Publications
This list of publications includes peer-review journal articles, official USGS publications series, reports and more authored by scientists in the Ecosystems Mission Area. A database of all USGS publications, with advanced search features, can be accessed at the USGS Publications Warehouse.
Filter Total Items: 42777
Rare milkvetch (Astragalus) persistence at a utility-scale solar energy facility in the Mojave Desert Rare milkvetch (Astragalus) persistence at a utility-scale solar energy facility in the Mojave Desert
Utility-scale solar energy (USSE) development is driving the projected growth in global renewable energy capacity but comes with environmental tradeoffs. New, alternative construction methods are promoted to minimize impacts to soils, vegetation, and hydrology; however, the disturbance created by these methods requires further investigation. We evaluated the population of a rare annual...
Authors
Tiffany J. Pereira, Claire C Karban, Lara A. Kobelt, Seth M. Munson
The effects of carnivory and herbivory on the energy balance of Arctic grizzly bears The effects of carnivory and herbivory on the energy balance of Arctic grizzly bears
Omnivores often face tradeoffs between selecting for spatially dispersed energy-dense vertebrate prey versus densely distributed herbivorous resources that have limited energetic value per unit intake. Arctic grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) are large omnivores within a resource-limited ecosystem that are known to exhibit smaller body masses and occur at lower densities than grizzly bears in...
Authors
Anthony M. Pagano, Karyn D. Rode, Kerry L. Nicholson, William B. Leacock, Craig A. Stricker, Charles T. Robbins
Potential thiamine deficiency of phytoplankton across a productivity gradient and seasons in Ohio lakes Potential thiamine deficiency of phytoplankton across a productivity gradient and seasons in Ohio lakes
Although nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency of algal blooms have been the focus of substantial attention, organic nutrients can limit algal growth in aquatic systems. Growing evidence indicates thiamine (vitamin B1) can influence the community of primary producers in marine systems, but comparatively little is known about the effect of thiamine on freshwater algal productivity.We...
Authors
Freya Elizabeth Rowland, Michael J. Vanni, Nicole M. Hayes, Clifford E. Kraft
Evaluating the central–marginal hypothesis: Introgression and genetic variation at the trailing edge of Quercus bicolor Evaluating the central–marginal hypothesis: Introgression and genetic variation at the trailing edge of Quercus bicolor
The central–marginal hypothesis (CMH) predicts reduced genetic diversity and increased differentiation in range-edge populations due to ecological marginality and limited gene flow. Deviations from this pattern, however, can result from historical demographic processes, variation in reproductive strategies or interspecific hybridization. The genus Quercus, known for hybridization and...
Authors
Jesse B. Parker, Sean Hoban, Laura Thompson, Scott E. Schlarbaum
Water residence time and water depth influence on nutrient conditions, eutrophication endpoints and habitat quality in backwater lakes of a large floodplain river Water residence time and water depth influence on nutrient conditions, eutrophication endpoints and habitat quality in backwater lakes of a large floodplain river
Many eutrophication studies focus on the external supply of critical nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, but hydrology and geomorphology can enhance or dampen the effects of excessive nutrient supply. We studied six backwater lakes in the Upper Mississippi River that varied in water residence time and water depth. Eutrophication in these systems is responsible for negative impacts...
Authors
Shawn M. Giblin, James H. Larson, Jeremy D. King
A monitoring framework to assess forest bird population response to landscape scale mosquito suppression using the Incompatible Insect Technique A monitoring framework to assess forest bird population response to landscape scale mosquito suppression using the Incompatible Insect Technique
The Birds, Not Mosquitoes Monitoring and Support Science Working Group detailed methods for monitoring the population response of Hawaiian forest birds during implementation of the Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT) on the islands of Maui and Kauaʻi. The group prioritized methods for measuring the influence of mosquito suppression on populations within IIT treatment and control areas...
Authors
Seth Judge, Christopher C Warren, Amanda K Navine, Richard J. Camp, Lisa H. Crampton, Hanna L Mounce, John Vetter, Lauren K. Smith, Patrick J. Hart, Mona Renee Bellinger, Katherine Maria McClure
Hosts, pathogens and hot ponds: Thermal mean and variability contribute to spatial patterns of chytrid infection Hosts, pathogens and hot ponds: Thermal mean and variability contribute to spatial patterns of chytrid infection
Temperature is a primary driver of heterogeneity in host–pathogen dynamics and understanding how patch-scale temperature affects landscape-scale patterns of pathogen infection is key to effective monitoring and management. In field studies, both temperature variability and mean temperature are often related to infection of ectothermic animals by fungal pathogens, and although these...
