Kristin Byrd, Ph.D.

Current Position

I am an applied landscape ecologist with expertise in vegetation ecology, remote sensing, integrated landscape modeling and stakeholder engagement. I lead interdisciplinary teams in landscape-scale studies of Nature-based Climate Solutions provided by wetlands and working lands. Research topics address coastal ecosystem controls on hurricane impacts and sustainability of ecosystem services. I integrate models of land use and management, climate and hydrological change to identify climate adaptation opportunities. I analyze multispectral and hyperspectral imagery to quantify ecosystem condition. My work spans U.S. coastal wetlands, the State of California and the Central Valley, California and Puget Sound, Washington. I emphasize the use of open data and open source software to easily reproduce, update and transfer information. All projects feature extensive outreach to land managers to aid natural resources decision making.

Current Projects

Team Member, Philippines Counter Wildlife Trafficking & Protected Area Management Project, U.S. Dept. of Interior International Technical Assistance Program short-term assignment. 2023 – 2024.

PI: “Climate-related impacts and restoration opportunities for culturally significant Klamath River willow riparian species.” USGS Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center. 2024 – 2027. 

Co-PI: "Triage and Decision Support Tool for Evaluating Vulnerability of Indigenous Shell Middens and Loss of Marsh Habitat Diversity to Sea Level Rise. USGS Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center. 2024 – 2026. PI: Kathryn Smith, USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center.

Senior Personnel: “Shifting Culture and Mitigating Inequities in Landscape Ecology Through a Collaborative Network of Professional Societies.” NSF Leading Culture Change Through Professional Societies of Biology (BIO-LEAPS). 2024 – 2029. PI: Kusum Naithani, University of Arkansas.

PI: “Remote Sensing of Mercury Speciation in South San Francisco Bay: Applications of Emerging Technologies to Track Management and Climate Impacts." USGS Bay-Delta Priority Ecosystem Studies Program. 2022 – 2026.

Co-PI: “Coastal wetland vulnerability to climate change and sea-level rise: understanding ecological thresholds and ecosystem transformations.” USGS Large Landscapes Priority Ecosystem Studies Program. 2023 – 2025. PI: Michael Osland, USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center.

Co-PI: SHIFT (NASA Surface Biology and Geology High Density Time Series) Field Campaign. NASA SBG. 2022 - 2023. Lead: Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Co-PI: "Coastal Elevation Models and Land Surface Variables for Use in Forecasting Hurricane Impacts." Hurricane Coastal Impacts, Task 1, National Oceanographic Partnership Program. 2021 – 2024. PI: Dean Gesch, USGS EROS.

PI: "Remote Sensing and Forecasting Wetland and Watershed Ecosystem Services." USGS National Land Imaging Program. Ongoing.