassland management to conserve plant diversity, to limit encroachment of woody and invasive plants, and to maintain or improve prairies. Native prairies managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in the Prairie Pothole Region of the northern Great Plains have been extensively invaded by no
Authors
Lawrence D. Igl, Wesley E. Newton, Todd A. Grant, Cami S. Dixon
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Wildland Fire Science

Intermittent surface water connectivity: Fill and spill vs. fill and merge dynamics

Intermittent surface connectivity can influence aquatic systems, since chemical and biotic movements are often associated with water flow. Although often referred to as fill and spill, wetlands also fill and merge. We examined the effects of these connection types on water levels, ion concentrations, and biotic communities of eight prairie pothole wetlands between 1979 and 2015. Fill and spill cau
Authors
Scott G. Leibowitz, David M. Mushet, Wesley E. Newton
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Research and Development Program, Land Change Science Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Differential wolf-pack-size persistence and the role of risk when hunting dangerous prey

Risk to predators hunting dangerous prey is an emerging area of research and could account for possible persistent differences in gray wolf (Canis lupus) pack sizes. We documented significant differences in long-term wolf-pack-size averages and variation in the Superior National Forest (SNF), Denali National Park and Preserve, Yellowstone National Park, and Yukon, Canada (p<0.01). The SNF differe
Authors
Shannon M. Barber-Meyer, L. David Mech, Wesley E. Newton, Bridget Borg
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

USGS lidar science strategy—Mapping the technology to the science

Summary The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) utilizes light detection and ranging (lidar) and enabling technologies to support many science research activities. Lidar-derived metrics and products have become a fundamental input to complex hydrologic and hydraulic models, flood inundation models, fault detection and geologic mapping, topographic and land-surface mapping, landslide and volcano hazards
Authors
Jason M. Stoker, John Brock, Christopher E. Soulard, Kernell G. Ries, Larry J. Sugarbaker, Wesley E. Newton, Patricia K. Haggerty, Kathy Lee, John A. Young
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, National Geospatial Program, 3D Elevation Program

Potential nitrogen critical loads for northern Great Plains grassland vegetation

The National Park Service is concerned that increasing atmospheric nitrogen deposition caused by fossil fuel combustion and agricultural activities could adversely affect the northern Great Plains (NGP) ecosystems in its trust. The critical load concept facilitates communication between scientists and policy makers or land managers by translating the complex effects of air pollution on ecosystems
Authors
Amy J. Symstad, Anine T. Smith, Wesley E. Newton, Alan K. Knapp
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Guild-specific responses of avian species richness to LiDAR-derived habitat heterogeneity

Ecological niche theory implies that more heterogeneous habitats have the potential to support greater biodiversity. Positive heterogeneity-diversity relationships have been found for most studies investigating animal taxa, although negative relationships also occur and the scale dependence of heterogeneity-diversity relationships is little known. We investigated multi-scale, heterogeneity-diversi
Authors
Peter J. Weisberg, Thomas E. Dilts, Miles E. Becker, Jock S. Young, Diane C. Wong-Kone, Wesley E. Newton, Elisabeth M. Ammon
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Strategies for preventing invasive plant outbreaks after prescribed fire in ponderosa pine forest

Land managers use prescribed fire to return a vital process to fire-adapted ecosystems, restore forest structure from a state altered by long-term fire suppression, and reduce wildfire intensity. However, fire often produces favorable conditions for invasive plant species, particularly if it is intense enough to reveal bare mineral soil and open previously closed canopies. Understanding the enviro
Authors
Amy J. Symstad, Wesley E. Newton, Daniel J. Swanson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
link
Photo of sharp-tailed grouse

Impacts of wind-turbine energy complexes on northern prairie grouse

Wind-energy development in the northern Great Plains primarily occurs along the Missouri Coteau and Missouri River Plateau in North Dakota and South Dakota. While these areas rank high in wind-energy potential they also contain important breeding habitat for sharp-tailed grouse and greater prairie-chickens. The impact of these wind-energy developments on prairie grouse populations and trends in...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
link

Impacts of wind-turbine energy complexes on northern prairie grouse

Wind-energy development in the northern Great Plains primarily occurs along the Missouri Coteau and Missouri River Plateau in North Dakota and South Dakota. While these areas rank high in wind-energy potential they also contain important breeding habitat for sharp-tailed grouse and greater prairie-chickens. The impact of these wind-energy developments on prairie grouse populations and trends in...
Learn More
link
Image of lidar point-cloud data

Improving wildlife-habitat modeling and assessments with lidar

Lidar has proven itself as a valuable tool for providing high-resolution digital elevation models and for quantifying forest stand metrics utilized by the forest industry. Studies are only beginning to emerge relating lidar data directly to wildlife species occurrences and abundances. NPWRC has been assessing capabilities of lidar data in various ecosystems to include the mixed forests in Maine...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
link

Improving wildlife-habitat modeling and assessments with lidar

Lidar has proven itself as a valuable tool for providing high-resolution digital elevation models and for quantifying forest stand metrics utilized by the forest industry. Studies are only beginning to emerge relating lidar data directly to wildlife species occurrences and abundances. NPWRC has been assessing capabilities of lidar data in various ecosystems to include the mixed forests in Maine...
Learn More

Adaptive management in native grasslands managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Implications for grassland birds, 2011-2013 data release

This database contains records of grassland bird abundance and vegetation structure on tallgrass and mixed-grass prairies managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Specifically, under the adaptive-management decision framework (Native Prairie Adaptive Management [NPAM] intiative), we surveyed breeding birds and sampled vegetation on 89 native prairie NPAM units managed by the U.S. Fis
By
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
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