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: 2437
Field evaluation of a two-dimensinal hydrodynamic model near boulders for habitat calculation Field evaluation of a two-dimensinal hydrodynamic model near boulders for habitat calculation
Two-dimensional hydrodynamic models are now widely used in aquatic habitat studies. To test the sensitivity of calculated habitat outcomes to limitations of such a model and of typical field data, bathymetry, depth and velocity data were collected for three discharges in the vicinity of two large boulders in the South Platte River (Colorado) and used in the River2D model. Simulated depth...
Authors
Terry Waddle
Restoration and revegetation associated with control of saltcedar and Russian olive: Chapter 7 Restoration and revegetation associated with control of saltcedar and Russian olive: Chapter 7
Rationales for controlling or eliminating saltcedar and Russian olive from sites, river reaches, or entire streams include implicit or explicit assumptions that natural recovery or applied restoration of native plant communities will follow exotic plant removal (McDaniel and Taylor, 2003; Quimby and others, 2003). The vegetation that replaces saltcedar and Russian olive after treatment (
Authors
Patrick B. Shafroth, David M. Merritt, Vanessa B. Beauchamp, Kenneth D. Lair
Saving our shared birds: Partners in Flight tri-national vision for landbird conservation Saving our shared birds: Partners in Flight tri-national vision for landbird conservation
Landbirds are the most abundant and diverse group of birds in North America, with nearly 900 species distributed across every major terrestrial habitat. Birds are indicators of environmental health; their populations track changes in habitat, water, disease, and climate. They are providers of invaluable ecosystem services, such as pest control, seed dispersal, and pollination. As the...
Authors
Humberto Berlanga, Judith A. Kennedy, Terrell D. Rich, Maria del Coro Arizmendi, Carol J. Beardmore, Peter J. Blancher, Gregory S. Butcher, Andrew R. Couturier, Ashley A. Dayer, Dean W. Demarest, Wendy E. Easton, Mary Gustafson, Eduardo E. Inigo-Elias, Elizabeth A. Krebs, Arvind O. Panjabi, Vicente Rodriguez Contreras, Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Janet M. Ruth, Eduardo Santana Castellon, Rosa Vidal, Tom Will
Unbiased survival estimates and evidence for skipped breeding opportunities in females Unbiased survival estimates and evidence for skipped breeding opportunities in females
1. Estimates of demographic parameters for females, in many organisms, are sparse. This is particularly worrisome as more and more species are faced with high extinction probabilities and conservation increasingly depends on actions dictated by complex predictive models that require accurate estimates of demographic parameters for each sex and species. 2. This study assesses demographic...
Authors
Erin L. Muths, Rick D. Scherer, Brad A. Lambert
Bringing modeling to the masses: A web based system to predict potential species distributions Bringing modeling to the masses: A web based system to predict potential species distributions
Predicting current and potential species distributions and abundance is critical for managing invasive species, preserving threatened and endangered species, and conserving native species and habitats. Accurate predictive models are needed at local, regional, and national scales to guide field surveys, improve monitoring, and set priorities for conservation and restoration. Modeling...
Authors
Jim Graham, Greg Newman, Sunil Kumar, Catherine S. Jarnevich, Nick Young, Alycia W. Crall, Thomas J. Stohlgren, Paul Evangelista
A 15 000-year record of climate change in northern New Mexico, USA, inferred from isotopic and elemental contents of bog sediments A 15 000-year record of climate change in northern New Mexico, USA, inferred from isotopic and elemental contents of bog sediments
Elemental (C, N, Pb) and isotopic (δ13C, δ15N) measurements of cored sediment from a small bog in northern New Mexico reveal changes in climate during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. Abrupt increases in Pb concentration and δ13C values ca. 14 420 cal. YBP indicate significant runoff to the shallow lake that existed at that time. Weathering and transport of local volcanic rocks...
