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
Multiple mortality events in bats: a global review Multiple mortality events in bats: a global review
Despite conservation concerns for many species of bats, factors causing mortality in bats have not been reviewed since 1970. Here, we review and qualitatively describe trends in the occurrence and apparent causes of multiple mortality events (MMEs) in bats around the world. We compiled a database of MMEs, defined as cases in which ≥ 10 dead bats were counted or estimated at a specific...
Authors
Thomas J. O’Shea, Paul M. Cryan, David TH Hayman, Raina K. Plowright, Daniel G. Streicker
Salamander chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans) in the United States—Developing research, monitoring, and management strategies Salamander chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans) in the United States—Developing research, monitoring, and management strategies
The recently (2013) identified pathogenic chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), poses a severe threat to the distribution and abundance of salamanders within the United States and Europe. Development of a response strategy for the potential, and likely, invasion of Bsal into the United States is crucial to protect global salamander biodiversity. A formal working group...
Authors
Evan H. Campbell Grant, Erin L. Muths, Rachel A. Katz, Stefano Canessa, M. J. Adams, Jennifer R. Ballard, Lee Berger, Cheryl J. Briggs, Jeremy T. H. Coleman, Matthew J. Gray, M. Camille Harris, Reid N. Harris, Blake R. Hossack, Kathryn P. Huyvaert, Jonathan E. Kolby, Karen R. Lips, Robert E. Lovich, Hamish I. McCallum, Joseph R. Mendelson, Priya Nanjappa, Deanna H. Olson, Jenny G. Powers, Katherine L. D. Richgels, Robin E. Russell, Benedikt R. Schmidt, Annemarieke Spitzen-van der Sluijs, Mary Kay Watry, Douglas C. Woodhams, C. LeAnn White
An alternative framework for responding to the amphibian crisis An alternative framework for responding to the amphibian crisis
Volumes of data illustrate the severity of the crisis affecting amphibians, where > 32% of amphibians worldwide are threatened with declining populations. Although there have been isolated victories, the current approach to the issue is unsuccessful. We suggest that a radically different approach, something akin to human emergency response management (i.e. the Incident Command System)...
Authors
Erin L. Muths, Robert N. Fisher
Tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda spp.) in the Colorado River basin: Synthesis of an expert panel forum Tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda spp.) in the Colorado River basin: Synthesis of an expert panel forum
Executive Summary In 2001, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the release of a biological control agent, the tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda spp.), to naturally control tamarisk populations and provide a less costly, and potentially more effective, means of removal compared with mechanical and chemical methods. The invasive plant tamarisk (Tamarix spp.; saltcedar) occupies hundreds...
Authors
Benjamin R. Bloodworth, Patrick B. Shafroth, Anna A. Sher, Rebecca B. Manners, Daniel W. Bean, Matthew J. Johnson, Osvel Hinojosa-Huerta
Prospects and limitations of citizen science in invasive species management: A case study with Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park Prospects and limitations of citizen science in invasive species management: A case study with Burmese pythons in Everglades National Park
Citizen-science programs have the potential to contribute to the management of invasive species, including Python molurus bivittatus (Burmese Python) in Florida. We characterized citizen-science–generated Burmese Python information from Everglades National Park (ENP) to explore how citizen science may be useful in this effort. As an initial step, we compiled and summarized records of...
Authors
Bryan Falk, Raymond W. Snow, Robert Reed
Interactions among American badgers, black-footed ferrets, and prairie dogs in the grasslands of western North America Interactions among American badgers, black-footed ferrets, and prairie dogs in the grasslands of western North America
American badgers (Taxidea taxus) and black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) sometimes occur sympatrically within colonies of prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) in the grasslands of western North America. From the perspective of a simplified food web, badgers are consumers of ferrets and, to a greater extent, prairie dogs; ferrets are specialized consumers of prairie dogs; and prairie dogs are...
Authors
David A. Eads, Dean E. Biggins, Shaun M. Grassel, Travis M. Livieri, Daniel S. Licht
The role of science through a century of elk and habitat management at Rocky Mountain National Park The role of science through a century of elk and habitat management at Rocky Mountain National Park
Over the past century elk (Cervus elaphus) management in Rocky Mountain National Park has evolved along with NPS policy, social values, and an improved understanding of the role of elk in the ecosystem. Science has played an important part in shaping management approaches through the application of monitoring and research (Monello et al. 2006).
Authors
Therese L. Johnson, Linda Zeigenfuss, N. Thompson Hobbs, John A. Mack
Multiscale perspectives of fire, climate and humans in western North America and the Jemez Mountains, USA Multiscale perspectives of fire, climate and humans in western North America and the Jemez Mountains, USA
Interannual climate variations have been important drivers of wildfire occurrence in ponderosa pine forests across western North America for at least 400 years, but at finer scales of mountain ranges and landscapes human land uses sometimes over-rode climate influences. We reconstruct and analyse effects of high human population densities in forests of the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico...
Authors
Thomas W. Swetnam, Joshua Farella, Christopher I. Roos, Matthew J. Liebmann, Donald A. Falk, Craig D. Allen
Protecting national parks from air pollution effects: Making sausage from science and policy Protecting national parks from air pollution effects: Making sausage from science and policy
The story of air pollution research, policy development, and management in national parks is a fascinating blend of cultural change, vision, interdisciplinary and interagency collaboration, and science-policy-management-stakeholder collaborations. Unable to ignore the loss of iconic vistas from regional haze and loss of fish from acid rain in the 1980s, the National Park Service (NPS)...
Authors
Jill S. Baron, Tamara Blett, William C. Malm, Ruth Alexander, Holly Doremus
The value of earth observations: methods and findings on the value of Landsat imagery The value of earth observations: methods and findings on the value of Landsat imagery
Data from Earth observation systems are used extensively in managing and monitoring natural resources, natural hazards, and the impacts of climate change, but the value of such data can be difficult to estimate, particularly when it is available at no cost. Assessing the socioeconomic and scientific value of these data provides a better understanding of the existing and emerging research...
Authors
Holly M. Miller, Larisa O. Serbina, Leslie A. Richardson, Sarah J. Ryker, Timothy R. Newman
Modeling the geographic distribution of Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae) in the contiguous United States Modeling the geographic distribution of Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae) in the contiguous United States
In addition to serving as vectors of several other human pathogens, the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, and western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls, are the primary vectors of the spirochete (Borrelia burgdorferi ) that causes Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Over the past two decades, the geographic range of I...
Authors
Micah Hahn, Catherine S. Jarnevich, Andrew J. Monaghan, Rebecca J. Eisen
Local environmental context conditions the impact of Russian olive in a heterogeneous riparian ecosystem Local environmental context conditions the impact of Russian olive in a heterogeneous riparian ecosystem
Local abiotic and biotic conditions can alter the strength of exotic species impacts. To better understand the effects of exotic species on invaded ecosystems and to prioritize management efforts, it is important that exotic species impacts are put in local environmental context. We studied how differences in plant community composition, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and...
Authors
Graham M. Tuttle, Gabrielle L. Katz, Jonathan M. Friedman, Andrew P. Norton