Prescribed burns are a common tool used by land managers to control invasive plant species and to promote native plants. There are many benefits to using a prescribed burn as a management tool; however, controlling fire is often difficult as it can be unpredictable.
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
Linking post-fire sagebrush restoration and sage-grouse habitat recovery
SageSTEP – Sagebrush Steppe Treatment Evaluation Project
Simulating the influence of sagebrush restoration on post-fire sage-grouse population recovery
Using simulation models to project and evaluate post-fire success in restoring sage-grouse habitat over large landscapes
Cheatgrass and Medusahead
Standardized Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Monitoring Protocols (ES&R)
Restoration and Ecology of Arid Lands Team (FRESC)
Restoration of Shrub Steppe Ecosystems
Invasive Species Ecology
Indicators of Rangeland Health
Fire Rehabilitation Effects and Effectiveness
Field of Sagebrush Dreams: Planting and Restoring Functional Sagebrush in Burned Landscapes
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.
Greater sage-grouse habitat suitability 15-years post simulated fire event and sagebrush transplanting (2015-2030)
Biological soil crust and vascular plant data from Horse Heaven Hills, Washington, measured in 1999 and remeasured in 2020
State-and-Transition Simulation Models to explore post-fire habitat restoration in three greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Priority Areas for Conservation, USA (2018-2068)
Sagebrush Restoration Following Fire Disturbance in the Virginia Mountains, Nevada (2018)
Invasive Grasses Cheatgrass and Medusahead Yield Responses to Sucrose in Experimental Plots in the Northern Great Basin, USA Dataset, 2005-2006
Tackifier impacts on growth of Great Basin mosses Bryum argenteum and Syntrichia ruralis, a growth chamber study, 2017-2018
Compilation of BLM Monitoring Reports Assessing Post Wildfire Seeding of Rangelands, 2001-2009
Compilation of studies assessing post-wildfire seeding of rangelands worldwide (1965-2010)
Nitrogen cycling rates from sagebrush and cheatgrass-invaded soils in the Northern Great Basin (2008)
Global temperate drylands climate change vulnerability
Prescribed burns are a common tool used by land managers to control invasive plant species and to promote native plants. There are many benefits to using a prescribed burn as a management tool; however, controlling fire is often difficult as it can be unpredictable.
![Image: Big Sagebrush Re-establishing 15 Years Post-wildfire Along the Boise Front Mountains](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/Pek_MNT_HM_ID082306001.jpg?itok=0SD18PPm)
Young mountain big sagebrush shown in the foreground are re-establishing in a native bunchgrass community 15 years after a fire along the Boise Front Mountains looking unto the Snake River Plain, Idaho.
Young mountain big sagebrush shown in the foreground are re-establishing in a native bunchgrass community 15 years after a fire along the Boise Front Mountains looking unto the Snake River Plain, Idaho.
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.
Modeling the potential habitat gained by planting sagebrush in burned landscapes
Long-term biocrust responses to wildfires in Washington, USA
Manipulation of rangeland wildlife habitat
Using state-and-transition simulation models to scope post-fire success in restoring greater sage-grouse habitat
Goldilocks forbs: Survival is highest outside—but not too far outside—of Wyoming big sagebrush canopies
Ten-year ecological responses to fuel treatments within semiarid Wyoming big sagebrush ecosystems
Targeting sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) restoration following wildfire with Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) nest selection and survival models
Fuel reduction treatments reduce modeled fire intensity in the sagebrush steppe
Sagebrush recovery patterns after fuel treatments mediated by disturbance type and plant functional group interactions
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health, Version 5: Bureau of Land Management Technical Reference 1734-6
Postfire growth of seeded and planted big sagebrush - Strategic designs for restoring Greater Sage-grouse nesting habitat
Biological soil crusts in ecological restoration: Emerging research and perspectives
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.
