Peter Weisberg

Photo of Peter Weisberg, Extension

Peter Weisberg

Professor

Summary

I am interested in the causes and consequences of landscape change, including natural disturbances, effects of anthropogenic land use, ungulate-landscape interactions, and invasive species. My research often considers past landscape change as a guide to understanding present and future condition, and integrates field studies, GIS, remote sensing and simulation modeling. Ongoing research projects within my lab group address disturbance ecology, woodland expansion, post-fire succession, and ecological restoration in Great Basin pinyon-juniper woodlands; fire history and ecology of mountain big sagebrush communities; fire ecology of the Sierra Nevada (Lake Tahoe Basin); and the ecology of tamarisk invasions along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon.

Education

B.S., 1992, SUNY College of Env. Science and Forestry (Forest Biology)
M.S., 1994, University of Wyoming (Biogeography)
PhD, 1998 Oregon State University (Forest Ecology)

News & Journal Articles, Fact Sheets, Reports...

Bulletins
Plant community response to tamarisk invasion and hydrologic regime in the Cataract Canyon, Canyonlands National Park. Mortenson, S. G., Weisberg, P. J. 2009, Canyonlands National Park.
Monitoring vegetation of desert springs: a literature review Weisberg, P. J., Dilts, T. 2008, Death Valley National Park, USDI National Park Service.(pp. 36 p.)
Datasets
Geospatial data for Great Basin perennial montane watersheds - geomorphology, hydrology, vegetation, disturbance and species Board, David I.; Dilts, Thomas E.; Weisberg, Peter J.; Knight, Anna C.; Chambers, Jeanne C.; Lord, Mark L.; Miller, Jerry R. 2020, Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive.
Pinyon-juniper stem-mapped GIS dataset: upper and lower treelines of Toiyabe range, Nevada (USA). Garbarino, M., Weisberg, P. J. 2020, FigShare
Journals
Improved topographic ruggedness indices more accurately model fine-scale ecological patterns. Dilts, T.E., Blum, M.E., Shoemaker, K.T. et al. 2023, Landscape Ecology, 38, 1395–1410
Treeline remote sensing: From tracking treeline shifts to multi-dimensional monitoring of ecotonal change. Garbarino, M., Morresi, D., Anselmetto, N., & Weisberg, P. J. 2023, Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation, 9(6), 729-742
Managing for ecological resilience of pinyon–juniper ecosystems during an era of woodland contraction. Redmond, M. D., Urza, A. K., & Weisberg, P. J. 2023, Ecosphere, 14(5), e4505
Intraspecific trait variation in a dryland tree species corresponds to regional climate gradients. Vasey, G.L., Weisberg, P.J. and Urza, A.K., 2022, Journal of Biogeography, 49(12), pp.2309-2320
Drought alters the understory of pinyon-juniper woodlands indirectly through tree dieback. Flake, S.W. and Weisberg, P.J. 2021, Rangeland Ecology & Management, 76, pp.118-128
Quantifying the relationship between soil seed bank and plant community assemblage in sites harboring the threatened Ivesia webberi in the western Great Basin Desert IT Borokini, PJ Weisberg, MM Peacock 2021, Applied Vegetation Science 24 (1), e12547
Episodic occurrence of favourable weather constrains recovery of a cold desert shrubland after fire. Urza, A. K., Weisberg, P. J., Board, D., Chambers, J. C., Kitchen, S. G., & Roundy, B. A. 2021, Journal of Applied Ecology, 58(8), 1776–1789.
Phenology-based classification of invasive annual grasses to the species level. Weisberg, P. J., Dilts, T. E., Greenberg, J. A., Johnson, K. N., Pai, H., Sladek, C., … Ready, A. 2021, Remote Sensing of Environment, 263, 112568
Land-use legacies and forest change. Garbarino, M., Weisberg, P. J. 2020, Landscape Ecology, 35, 2641-2644
Rapidly Accelerating Deforestation in Cambodia’s Mekong River Basin: A Comparative Analysis of Spatial Patterns and Drivers. Lohani, S., Dilts, T. E., Weisberg, P. J., Null, S. E., Hogan, Z. S. 2020, Water, 12(8), 2191
