Publications
Below is a list of available NOROCK peer reviewed and published science. If you are in search of a specific publication and cannot find it below or through a search, please contact twojtowicz@usgs.gov.
Filter Total Items: 1308
Risk and efficacy of human-enabled interspecific hybridization for climate-change adaptation: Response to Hamilton and Miller (2016) Risk and efficacy of human-enabled interspecific hybridization for climate-change adaptation: Response to Hamilton and Miller (2016)
Hamilton and Miller (2016) provide an interesting and provocative discussion of how hybridization and introgression can promote evolutionary potential in the face of climate change. They argue that hybridization—mating between individuals from genetically distinct populations—can alleviate inbreeding depression and promote adaptive introgression and evolutionary rescue. We agree that...
Authors
Ryan P. Kovach, Gordon Luikart, Winsor H. Lowe, Matthew C. Boyer, Clint C. Muhlfeld
Are brown trout replacing or displacing bull trout populations in a changing climate? Are brown trout replacing or displacing bull trout populations in a changing climate?
Understanding how climate change may facilitate species turnover is an important step in identifying potential conservation strategies. We used data from 33 sites in western Montana to quantify climate associations with native bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and non-native brown trout (Salmo trutta) abundance and population growth rates (λ). We estimated λ using exponential growth...
Authors
Robert K. Al-Chokhachy, David A. Schmetterling, Chris Clancy, Pat Saffel, Ryan Kovach, Leslie Nyce, Brad Liermann, Wade A. Fredenberg, Ron Pierce
Plastic pikas: Behavioural flexibility in low-elevation pikas (Ochotona princeps) Plastic pikas: Behavioural flexibility in low-elevation pikas (Ochotona princeps)
Behaviour is an important mechanism for accommodating rapid environmental changes. Understanding a species’ capacity for behavioural plasticity is therefore a key, but understudied, aspect of developing tractable conservation and management plans under climate-change scenarios. Here, we quantified behavioural differences between American pikas (Ochotona princeps) living in an atypical...
Authors
Johanna Varner, Joshua J. Horns, Mallory S. Lambert, Elizabeth Westberg, James Ruff, Katelyn Wolfenberger, Erik A. Beever, M. Denise Dearing
Climate variables explain neutral and adaptive variation within salmonid metapopulations: The importance of replication in landscape genetics Climate variables explain neutral and adaptive variation within salmonid metapopulations: The importance of replication in landscape genetics
Understanding how environmental variation influences population genetic structure is important for conservation management because it can reveal how human stressors influence population connectivity, genetic diversity and persistence. We used riverscape genetics modelling to assess whether climatic and habitat variables were related to neutral and adaptive patterns of genetic...
Authors
Brian K. Hand, Clint C. Muhlfeld, Alisa A. Wade, Ryan Kovach, Diane C. Whited, Shawn R. Narum, Andrew P. Matala, Michael W. Ackerman, B. A. Garner, John S Kimball, Jack A. Stanford, Gordon Luikart
Density, distribution, and genetic structure of grizzly bears in the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem Density, distribution, and genetic structure of grizzly bears in the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem
The conservation status of the 2 threatened grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) populations in the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem (CYE) of northern Montana and Idaho had remained unchanged since designation in 1975; however, the current demographic status of these populations was uncertain. No rigorous data on population density and distribution or analysis of recent population genetic structure were...
Authors
Katherine C. Kendall, Amy C. Macleod, Kristina L. Boyd, John Boulanger, J. Andrew Royle, Wayne F. Kasworm, David Paetkau, Michael F. Proctor, Tabitha A. Graves, Kim Annis
Ecological relevance of current water quality assessment unit designations in impaired rivers Ecological relevance of current water quality assessment unit designations in impaired rivers
Managers often nest sections of water bodies together into assessment units (AUs) to monitor and assess water quality criteria. Ideally, AUs represent an extent of waters with similar ecological, watershed, habitat and land-use conditions and no overlapping characteristics with other waters. In the United States, AUs are typically based on political or hydrologic boundaries rather than...
Authors
Megan J. Layhee, Adam J. Sepulveda, Andrew Ray, Greg Mladenka, Lynn Van Every
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
Understanding environmental DNA detection probabilities: A case study using a stream-dwelling char Salvelinus fontinalis Understanding environmental DNA detection probabilities: A case study using a stream-dwelling char Salvelinus fontinalis
Environmental DNA sampling (eDNA) has emerged as a powerful tool for detecting aquatic animals. Previous research suggests that eDNA methods are substantially more sensitive than traditional sampling. However, the factors influencing eDNA detection and the resulting sampling costs are still not well understood. Here we use multiple experiments to derive independent estimates of eDNA...
Authors
Taylor Wilcox, Kevin S. Mckelvey, Michael K. Young, Adam J. Sepulveda, Bradley B. Shepard, Stephen F Jane, Andrew R. Whiteley, Winsor H. Lowe, Michael K. Schwartz
Yellowstone grizzly bear investigations — Annual report of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team 2015 Yellowstone grizzly bear investigations — Annual report of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team 2015
This Annual Report summarizes results of grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) monitoring and research conducted in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) during 2015. The report also contains a summary of grizzly bear management actions to address conflict situations.
From rags to riches? Black bear management in the southeast From rags to riches? Black bear management in the southeast
No abstract available.
Authors
Joseph D. Clark
Nature vs. nurture: Evidence for social learning of conflict behaviour in grizzly bears Nature vs. nurture: Evidence for social learning of conflict behaviour in grizzly bears
The propensity for a grizzly bear to develop conflict behaviours might be a result of social learning between mothers and cubs, genetic inheritance, or both learning and inheritance. Using non-invasive genetic sampling, we collected grizzly bear hair samples during 2011–2014 across southwestern Alberta, Canada. We targeted private agricultural lands for hair samples at grizzly bear...
Authors
Andrea T. Morehouse, Tabitha A. Graves, Nathaniel Mikle, Mark S. Boyce
Genetic status and conservation of Westslope Cutthroat Trout in Glacier National Park Genetic status and conservation of Westslope Cutthroat Trout in Glacier National Park
Invasive hybridization is one of the greatest threats to the persistence of Westslope Cutthroat Trout Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi. Large protected areas, where nonhybridized populations are interconnected and express historical life history and genetic diversity, provide some of the last ecological and evolutionary strongholds for conserving this species. Here, we describe the genetic...
Authors
Clint C. Muhlfeld, Vincent S. D'Angelo, Christopher C. Downs, John D. Powell, Stephen J. Amish, Gordon Luikart, Ryan Kovach, Matthew Boyer, Steven T. Kalinowski