Western Ecological Research Center
Publications
Below is a list of WERC's peer-reviewed publications. If you are searching for a specific publication and cannot find it in this list, please contact werc_web@usgs.gov
Changes in the abundance and distribution of waterfowl wintering in the Central Valley of California, 1973–2000
The Central Valley of California is one of the most important areas for wintering waterfowl in the world and the focus of extensive conservation efforts to mitigate for historical losses and counter continuing stressors to habitats. To guide conservation, we analyzed trends in the abundance and distribution (spatiotemporal abundance patterns) of...
Fleskes, Joseph P.; Casazza, Michael L.; Overton, Cory T.; Matchett, Elliott L.; Yee, Julie L. Wildfires and global change
No single factor produces wildfires; rather, they occur when fire thresholds (ignitions, fuels, and drought) are crossed. Anomalous weather events may lower these thresholds and thereby enhance the likelihood and spread of wildfires. Climate change increases the frequency with which some of these thresholds are crossed, extending the duration of...
Pausas, Juli G.; Keeley, Jon
Distribution and demography of coastal cactus wrens (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) in southern San Diego County, California—2020 data summary
Executive SummarySurveys for coastal Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus) were done in 378 established plots in southern San Diego County in 2020, encompassing three genetic clusters (Otay, Lake Jennings, and Sweetwater/Encanto genetic clusters). Two surveys were completed at each plot between March 1 and July 31. Cactus Wrens were...
Lynn, Suellen; Kus, Barbara E. Transient disease dynamics across ecological scales
Analyses of transient dynamics are critical to understanding infectious disease transmission and persistence. Identifying and predicting transients across scales, from within-host to community-level patterns, plays an important role in combating ongoing epidemics and mitigating the risk of future outbreaks. Moreover, greater emphases on non-...
Tao, Yun; Hite, Jessica L; Lafferty, Kevin D.; Earn, David J D; Bharti, Nita Western pond turtles in the Mojave Desert? A review of their past, present, and possible future
=The western pond turtle (WPT) was formerly considered a single species (Actinemys or Emys marmorata) that ranged from southern British Columbia, Canada to Baja California, México. More recently it was divided into a northern and a southern species. WPTs are found primarily in streams that drain into the Pacific Ocean,...
Lovich, Jeffrey E.; Jefferson, George T.; Reynolds, Robert E.; Scott, Peter A.; Shaffer, H. Bradley; Puffer, Shellie R.; Greely, Sarah; Cummings, Kristy L.; Fisher, R. N.; Meyer-Wilkins, Kathie; Gomez, Doug; Ford, Morgan; Otahal, Christopher D Research to inform Caltrans best management practices for reptile and amphibian road crossings
In October of 2014, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began a 5-year project to conduct research to inform Best Management Practices (BMPs) for amphibian and reptile crossing and barrier systems in California. To inform future conservation and transportation planning, this project involved identification of species at highest risk of negative...
Brehme, Cheryl S.; Fisher, R. N.; Langton, Tom E. S.; Clevenger, Anthony P.; Adelsheim, Esther; Barnes, Stephanie; Edgarian, Tristan; Ewing, Brittany; Hathaway, Stacie A.; Hobbs, Michael; Kingston, Jennifer; Launer, A.; Matsuda, Tritia A.; Sebes, Jeremy B.; Vaughn, C.; Watson, Elise Intensity of grass invasion negatively correlated with population density and age structure of an endangered dune plant across its range
Invasive species are a global threat to ecosystem biodiversity and function; non-native grass invasion has been particularly problematic in sparsely vegetated ecosystems such as open dunes. Native plant population responses to invasion, however, are infrequently translated to landscape scales, limiting the effectiveness of these data for...
Jones, Scott; Kennedy, Anna; Freeman, Chase; Thorne, Karen M. Large-scale wildfire reduces population growth in a peripheral population of sage-grouse
Drastic increases in wildfire size and frequency threaten western North American sagebrush (Artemisia L. spp.) ecosystems. At relatively large spatial scales, wildfire facilitates type conversion of sagebrush-dominated plant communities to monocultures of invasive annual grasses (e.g., Bromus tectorum L.). Annual grasses provide fine...
Dudley, Ian F; Coates, Peter S.; Prochazka, Brian G.; O'Neil, Shawn; Gardner, Scott C.; Delehanty, David J. A customized framework for regional classification of conifers using automated feature extraction
Pinyon and juniper expansion into sagebrush ecosystems is one of the major challenges facing land managers in the Great Basin. Effective pinyon and juniper treatment requires maps that accurately and precisely depict tree location and degree of woodland development so managers can target restoration efforts for early stages of pinyon and juniper...
Roth, Cali L.; Coates, Peter S.; Gustafson, K. Benjamin; Chenaille, Michael; Ricca, Mark A.; Sanchez-Chopitea, Erika; Casazza, Michael L. Nocturnal incubation recess and flushing behavior by duck hens
Incubating birds must balance the needs of their developing embryos with their own physiological needs, and many birds accomplish this by taking periodic breaks from incubation. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and gadwall (Mareca strepera) hens typically take incubation recesses in the early morning and late afternoon, but recesses can also take...
Croston, Rebecca; Peterson, Sarah H.; Hartman, C. Alex; Herzog, Mark P.; Feldheim, Cliff L.; Casazza, Michael L.; Ackerman, Joshua T. Wetlands in intermittently closed estuaries can build elevations to keep pace with sea-level rise
Sea-level rise is a threat to coastal ecosystems, which have important conservation and economic value. While marsh response to sea-level rise has been well characterized for perennially open estuaries, bar-built intermittently-closed estuaries and their sea-level rise response are seldom addressed in the literature – despite...
Thorne, Karen M.; Buffington, Kevin J.; Jones, Scott; Largier, John L.
U.S. Geological Survey wildland fire science strategic plan, 2021–26
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Wildland Fire Science Strategic Plan defines critical, core fire science capabilities for understanding fire-related and fire-responsive earth system processes and patterns, and informing management decision making. Developed by USGS fire scientists and executive leadership, and informed by conversations with...
Steblein, Paul F.; Loehman, Rachel A.; Miller, Mark P.; Holomuzki, Joseph R.; Soileau, Suzanna C.; Brooks, Matthew L.; Drane-Maury, Mia; Hamilton, Hannah M.; Kean, Jason W.; Keeley, Jon E.; Mason, Robert R.; McKerrow, Alexa J.; Meldrum, James R.; Molder, Edmund B.; Murphy, Sheila F.; Peterson, Birgit; Plumlee, Geoffrey S.; Shinneman, Douglas J.; van Mantgem, Phillip J.; York, Alison