Authors
L. M. Cisneros-Dozal, J.M. Heikoop, J. Fessenden, R. Scott Anderson, P.A. Meyers, Craig D. Allen, M. Hess, T. Larson, G. Perkins, M. Rearick
The potential for water savings through the control of saltcedar and Russian olive: Chapter 3 The potential for water savings through the control of saltcedar and Russian olive: Chapter 3
This chapter discusses the components of the water budget for a riparian system containing large stands of saltcedar or Russian olive—that is, how water is used by the plant community and how that use affects both streamflow volume and groundwater levels. The relation of water availability to the hydrologic cycle and geomorphic setting in the Western United States, as well as the...
Authors
Pamela L. Nagler, Patrick B. Shafroth, James W. LaBaugh, Keirith A. Snyder, Russell L. Scott, David M. Merritt, John Osterberg
Saltcedar and Russian olive control demonstration act science assessment [Executive summary] Saltcedar and Russian olive control demonstration act science assessment [Executive summary]
The primary intent of this document is to provide the science assessment called for under The Saltcedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–320; the Act). A secondary purpose is to provide a common background for applicants for prospective demonstration projects, should funds be appropriated for this second phase of the Act. This document synthesizes the...
Authors
Pamela L. Nagler, Patrick B. Shafroth, James W. LaBaugh, Keirith A. Snyder, Russell L. Scott, David M. Merritt, John Osterberg
Growth, carbon-isotope discrimination, and drought-associated mortality across a Pinus ponderosa elevational transect Growth, carbon-isotope discrimination, and drought-associated mortality across a Pinus ponderosa elevational transect
Drought- and insect-associated tree mortality at low-elevation ecotones is a widespread phenomenon but the underlying mechanisms are uncertain. Enhanced growth sensitivity to climate is widely observed among trees that die, indicating that a predisposing physiological mechanism(s) underlies tree mortality. We tested three, linked hypotheses regarding mortality using a ponderosa pine...
Authors
N.G. McDowell, Craig D. Allen, L. Marshall
Vector control improves survival of three species of prairie dogs (Cynomys) in areas considered enzootic for plague Vector control improves survival of three species of prairie dogs (Cynomys) in areas considered enzootic for plague
Plague causes periodic epizootics that decimate populations of prairie dogs (PDs) (Cynomys), but the means by which the causative bacterium (Yersinia pestis) persists between epizootics are poorly understood. Plague epizootics in PDs might arise as the result of introductions of Y. pestis from sources outside PD colonies. However, it remains possible that plague persists in PDs during
Authors
Dean E. Biggins, Jerry L. Godbey, Kenneth L. Gage, Leon G. Carter, John A. Montenieri
Development of a new toxic-unit model for the bioassessment of metals in streams Development of a new toxic-unit model for the bioassessment of metals in streams
Two toxic-unit models that estimate the toxicity of trace-metal mixtures to benthic communities were compared. The chronic criterion accumulation ratio (CCAR), a modification of biotic ligand model (BLM) outputs for use as a toxic-unit model, accounts for the modifying and competitive influences of major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, H+), anions (HCO3−, CO32−,SO42−, Cl−, S2−) and...
Authors
Travis S. Schmidt, W.H. Clements, K.A. Mitchell, Stanley E. Church, Richard B. Wanty, David L. Fey, Philip L. Verplanck, Carma A. San Juan
A global overview of drought and heat-induced tree mortality reveals emerging climate change risks for forests A global overview of drought and heat-induced tree mortality reveals emerging climate change risks for forests
Greenhouse gas emissions have significantly altered global climate, and will continue to do so in the future. Increases in the frequency, duration, and/or severity of drought and heat stress associated with climate change could fundamentally alter the composition, structure, and biogeography of forests in many regions. Of particular concern are potential increases in tree mortality...
Authors
Craig D. Allen, A.K. Macalady, H. Chenchouni, D. Bachelet, N. McDowell, Michel Vennetier, T. Kitzberger, A. Rigling, D.D. Breshears, E. H. Hogg, P. Gonzalez, R. Fensham, Z. Zhang, J. Castro, N. Demidova, J.-H. Lim, G. Allard, S. W. Running, A. Semerci, N. Cobb