Publications
FORT scientists have produced more than 2000 peer reviewed publications that are registered in the USGS Publications Warehouse, along with many others prior to their work at the USGS or in conjunction with other government agencies.
Filter Total Items: 2401
Fort Collins Science Center Ecosystem Dynamics branch--interdisciplinary research for addressing complex natural resource issues across landscapes and time Fort Collins Science Center Ecosystem Dynamics branch--interdisciplinary research for addressing complex natural resource issues across landscapes and time
The Ecosystem Dynamics Branch of the Fort Collins Science Center offers an interdisciplinary team of talented and creative scientists with expertise in biology, botany, ecology, geology, biogeochemistry, physical sciences, geographic information systems, and remote-sensing, for tackling complex questions about natural resources. As demand for natural resources increases, the issues...
Authors
Zachary H. Bowen, Cynthia P. Melcher, Juliette T. Wilson
Elevated CO2 does not offset greater water stress predicted under climate change for native and exotic riparian plants Elevated CO2 does not offset greater water stress predicted under climate change for native and exotic riparian plants
In semiarid western North American riparian ecosystems, increased drought and lower streamflows under climate change may reduce plant growth and recruitment, and favor drought‐tolerant exotic species over mesic native species. We tested whether elevated atmospheric CO2 might ameliorate these effects by improving plant water‐use efficiency.We examined the effects of CO2 and water...
Authors
Laura G. Perry, Patrick B. Shafroth, Dana M. Blumenthal, Jack A. Morgan, Daniel R. LeCain
Contraception can lead to trophic asynchrony between birth pulse and resources Contraception can lead to trophic asynchrony between birth pulse and resources
Abiotic inputs such as photoperiod and temperature can regulate reproductive cyclicity in many species. When humans perturb this process by intervening in reproductive cycles, the ecological consequences may be profound. Trophic mismatches between birth pulse and resources in wildlife species may cascade toward decreased survival and threaten the viability of small populations. We...
Authors
Jason I. Ransom, N. Thompson Hobbs, Jason Bruemmer
Assessing ongoing sources of dissolved-phase polychlorinated biphenyls in a contaminated stream Assessing ongoing sources of dissolved-phase polychlorinated biphenyls in a contaminated stream
Few studies assess the potential of ongoing sources of “fresh” polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to aquatic systems when direct discharge to the environment has been eliminated. In the present study, the authors used single-layered, low-density polyethylene samplers (PEs) to measure total PCB concentrations, congener profiles, and enantiomeric fractions (EFs) in a contaminated stream and...
Authors
Viet D. Dang, David M. Walters, Cindy M. Lee
U.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative: 2011 annual report U.S. Geological Survey science for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative: 2011 annual report
This is the fourth report produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) to detail annual work activities. In FY2011, there were 37 ongoing, completed, or new projects conducted under the five major multi-disciplinary science and technical-assistance activities: (1) Baseline Synthesis, (2) Targeted Monitoring and Research, (3) Data...
Authors
Zachary H. Bowen, Cameron L. Aldridge, Patrick J. Anderson, Timothy J. Assal, Laura Biewick, Steven W. Blecker, Gregory K. Boughton, Natasha B. Carr, Anna D. Chalfoun, Geneva W. Chong, Melanie L. Clark, Jay E. Diffendorfer, Bradley C. Fedy, Katharine Foster, Steven L. Garman, Stephanie Germaine, Matthew G. Hethcoat, JoAnn Holloway, Collin G. Homer, Matthew J. Kauffman, Douglas Keinath, Natalie Latysh, Daniel J. Manier, Robert R. McDougal, Cynthia P. Melcher, Kirk A. Miller, Jessica Montag, Edward M. Olexa, Christopher J. Potter, Spencer Schell, Sarah L. Shafer, David B. Smith, Lisa L. Stillings, Michael J. Sweat, Michele L. Tuttle, Anna B. Wilson
A comparison of bats and rodents as reservoirs of zoonotic viruses: are bats special? A comparison of bats and rodents as reservoirs of zoonotic viruses: are bats special?
