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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: 2397

How many kilojoules does a Black-billed Magpie nest cost? How many kilojoules does a Black-billed Magpie nest cost?

Energetic costs of nest construction are difficult to estimate for birds, and currently estimates are available for only a handful of species. In this paper, I estimate the minimum cost of nest construction by a pair of Black-billed Magpies (Pica hudsonia). Data on the number of sticks and mud pellets comprising a nest were used to determine the minimum number of trips required to...
Authors
T.R. Stanley

Economic and ecological impacts of abrupt climate change Economic and ecological impacts of abrupt climate change

Most studies of the potential ecological and economic impacts of climate change and greenhouse warming have focused on scenarios that involve gradual climate change. Accumulating evidence from the paleosciences, however, shows that the patterns of change suggested by projections of future climate change are not representative of past climatic changes or of the transitions between...
Authors

Selection of nesting habitat by sharp-tailed grouse in the Nebraska sandhills Selection of nesting habitat by sharp-tailed grouse in the Nebraska sandhills

We evaluated nesting habitat selection (disproportionate use compared to availability) by plains sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus jamesi) on rangelands grazed by cattle (Bos taurus) relative to height, density, and heterogeneity of residual herbaceous vegetation remaining from previous growing seasons. Residual cover is critical for nesting sharp-tailed grouse and can be...
Authors
Bart L. Prose, Brian S. Cade, Dale Hein

SALMOD: A population model for salmonids: user's manual. Version W3 SALMOD: A population model for salmonids: user's manual. Version W3

SALMOD is a computer model that simulates the dynamics of freshwater salmonid populations, both anadromous and resident. The conceptual model was developed in a workshop setting (Williamson et al. 1993) using fish experts concerned with Trinity River chinook restoration. The model builds on the foundation laid by similar models (see Cheslak and Jacobson 1990). The model’s premise that...
Authors
John Bartholow, John Heasley, Jeff Laake, Jeff Sandelin, Beth A.K. Coughlan, Alan Moos

Systematics of Myotis occultus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) inferred from sequences of two mitochondrial genes Systematics of Myotis occultus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) inferred from sequences of two mitochondrial genes

The systematic relationship between Myotis lucifugus carissima and Myotis occultus has been the subject of multiple studies. Although several studies, including a recent allozyme study, concluded that M. occultus is a subspecies of M. lucifugus, this view has not been universally accepted. We reexamined the relationships of these 2 taxa by sequencing the mitochondrial cytochrome-b (cyt-b...
Authors
A.J. Piaggio, E.W. Valdez, M.A. Bogan, G.S. Spicer

A new species of Echinosaura (Gymnophthalmidae) from Ecuador and Colombia with comments on other members of the genus and Teuchocercus keyi A new species of Echinosaura (Gymnophthalmidae) from Ecuador and Colombia with comments on other members of the genus and Teuchocercus keyi

A new species of the genus Echinosaura is described from the Pacific drainages of northern Ecuador and adjacent Colombia. Evaluation of variation among congeners justifies their recognition as distinct species instead of subspecies as previously proposed. The new lizard occurs in close proximity to Echinosaura horrida and Teuchocercus keyi.
Authors
T. H. Fritts, A. Almendariz, S. Samec

What records have we been breaking? What records have we been breaking?

"Today was another record-breaking day," the evening radio or television declares. High temperatures, low temperatures, floods, drought - take your choice. But how can we put these pronouncements in perspective? What do they really mean? We present two types of information in this article: 1) an analysis of daily air temperature and precipitation for Fort Collins and 2) an analysis of...
Authors
J.M. Bartholow, R. Milhous

Influences of spatial and temporal variation on fish-habitat relationships defined by regression quantiles Influences of spatial and temporal variation on fish-habitat relationships defined by regression quantiles

We used regression quantiles to model potentially limiting relationships between the standing crop of cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki and measures of stream channel morphology. Regression quantile models indicated that variation in fish density was inversely related to the width:depth ratio of streams but not to stream width or depth alone. The spatial and temporal stability of model
Authors
J. B. Dunham, B.S. Cade, J.W. Terrell

Taxonomic assessment of the black bear (Ursus americanus) in the eastern United States Taxonomic assessment of the black bear (Ursus americanus) in the eastern United States

The subspecific status of the Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) and Florida black bear (U. a. floridanus) were assessed using morphologic features to determine their distinctness in relation to one another and to the black bear (U. a. americanus). Forty-four dimensions were recorded from skulls of 125 male and 127 female adult (4.5 years or older) bears. Results showed...
Authors
M.L. Kennedy, P.K. Kennedy, M.A. Bogan, J.L. Waits
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