Eileen H. Helmer
Research Ecologist
International Institute of Tropical Forestry
USDA FS - RMRS, 240 West Prospect Road
Fort Collins, CO 80526
United States
Fort Collins, CO 80526
United States
Phone
970-498-2644
Current Research
- Tree successional dynamics and diversity across landscapes reforesting after large-scale clearing
- Remote sensing of tropical forests
- Interactions among the drivers of tropical forest productivity and species composition
Research Interest
- USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis Program in the Caribbean
- Forest inventory to study the dynamics and diversity of tropical forest trees across landscapes
- Characterization of tropical forest types, age, structure and change with satellite imagery
- Tropical montane cloud forests and humid alpine systems
Education
- Oregon State University, Ph.D., Forest Ecology, , 1998
- University of Minnesota, M.S.C.E., Environmental Engineering and Sciences, , 1987
- University of Illinois, B.S., Ecology, Ethology and Evolution, 1984
Professional Experience
-
Ecologist,
US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5,
1990 -
1993
-
Environmental Engineer,
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5,
1988 -
1989
Professional Organizations
-
Member,
American Geophysical Union,
2004 -
Current
.
-
Member,
Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation,
2000 -
Current
.
- Member, Ecological Society of America, 1997 - Current
Featured Publications
- Helmer, E. H.; Gerson, E. A.; Baggett, L. Scott; Bird, Benjamin J.; Ruzycki, Thomas S.; Voggesser, Shannon M.. 2019. Neotropical cloud forests and p ramo to contract and dry from declines in cloud immersion and frost
- Helmer, Eileen ; Ruzycki, Thomas ; Wilson, Barry ; Sherrill, Kirk ; Lefsky, Michael ; Marcano-Vega, Humfredo ; Brandeis, Thomas ; Erickson, Heather ; Ruefenacht, Bonnie. 2018. Tropical Deforestation and Recolonization by Exotic and Native Trees: Spatial Patterns of Tropical Forest Biomass, Functional Groups, and Species Counts and Links to Stand Age, Geoclimate, and Sustainability Goals
- Zhu, Xiaolin ; Helmer, Eileen H.. 2018. An automatic method for screening clouds and cloud shadows in optical satellite image time series in cloudy regions
- Helmer, Eileen; Goodwin, Nicholas R.; Gond, Valery; Souza, Jr., Carlos M.; Asner, Gregory P.. 2015. Characterizing tropical forests with multispectral imagery
- Erickson, H.E.; Helmer, E.H.; Brandeis, T.J.; Lugo, A.E.. 2014. Controls on fallen leaf chemistry and forest floor element masses in native and novel forests across a tropical island
- Helmer, Eileen H.; Ruzycki, Thomas S.; Benner, Jay; Voggesser, Shannon M.; Scobie, Barbara P.; Park, Courtenay; Fanning, David W.; Ramnarine, Seepersad. 2012. Detailed maps of tropical forest types are within reach: forest tree communities for Trinidad and Tobago mapped with multiseason Landsat and multiseason fine-resolution imagery
- Helmer, E.H.; Ruzycki, Thomas S.; Wunderle, Jr. Joseph M.; Vogesser, Shannon; Ruefenacht, Bonnie; Kwit, Charles; Brandeis, Thomas J.; Ewert, David N.. 2010. Mapping tropical dry forest height, foliage height profiles and disturbance type and age with a time series of cloud-cleared Landsat and ALI image mosaics to characterize avian habitat
- Helmer, E. H.; Lefsky, M. A.; Roberts, D. A.. 2009. Biomass accumulation rates of Amazonian secondary forest and biomass of old-growth forests from Landsat time series and the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System
- Chinea, J. Danilo; Helmer, Eileen H.. 2003. Diversity and composition of tropical secondary forests recovering from large-scale clearing: results from the 1990 inventory in Puerto Rico
- Helmer, E. H.; Brandeis, Thomas J.; Lugo, Ariel E.; Kennaway, Todd. 2008. Factors influencing spatial pattern in tropical forest clearance and stand age: Implications for carbon storage and species diversity.
