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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: 2399

Population genomic analysis suggests strong influence of river network on spatial distribution of genetic variation in invasive saltcedar across the southwestern United States Population genomic analysis suggests strong influence of river network on spatial distribution of genetic variation in invasive saltcedar across the southwestern United States

Understanding the complex influences of landscape and anthropogenic elements that shape the population genetic structure of invasive species provides insight into patterns of colonization and spread. The application of landscape genomics techniques to these questions may offer detailed, previously undocumented insights into factors influencing species invasions. We investigated the...
Authors
Soo-Rang Lee, Yeong-Seok Jo, Chan-Ho Park, Jonathan M. Friedman, Matthew S. Olson

Semi-arid grassland bird responses to patch-burn grazing and drought Semi-arid grassland bird responses to patch-burn grazing and drought

As grassland birds of central North America experience steep population declines with changes in land use, management of remaining tracts becomes increasingly important for population viability. The integrated use of fire and grazing may enhance vegetation heterogeneity and diversity in breeding birds, but the subsequent effects on reproduction are unknown. We examined the influence of...
Authors
Susan K. Skagen, David J. Augustine, Justin D. Derner

Monitoring global tree mortality patterns and trends. Report from the VW symposium ‘Crossing scales and disciplines to identify global trends of tree mortality as indicators of forest health’ Monitoring global tree mortality patterns and trends. Report from the VW symposium ‘Crossing scales and disciplines to identify global trends of tree mortality as indicators of forest health’

From the 21stto the 23rdJune 2017, the Herrenhausen castle inHannover/Germany hosted a diverse and large crowd with morethan 70 tree physiologists, forest ecologists, forest inventoryexperts, remote-sensing scientists, and vegetation modele rs. Par-ticipants from six continent s and from more than 20 countriesgathered to discuss how to improve the scientific determination ofglobal-scale...
Authors
Henrik Hartmann, Bernhard Schuldt, Tanja G. M. Sanders, Cate Macinnis-Ng, Hans Juergen Boehmer, Craig D. Allen, Andreas Bolte, Thomas W. Crowther, Matthew C. Hansen, Belinda E. Medlyn, Nadine K. Ruehr, William R. L. Anderegg

Effects of environmental variables on invasive amphibian activity: Using model selection on quantiles for counts Effects of environmental variables on invasive amphibian activity: Using model selection on quantiles for counts

Many different factors influence animal activity. Often, the value of an environmental variable may influence significantly the upper or lower tails of the activity distribution. For describing relationships with heterogeneous boundaries, quantile regressions predict a quantile of the conditional distribution of the dependent variable. A quantile count model extends linear quantile...
Authors
Benjamin J. Muller, Brian S. Cade, Lin Schwarzkoph

Perissodactyla diet Perissodactyla diet

Perissodactyla (Schoch 1989) includes tapirs, rhinoceros, wild asses, horses, and zebras. It is the order of hoofed mammals referred to as “odd-toed ungulates” because its members have one to three weight-bearing toes and walk on hoofs or “ungules.” They are herbivores that are specialized to exploit grasslands and brushy habitat (rhinos, horses, asses, zebras) or dense tropical forests...
Authors
Kathryn A. Schoenecker

Preparing for an uncertain future: Migrating shorebird response to past climatic fluctuations in the Prairie Potholes Preparing for an uncertain future: Migrating shorebird response to past climatic fluctuations in the Prairie Potholes

The Prairie Pothole Region, situated in the northern Great Plains, provides important stopover habitat for migratory shorebirds. During spring migration in the U.S. Prairie Potholes, 7.3 million shorebirds refuel in the region's myriad small, freshwater wetlands. Shorebirds use mudflats, shorelines, and ephemeral wetlands that are far more abundant in wet years than dry years. Generally...
Authors
Valerie A. Steen, Susan K. Skagen, Barry R. Noon

Effects of feral horse herds on plant communities across a precipitation gradient Effects of feral horse herds on plant communities across a precipitation gradient

Feral horses are widespread in the western United States, with the majority of feral horse herds found in the Great Basin. There is a federal mandate to manage these herds in order to maintain “ecological balance”; however, understanding of the specific effects of feral horse grazing on rangeland plant communities in this region is incomplete. To address this research gap, we utilized...
Authors
Lauren E. Baur, Kathryn A. Schoenecker, Melinda D. Smith

Public views of wetlands and waterfowl conservation in the United States—Results of a survey to inform the 2018 update of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan Public views of wetlands and waterfowl conservation in the United States—Results of a survey to inform the 2018 update of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan

Executive Summary This report provides information from a general public survey conducted in early 2017 to help inform the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) 2018 update. This report is intended for use by the NAWMP advisory committees and anyone interested in the human dimensions of wetlands and waterfowl management. A mail-out survey was sent to 5,000 addresses in the...
Authors
Emily J. Wilkins, Holly M. Miller

Holy flux: Spatial and temporal variation in massive pulses of emerging insect biomass from western U.S. rivers Holy flux: Spatial and temporal variation in massive pulses of emerging insect biomass from western U.S. rivers

The river stonefly, Pteronarcys californica (aka salmonfly), is an iconic insect in rivers of western North America due to its large size and its support of economically important species like wild trout (Nehring et al. 2011). Their emergence generates a large economic subsidy to local communities, as anglers from around the world travel to western rivers to fish the salmonfly “hatch” (e...
Authors
David Walters, Jeff S. Wesner, Robert E. Zuellig, Dan A. Kowalski, Matt C. Kondratieff

Parasite spillover: Indirect effects of invasive Burmese pythons Parasite spillover: Indirect effects of invasive Burmese pythons

Identification of the origin of parasites of nonindigenous species (NIS) can be complex. NIS may introduce parasites from their native range and acquire parasites from within their invaded range. Determination of whether parasites are non-native or native can be complicated when parasite genera occur within both the NIS’ native range and its introduced range. We explored potential for...
Authors
Melissa A. Miller, John M. Kinsella, Ray W. Snow, Malorie M Hayes, Bryan Falk, Robert Reed, Frank J. Mazzotti, Craig Guyer, Christina M. Romagosa

Heterogeneous responses of temperate-zone amphibian populations to climate change complicates conservation planning Heterogeneous responses of temperate-zone amphibian populations to climate change complicates conservation planning

The pervasive and unabated nature of global amphibian declines suggests common demographic responses to a given driver, and quantification of major drivers and responses could inform broad-scale conservation actions. We explored the influence of climate on demographic parameters (i.e., changes in the probabilities of survival and recruitment) using 31 datasets from temperate zone...
Authors
Erin L. Muths, Thierry A. Chambert, B. R. Schmidt, D. A. W. Miller, Blake R. Hossack, P. Joly, O. Grolet, D. M. Green, David S. Pilliod, M. Cheylan, Robert N. Fisher, R. M. McCaffery, M. J. Adams, W. J. Palen, J. W. Arntzen, J. Garwood, Gary M. Fellers, J. M. Thirion, A. Besnard, Evan H. Campbell Grant
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