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: 1334
Applications of genetic data to improve management and conservation of river fishes and their habitats Applications of genetic data to improve management and conservation of river fishes and their habitats
Environmental variation and landscape features affect ecological processes in fluvial systems; however, assessing effects at management-relevant temporal and spatial scales is challenging. Genetic data can be used with landscape models and traditional ecological assessment data to identify biodiversity hotspots, predict ecosystem responses to anthropogenic effects, and detect impairments...
Authors
Kim T. Scribner, Winsor H. Lowe, Erin L. Landguth, Gordon Luikart, Dana M. Infante, Gary Whelan, Clint C. Muhlfeld
Facing a changing world: Thermal physiology of American pikas (Ochotona princeps) Facing a changing world: Thermal physiology of American pikas (Ochotona princeps)
American pikas (Ochotona princeps) are of concern with respect to warming montane temperatures; however, little information exists regarding their physiological ability to adapt to warming temperatures. Previous studies have shown that pikas have high metabolism and low thermal conductance, which allow survival during cold winters. It has been hypothesized that these characteristics may...
Authors
Hans W Otto, James A Wilson, Erik A. Beever
Demographic rates and population viability of black bears in Louisiana Demographic rates and population viability of black bears in Louisiana
The Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) was reduced to a few small, fragmented, and isolated subpopulations in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley by the mid-twentieth century resulting from loss and fragmentation of habitat. In 1992, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) granted the Louisiana black bear threatened status under the United States Endangered...
Authors
Jared S. Laufenberg, Joseph D. Clark, Michael J. Hooker, Carrie L. Lowe, Kaitlin C. O’Connell-Goode, Jesse C. Troxler, Maria M. Davidson, Michael J. Chamberlain, Richard B. Chandler
Floristic similarity, diversity and endemism as indicators of refugia characteristics and needs in the West Floristic similarity, diversity and endemism as indicators of refugia characteristics and needs in the West
The floras of mountain ranges, and their similarity, beta diversity and endemism, are indicative of processes of community assembly; they are also the initial conditions for coming disassembly and reassembly in response to climate change. As such, these characteristics can inform thinking on refugia. The published floras or approximations for 42 mountain ranges in the three major...
Authors
George P. Malanson, Dale L. Zimmerman, Daniel B. Fagre
Evaluation of a fine sediment removal tool in spring-fed and snowmelt driven streams Evaluation of a fine sediment removal tool in spring-fed and snowmelt driven streams
The accumulation of fine-grained sediments impairs the structure and function of streams, so removing fine sediments may be required to achieve restoration objectives. There has been little work on methods of removing excess sediment or on the efficacy of the methods. We used a 4-year before-after-control-impact design in southeastern Idaho streams to test a fine sediment removal system...
Authors
Adam J. Sepulveda, Megan J. Layhee, Zach Sutphin, Juddson D. Sechrist
Assessing the importance of terrain parameters on glide avalanche release Assessing the importance of terrain parameters on glide avalanche release
Glide snow avalanches are dangerous and difficult to predict. Despite recent research there is still a lack of understanding regarding the controls of glide avalanche release. Glide avalanches often occur in similar terrain or the same locations annually and observations suggest that topography may be critical. Thus, to gain an understanding of the terrain component of these types of...
Authors
Erich H. Peitzsch, Jordy Hendrikx, Daniel B. Fagre
A new species of in the Rhyacophila vagrita group (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae) from Olympic National Park, Washington, USA. A new species of in the Rhyacophila vagrita group (Trichoptera: Rhyacophilidae) from Olympic National Park, Washington, USA.
Rhyacophila vagrita Milne, 1936 was described from specimens collected in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. Ross (1950), while examining R. vagrita paratypes from Alberta, discovered four males that did not fi t the R. vagrita description. These he described and named R. milnei Ross, 1950. Ross (1956) established the R. vagrita group for R. vagrita and R. milnei based primarily on...
Authors
Jonathan J Lee, J. Joseph Giersch
Instream habitat restoration and stream temperature reduction in a whirling disease-positive Spring Creek in the Blackfoot River Basin, Montana Instream habitat restoration and stream temperature reduction in a whirling disease-positive Spring Creek in the Blackfoot River Basin, Montana
Anthropogenic warming of stream temperature and the presence of exotic diseases such as whirling disease are both contemporary threats to coldwater salmonids across western North America. We examined stream temperature reduction over a 15-year prerestoration and postrestoration period and the severity of Myxobolus cerebralisinfection (agent of whirling disease) over a 7-year...
Authors
Ron Pierce, Craig Podner, Laurie B Marczak, Leslie A. Jones
Dispersal and selection mediate hybridization between a native and invasive species Dispersal and selection mediate hybridization between a native and invasive species
Hybridization between native and non-native species has serious biological consequences, but our understanding of how dispersal and selection interact to influence invasive hybridization is limited. Here, we document the spread of genetic introgression between a native (Oncorhynchus clarkii) and invasive (Oncorhynchus mykiss) trout, and identify the mechanisms influencing genetic...
Authors
Ryan P. Kovach, Clint C. Muhlfeld, Matthew C. Boyer, Winsor H. Lowe, Fred W. Allendorf, Gordon Luikart
Climate-induced range contraction of a rare alpine aquatic invertebrate Climate-induced range contraction of a rare alpine aquatic invertebrate
Climate warming poses a serious threat to alpine-restricted species worldwide, yet few studies have empirically documented climate-induced changes in distributions. The rare stonefly, Zapada glacier (Baumann and Gaufin), endemic to alpine streams of Glacier National Park (GNP), Montana, was recently petitioned for listing under the US Endangered Species Act because of climate-change...
Authors
J. Joseph Giersch, Steve Jordan, Gordon Luikart, Leslie A. Jones, F. Richard Hauer, Clint C. Muhlfeld
Observations of elk movement patterns on Fossil Butte National Monument Observations of elk movement patterns on Fossil Butte National Monument
The elk herd that frequents Fossil Butte National Monument, a subset of the West Green River elk population, provides visitors with seasonal opportunities to view an iconic species of the western United States. Throughout the year, these elk range across a variety of private, State, and Federal lands within close proximity to the Monument. These lands are managed differently for various...
Authors
Edward M. Olexa, Suzanna Carrithers. Soileau, Leslie A. Allen
Whitebark pine, population density, and home-range size of grizzly bears in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem Whitebark pine, population density, and home-range size of grizzly bears in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem
Changes in life history traits of species can be an important indicator of potential factors influencing populations. For grizzly bears ( Ursus arctos) in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), recent decline of whitebark pine (WBP; Pinus albicaulis), an important fall food resource, has been paired with a slowing of population growth following two decades of robust population increase...
Authors
Daniel D. Bjornlie, Frank T. van Manen, Michael R. Ebinger, Mark A. Haroldson, Daniel J. Thompson, Cecily M. Costello