Other Publications
- Xu, Shuai ; Zhu, Xiaolin ; Helmer, Eileen H.; Tan, Xiaoyue ; Tian, Jiaqi ; Chen, Xuehong. 2021. The damage of urban vegetation from super typhoon is associated with landscape factors: Evidence from Sentinel-2 imagery
- Liu, Meng ; Yang, Wei ; Zhu, Xiaolin ; Chen, Jin ; Chen, Xuehong ; Yang, Linqing ; Helmer, Eileen H.. 2019. An Improved Flexible Spatiotemporal DAta Fusion (IFSDAF) method for producing high spatiotemporal resolution normalized difference vegetation index time series
- Cooper, Nathan W.; Ewert, David N.; Wunderle Jr., Joseph M.; Helmer, Eileen H. ; Marra, Peter P.. 2019. Revising the wintering distribution and habitat use of the Kirtland s warbler using playback surveys, citizen scientists, and geolocators
- Zhu, Xiaolin ; Helmer, Eileen H.; Chen, Jin ; Liu, Desheng. 2018. An Automatic System for Reconstructing High-Quality Seasonal Landsat Time-Series
- Bustamante, Mercedes; Helmer, Eileen H.; Schill, Steven; Belnap, Jayne; Brown, Laura K.; Brugnoli, Ernesto ; Compton, Jana E.; Coupe, Richard H.; Hernández-Blanco, Marcello; Isbell, Forest; Lockwood, Julie; Lozoya Ascárate., Juan Pablo; McGuire, David; Pauchard, Anibal; Pichs-Madruga, Ramon; Rodrigues, Ricardo Ribeiro; Sanchez- Azofeifa, Gerardo Arturo; Soutullo, Alvaro; Suarez, Avelino; Troutt, Elizabeth. 2018. Chapter 4: Direct and indirect drivers of change in biodiversity and nature s contributions to people
- Rice, Jake ; Seixas, Cristiana Simão; Zaccagnini, María Elena ; BedoyaGaitán, Mauricio; Valderrama, Natalia; Anderson, Christopher B. ; Arroyo, Mary T. K.; Bustamante, Mercedes; Cavender-Bares, Jeannine; Diaz-de-Leon, Antonio; Fennessy, Siobhan ; García Márquez, Jaime Ricardo; Garcia, Keisha; Helmer, Eileen H.; Herrera, Bernal; Klatt, Brian; Ometo, Jean P. ; Rodríguez Osuna, Vanesa; Scarano, Fabio R.; Schill, Steven; Farinaci, Juliana Sampaio. 2018. Summary for policymakers of the regional assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services for the Americas of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
- Gwenzi, David; Helmer, Eileen; Zhu, Xiaolin; Lefsky, Michael; Marcano-Vega, Humfredo. 2017. Predictions of Tropical Forest Biomass and Biomass Growth Based on Stand Height or Canopy Area Are Improved by Landsat-Scale Phenology across Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
- Faber-Langendoen, D.; Keeler-Wolf, T.; Meidinger, D.; Josse, C.; Weakley, A.; Tart, D.; Navarro, G.; Hoagland, B.; Ponomarenko, S.; Fults, G.; Helmer, Eileen. 2016. Classification and description of world formation types
- Zhu, Xiaolin; Helmer, Eileen H.; Gao, Feng; Liu, Desheng; Chen, Jin; Lefsky, Michael A.. 2016. A flexible spatiotemporal method for fusing satellite images with different resolutions
- Fleming, G. M.; Wunderle, J. M.; Ewert, D. N.; O'Brien, J. J.; Helmer, E. H.. 2015. Functional attributes of two subtropical shrubs and implications for the distribution and management of endangered bird habitat
- Lugo, A.E.; Medina, E.; Trejo Torres, J. Carlos; Helmer, E.. 2006. Botanical and ecological basis for the resilience of Antillean dry forests
- Medina, E.; Helmer, E.H.; Melendez-Ackerman, E.; Marcano-Vega, H.. 2014. Natural vegetation groups and canopy chemical markers in a dry subtropical forest on calcareous substrate: the vegetation of Mona Island, Puerto Rico
- Kennedy, Robert E.; Andrefouet, Serge; Cohen, Warren B.; Gomez, Cristina; Griffiths, Patrick; Hais, Martin; Healey, Sean P.; Helmer, Eileen H.; Hostert, Patrick; Lyons, Mitchell B.; Meigs, Garrett W.; Pflugmacher, Dirk; Phinn, Stuart R.; Powell, Scott L.; Scarth, Peter; Sen, Susmita; Schroeder, Todd A.; Schneider, Annemarie; Sonnenschein, Ruth; Vogelmann, James E.; Wulder, Michael A.; Zhu, Zhe. 2014. Bringing an ecological view of change to Landsat-based remote sensing
- Lugo, A. E.; Helmer, E. H.; Santiago Valentín, E.. 2012. Caribbean landscapes and their biodiversity