Evidence of widespread topoclimatic limitation for lower treelines of the Intermountain West, United States. Urza, A. K., Weisberg, P. J., Dilts, T. E. 2020, Ecological Applications, 30(7), e02158
Assessment of the suitability of tree rings as archives of global and regional atmospheric mercury pollution. Peckham, M. A., Gustin, M. S., Weisberg, P. J. 2019, Environmental Science and Technology, 53, 3663-3671
Results of a controlled field experiment to assess the use of tree tissue concentrations as bioindicators of air Hg. Peckham, M., Gustin, M. S., Weisberg, P. J., Weiss-Penzias, P. 2019, Biogeochemistry (2019) 142: 265
Shrub facilitation of tree establishment varies with ontogenetic stage across environmental gradients. Urza, A. K., Weisberg, P. J., Chambers, J. C., Sullivan, B. W. 2019, New Phytologist, 223(4), 1795--1808
Aridity drives spatiotemporal patterns of masting across the latitudinal range of a dryland conifer. Wion, A. P., Weisberg, P. J., Pearse, I. S., Redmond, M. D. 2019, Ecography, Volume 43, Issue 4
Evidence for nonstomatal uptake of Hg by aspen and translocation of Hg from foliage to tree rings in Austrian pine. Arnold, J., Gustin, M. S., Weisberg, P. J. 2018, Environmental Science and Technology, 52(23), 1174-1182.
Using paleolandscape modeling to investigate the impact of Native American-set fires on pre-Columbian forests in the southern Sierra Nevada, California, USA. Klimaszewski-Patterson, A., Weisberg, P. J., Mensing, S. A., Scheller, R. M. 2018, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 108(6), 1635-1654.
The sensitivity of snow ephemerality to warming climate across an arid to montane vegetation gradient Petersky R,, Shoemaker K.T., Weisberg P.J., Harpold A. 2018, Ecohydrology
Hydrologic influences on plant community structure in long-term inundated vernal pools of northeastern California. Gosejohan, M. C., Weisberg, P. J., Merriam, K. E. 2017, Wetlands, 37(2), 257 - 268.
Woodland resilience to regional drought: dominant controls on tree regeneration following overstorey mortality. Redmond, M. D., Weisberg, P. J., Cobb, N. S., Clifford, M. J. 2017, Journal of Ecology, 106(2), 625-639
The value of native plants and local production in an era of global agriculture. Shelef, O., Weisberg, P. J., Provenza, F. D. 2017, Frontiers in Plant Science, 8, 2069.
Development of remote sensing indicators for mapping episodic die-off of an invasive annual grass (Bromus tectorum) from the Landsat archive. Weisberg, P. J., Dilts, T., Baughman, O., Meyer, S., Leger, E. A., Van Gunst, J., Cleeves, L. 2017, Ecological Indicators, 79, 173-181.
Shrubs facilitate pine colonization by controlling seed predation in dry Mediterranean dwarf shrublands. Ziffer-Berger, J., Weisberg, P. J., Cablk, M. E., Moshe, Y., Osem, Y. 2017, Journal of Arid Environments, 147, 34-39.
Topographic context of the burn edge influences postfire recruitment of arid land shrubs. Condon, L., Weisberg, P. J. 2016, Rangeland Ecology and Management, 69(2), 129-133
Multi-scale connectivity and graph theory highlight critical areas for conservation under climate change. Dilts, T., Weisberg, P., Leitner, P., Matocq, M., Inman, R., Nussear, K., Esque, T. 2016, Ecological Applications, 26, 1223-1237
Impacts of climate change and renewable energy development on habitat of an endemic squirrel Xerospermophilus mohavensis in the Mojave Desert, USA. Inman, R., Esque, T., Nussear, K., Matocq, M., Leitner, P., Weisberg, P., Dilts, T. 2016, Biological Conservation, 200, 112-121
Rangeland Ecology and Management, 69, 185 - 194. Merriam, K. E., Gosejohan, M. C., Weisberg, P. J., Bovee, K. M. 2016, Livestock use has mixed effects on slender orcutt grass in northeastern California vernal pools.
A robust method to determine historical annual cone production among slow-growing conifers. Redmond, M. D., Weisberg, P. J., Cobb, N. S., Gehring, C. A., Whipple, A. V., Whitham, T. G. 2016, Forest Ecology and Management
