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Publications

Browse more than 150,000 publications authored by our scientists over the past 100+ year history of the USGS.  Publications available are: USGS-authored journal articles, series reports, book chapters, other government publications, and more.

Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center Publications

Filter Total Items: 3309

Measuring floodplain spatial patterns using continuous surface metrics at multiple scales Measuring floodplain spatial patterns using continuous surface metrics at multiple scales

Interactions between fluvial processes and floodplain ecosystems occur upon a floodplain surface that is often physically complex. Spatial patterns in floodplain topography have only recently been quantified over multiple scales, and discrepancies exist in how floodplain surfaces are perceived to be spatially organised. We measured spatial patterns in floodplain topography for pool 9 of...
Authors
Murray W. Scown, Martin C. Thoms, Nathan R. De Jager

Reducing fertilizer-nitrogen losses from rowcrop landscapes: Insights and implications from a spatially explicit watershed model Reducing fertilizer-nitrogen losses from rowcrop landscapes: Insights and implications from a spatially explicit watershed model

We present conceptual and quantitative models that predict changes in fertilizer-derived nitrogen delivery from rowcrop landscapes caused by agricultural conservation efforts implemented to reduce nutrient inputs and transport and increase nutrient retention in the landscape. To evaluate the relative importance of changes in the sources, transport, and sinks of fertilizer-derived...
Authors
Eileen McLellan, Keith Schilling, Dale M. Robertson

Influence of in ovo mercury exposure, lake acidity, and other factors on common loon egg and chick quality in Wisconsin Influence of in ovo mercury exposure, lake acidity, and other factors on common loon egg and chick quality in Wisconsin

A field study was conducted in Wisconsin (USA) to characterize in ovo mercury (Hg) exposure in common loons (Gavia immer). Total Hg mass fractions ranged from 0.17 mg/g to 1.23mg/g wet weight in eggs collected from nests on lakes representing a wide range of pH (5.0–8.1) and were modeled as a function of maternal loon Hg exposure and egg laying order. Blood total Hg mass fractions in a...
Authors
Kevin P. Kenow, Michael W. Meyer, Ronald Rossmann, Brian R. Gray, Michael T. Arts

Floodplain complexity and surface metrics: influences of scale and geomorphology Floodplain complexity and surface metrics: influences of scale and geomorphology

Many studies of fluvial geomorphology and landscape ecology examine a single river or landscape, thus lack generality, making it difficult to develop a general understanding of the linkages between landscape patterns and larger-scale driving variables. We examined the spatial complexity of eight floodplain surfaces in widely different geographic settings and determined how patterns...
Authors
Murray W. Scown, Martin C. Thoms, Nathan R. De Jager

Managing the Mississippi River floodplain: Achieving ecological benefits requires more than hydrological connection to the river: Chapter Managing the Mississippi River floodplain: Achieving ecological benefits requires more than hydrological connection to the river: Chapter

Floodplains are vital to the structure and function of river-floodplain ecosystems. Among the many ecological services provided by floodplains are nutrient cycling and seasonal habitats for fish, including spawning, nursery, foraging and wintering habitats. Connections between the river channel and floodplain habitats are essential to realize these ecological services, but spatial and...
Authors
Harold Schramm, William B. Richardson, Brent C. Knights

Oil-particle interactions and submergence from crude oil spills in marine and freshwater environments: review of the science and future research needs Oil-particle interactions and submergence from crude oil spills in marine and freshwater environments: review of the science and future research needs

Oil-particle interactions and oil submergence are of much interest to oil spill responders and scientists, especially as transportation of light and heavy crude oils increases in North America’s coastal marine and freshwater environments. This report contains an up-to-date review of the state of the science for oil-particle aggregates (OPAs), in terms of their formation and stability...
Authors
Faith A. Fitzpatrick, Michael C. Boufadel, Rex Johnson, Kenneth W. Lee, Thomas P. Graan, Adriana C. Bejarano, Zhenduo Zhu, David Waterman, Daniel M. Capone, Earl Hayter, Stephen K. Hamilton, Timothy Dekker, Marcelo H. Garcia, Jacob S. Hassan

The importance of range edges for an irruptive species during extreme weather events The importance of range edges for an irruptive species during extreme weather events

Context Threats to wildlife species from extreme events, such as droughts, are predicted to increase in frequency and magnitude with climate change. Extreme events can cause mortality and community-level changes, but for some mobile species, movement away from areas affected may be a viable option. Objectives We examined the effect of extreme weather on spatial patterns of abundance for...
Authors
Brooke L. Bateman, Anna M. Pidgeon, Volker C. Radeloff, Andrew J. Allstadt, H. Resit Akcakaya, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Stephen J. Vavrus, Patricia J. Heglund

Control of nitrogen and phosphorus transport by reservoirs in agricultural landscapes Control of nitrogen and phosphorus transport by reservoirs in agricultural landscapes

Reservoirs often receive excess nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) lost from agricultural land, and may subsequently influence N and P delivery to inland and coastal waters through internal processes such as nutrient burial, denitrification, and nutrient turnover. Currently there is a need to better understand how reservoirs affect nutrient transport in agricultural landscapes, where few...
Authors
Stephen M. Powers, Jennifer L. Tank, Dale M. Robertson

Host–parasite behavioral interactions in a recently introduced, whooping crane population Host–parasite behavioral interactions in a recently introduced, whooping crane population

The whooping crane Grus americana has a long conservation history, but despite multiple attempts across North America, introduction success is lacking. Recently introduced, captively reared whooping cranes have had periods of poor reproductive performance in central Wisconsin that sometimes coincided with black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) emergences. Sandhill crane Grus canadensis...
Authors
Rich King, Patrick C. McKann, Brian R. Gray, Michael S. Putnam

Observation of sandhill cranes' (Grus canadensis) flight behavior in heavy fog Observation of sandhill cranes' (Grus canadensis) flight behavior in heavy fog

The behaviors of birds flying in low visibility conditions remain poorly understood. We had the opportunity to monitor Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) flying in heavy fog with very low visibility during a comprehensive landscape use study of refuging cranes in the Horicon Marsh in southeastern Wisconsin. As part of the study, we recorded flight patterns of cranes with a portable marine...
Authors
Eileen M. Kirsch, Mike J. Wellik, Manuel J. Suarez, Robert H. Diehl, Jim Lutes, Wendy Woyczik, Jon Krapfl, Richard S. Sojda

Literature review of the potential effects of hydrogen peroxide on nitrogen oxidation efficiency of the biofilters of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) for freshwater finfish Literature review of the potential effects of hydrogen peroxide on nitrogen oxidation efficiency of the biofilters of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) for freshwater finfish

A comprehensive literature review was done for the effects of hydrogen peroxide (HP) on biofilter function in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) using these databases: ISI/Web of Knowledge, Scopus, and Pubmed. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed as the literature review was conducted. The initial search produced 5,748 potential citations. Once the literature search was...
Authors
Kim T. Fredricks
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