David A Pyke
I am a scientist emeritus at the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center. My research interests include population ecology of native and invasive plants in the Intermountain West, monitoring protocols for ecosystem integrity on wild lands, and restoration ecology of native plants on disturbed and invaded lands.
I am involved with a few of my former projects. I am completing the ten-year analysis of the SageSTEP sagebrush – cheatgrass sites. I plan to assist and continue to provide guidance to new scientists who are now leading this long-term project. I am providing guidance and insights for two other on-going projects - The Field of Sagebrush Dreams project and the Mojave grazing removal project. Field of Dreams is an attempt to transplant sagebrush and create patches of sagebrush that will be used by Greater Sage-grouse for nesting within 5 years of a fire removing sagebrush from former nesting sites. The Mojave project is examining vegetation changes after livestock grazing was removed from locations on the Mojave National Preserve 20 years ago. Amongst these interests, my wife and I plan to travel in our teardrop trailer and see other landscapes in the US and Canada and to travel internationally to enjoy new cultures. In addition, we plan to make regular visits to our home in Honolulu.
Professional Experience
1996 – 2021: Supervisory Research Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Forest & Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR
1996 – 1999: Assistant Center Director, U.S. Geological Survey, Forest & Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR
1993 – 1996: Research Rangeland Ecologist, National Biological Survey/Service, Forest & Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR
1992 – 1993: Research Rangeland Ecologist, Bureau of Land Management, Pacific Forest & Basin Rangeland Systems Cooperative Research & Technology Unit, Corvallis, OR
1987 – 1992: Assistant Professor, Department of Range Science, Utah State University, Logan, UT
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Botany, Washington State University, Pullman, WA (1983)
M.S., Forest and Range Management, Washington State University, Pullman, WA (1977)
B.S., Range Management (Wildlife option), Washington State University, Pullman, WA (1976)
Affiliations and Memberships*
Ecological Society of America
British Ecological Society
Society for Ecological Restoration
Society for Range Management
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.
Monitoring temporal change in riparian vegetation of Great Basin National Park
Available nitrogen: A time-based study of manipulated resource islands
Short-term responses of desert soil and vegetation to removal of feral burros and domestic cattle (California)
Establishing native grasses in a big sagebrush-dominated site: An intermediate restoration step
Integrated monitoring of hydrogeomorphic, vegetative, and edaphic conditions in riparian ecosystems of Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Effects of invasive alien plants on fire regimes
Science for the changing Great Basin
Interactions of cattle grazing and climate change- hierarchical data analysis
New proposed national resources inventory protocols on nonfederal rangelands
Transitions in rangeland evaluations: A review of the major transitions in rangeland evaluations during the last 25 years and speculation about future evaluations
The effect of stochiastic technique on estimates of population viability from transition matrix models
Restoring forbs for sage grouse habitat: Fire, microsites, and establishment methods
Non-USGS Publications**
**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.
Monitoring temporal change in riparian vegetation of Great Basin National Park
Available nitrogen: A time-based study of manipulated resource islands
Short-term responses of desert soil and vegetation to removal of feral burros and domestic cattle (California)
Establishing native grasses in a big sagebrush-dominated site: An intermediate restoration step
Integrated monitoring of hydrogeomorphic, vegetative, and edaphic conditions in riparian ecosystems of Great Basin National Park, Nevada
Effects of invasive alien plants on fire regimes
Science for the changing Great Basin
Interactions of cattle grazing and climate change- hierarchical data analysis
New proposed national resources inventory protocols on nonfederal rangelands
Transitions in rangeland evaluations: A review of the major transitions in rangeland evaluations during the last 25 years and speculation about future evaluations
The effect of stochiastic technique on estimates of population viability from transition matrix models
Restoring forbs for sage grouse habitat: Fire, microsites, and establishment methods
Non-USGS Publications**
**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.
*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