Judd A. Howell, Ph. D

USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
12100 Beech Forest Road, STE 4039
Laurel, MD 20708-4039

Telephone: 301-497-5503

Fax: 301-497-5505

Email: Judd_Howell@usgs.gov

Center Director

Primary Responsibilities: 
The Center Director of Patuxent Wildlife Research Center is responsible for the management of a broad, multi-disciplinary program of biological research, inventory and monitoring, and information management.  The Center Director identifies and meets with potential partners to determine their research needs, share information, and to report pertinent results and findings.  The Center Director provides leadership and guidance to senior scientists, field station leaders, administrative officers, project leaders in planning staffing, budgeting and coordinating Center Programs.
 

Education/Training: 

Ph.D. 1993 Wildland Resource Science (Wildlife Ecology), University of California Berkeley
M.S. 1976 Zoology, Arizona State University.
B.S. 1974 Zoology, Montana State University

Conducted the basic inventory of Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA)’s wildlife resources by sampling 520 geo-referenced study plots for vegetation and vertebrates in five locations in the park including Muir Woods National Monument since 1990.  The arrangement of study sites has given us a time series of plots of currently grazed, post grazing succession of 10-25 years, and post grazing succession over 100 years.  We have utilized over 250 volunteers in 27 Earthwatch research teams.  For the past seven years we have been responsible for developing a comprehensive inventory and monitoring program for Golden Gate NRA with extensive examination of GIS, wildlife habitat modeling applications, and impacts of grazing.

Laid framework for present bobcat, gray fox, and coyote research program at Golden Gate NRA.

Investigation of human activities that affect biodiversity between coastal ecosystems of France and the United States (Golden Gate Biosphere Reserve - USMAB)

Demographic research of the tule elk (Cervus elaphus) population at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Adjunct Professor, Wildlife Department, Humboldt State University

Affiliate, Associate Professor, Wildlife and Fisheries Department, University of Idaho

Active Projects: 
Working with an international network among USMAB/UNESCO Biosphere Reserves to examine similar ecosystems in Europe and the Western United States with analogous problems within a global context. Active research program integrates the use of remote sensing, geographic information systems, and empirical data sets for spatial and temporal modeling of biodiversity of plants and animals in the landscape.

Small Island Ecosystem Group (SIEG)

Publications/Products: 

Fong, D. and Howell, J.A. 2006. Distribution and Abundance of California Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon ensatus) and Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) in the Upper Redwood Creek Watershed, Marin County, California. USGS Open-File Report 2006-1066.

Semenoff-Irving, M. and J. A. Howell. 2005. Pilot Inventory of Mammals, Reptiles, and Amphibians, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, California, 1990--1997 (PDF). USGS OFR 2005-1381.

Howell, J. A., G. C. Brooks, M. Semenoff-Irving, and C. Greene. 2002. Population dynamics of tule elk at Point Reyes National Seashore, California. Journal of Wildlife Management 66(2):478-490

Shideler, S. E., M. A. Stoops, N. A. Gee, J. A. Howell, and B. L. Lasley. 2002. Use of porcine zona pellucida vaccine as a contraceptive agent in free-ranging tule elk (Cervus elaphus nannodes) at Tomales Point, Point Reyes National Seashore. Reproduction (Suppl. 60)

Howell, J.A. and R.H. Barrett.  1998.  California Wildlife-Habitat-Relationship System: a test in coastal scrub and annual grassland.  California Fish & Game 84:74-87

Howell, J.A.  1997.  Bobcat (Felus rufus) ecology and management. pp 67-70.  in J. E. Harris and C.V. Ogan, eds.  Mesocarnivores of Northern California:  biology, management, and survey techniques, Workshop Manual.  August 12-15, 1997, Humboldt State University, Arcata,CA.  The Wildlife Society, California North Coast Chapter, Arcata,CA  Unpublished document 117 pp.

Howell, J.A.  1997. Bird mortality at rotor swept area equivalents, Altamont Pass and Montezuma Hills, California.  Transactions of the Western Section of the Wildlife Society 33:24-29