Do denser forests have greater risk of tree mortality: A remote sensing analysis of density-dependent forest mortality. Van Gunst, K. J., Weisberg, P. J., Yang, J., Fan, Y. 2016, Forest Ecology and Management, 359, 19-32.
Synergistic effects of spring temperatures and land cover on nest survival of urban birds. Becker, M. E., Weisberg, P. J. 2015, Condor, 117, 18 - 30.
Functionally relevant climate variables for arid lands: using climatic water deficit modeling to predict distribution of desert shrub vegetation. Dilts, T., Weisberg, P. J., Dencker, C. M., Chambers, J. C. 2015, Journal of Biogeography, 42(10), 1986 - 1997.
Geomorphic predictors of riparian vegetation in small mountain watersheds. Engelhardt, B. M., Chambers, J. C., Weisberg, P. J. 2015, Journal of Plant Ecology, 8, 593 - 604.
Sex-related spatial segregation along environmental gradients in the dioecious conifer, Taxus baccata. Garbarino, M., Weisberg, P. J., Bagnara, L., Urbinati, C. 2015, Forest Ecology and Management, 358, 122 - 129.
Predicting wildfire occurrence distribution with spatial point process models and its uncertainty assessment: a case study in the Lake Tahoe Basin, USA. Yang, J., Weisberg, P. J., Dilts, T., Loudermilk, L., Scheller, R., Stanton, A., Skinner, C. 2015, International Journal of Wildland Fire, 24, 380 - 390.
Fire modulates climate change response of simulated aspen distribution across topoclimatic gradients in a semi-arid montane landscape. Yang, J., Weisberg, P. J., Shinneman, D. J., Dilts, T., Earnst, S. L., Scheller, R. M. (2015). 2015, Landscape Ecology, 30(6), 1055 - 1073.
Spatial patterns provide support for the stress-gradient hypothesis over a range-wide aridity gradient. Berger, J. Z., Weisberg, P. J., Cablk, M., Osem, Y. 2014, Journal of Arid Environments, 102, 27-33.
A 40-year record of tree establishment following chaining and prescribed fire in pinyon-juniper woodlands. Bristow, N. A., Weisberg, P. J., Tausch, R. J. 2014, Rangeland Ecology and Management, 67, 389-396.
Spatio-temporal analysis of remotely-sensed forest mortality associated with road de-icing salts. Fan, Y., Weisberg, P. J., Nowak, R. S. 2014, Science of the Total Environment, 472, 929-938.
Influence of climate and environment on post-fire recovery of mountain big sagebrush. Nelson, Z. J., Weisberg, P. J., Kitchen, S. G. 2014, International Journal of Wildland Fire, 23, 131-142.
Guild-specific responses of avian species richness to LiDAR-derived habitat heterogeneity. Weisberg, P. J., Dilts, T., Becker, M. E., Young, J. S., Wong-Kone, D. C., Newton, W. E., Ammon, E. C. 2014, Acta Oecologica, 59, 72-83.
Application of tree rings [dendrochemistry] for detecting historical trends in air Hg concentrations across multiple scales Wright, G., Woodward, C., Peri, L., Weisberg, P., Gustin, M. S. 2014, Biogeochemistry120:149-12
Development and evaluation of a nutrient cycling extension for the LANDIS-II landscape simulation model. Karam, S. L., Weisberg, P. J., Scheller, R. M., Johnson, D. W., and W. Miller. 2013, Ecological Modelling, 250: 45-57.
Gallery Forest or Herbaceous Wetland? The Need for Multi-Target Perspectives in Riparian Restoration Planning. Weisberg, P.J., Mortenson, S.G., and T.E. Dilts. 2013, Restoration Ecology, 21(1): 12-16.
Direct and indirect effects of irrigated agriculture on land cover change in an arid lands watershed. Dilts, T.E., Yang, J., Weisberg, P.J., Olson, T.J., Turner, P.L., and Condon, L.A. 2012, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 102(3): 531-548.
The influence of floods and precipitation on Tamarix establishment in Grand Canyon, Arizona: consequences for flow regime restoration. Mortenson, S.G., Weisberg, P.J. and L.E. Stevens. 2012, Biological Invasions, 14(5): 1061-1076.
Old tree morphology in singleleaf pinyon pine (Pinus monophylla). Weisberg, P.J., and D.W. Ko. 2012, Forest Ecology and Management, 263: 67-73.
Abiotic and biotic influences on Bromus tectorum invasion and Artemisia Condon, L. A., Weisberg, P. J., Chambers, J. C. 2011, International Journal of Wildland Fire, 20, 597-604
