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: 2379
Short- and long-term responses of riparian cottonwoods (Populus spp.) to flow diversion: Analysis of tree-ring radial growth and stable carbon isotopes Short- and long-term responses of riparian cottonwoods (Populus spp.) to flow diversion: Analysis of tree-ring radial growth and stable carbon isotopes
Long duration tree-ring records with annual precision allow for the reconstruction of past growing conditions. Investigations limited to the most common tree-ring proxy of ring width can be difficult to interpret, however, because radial growth is affected by multiple environmental processes. Furthermore, studies of living trees may miss important effects of drought on tree survival and...
Authors
Derek M. Schook, Jonathan M. Friedman, Craig A. Stricker, Adam Z. Csank, David J. Cooper
Evaluation of the impacts of radio-marking devices on feral horses and burros in a captive setting Evaluation of the impacts of radio-marking devices on feral horses and burros in a captive setting
Radio-collars and other radio-marking devices have been invaluable tools for wildlife managers for >40 years. These marking devices have improved our understanding of wildlife spatial ecology and demographic parameters and provided new data facilitating model development for species conservation and management. Although these tools have been used on virtually all North American ungulates...
Authors
Kathryn A. Schoenecker, Sarah R. B. King, Gail C. Collins
Understanding mountain lakes in a changing world: Introduction to the special issue Understanding mountain lakes in a changing world: Introduction to the special issue
No abstract available.
Authors
Jill S. Baron, Sudeep Chandra, James J. Elser
Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus) behavior at wind turbines on Maui Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus) behavior at wind turbines on Maui
This study examined the activity of the endemic Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus) at wind turbines operated by Auwahi Wind Energy, LLC, on southern Maui Island, from August to November 2018. The research was conducted to assess the potential effect of wind speed and turbine operation on bat presence and behavior and compared information obtained from both acoustic monitoring...
Authors
P. Marcos Gorresen, Paul M. Cryan, Grace Tredinnick
Generalizing indirect defense and resistance of plants Generalizing indirect defense and resistance of plants
Indirect defence, the adaptive top‐down control of herbivores by plant traits that enhance predation, is a central component of plant–herbivore interactions. However, the scope of interactions that comprise indirect defence and associated ecological and evolutionary processes has not been clearly defined. We argue that the range of plant traits that mediate indirect defence is much...
Authors
Ian S. Pearse, Eric LoPresti, Robert N. Schaeffer, William C. Wetzel, Kailen A. Mooney, Jared G. Ali, Paul J. Ode, Micky D. Eubanks, Judith L. Bronstein, Marjorie G. Weber
Projected impacts of climate change on the range and phenology of three culturally-important shrub species Projected impacts of climate change on the range and phenology of three culturally-important shrub species
Climate change is shifting both the habitat suitability and the timing of critical biological events, such as flowering and fruiting, for plant species across the globe. Here, we ask how both the distribution and phenology of three food-producing shrubs native to northwestern North America might shift as the climate changes. To address this question, we compared gridded climate data with...
Authors
Janet S. Prevey, Lauren E. Parker, Constance A Harrington
Wildfire reveals transient changes to individual traits and population responses of a native bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) Wildfire reveals transient changes to individual traits and population responses of a native bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii)
1. Fire-induced changes in the abundance and distribution of organisms, especially plants, can alter resource landscapes for mobile consumers driving bottom-up effects on their population sizes, morphologies, and reproductive potential. We expect these impacts to be most striking for obligate visitors of plants, like bees and other pollinators, but these impacts can be difficult to...
Authors
John Michael Mola, Michael R. Miller, Sean M. O'Rourke, Neal M. Williams
2019 National park visitor spending effects: Economic contributions to local communities, states, and the nation 2019 National park visitor spending effects: Economic contributions to local communities, states, and the nation
The National Park Service (NPS) manages the Nation’s most iconic destinations that attract millions of visitors from across the Nation and around the world. Trip-related spending by NPS visitors generates and supports economic activity within park gateway communities. This report summarizes the annual economic contribution analysis that measures how NPS visitor spending cycles through...
Authors
Catherine Cullinane Thomas, Lynne Koontz
Effects of flow diversion on Snake Creek and its riparian cottonwood forest, Great Basin National Park Effects of flow diversion on Snake Creek and its riparian cottonwood forest, Great Basin National Park
Snake Creek flows east from the southern Snake Range in Nevada over complex lithology before leaving Great Basin National Park. The river travels over a section of karst limestone where some surface water naturally recharges the groundwater flow system. In 1961 a water diversion pipeline was constructed by downstream water users to transport surface water through the groundwater recharge...
Authors
Derek M. Schook, David J. Cooper, Jonathan M. Friedman, Steven E. Rice, Jamie D. Hoover, Richard D. Thaxton
Mast seeding patterns are asynchronous at a continental scale Mast seeding patterns are asynchronous at a continental scale
Resource pulses are short duration, high magnitude, rare events that drive the dynamics of both plant and animal populations and communities1. Mast seeding is perhaps the most common type of resource pulse occurring in terrestrial ecosystems2, is characterized by the synchronous and highly variable production of seed crops by a population of perennial plants3,4, and is widespread both
Authors
J. M. LaMontagne, Ian Pearse, David A. Greene, W. D. Koenig
Simulated increases in fire activity reinforce shrub conversion in a southwestern US forest Simulated increases in fire activity reinforce shrub conversion in a southwestern US forest
Fire exclusion in historically frequent-fire forests of the southwestern United States has altered forest structure and increased the probability of high-severity fire. Warmer and drier conditions, coupled with dispersal distance limitations, are impeding tree seedling establishment and survival following high-severity fire. High-severity patches are commonly dominated by non-forest...
Authors
Alisa R. Keyser, Dan J. Krofchek, Cecile C. Remy, Craig D. Allen, Matthew D. Hurteau
Biogeography and phylogeny of masting: Do global patterns fit functional hypotheses? Biogeography and phylogeny of masting: Do global patterns fit functional hypotheses?
1) Interannual variability of seed crops (CVp) has profound consequences for plant populations and food webs, where high CVp is termed ‘masting’. Here we ask: is global variation in CVp better predicted by plant or habitat differences consistent with adaptive economies of scale, in which flower and seed benefits increase disproportionately during mast years; or to passive mechanisms, in...
Authors
Ian Pearse, Jalene LaMontagne, Michael Lordon, Andrew Hipp, Walter D. Koenig