Bats are the natural reservoirs of a number of high-impact viral zoonoses. We present a quantitative analysis to address the hypothesis that bats are unique in their propensity to host zoonotic viruses based on a comparison with rodents, another important host order. We found that bats indeed host more zoonotic viruses per species than rodents, and we identified life-history and...
Authors
Angela D. Luis, David T.S. Hayman, Thomas J. O'Shea, Paul M. Cryan, Amy T. Gilbert, Juliet R.C. Pulliam, James N. Mills, Mary E. Timonin, Craig K. R. Willis, Andrew A. Cunningham, Anthony R. Fooks, Charles E. Rupprecht, James L.N. Wood, Colleen T. Webb
Modeling sediment accumulation in North American playa wetlands in response to climate change, 1940-2100 Modeling sediment accumulation in North American playa wetlands in response to climate change, 1940-2100
Playa wetlands on the west-central Great Plains of North America are vulnerable to sediment infilling from upland agriculture, putting at risk several important ecosystem services as well as essential habitats and food resources of diverse wetland-dependent biota. Climate predictions for this semi-arid area indicate reduced precipitation which may alter rates of erosion, runoff, and...
Authors
Lucy Burris, Susan K. Skagen
Vegetation classification and mapping, Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi Vegetation classification and mapping, Vicksburg National Military Park, Mississippi
Executive Summary The National Park Service (NPS) Gulf Coast Inventory and Monitoring Network, with the support of the National Park Service Vegetation Inventory completed vegetation classification and mapping for Vicksburg National Military Park (VICK), in Warren County, Mississippi, from 2004 to 2010. VICK is one of more than 250 NPS units to be covered by the Vegetation Inventory...
Authors
Chris Lea, Robert G. Waltermire, Carl Nordman
Factors influencing survival and mark retention in postmetamorphic boreal chorus frogs Factors influencing survival and mark retention in postmetamorphic boreal chorus frogs
The ability to track individual animals is crucial in many field studies and often requires applying marks to captured individuals. Toe clipping has historically been a standard marking method for wild amphibian populations, but more recent marking methods include visual implant elastomer and photo identification. Unfortunately, few studies have investigated the influence and...
Authors
Jennifer E. Swanson, Larissa L. Bailey, Erin L. Muths, W. Chris Funk
The Malthusian-Darwinian dynamic and the trajectory of civilization The Malthusian-Darwinian dynamic and the trajectory of civilization
Two interacting forces influence all populations: the Malthusian dynamic of exponential growth until resource limits are reached, and the Darwinian dynamic of innovation and adaptation to circumvent these limits through biological and/or cultural evolution. The specific manifestations of these forces in modern human society provide an important context for determining how humans can...
Authors
Jeffrey C. Nekola, Craig D. Allen, James H. Brown, Joseph R. Burger, Ana D. Davidson, Trevor S. Fristoe, Marcus J. Hamilton, Sean T. Hammond, Astrid Kodric-Brown, Norman Mercado-Silva, Jordan G. Okie
VisTrails SAHM: visualization and workflow management for species habitat modeling VisTrails SAHM: visualization and workflow management for species habitat modeling
The Software for Assisted Habitat Modeling (SAHM) has been created to both expedite habitat modeling and help maintain a record of the various input data, pre- and post-processing steps and modeling options incorporated in the construction of a species distribution model through the established workflow management and visualization VisTrails software. This paper provides an overview of...
Authors
Jeffrey T. Morisette, Catherine S. Jarnevich, Tracy R. Holcombe, Colin B. Talbert, Drew A. Ignizio, Marian Talbert, Claudio Silva, David Koop, Alan Swanson, Nicholas E. Young
Insect prey eaten by Hoary Bats (Lasiurus cinereus) prior to fatal collisions with wind turbines Insect prey eaten by Hoary Bats (Lasiurus cinereus) prior to fatal collisions with wind turbines
Wind turbines are being deployed all across the world to meet the growing demand for energy, and in many areas, these turbines are causing the deaths of insectivorous migratory bats. One of the hypothesized causes of bat susceptibility is that bats are attracted to insects on or near the turbines. We examined insect remains in the stomachs and intestines of hoary bats ( Lasiurus cinereus...
Authors
Ernest W. Valdez, Paul M. Cryan