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: 43179
A mass balance approach to investigate arsenic cycling in a petroleum plume A mass balance approach to investigate arsenic cycling in a petroleum plume
Natural attenuation of organic contaminants in groundwater can give rise to a series of complex biogeochemical reactions that release secondary contaminants to groundwater. In a crude oil contaminated aquifer, biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons is coupled with the reduction of ferric iron (Fe(III)) hydroxides in aquifer sediments. As a result, naturally occurring arsenic (As)...
Authors
Brady A. Ziegler, Madeline E. Schreiber, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Ng. G.-H. Crystal
Evolution, natural history, and conservation of black-footed ferrets Evolution, natural history, and conservation of black-footed ferrets
No abstract available.
Authors
Dean E. Biggins, David A. Eads
Using carbon dioxide in fisheries and aquatic invasive species management Using carbon dioxide in fisheries and aquatic invasive species management
To restore native fish populations, fisheries programs often depend on active removal of aquatic invasive species. Chemical removal can be an effective method of eliminating aquatic invasive species, but chemicals can induce mortality in nontarget organisms and persist in the environment. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an emerging alternative to traditional chemical control agents because it...
Authors
Hilary B. Treanor, Andrew M. Ray, Megan J. Layhee, Barnaby J. Watten, Jason A. Gross, Robert E. Gresswell, Molly A. H. Webb
Quantifying animal movement for caching foragers: the path identification index (PII) and cougars, Puma concolor Quantifying animal movement for caching foragers: the path identification index (PII) and cougars, Puma concolor
Relocation studies of animal movement have focused on directed versus area restricted movement, which rely on correlations between step-length and turn angles, along with a degree of stationarity through time to define behavioral states. Although these approaches may work well for grazing foraging strategies in a patchy landscape, species that do not spend a significant amount of time...
Authors
Kirsten E. Ironside, David J. Mattson, Tad Theimer, Brian Jansen, Brandon Holton, Terence R. Arundel, Michael Peters, Joseph O. Sexton, Thomas C. Edwards
Molybdenum isotope fractionation during adsorption to organic matter Molybdenum isotope fractionation during adsorption to organic matter
Organic matter is of emerging interest as a control on molybdenum (Mo) biogeochemistry, and information on isotope fractionation during adsorption to organic matter can improve interpretations of Mo isotope variations in natural settings. Molybdenum isotope fractionation was investigated during adsorption onto insolubilized humic acid (IHA), a surrogate for organic matter, as a function...
Authors
Elizabeth K. King, Steven S. Perakis, Julie C. Pett-Ridge
Investigating seagrass in Toxoplasma gondii transmission in Florida (Trichechus manatus latirostris) and Antillean (T. m. manatus) manatees Investigating seagrass in Toxoplasma gondii transmission in Florida (Trichechus manatus latirostris) and Antillean (T. m. manatus) manatees
Toxoplasma gondii is a feline protozoan reported to cause morbidity and mortality in manatees and other marine mammals. Given the herbivorous nature of manatees, ingestion of oocysts from contaminated water or seagrass is presumed to be their primary mode of infection. The objectives of this study were to investigate oocyst contamination of seagrass beds in Puerto Rico and determine the
Authors
Heidi M. Wyrosdick, Richard W. Gerhold, Chunlei Su, Antonio A. Mignucci-Giannoni, Robert K. Bonde, Alycia Chapman, Carla Riviera-Perez, Jessica Martinez, Debra L. Miller
Toward an effective practice of translational ecology Toward an effective practice of translational ecology
No abstract available.
Authors
Stephen T. Jackson, Gregg Garfin, Carolyn A.F. Enquist
Normalized difference vegetation index as an estimator for abundance and quality of avian herbivore forage in arctic Alaska Normalized difference vegetation index as an estimator for abundance and quality of avian herbivore forage in arctic Alaska
Tools that can monitor biomass and nutritional quality of forage plants are needed to understand how arctic herbivores may respond to the rapidly changing environment at high latitudes. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) has been widely used to assess changes in abundance and distribution of terrestrial vegetative communities. However, the efficacy of NDVI to measure...
Authors
Kyle R. Hogrefe, Vijay P. Patil, Daniel R. Ruthrauff, Brandt W. Meixell, Michael E. Budde, Jerry W. Hupp, David H. Ward
Do observed levels of exploitation from consumption-oriented and trophy-oriented fisheries reduce relative stock densities of Muskellunge below target levels in northern Wisconsin? Do observed levels of exploitation from consumption-oriented and trophy-oriented fisheries reduce relative stock densities of Muskellunge below target levels in northern Wisconsin?
Muskellunge anglers desire to catch large fish, and release rates by recreational anglers often approach 100% (Isermann et al. 2011). Muskellunge are also a culturally significant fish for Chippewa tribes and support a subsistence spearing fishery in Wisconsin’s Ceded Territory (Erickson 2007). Although Muskellunge populations within the state’s Ceded Territory are exposed to both...
Authors
Matthew D. Faust, Michael J. Hansen
Weekly summer diet of gray wolves (Canis lupus) in northeastern Minnesota Weekly summer diet of gray wolves (Canis lupus) in northeastern Minnesota
Wolves (Canis lupus) are opportunistic predators and will capitalize on available abundant food sources. However, wolf diet has primarily been examined at monthly, seasonal, or annual scales, which can obscure short-term responses to available food. We examined weekly wolf diet from late June to early October by collecting scats from a single wolf pack in northeastern Minnesota. During...
Authors
Thomas D. Gable, Steve K. Windels, John G. Bruggink, Shannon Barber-Meyer
North American Breeding Bird Survey in Mississippi North American Breeding Bird Survey in Mississippi
Does it seem like you are hearing fewer Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) calls in recent years than you remember when you were younger? Conversely, have you also noticed hearing more “cooing” of Eurasian Collared-Doves (Streptopelia decaocto)? Do such experiences reflect changes in bird populations or are they false impressions? Well, fortunately for us, we have one of the most...
Authors
Daniel J. Twedt, Keith L. Pardieck
Evidence for migratory spawning behavior by morphologically distinct Cisco (Coregonus artedi) from a small inland lake Evidence for migratory spawning behavior by morphologically distinct Cisco (Coregonus artedi) from a small inland lake
Conservation and management of rare fishes relies on managers having the most informed understanding of the underlying ecology of the species under investigation. Cisco (Coregonus artedi), a species of conservation concern, is a cold-water pelagic fish that is notoriously variable in morphometry and life history. Published reports indicate, at spawning time, Cisco in great lakes may...
Authors
Alexander J. Ross, Brian Weidel, Mellisa Leneker, Christopher T. Solomon