Publications
Below are publications associated with the Southwest Biological Science Center's research.
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Filter Total Items: 1512
Rare long-distance dispersal of the Island Night Lizard, Xantusia riversiana, maintains high diversity in a fragmented environment Rare long-distance dispersal of the Island Night Lizard, Xantusia riversiana, maintains high diversity in a fragmented environment
The Island Night Lizard (Xantusia riversiana) is endemic to three of the Channel Islands off the coast of California, USA. Introduced species such as goats, sheep, and cats have profoundly affected the fauna and flora of the islands for over 150 years, but most of these non-native species have been recently removed. We measured the distribution of genetic diversity in Island Night...
Authors
Ryan P. O’Donnell, Charles A. Drost, Gary M. Fellers, Benjamin A. Crabb, Karen E. Mock
Pulsed flows, tributary inputs, and food web structure in a highly regulated river Pulsed flows, tributary inputs, and food web structure in a highly regulated river
1.Dams disrupt the river continuum, altering hydrology, biodiversity, and energy flow. Although research indicates that tributary inputs have the potential to dilute these effects, knowledge at the food web level is still scarce. 2.Here we examined the riverine food web structure of the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam, focusing on organic matter sources, trophic diversity, and food...
Authors
John Sabo, Melanie Caron, Richard R. Doucett, Kimberly L. Dibble, Albert Ruhi, Jane Marks, Bruce Hungate, Theodore A. Kennedy
Using interviews and biological sign surveys to infer seasonal use of forested and agricultural portions of a human-dominated landscape by Asian elephants in Nepal Using interviews and biological sign surveys to infer seasonal use of forested and agricultural portions of a human-dominated landscape by Asian elephants in Nepal
Understanding how wide-ranging animals use landscapes in which human use is highly heterogeneous is important for determining patterns of human–wildlife conflict and designing mitigation strategies. Here, we show how biological sign surveys in forested components of a human-dominated landscape can be combined with human interviews in agricultural portions of a landscape to provide a full...
Authors
Babu Ram Lamichhane, Naresh Subedi, Chiranjibi Prasad Pokheral, Maheshwar Dhakal, Krishna Prasad Acharya, Narendra Man Babu Pradhan, James L. David Smith, Sabita Malla, Bishnu Singh Thakuri, Charles B. Yackulic
Macroecological patterns of sexual size dimorphism in turtles of the world Macroecological patterns of sexual size dimorphism in turtles of the world
Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is a well-documented phenomenon in both plants and animals; however, the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that drive and maintain SSD patterns across geographic space at regional and global scales are understudied, especially for reptiles. Our goal was to examine geographic variation of turtle SSD and to explore ecological and environmental correlates...
Authors
Mickey Agha, Joshua R. Ennen, A. Justin Nowakowski, Jeffrey E. Lovich, Sarah C. Sweat, Brian D. Todd
Can data from disparate long-term fish monitoring programs be used to increase our understanding of regional and continental trends in large river assemblages? Can data from disparate long-term fish monitoring programs be used to increase our understanding of regional and continental trends in large river assemblages?
Understanding trends in the diverse resources provided by large rivers will help balance tradeoffs among stakeholders and inform strategies to mitigate the effects of landscape scale stressors such as climate change and invasive species. Absent a cohesive coordinated effort to assess trends in important large river resources, a logical starting point is to assess our ability to draw...
Authors
Timothy D. Counihan, Ian R. Waite, Andrew F. Casper, David L. Ward, Jennifer S. Sauer, Elise R. Irwin, Colin G. Chapman, Brian Ickes, Craig P. Paukert, John J. Kosovich, Jennifer M. Bayer
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Science Synthesis, Analysis, and Research Program, Cooperative Research Units, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS) Program, Species Management Research Program, Oregon Water Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, Columbia River Research Laboratory (CRRL)
Reproductive output and clutch phenology of female Agassiz's desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) in the Sonoran Desert region of Joshua Tree National Park Reproductive output and clutch phenology of female Agassiz's desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) in the Sonoran Desert region of Joshua Tree National Park
Agassiz's desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) reaches the southern edge of its range in the Sonoran Desert of California. The reproductive ecology of this wideranging species is understudied here compared to populations in the adjacent Mojave Desert. Understanding potential geographic variation in reproductive ecology is important for effective management of conservation-reliant species...