- Faber-Langendoen, D.; Keeler-Wolf, T.; Meidinger, D.; Josse, C.; Weakley, A.; Tart, D.; Navarro, G.; Hoagland, B.; Ponomarenko, S.; Saucier, J.-P.; Fults, G.; Helmer, E.. 2012. Classification and description of world formation types. Part. I (Introduction)
- Faber-Langendoen, D.; Keeler-Wolf, T.; Meidinger, D.; Josse, C.; Weakley, A.; Tart, D.; Navarro, G.; Hoagland, B.; Ponomarenko, S.; Saucier, J.P.; Fults, G.; Helmer, E.. 2012. Classification and description of world formation types. Part II (Description of formation types)
- Martinuzzi, S.; Lugo, A.E.; Brandeis, T.J.; Helmer, E.H.. 2013. Case study: Geographic distribution and level of novelty of Puerto Rican forests
- Larkin, Claire C.; Kwit, Charles; Wunderle, Jr., Joseph M..; Helmer, Eileen H.; Stevens, M. Henry H.; Roberts, Montara T.K.; Ewert, David N.. 2011. Disturbance type and plant succesional communities in Bahamian dry forests
- Brandeis, Thomas J.; Meléndez-Ackerman, Elvia J.; Helmer, Eileen H.. 2012. Forest vegetation cover assessment on Mona Island, Puerto Rico
- Helmer, E.H.; Kennaway, T.A.; Pedreros, D.H.; Clark, M.L.; Marcano-Vega, H.; Tieszen, L.L., Ruzycki.; Schill, S.R.; Carrington, C.M.S.. 2008. Land cover and forest formation distributions for St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Eustatius, Grenada and Barbados from decision tree classification of cloud-cleared satellite imagery. Caribbean Journal of Science. 44(2):175-198.
- Helmer, Eileen H.. 2010. Radiometric normalization
- Wunderle, Joseph, .; Currie, Dave; Helmer, Eileen H.; Ewert, David N.; White, Jennifer D.; Ruzycki, Thomas S.; Parresol, Bernard; Kwit, Charles. 2010. Kirtland s warblers in anthropogenically disturbed early-successional habitats on Eleuthera, The Bahamas
- Lugo, Ariel E.; Helmer, Eileen H.; Vale, Abel. 2007. La conservacion y vulnerabilidad a la urbanizacion del karso puertorrique o
- Kennaway, T.A.; Helmer, E.H.; Lefsky, M.A.; Brandeis, T.A.; Sherill, K.R.. 2008. Mapping land cover and estimating forest structure using satellite imagery and coarse resolution lidar in the Virgin Islands
- Brandeis, Thomas J.; Helmer, Eileen; Marcano-Vega, H.; Lugo, Ariel E.. 2009. Climate shapes the novel plant communities that form after deforestation in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
- Brandeis, Thomas; Helmer, Eileen; Marcano-Vega, Humfredo; Ariel, Lugo. 2009. Climate shapes the novel plant communities that form after deforestion in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
- Kennaway, Todd; Helmer, Eileen ; Lefsky, Michael; Brandeis, Thomas; Sherrill, Kirk. 2009. Mapping land cover and estimating forest structure using satellite imagery and coarse resolution lidar in the Virgin Islands
- Ruefenacht, B.; Finco, M.V.; Nelson, M.D.; Czaplewski, R., Ph.D..; Helmer, E.H.; Blackard, J. A.; Holden, G.R.; Lister, A.J.; Salajanu, D.; Weyermann, D.; Winterberger, K.. 2008. Conterminous U.S. and Alaska Forest Type Mapping Using Forest Inventory and Analysis Data
- Brandeis, Thomas J.; Helmer, Eileen H.; Oswalt, Sonja N.. 2007. The status of Puerto Rico's forests, 2003
- Helmer, E. H.; Lefsky, M. A.. 2006. Forest Canopy Heights in Amazon River Basin Forests as Estimated with the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS)
- Grau, H. Ricardo; Aide, T. Mitchell; Zimmerman, Jess K.; Thomlinson, John R.; Helmer, Eileen; Zou, Xioming. 2003. The ecological consequences of socioeconomic and land-use changes in post agriculture Puerto Rico
- Lugo, Ariel E.; Castro, Leopoldo Miranda; Vale, Abel; López, Tania del Mar; Prieto, Enrique Hernández; Martinó, Andrés García; Rolón, Alberto R. Puente; Tossas, Adrianne G.; McFarlane, Donald A.; Miller, Tom; Rodríguez, Armando; Lundberg, Joyce; Thomlinson, John; Colón, José; Schellekens, Johannes H.; Ramos, Olga; Helmer, Eileen. 2001. Puerto Rican Karst-A Vital Resource
- Brandeis, Thomas J.; Helmer, Eileen H.; Oswalt, Sonja N.. 2007. El Estado de los Bosques de Puerto Rico, 2003
- Helmer, E. H.. 2007. A comparison of radiometric normalization methods when filling cloud gaps in Lansat imagery.
