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Sarah Burton

Sarah Burton is a Data Scientist with the USGS National Climate Adaptation Science Center.

Sarah serves as the Data Steward for the North Central, Midwest, and Pacific Island Climate Adaptation Science Centers, overseeing data management activities for all projects from their onset through publication. In addition to the data management tasks, Sarah works on various geospatial projects, such as developing geonarratives for communicating climate science. Sarah received her Masters of Science in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Michigan State University where she studied the role of social networks in partnership development among state wildlife agencies. Her professional interests include developing approaches to better understand the interactions between humans and wildlife habitat, geospatial analysis, quantitative & qualitative social science, and facilitating better data access for managers.

Education and Certifications

  • M.S in Fisheries and Wildlife Management, Michigan State University

  • B.S. in Natural Resource Management, Central Michigan University

Science and Products

Image of a western meadowlark

Climate Science and Adaptation Planning Support for State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) in the North Central Region

State Wildlife Action Plans are intended to provide proactive planning and guidance for the management of rare or imperiled species, including Species of Greatest Conservation Need. States must update their State Wildlife Action Plans every 10 years, but planners often lack the capacity or resources to integrate climate change into their planning. Revised State Wildlife Action Plans for...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
Climate Science and Adaptation Planning Support for State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) in the North Central Region

Climate Science and Adaptation Planning Support for State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) in the North Central Region

State Wildlife Action Plans are intended to provide proactive planning and guidance for the management of rare or imperiled species, including Species of Greatest Conservation Need. States must update their State Wildlife Action Plans every 10 years, but planners often lack the capacity or resources to integrate climate change into their planning. Revised State Wildlife Action Plans for most state
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Riparian climate refugia data in western and central USA for 2040-2069 and 2070-2099 Riparian climate refugia data in western and central USA for 2040-2069 and 2070-2099

We mapped potential climate change refugia for riparian areas in the central and western USA for 2040-2069 and 2070-2099. Riparian refugia are existing riparian areas that are projected to maintain riparian vegetation and associated ecological function under plausible future climates. Four input variables were included in the riparian refugia index: two landscape variables that represent...
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers

Incorporating projected climate conditions to map future riparian refugia Incorporating projected climate conditions to map future riparian refugia

Identifying areas expected to remain buffered from climate change and maintain biodiversity and ecological function (i.e., climate refugia) is important for climate adaptation planning. As structurally diverse transitional zones between terrestrial and aquatic environments, riparian areas are often biological hotspots and provide critical corridors for species movement, particularly in...
Authors
Kimberly E Szcodronski, Alisa A. Wade, Sarah Elizabeth Burton, Blake R. Hossack
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

Persistence of soil organic matter in eroding versus depositional landform positions Persistence of soil organic matter in eroding versus depositional landform positions

Soil organic matter (SOM) processes in dynamic landscapes are strongly influenced by soil erosion and sedimentation. We determined the contribution of physical isolation of organic matter (OM) inside aggregates, chemical interaction of OM with soil minerals, and molecular structure of SOM in controlling storage and persistence of SOM in different types of eroding and depositional...
Authors
Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, Jennifer W. Harden, Margaret S. Torn, Markus Kleber, Sarah D. Burton, John Harte

Non-USGS Publications**

Burton, S. E., Frank, K. A., Riley, S. J., & Kramer, D. B. (2021). The role of social networks in partnership development with state wildlife agencies. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 1-17.DOI: 10.1080/10871209.2021.2015015
Phillips, J. G., Burton, S. E., Womack, M. M., Pulver, E., & Nicholson, K. E. (2019). Biogeography, Systematics, and Ecomorphology of Pacific Island Anoles. Diversity, 11(9), 141.
Phillips, J., Laurencio, D., Burton, S., Wostl, E., & Nicholson, K. (2015). First recorded female specimen of Norops fungosus (Myers, 1971). Mesoamerican Herpetology. 2. 134-135.

**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.

Riparian Climate Refugia Data Explorer Riparian Climate Refugia Data Explorer

Identifying areas expected to remain buffered from climate change and maintain biodiversity and ecological function is important for climate adaptation planning. As structurally diverse transitional zones between terrestrial and aquatic environments, riparian areas are often biological hotspots and provide critical corridors for species movement, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center

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