2026 William J. McShea: Ecology and Evolution Researcher – H-Index, Publications & Awards

Discipline name	D-Index	World Ranking	Current World Ranking	National Ranking	Current National Ranking	Publications	Citations
Ecology and Evolution	72	1252	1194	459	429	244	16362

Overview

William J. McShea is affiliated with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in the United States. Their research primarily centers on environmental science, with a strong focus on ecology and related subfields. They have contributed extensively to ecology, nature and landscape conservation, ecological modeling, global and planetary change, as well as ecology, evolution, behavior, and systematics.

Research topics covered by William J. McShea include:

Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Species Distribution and Climate Change
Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
Rangeland and Wildlife Management
Plant and Animal Studies
Forest Ecology and Management

William J. McShea has published papers in several key scientific journals. Frequent publication venues include:

Biological Conservation
Global Ecology and Conservation
Methods in Ecology and Evolution
Global Change Biology
Nature

Recent papers by William J. McShea include:

An empirical evaluation of camera trap study design: How many, how long and when? (2020), published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution
ForestGEO: Understanding forest diversity and dynamics through a global observatory network (2020), published in Biological Conservation
Disturbance type and species life history predict mammal responses to humans (2021), published in Global Change Biology
Tree height and leaf drought tolerance traits shape growth responses across droughts in a temperate broadleaf forest (2020), published in New Phytologist
An evaluation of platforms for processing camera-trap data using artificial intelligence (2022), published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution

Collaborative work is a notable part of William J. McShea's scientific activity. Frequent co-authors include:

Michael V. Cove
Norman A. Bourg
Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira
Hila Shamon
Roland Kays

William J. McShea has authored at least one book published by the Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. This includes The Ecology and Conservation of Seasonally Dry Forests in Asia, which is scheduled for release in 2025.

Best Publications

CTFS-ForestGEO: A worldwide network monitoring forests in an era of global change

Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira;Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira;Stuart J. Davies;Stuart J. Davies;Amy C. Bennett;Erika B. Gonzalez-Akre

651
Citations
The science of overabundance : deer ecology and population management

William J. McShea;H. Brian Underwood;John H. Rappole

561
Citations
Global importance of large‐diameter trees

James A. Lutz;Tucker J. Furniss;Daniel J. Johnson;Stuart J. Davies

524
Citations
science of overabundance

William J. McShea;H. Brian. Underwood;John H. Rappole

491
Citations
Scale-dependent relationships between tree species richness and ecosystem function in forests

Ryan A. Chisholm;Helene C. Muller-Landau;Kassim Abdul Rahman;Daniel P. Bebber

381
Citations
THE INFLUENCE OF ACORN CROPS ON ANNUAL VARIATION IN RODENT AND BIRD POPULATIONS

William J. McShea

353
Citations
Plant diversity increases with the strength of negative density dependence at the global scale.

Joseph A. LaManna;Scott A. Mangan;Alfonso Alonso;Norman A. Bourg;Norman A. Bourg

311
Citations
Managing the Abundance and Diversity of Breeding Bird Populations through Manipulation of Deer Populations

William J. McShea;John H. Rappole

291
Citations
Wood thrush postfledging movements and habitat use in Northern Virginia

J. H. V. Rivera;J. H. Rappole;W. J. Mcshea;C. A. Haas

282
Citations
Forestry Matters: Decline of Oaks Will Impact Wildlife in Hardwood Forests

William J. Mcshea;William M. Healy;Patrick Devers;Todd Fearer

272
Citations
A multispecies occupancy model for two or more interacting species

Christopher T. Rota;Christopher T. Rota;Marco A. R. Ferreira;Roland W. Kays;Roland W. Kays;Tavis D. Forrester

266
Citations
An empirical evaluation of camera trap study design: How many, how long and when?

Roland Kays;Roland Kays;Roland Kays;Brian S. Arbogast;Megan Baker-Whatton;Chris Beirne

256
Citations
Human-wildlife conflicts influence attitudes but not necessarily behaviors: Factors driving the poaching of bears in China

Fang Liu;William J. McShea;David L. Garshelis;Xiaojian Zhu

242
Citations
PUTTING A CART BEFORE THE SEARCH: SUCCESSFUL HABITAT PREDICTION FOR A RARE FOREST HERB

Norman A. Bourg;Norman A. Bourg;William J. McShea;Douglas E. Gill

232
Citations
ForestGEO: Understanding forest diversity and dynamics through a global observatory network

Stuart J. Davies;Iveren Abiem;Kamariah Abu Salim;Salomón Aguilar

229
Citations
Variable Acorn Crops: Responses of White-Tailed Deer and other Mast Consumers

William J. McShea;Georg Schwede

209
Citations
Does hunting or hiking affect wildlife communities in protected areas

Roland Kays;Roland Kays;Roland Kays;Arielle W. Parsons;Megan C. Baker;Elizabeth L. Kalies

206
Citations
Oak forest ecosystems: ecology and management for wildlife.

William J. McShea;William M. Healy

205
Citations
Seasonal Changes in Reproductive Tolerance, Spacing, and Social Organization in Meadow Voles: A Microtine Model

Dale M. Madison;William J. Mcshea

196
Citations
Dynamics of social nesting in overwintering meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus): possible consequences for population cycling

Dale M. Madison;Randall W. FitzGerald;William J. McShea

188
Citations
Volunteer-run cameras as distributed sensors for macrosystem mammal research

William J. McShea;Tavis Forrester;Robert Costello;Zhihai He

179
Citations
Science and Management: Too Many Deer?@@@The Science of Overabundance: Deer Ecology and Population Management

S. J. McNaughton;David J. Augustine;William J. McShea;H. Brian Underwood

0
Citations

Frequent Co-Authors

Roland Kays North Carolina State University

Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

Stuart J. Davies Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

David Kenfack Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

Sean M. McMahon Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Patrick A. Jansen Wageningen University & Research

Stephen P. Hubbell University of California, Los Angeles

Amy Wolf University of Wisconsin–Green Bay

Robert W. Howe University of Wisconsin–Green Bay

Geoffrey G. Parker Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

External Links

Personal website of William J. McShea

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Exploring Ecology and Evolution can open doors to diverse career options across science, healthcare, and education. Many students find value in interdisciplinary programs that allow for flexible study paths, particularly through online degrees. For example, those interested in communication sciences may benefit from slp bridge programs designed for non-SLP majors. These bridge programs help transition into specialized roles such as speech-language pathology.

Students from non-nursing backgrounds may also consider healthcare by enrolling in online accelerated nursing programs for non nurses, making it feasible to pivot into the rapidly growing nursing sector. For those seeking advanced practice, exploring how to become a np (nurse practitioner) can provide a faster route to high-impact clinical careers.

It’s also helpful to research future salaries and job prospects. For example, understanding the psychiatric np salary by state can guide decisions on specialization and location. Whether your interests lie in ecology, healthcare, or communication, a broad range of online pathways exist for those ready to advance their careers.