- Helmer, Eileen; Ramos, Olga; LÓPEZ, T. DEL M.; Quinones, Maya; DIAZ, W.. 2002. Mapping the Forest Type and Land Cover of Puerto Rico, a Component of the Caribbean Biodiversity Hotspot
- Helmer, E.H.. 2004. Forest conservation and land development in Puerto Rico.
- Lugo, Ariel E.; Helmer, Eileen. 2004. Emerging forests on abandoned land: Puerto Rico s new forests
- DALY, CHRISTOPHER; HELMER, E. H.; QUINONES, MAYA. 2003. Mapping the Climate of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra.
- Helmer, E.H.; Ruefenacht, B.. 2005. Cloud-Free Satellite Image Mosaics with Regression Trees and Histogram Matching.
- Helmer, E. H.; Lefsky, M. A.. 2006. Forest Canopy Heights in Amazon River Basin Forests as Estimated with the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS)
- Kennaway, Todd; Helmer, E. H.. 2007. The Forest Types and Ages Cleared for Land Development in Puerto Rico.
- WOODCOCK, CURTIS E.; ALLEN, RICHARD; ANDERSON, MARTHA; BELWARD, ALAN; BINDSCHADLER, ROBERT; COHEN, WARREN; GAO, FENG; GOWARD, SAMUEL N.; HELDER, DENNIS; HELMER, EILEEN; NEMANI, RAMA; OREOPOULOS, LAZAROS; SCHOTT, JOHN; THENKABAIL, PRASAD S.; VERMOTE, ERIC F.; VOGELMANN, JAMES; WULDER, MICHAEL A. WYNNE, RANDOLPH.. 2008. Free Access to Landsat Imagery.
- Blackard, J. A.; Finco, M. V.; Helmer, E. H.; Holden, G. R.; Hoppus, M. L.; Jacobs, D.M.; Lister, A. J.; Moisen, G. G.; Nelson, M. D.; Riemann, R.; Ruefenacht, B.; Salajanu, D.; Weyermann, D. L.; Winterberger, K. C.; Brandeis, T. J.; Czaplewski, R. L., Ph.D..; McRoberts, R. E.; Patterson, P. L.; Tymcio, R. P.. 2008. Mapping U.S. forest biomass using nationwide forest inventory data and moderate resolution information
Research Highlights
Long-Term Seasonality of Greenness in Tropical Forest
Year: 2020
Seasonal patterns of forest greenness (termed phenology) help guage forest productivity and health. Mapping changes in these patterns with satellite imagery can locate where forests are most affected by hurricanes or drought. This research is refining algorithms for, and mapping, long-term phenology...
Neotropical Cloud Forests to Lose What Most Defines Them: Clouds
Year: 2019
In as few as 25 years, climate change could shrink and dry 60-80 percent of Western Hemisphere tropical montane cloud forests.
Automated monitoring of tropical deforestation made easier
Year: 2018
New algorithm permits automated tropical forest monitoring back to the 1970s and allows more frequent observations since the year 2015
A Synthesis of How Multispectral Satellite Imagery Can Support Inventories of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Tropical Forest Clearing and Regrowth
Year: 2015
Human clearing, logging, and burning of tropical forests accounts for at least 19 percent of annual human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, which is more than the global transportation sector. Multispectral satellite imagery is the timeliest and most accessible remotely sensed da...
Nitrogen and Phosphorus Content in Forest Floor Litter is Elevated in a Tropical Landscape Recovering from Deforestation
Year: 2014
Fallen leaf chemistry provides a window into the various and often complex factors affecting the availability of nutrients to trees. Both nitrogen and phosphorus content in forest floor litter is current greater in Puerto Rico's novel tropical forests than it was before deforestation when presumably...
Mapping avian habitat characteristics using cloud-cleared satellite image mosaics
Year: 2010
Forest age, vertical structure, disturbance For studies of wintering habitat for the endangered Kirtland's Warbler, scientists from the Forest Service, Colorado State University, and other collaborators showed for the first time that forest vertical structure can be mapped with a time series of sate...
New Study Leads the Way to Detailed Mapping of Tropical Rain Forest Types
Year: 2012
Tropical tree communities mapped for Trinidad and Tobago with satellite imagery