Kathi Irvine, Ph.D.
I am a Research Statistician with the U.S. Geological Survey at the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center in Bozeman, Montana.
Research Interest
Prior to finding my home in the federal system in 2011, I was an assistant professor at Montana State University (2008-2010). Since receiving my PhD in Statistics from Oregon State University in 2007, I have collaborated with ecologists and biologists charged with monitoring natural resources on federal and state lands. My team provides statistical support for monitoring programs led by the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and state agencies. Our work involves development of survey design and analysis strategies for a variety of plants, animals, and other indicators. We currently support monitoring of whitebark pine in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, upland plant communities throughout the Western US, and bats across North America.
My applied statistical research involves developing analytical approaches for ordinal data and bat acoustic surveys that better link the ecological and observation process within a Bayesian framework, applications of causal analysis, investigating spatial sampling designs, and model-assisted methods for status and trend analyses. I mentor statistics students and support graduate research assistants at Montana State University (MSU). Several of my students have participated in writing peer-reviewed papers during their time at MSU. I encourage students interested in ecological statistics to contact me for possible graduate research assistantships, paid summer work, and other opportunities.
Related Projects:
https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/
Education and Certifications
PhD. Statistics. Oregon State University
MS. Statistics. Oregon State University; MS. Ecology and Environmental Sciences. University of Maine
BS. Biology. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Science and Products
A plan for the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)
Review of the book Handbook of spatial point-pattern analysis in Ecology, by Thorsten Wiegand and Kirk A. Moloney
Evaluating physical habitat and water chemistry data from statewide stream monitoring programs to establish least-impacted conditions in Washington State
Empirical evaluation of the conceptual model underpinning a regional aquatic long-term monitoring program using causal modelling
Predicting foundation bunchgrass species abundances: Model-assisted decision-making in protected-area sagebrush steppe
Demographic monitoring and population viability analysis of two rare beardtongues from the Uinta Basin
Evaluation of a combined macrophyte–epiphyte bioassay for assessing nutrient enrichment in the Portneuf River, Idaho, USA
Statistical assessment on a combined analysis of GRYN-ROMN-UCBN upland vegetation vital signs
Meteorological variables associated with deep slab avalanches on persistent weak layers
Summary of preliminary step-trend analysis from the Interagency Whitebark Pine Long-termMonitoring Program—2004-2013
Status of whitebarkpine in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: A step-trend analysis comparing 2004-2007 to 2008-2011
Response of Yellowstone grizzly bears to changes in food resources: A synthesis. Final report to the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee and Yellowstone Ecosystem Subcommittee
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
A plan for the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat)
Review of the book Handbook of spatial point-pattern analysis in Ecology, by Thorsten Wiegand and Kirk A. Moloney
Evaluating physical habitat and water chemistry data from statewide stream monitoring programs to establish least-impacted conditions in Washington State
Empirical evaluation of the conceptual model underpinning a regional aquatic long-term monitoring program using causal modelling
Predicting foundation bunchgrass species abundances: Model-assisted decision-making in protected-area sagebrush steppe
Demographic monitoring and population viability analysis of two rare beardtongues from the Uinta Basin
Evaluation of a combined macrophyte–epiphyte bioassay for assessing nutrient enrichment in the Portneuf River, Idaho, USA
Statistical assessment on a combined analysis of GRYN-ROMN-UCBN upland vegetation vital signs
Meteorological variables associated with deep slab avalanches on persistent weak layers
Summary of preliminary step-trend analysis from the Interagency Whitebark Pine Long-termMonitoring Program—2004-2013
Status of whitebarkpine in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: A step-trend analysis comparing 2004-2007 to 2008-2011
Response of Yellowstone grizzly bears to changes in food resources: A synthesis. Final report to the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee and Yellowstone Ecosystem Subcommittee
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.