Authors
Jeffrey E. Lovich, Shellie R. Puffer, Mickey Agha, Joshua R. Ennen, Kathie Meyer-Wilkins, Laura A. Tennant, Amanda L Smith, Terence R. Arundel, Kathleen D. Brundige, Michael S. Vamstad
Forest floor and mineral soil respiration rates in a northern Minnesota red pine chronosequence Forest floor and mineral soil respiration rates in a northern Minnesota red pine chronosequence
We measured total soil CO2 efflux (RS) and efflux from the forest floor layers (RFF) in red pine (Pinus resinosaAit.) stands of different ages to examine relationships between stand age and belowground C cycling. Soil temperature and RS were often lower in a 31-year-old stand (Y31) than in 9-year-old (Y9), 61-year-old (Y61), or 123-year-old (Y123) stands. This pattern was most apparent...
Authors
Matthew Powers, Randall Kolka, John B. Bradford, Brian J. Palik, Martin Jurgensen
Temperate and tropical forest canopies are already functioning beyond their thermal thresholds for photosynthesis Temperate and tropical forest canopies are already functioning beyond their thermal thresholds for photosynthesis
Tropical tree species have evolved under very narrow temperature ranges compared to temperate forest species. Studies suggest that tropical trees may be more vulnerable to continued warming compared to temperate species, as tropical trees have shown declines in growth and photosynthesis at elevated temperatures. However, regional and global vegetation models lack the data needed to...
Authors
Alida C. Mau, Sasha C. Reed, Tana E. Wood, Molly A. Cavaleri
Infrared heater system for warming tropical forest understory plants and soils Infrared heater system for warming tropical forest understory plants and soils
The response of tropical forests to global warming is one of the largest uncertainties in predicting the future carbon balance of Earth. To determine the likely effects of elevated temperatures on tropical forest understory plants and soils, as well as other ecosystems, an infrared (IR) heater system was developed to provide in situ warming for the Tropical Responses to Altered Climate...
Authors
Bruce A. Kimball, Aura M. Alonso-Rodriguez, Molly A. Cavaleri, Sasha C. Reed, Grizelle Gonzalez, Tana E. Wood
Isotopic evidence that nitrogen enrichment intensifies nitrogen losses to the atmosphere from subtropical mangroves Isotopic evidence that nitrogen enrichment intensifies nitrogen losses to the atmosphere from subtropical mangroves
Nitrogen (N) enrichment can have large effects on mangroves’ capacity to provide critical ecosystem services by affecting fundamental functions such as N cycling and primary productivity. However, our understanding of excess N input effects on N cycling in mangroves remains quite limited. To advance our understanding of how N enrichment via water or air pollution affects mangroves, we...
Authors
Carla Roberta Goncalves Reis, Sasha C. Reed, Rafael Silva Oliveira, Gabriela Bielefeld Nardoto
Global conservation status of turtles and tortoises (order Testudines) Global conservation status of turtles and tortoises (order Testudines)
We present a review and analysis of the conservation status and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) threat categories of all 360 currently recognized species of extant and recently extinct turtles and tortoises (Order Testudines). Our analysis is based on the 2018 IUCN Red List status of 251 listed species, augmented by provisional Red List assessments by the IUCN...
Authors
Anders G.J. Rhodin, Craig B. Stanford, Peter Paul van Dijk, Carla Eisemberg, Luca Luiselli, Russell A. Mittermeier, Rick Hudson, Brian D. Horne, Eric Goode, Gerald Kuchling, Andrew Walde, Ernst H. W. Baard, Kristin H. Berry, Albert Bertolero, Torsten E. G. Blanck, Roger Bour, Kurt A. Buhlmann, Linda J. Cayot, Sydney Collett, Andrea Currylow, Indraneil Das, Tomas Diagne, Joshua R. Ennen, German Forero-Medina, Matthew G. Frankel, Uwe Fritz, Gerardo Garcia, J. Whitfield Gibbons, Paul M. Gibbons, Gong Shiping, Joko Guntoro, Margaretha D. Hofmeyr, John B. Iverson, A. Ross Kiester, Michael Lau, Dwight P. Lawson, Jeffrey E. Lovich, Edward O. Moll, Vivian P. Paez, Rosalinda Palomo-Ramos, Kalyar Platt, Steven G. Platt, Peter C. H. Pritchard, Hugh R. Quinn, Shahriar Caesar Rahman, Soary Tahafe Randrianjafizanaka, Jason Schaffer, Will Selman, H. Bradley Shaffer, Dionysius S. K. Sharma, Shi Haitao, Shailendra Singh, Ricky Spencer, Kahleana Stannard, Sarah Sutcliffe, Scott Thomson, Richard C. Vogt
Life history with emphasis on geographic variation Life history with emphasis on geographic variation
Every organism is defined by a set of vital rates that evolve to enhance lifetime reproductive fitness and survival of individuals and their progeny. These traits vary due to the complex but sometimes predictable interactions between individuals, populations and their environments. Collectively, these attributes are referred to as life history traits and include age and size of maturity...
Authors
Jeffrey E. Lovich, J. Whitfield Gibbons, Kathryn Greene