Land-use legacy of historical tree harvesting for charcoal production in a semi-arid woodland Ko, D. W., Sparrow, A. D., Weisberg, P. J. 2011, Forest Ecology and Management, 261(7), 1283-1292
Remote sensing approaches for reconstructing fire perimeters and burn severity mosaics in desert spring ecosystems Sunderman, S. O., Weisberg, P. J. 2011, Remote Sensing of Environment, 115(9), 2384-2389
Avian response to urbanization in the arid riparian context of Reno, USA Trammell, E. Jamie, Weisberg, P. J., Bassett, S. 2011, Landscape and Urban Planning, 102(2), 93-101
Does river regulation increase dominance of woody species in riparian landscapes? Mortenson, S. J., Weisberg, P. J. 2010, Global Ecology & Biogeography, 19, 562-574.
Global macroecology of bird assemblages in urbanized and semi-natural ecosystems Pautasso, M., Böhning-Gaese, K., Clergeau, P., Cueto, V. R., Dinetti, M., Fernández-Juricic, E., Kaisanlahti-Jokimäki, M.-L., Jokimäki, J., McKinney, M. L., Sodhi, N. S., Storch, D., Tomialojc, L., Weisberg, P. J., Woinarski, J., Fuller, R. A., Cantarello, E. 2010, Global Ecology and Biogeography, no. doi: 10.1111/j.1466-8238.2010.00616.x
Fire history of a central Nevada pinyon-juniper woodland.. Bauer, J. M., Weisberg, P. J. 2009, Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 39, 1589 - 1599.
Natural and anthropogenic disturbances: interactions and effects on the structure of European larch forests.. Garbarino, M., Weisberg, P. J., Motta, R. 2009, Forest Ecology and Management, 257, 1794 - 1802.
GIS-based modeling of pinyon-juniper woodland structure in the Great Basin.. Greenwood, D. L., Weisberg, P. J. 2009, Forest Science, 55, 1 - 12.
Application of a rule-based model to estimate mercury exchange for three background biomes in the continental United States. Hartman, J., Weisberg, P. J., Pillai, R., Ericksen, J., Kuiken, T., Lindberg, S., Zhang, H., Rytuba, J., Gustin, M. S. 2009, Environmental Science and Technology, 43, 4989 - 4994.
Canopy cover estimation in semi-arid woodlands: comparison of field-based and remote sensing methods.. Ko, D., Bristow, N., Greenwood, D. L., Weisberg, P. J. 2009, Forest Science, 55, 132 - 141.
Influence of climate, fire, and topography on contemporary age structures of Douglas-fir at 205 old forest sites in Western Oregon: A study in variability. Poage, N. J., Weisberg, P. J., Tappeiner, J. C., Impara, P. C., Sensenig, T. S. 2009, Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 39, 1518 - 1530.
Historical fire frequency on contrasting slope facets along the McKenzie River, western Oregon Cascades.. Weisberg, P. J. 2009, Western North American Naturalist, 69, 206 - 214.
Modeling fire and landform influences on the distribution of old-growth pinyon-juniper woodland. Weisberg, P. J., Ko, D., Py, C., Bauer, J. 2008, Landscape Ecology, 23, 931-943.
Presentations
Landscape Genetics of the Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) across the Sagebrush Sea of the Great Basin. M Matocq, TE Dilts, E Larrucea, P Weisberg, M Crowell, KT Shoemaker 2019, American Fisheries Society & The Wildlife Society
Professional Papers
Long-term Vegetation Response to Chaining and Prescribed Fire in Eastern Nevada Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands. Bristow, N., Tausch, R., Weisberg, P. J. 2010, Bureau of Land Management.
Fire Patterns and Fire Effects on the Plant Community, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Weisberg, P. J., Sunderman, S. O., Karam, S. L. 2010, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
Research Reports
Charcoal's Role in Nevada Mining and Forest History: Charcoal Pits. Page, D.H., Jr., Weisberg, P., Page, S.E., & Straka, T.J. 2023, Nevada Historical Society Q 66(4), 2-38
Technical Publication
Fire Patterns in Piñon and Juniper Land Cover Types in the Semiarid Western US from 1984 through 2013. Board, D. I., Chambers, J. C., Miller, R. F., Weisberg, P. J. 2018, US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station