veg_sim: Modeling Greater sage-grouse habitat suitability 15-years post simulated fire event and sagebrush transplanting (2015-2030)
Science and Products
Linking post-fire sagebrush restoration and sage-grouse habitat recovery
SageSTEP – Sagebrush Steppe Treatment Evaluation Project
Simulating the influence of sagebrush restoration on post-fire sage-grouse population recovery
Using simulation models to project and evaluate post-fire success in restoring sage-grouse habitat over large landscapes
Cheatgrass and Medusahead
Standardized Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation Monitoring Protocols (ES&R)
Restoration and Ecology of Arid Lands Team (FRESC)
Restoration of Shrub Steppe Ecosystems
Invasive Species Ecology
Indicators of Rangeland Health
Fire Rehabilitation Effects and Effectiveness
Field of Sagebrush Dreams: Planting and Restoring Functional Sagebrush in Burned Landscapes
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.
Greater sage-grouse habitat suitability 15-years post simulated fire event and sagebrush transplanting (2015-2030)
Biological soil crust and vascular plant data from Horse Heaven Hills, Washington, measured in 1999 and remeasured in 2020
State-and-Transition Simulation Models to explore post-fire habitat restoration in three greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Priority Areas for Conservation, USA (2018-2068)
Sagebrush Restoration Following Fire Disturbance in the Virginia Mountains, Nevada (2018)
Invasive Grasses Cheatgrass and Medusahead Yield Responses to Sucrose in Experimental Plots in the Northern Great Basin, USA Dataset, 2005-2006
Tackifier impacts on growth of Great Basin mosses Bryum argenteum and Syntrichia ruralis, a growth chamber study, 2017-2018
Compilation of BLM Monitoring Reports Assessing Post Wildfire Seeding of Rangelands, 2001-2009
Compilation of studies assessing post-wildfire seeding of rangelands worldwide (1965-2010)
Nitrogen cycling rates from sagebrush and cheatgrass-invaded soils in the Northern Great Basin (2008)
Global temperate drylands climate change vulnerability
Prescribed burns are a common tool used by land managers to control invasive plant species and to promote native plants. There are many benefits to using a prescribed burn as a management tool; however, controlling fire is often difficult as it can be unpredictable.
Prescribed burns are a common tool used by land managers to control invasive plant species and to promote native plants. There are many benefits to using a prescribed burn as a management tool; however, controlling fire is often difficult as it can be unpredictable.
![Image: Big Sagebrush Re-establishing 15 Years Post-wildfire Along the Boise Front Mountains](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/Pek_MNT_HM_ID082306001.jpg?itok=0SD18PPm)
Young mountain big sagebrush shown in the foreground are re-establishing in a native bunchgrass community 15 years after a fire along the Boise Front Mountains looking unto the Snake River Plain, Idaho.
Young mountain big sagebrush shown in the foreground are re-establishing in a native bunchgrass community 15 years after a fire along the Boise Front Mountains looking unto the Snake River Plain, Idaho.
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.
Modeling the potential habitat gained by planting sagebrush in burned landscapes
Long-term biocrust responses to wildfires in Washington, USA
Manipulation of rangeland wildlife habitat
Using state-and-transition simulation models to scope post-fire success in restoring greater sage-grouse habitat
Goldilocks forbs: Survival is highest outside—but not too far outside—of Wyoming big sagebrush canopies
Ten-year ecological responses to fuel treatments within semiarid Wyoming big sagebrush ecosystems
Targeting sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) restoration following wildfire with Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) nest selection and survival models
Fuel reduction treatments reduce modeled fire intensity in the sagebrush steppe
Sagebrush recovery patterns after fuel treatments mediated by disturbance type and plant functional group interactions
Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health, Version 5: Bureau of Land Management Technical Reference 1734-6
Postfire growth of seeded and planted big sagebrush - Strategic designs for restoring Greater Sage-grouse nesting habitat
Biological soil crusts in ecological restoration: Emerging research and perspectives
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.
veg_sim: Modeling Greater sage-grouse habitat suitability 15-years post simulated fire event and sagebrush transplanting (2015-2030)
*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