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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: 2427

Would ecological landscape restoration make the Bandelier Wilderness more or less of a wilderness? Would ecological landscape restoration make the Bandelier Wilderness more or less of a wilderness?

Is it appropriate to intervene in designated wilderness areas that have been "untrammeled by man" and, as a result, no longer retain their "primeval character and influence" as called for in the 1964 Wilderness Act? We explore this wilderness management dilemma - whether we can or should actively manage wilderness conditions to restore and protect wilderness and other values - by asking...
Authors
C.A. Sydoriak, Craig D. Allen, Brian F. Jacobs

An overview of mining-related environmental and human health issues, Marinduque Island, Philippines: observations from a joint U.S. Geological Survey - Armed Forces Institute of Pathology reconnaissance field evaluation, May 12-19, 2000 An overview of mining-related environmental and human health issues, Marinduque Island, Philippines: observations from a joint U.S. Geological Survey - Armed Forces Institute of Pathology reconnaissance field evaluation, May 12-19, 2000

This report summarizes results of a visit by the report authors to Marinduque Island, Philippines, in May 2000. The purpose of the visit was to conduct a preliminary examination of environmental problems created by a 1996 tailings spill from the Marcopper open-pit copper mine. The mine was operated from 1969-1996 by Macropper Mining Corperation, under 39.9% ownership, and design and...
Authors
Geoffrey S. Plumlee, Robert A. Morton, Terence P. Boyle, Jack H. Medlin, Jose A. Centeno

Investigation of denitrification rates in an ammonia-dominated constructed wastewater treatment wetland Investigation of denitrification rates in an ammonia-dominated constructed wastewater treatment wetland

Denitrification measurements were made under simulated field conditions using sediment cores and water collected from the Hemet/San Jacinto Multipurpose Demonstration Wetland (Riverside County, California, USA). The 9.9 ha constructed wetland is used to both polish ammonia-dominated secondary municipal effluent and provide migratory bird habitat. The wetland was originally constructed as...
Authors
Lesley K. Smith, J.J. Sartoris, J.S. Thullen, D.C. Andersen

Translocations as a tool for restoring populations of bighorn sheep Translocations as a tool for restoring populations of bighorn sheep

We analyzed factors that contributed to the success of 100 translocations of bighorn sheep within six western states between 1923 and 1997. We categorized the populations as unsuccessful (i.e., extirpated or remnant,
Authors
F. J. Singer, C.M. Papouchis, K.K. Symonds

Channel incision and patterns of cottonwood stress and mortality along the Mojave River, California Channel incision and patterns of cottonwood stress and mortality along the Mojave River, California

In 1995, mapping and classification of riparian vegetation along the Mojave River in southern California revealed an 8-km reach in which riparian cottonwoods (Populus fremontii Wats.) were stressed or dying. We tested a set of predictions based on the inference that cottonwood decline was an indirect result of lowered water-table levels following flood-related channel incision...
Authors
M. L. Scott, G. C. Lines, G.T. Auble

Effects of introduced crayfish on selected native fishes of Arizona Effects of introduced crayfish on selected native fishes of Arizona

The virile crayfish (Orconectes virilis), an aggressive polytrophic species, has been introduced into many Arizona streams. I investigated competition and predation between this crayfish and several native Arizona fishes. I conducted field experiments to assess competition for food between crayfish and fish, and laboratory experiments to examine competition for shelter and food, and...
Authors
J. Carpenter

Plant-herbivore-hydroperiod interactions: effects of native mammals on floodplain tree recruitment Plant-herbivore-hydroperiod interactions: effects of native mammals on floodplain tree recruitment

Floodplain plant–herbivore–hydroperiod interactions have received little attention despite their potential as determinants of floodplain structure and functioning. We used five types of exclosures to differentially exclude small-, medium-, and large-sized mammals from accessing Fremont cottonwood (Populus deltoides Marshall subsp. wizlizenii (Watson) Eckenwalder) seedlings and saplings...
Authors
D.C. Andersen, D.J. Cooper

Temporal coherence of two alpine lake basins of the Colorado Front Range, USA Temporal coherence of two alpine lake basins of the Colorado Front Range, USA

1. Knowledge of synchrony in trends is important to determining regional responses of lakes to disturbances such as atmospheric deposition and climate change. We explored the temporal coherence of physical and chemical characteristics of two series of mostly alpine lakes in nearby basins of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Using year-to-year variation over a 10-year period, we asked whether...
Authors
Jill Baron, N. Caine

The role of landscape and habitat characteristics in limiting abundance of grassland nesting songbirds in an urban open space The role of landscape and habitat characteristics in limiting abundance of grassland nesting songbirds in an urban open space

We examine the relationships between abundance of grassland nesting songbirds observed in the Boulder Open Space, CO, USA and parameters that described landscape and habitat characteristics, in order to provide information for Boulder Open Space planners and managers. Data sets included bird abundance and plant species composition, collected during three breeding seasons (1994–1996), and...
Authors
S. Haire, C.E. Bock, B.S. Cade, B.C. Bennett

The disparity between extreme rainfall events and rare floods - with emphasis on the semi-arid American West The disparity between extreme rainfall events and rare floods - with emphasis on the semi-arid American West

Research beginning 40 years ago suggested that semi-arid lands of the USA have higher unit discharges for a given recurrence interval than occur in other areas. Convincing documentation and arguments for this suspicion, however, were not presented. Thus, records of measured rainfall intensities for specified durations and recurrence intervals, and theoretical depths of probable maximum
Authors
W. R. Osterkamp, Jonathan M. Friedman

Woody riparian vegetation response to different alluvial water table regimes Woody riparian vegetation response to different alluvial water table regimes

Woody riparian vegetation in western North American riparian ecosystems is commonly dependent on alluvial groundwater. Various natural and anthropogenic mechanisms can cause groundwater declines that stress riparian vegetation, but little quantitative information exists on the nature of plant response to different magnitudes, rates, and durations of groundwater decline. We observed...
Authors
P.B. Shafroth, J.C. Stromberg, D.T. Patten
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