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
Filter Total Items: 3707
Complex trophic interactions in kelp forest ecosystems Complex trophic interactions in kelp forest ecosystems
The distributions and abundances of species and populations change almost continuously. Understanding the processes responsible is perhaps ecology’s most fundamental challenge. Kelp-forest ecosystems in southwest Alaska have undergone several phase shifts between alga- and herbivore-dominated states in recent decades. Overhunting and recovery of sea otters caused the earlier shifts...
Authors
J. A. Estes, E.M. Danner, D.F. Doak, B. Konar, A.M. Springer, P.D. Steinberg, M. Tim Tinker, T. M. Williams
The elusive baseline of marine disease: Are diseases in ocean ecosystems increasing? The elusive baseline of marine disease: Are diseases in ocean ecosystems increasing?
Disease outbreaks alter the structure and function of marine ecosystems, directly affecting vertebrates (mammals, turtles, fish), invertebrates (corals, crustaceans, echinoderms), and plants (seagrasses). Previous studies suggest a recent increase in marine disease. However, lack of baseline data in most communities prevents a direct test of this hypothesis. We developed a proxy to...
Authors
Jessica R. Ward, Kevin D. Lafferty
Habitat of endangered white abalone, Haliotis sorenseni Habitat of endangered white abalone, Haliotis sorenseni
Surveys with a submersible at offshore islands and banks in southern California found that white abalone were most abundant at depths between 43 and 60 m. This is deeper than estimates taken when white abalone were more abundant. Densities were highest at sites far from fishing ports. Controlling for depth and site found that white abalone were significantly more abundant in areas with...
Authors
Kevin D. Lafferty, M.D. Behrens, G.E. Davis, P.L. Haaker, D.J. Kushner, D. V. Richards, I. K. Taniguchi, M. J. Tegner
Habitat use and spatial structure of a barking frog (Eleutherodactylus augusti) population in southeastern Arizona Habitat use and spatial structure of a barking frog (Eleutherodactylus augusti) population in southeastern Arizona
Barking Frogs (Eleutherodactylus augusti) are the northernmost ranging member of the large tropical family Leptodactylidae. We investigated the ecology of this saxicolous species at the northern edge of its range in a canyon in southern Arizona. We captured 54 frogs on discontinuous rock outcrops; eight of nine females and 39 of 45 males were on limestone outcrops. The remaining frogs...
Authors
C.S. Goldberg, C.R. Schwalbe
Prefire risk assessment and fuels mapping Prefire risk assessment and fuels mapping
No abstract available at this time
Authors
J. W. van Wagtendonk, Z. Zhu, E.L. Lile
Ecology of common ravens at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California: Annual progress report covering research conducted between December 9, 2002 and December 13, 2003, United States Geological Survey, Biological Resources D Ecology of common ravens at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California: Annual progress report covering research conducted between December 9, 2002 and December 13, 2003, United States Geological Survey, Biological Resources D
No abstract available at this time
Authors
H.D. Chamblin, W.I. Boarman
The fire and fire surrogate study in the Sierra Nevada: Evaluating restoration treatments at Blodgett Experimental Forest and Sequoia National Park, The fire and fire surrogate study in the Sierra Nevada: Evaluating restoration treatments at Blodgett Experimental Forest and Sequoia National Park,
No abstract available at this time
Authors
E. E. Knapp, S.L. Stephens, J.D. Mciver, J.J. Moghaddas, Jon E. Keeley
Assessing the risk of Loveland Dam operations to the arroyo toad (Bufo californicus) in the Sweetwater River Channel, San Diego County, California Assessing the risk of Loveland Dam operations to the arroyo toad (Bufo californicus) in the Sweetwater River Channel, San Diego County, California
No abstract available.
Authors
M. C. Madden-Smith, A.J. Atkinson, Robert N. Fisher, W.R. Danskin, Gregory O. Mendez
Monitoring giant garter snakes in the Natomas Basin: 2003 results Monitoring giant garter snakes in the Natomas Basin: 2003 results
No abstract available at this time
Authors
G.D. Wylie, Michael L. Casazza, L.L. Martin
The future of fire in California ecosystems The future of fire in California ecosystems
This chapter reviews the concepts developed in the book and challenges Californians to accept the fact that they live in fire-prone ecosystems. California’s variety of fire regimes are products of its wide diversity of vegetation, climate, topography, and ignitions. The role fire plays in an ecosystem is characterized by the fire regime attributes that describe the pattern of fire...
Authors
N. G. Sugihara, J. W. van Wagtendonk, J. Fites-Kaufman, K. E. Shaffer, A. E. Thode
Does terrestrial epidemiology apply to marine systems? Does terrestrial epidemiology apply to marine systems?
Most of epidemiological theory has been developed for terrestrial systems, but the significance of disease in the ocean is now being recognized. However, the extent to which terrestrial epidemiology can be directly transferred to marine systems is uncertain. Many broad types of disease-causing organism occur both on land and in the sea, and it is clear that some emergent disease problems...
Authors
Hamish I. McCallum, Armand M. Kuris, C. Drew Harvell, Kevin D. Lafferty, Garriet W. Smith, James Porter