BUSINESS ADDRESS

G. Ronnie Best, PhD, *PWS
Coordinator, Greater Everglades Priority Ecosystems Science
United States Geological Survey
c/o University of Florida/IFAS, Fort Lauderdale Research & Education Center
3205 College Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314-7719
Phone: 954 236 1228; Cell: 954 658 4676
Ronnie_Best@usgs.gov

EDUCATION

• 1976 Ph.D. Ecology/Botany, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, U.S.A.
• 1971 M.S. Botany, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, U.S.A.
• 1967 B.S. Biology, Augusta College, Augusta, Georgia, U.S.A.

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION

*Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) certification (# 106 issued 7/94) by Society of Wetland Scientists.

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION - Ecology, Restoration and Management of Wetlands; Wetlands Ecological Engineering; Wetlands Hydrology; Biogeochemical Cycling.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Place: USGS/Eastern Regional Office / Coordinator, USGS's Greater Everglades Priority Ecosystems Science
  Date: June 2001 -- Present
  Position: Coordinator and Supervisory Ecologist (GS-15), USGS's Greater Everglades Restoration Science Initiative [USGS Greater Everglades Priority Ecosystems Science], Fort Lauderdale, FL

Duties: Coordinate USGS's $7+ Million national science initiative relevant to Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration. This USGS initiative involves over 75 scientists nationwide [mostly USGS, but some university] conducting more than 45 projects towards the mission of Greater Everglades restoration. As the Coordinator, it is my responsibility to ensure that USGS's science address critical, high priority, mission-oriented science information needs. I serve as the senior USGS representative for USGS's involvement in Greater Everglades restoration and serve as the USGS representative on the Federal/State South Florida Ecosystem Restoration (SFER) Task Force's Science Coordination Group and on the Working Group from 1997-Dec. 2003. I also served as Co-Chair of the SFER Task Force's Science Coordination Team (SCT) from January 1998 to January 2004.

Currently, adjunct professor appointments with University of Florida's Soil and Water Science Department, and UF Wildlife Ecology Department, Fort Lauderdale REC.

• Place: USGS/Biological Resources Division's Florida Caribbean Science Center
  Date: April 1997 - June 2001.
  Position: Chief and Supervisory Ecologist (GS-14), Restoration Ecology Branch, South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Program, Miami, Fl.

• Place: US Department of the Interior -- National Biological Service
  Date: July 1995 to April 1997.
  Position: Chief and Supervisory Ecologist (GS-14), Wetlands Ecology Branch, National Wetlands Research Center

• Place: University of Florida (Retired)
  Date: May 1979 to July 1995.
  Position: Director (1991-July 1995); Assoc. Director (1980-1991)
  Center for Wetlands & Water Resources with Faculty Appointment with Dept. of Environmental Engineering Sciences, College of Engineering

AWARDS

• 1989 & 1991, Faculty Research Achievement Award, University of Florida.
• USGS STAR (Monetary) Awards: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009.

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

I conceived of and Chaired the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration (GEER) Conferences held in 2000, 2003, 2006, 2008 and 2010 with 500-650 participants; and conceived of and Chaired the 1st National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration (NCER) (Dec 2004) with over 930 participants; and co-chaired NCER 2007 and 2009. I helped conceive of and organize the first A Conference on Ecosystem Services (ACES) in December 2008.

Society of Wetland Scientists: Elected President (1991-92), Vice-President (1990-91), and Treasurer (1987-90); and Chair (1986/87 & 1988/89) of South Atlantic Chapter. Appointed: Chair (1990-1994) of Wetland Professional Certification Committee. Served as Member of Executive Board (1986-1994).

Appointed member of select committees by National Academy of Sciences, National Science Foundation, NASA, and US Fish and Wildlife Service, and appointed by Governor of Florida to serve on a 2-year Environmental Legislation and Regulations Advisory Panel entitled "Partners for a Better Florida".

Chair, External Advisory Committee for UF's School of Natural Resources and the Environment - Appointed as member in 2003, elected as chair for 2004-2006; currently serve as a member.

Member of Science Board for Louisiana Coastal Area Restoration - Appointed (by State of Louisiana and US Army Corps of Engineers) as a member of the LCA Science Board in 2006 - present.

PUBLICATIONS -- Author, co-author or editor of over 70 publications including a book, book chapters, articles and technical reports. Examples below selected to represent diversity of research topics:

Cairns, Jr., J., G.R. Best, P.L. Brezonik, S.R. Carpenter, G.D. Cooke, D.L. Hey, J.A. Kusler, C.L. Schelske, L. Shabman, R.R. Sharitz, S. Sorooshian, R.E. Sparks, J.T.T. Tripp, D.E. Willard, J.B. Zedler, & J.J. Berger. 1992. Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems: Science, Technology, and Public Policy. National Academy of Sciences Committee on Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems, Water Science Technology Board. Published by National Research Council, Washington, D.C. 552 Pages.

Cohen, A. D., D. J. Casagrande, M. J. Andrejko, and G. R. Best (eds.). 1984. Okefenokee Swamp: Its Natural History, Geology, and Geochemistry. Wetland Surveys, Los Alamos, NM. Pages 709.

Best, G. R., G. T. Auble, and D. B. Hamilton. 1984. An Old Growth Cypress Stand in Okefenokee Swamp. In: A. D. Cohen, D. J. Casagrande, M. J. Andrejko and G. R. Best (eds.), Okefenokee Swamp: Its Natural History, Geology, and Geochemistry. Wetland Surveys, Los Alamos, NM. Pages 132-143.

Erwin, K. L. and G. R. Best. 1985. Marsh and Forest Wetland Reclamation of a Central Florida Phosphate Mine. Wetlands 4: 87-104.

Segal, D. S., D. G. Neary, G. R. Best, and J. L. Michael. 1986. Effect of Ditching, Fertilization, and Herbicide Application on Groundwater Levels and Groundwater Quality in a Flatwood Spodosol. Soil and Crop Science Society 46: 107-112.

Segal, D. S., P. J. Latham, and G. R. Best. 1987. Determining Wetland Boundaries Using Vegetation, Soils, and Hydrology: A Florida Cypress Dome Example. Wetlands 7: 51-58.

Davis, M.M., S.W. Sprecher, J.S. Wakeley, and G.R. Best. 1996. Environmental Gradients and Identification of Wetlands in North-Central Florida. Wetlands 16(4): 512-523.

Powell, R.L., R. A. Kimerle, J.T. Coyle, and G.R. Best. 1997. Ecological Risk Assessment of a Wetland Exposed to Boron. Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry 16: 2409-2414.

Mazzotti, F.J., Best, G.R. Brandt, L.A., Cherkiss, M.S., Jeffrey, B.M., Rice, K.G., (2009). Alligators and crocodiles as indicators for restoration of Everglades ecosystems. Ecological Indicators Integrating, Monitoring, Assessment, and Management, Ecological Indicators: 9(6): 137-149.

Doren, R., Trexler, J., Harwell, M., Best, G.R. (Eds) Ecological Indicators Integrating, Monitoring, Assessment and Management. (2009) Ecological Indicators: Volume 9, Supplement 6: 106 Pages. ISSN#1470-106X

GRADUATE COMMITTEES CHAIRED OR CO-CHAIRED

While at the University of Florida, I served as Major Professor for over 45 graduate students and as committee member for over 120 graduate students including numerous M.S. and several Ph.D. students. I recently (2008-2009) served on the MS committee for a student at MIT.