Authors
Brendan K Hobart, Daniel A. Grear, Megan Winzeler, Travis Mcdevitt-Galles, Timothy M Korpita, Erin L. Muths, Valerie J McKenzie
How high? Identifying elevation thresholds to guide coastal marsh restoration How high? Identifying elevation thresholds to guide coastal marsh restoration
Introduction Coastal marshes are highly valuable ecosystems facing threats from rising sea levels and intensifying storm events. To elevate marsh surfaces and prevent loss of ecosystem services, the beneficial use of dredged material (BUDM) is increasingly being implemented across the United States. Objectives The objective of this study was to aid decision-makers and restoration...
Authors
Emily N. Fromenthal, Camille L. Stagg, Jena A. Moon, Taylor Abshier, Omar Alawneh, Jack A. Cadigan, Daniel A. Gallegos, Brian D. Harris, Nia R. Hurst, Navid H. Jafari, Todd Merendino, Matthew R. Nelson, Michael J. Osland, Philip Pauling, Michael Rezsutek, Colt R. Sanspree, Rachel Katherine Villani
Groundwater structures fish growth and production across a riverscape Groundwater structures fish growth and production across a riverscape
Landscapes are composed of habitat patches and conditions that vary across space and time. While habitat variability and complexity can support important ecological processes and ecosystem services, the dynamic nature of habitats can also constrain organismal growth and production as optimal conditions are fleeting. In riverine ecosystems, groundwater discharge to streams stabilises...
Authors
Jeffrey R. Baldock, Robert Al-Chokhachy, Annika W. Walters
When do single-species occupancy models outperform multispecies models? When do single-species occupancy models outperform multispecies models?
Occupancy models have become increasingly popular for species monitoring and assessment, in part, because detection/non-detection data are readily obtained using a variety of methods. Multispecies occupancy models (MSOMs) can yield more accurate parameter estimates than single-species models (SSOMs) with less data through their hierarchical structure, making MSOMs an attractive option...
Authors
Gavin G. Cotterill, Douglas A. Keinath, Tabitha A. Graves
Twenty years (2000-2020) of butterfly monitoring data across the contiguous United States Twenty years (2000-2020) of butterfly monitoring data across the contiguous United States
We present the most comprehensive, integrated, butterfly monitoring dataset ever assembled for the United States. It contains over 1.2 million count records, from 65,000 surveys, representing over 12.6 million individual butterflies. To compile this dataset, we integrated data and harmonized taxonomy across 19 butterfly monitoring programs in the United States – one national, 13...
Authors
Erica H Henry, Collin B. Edwards, Vaughn Shirey, Jeffrey S. Pippen, Dave Waetjen, Matthew L. Forister, Elise A. Larsen, Cheryl B. Schultz, James Michielini, Nathan Brockman, Kevin J. Burls, Ryan G. Drum, Martha Gatch, Jeffrey Glassberg, Nancy Hamlett, Shiran V. Hershcovich, Catherine Le, Steve McGaffin, Jen Meilinger, Lisa Richter, Regina Rochefort, Charles Schelz, Arthur M. Shapiro, Katheryn Sullivan, Douglas J. Taron, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Anna Walker, Anita Westphal, Jerome Wiedmann, Irmgard U. Wilcockson, Jennifer Zaspel, Leslie Ries
Drowned river mouth lakes are winter foraging habitats for the expanding Lake Michigan cisco Coregonus artedi population Drowned river mouth lakes are winter foraging habitats for the expanding Lake Michigan cisco Coregonus artedi population
Characterizing fish movements is required for understanding habitat use, energy flow, and trophic structure and can inform fisheries management. Drowned river mouth (DRM) lakes are productive inland habitats in the Laurentian Great Lakes basin used by migratory fishes. Despite recognition of their ecological connections to the Great Lakes, the value of DRM lakes as seasonal habitats is...
Authors
Ralph W. Tingley, Darryl W. Hondorp, Benjamin A. Turschak, Steven A. Pothoven, Amanda Susanne Ackiss, Jory Jonas, William W. Fetzer, Benjamin Scott Leonhardt, Andrew Edgar Honsey, Jeff Elliott, Lindsie Ann Egedy, Cory Brant, Lynn Benes, Kendra Kozlauskos, Renee Renauer-Bova, Ann J. Ropp