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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: 3724

Evidence for the role of infectious disease in species extinction and endangerment Evidence for the role of infectious disease in species extinction and endangerment

Infectious disease is listed among the top five causes of global species extinctions. However, the majority of available data supporting this contention is largely anecdotal. We used the IUCN Red List of Threatened and Endangered Species and literature indexed in the ISI Web of Science to assess the role of infectious disease in global species loss. Infectious disease was listed as a...
Authors
Katherine F. Smith, Dov F. Sax, Kevin D. Lafferty

Catastrophe, recovery and range limitation in NE Pacific kelp forests: a large-scale perspective Catastrophe, recovery and range limitation in NE Pacific kelp forests: a large-scale perspective

The 1997–98 El Niño was one of the strongest on record and resulted in widespread losses of the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera (Agardh) along the west coast of North America. Drawing on a rich history of studies that have shown abnormally large waves and warm nutrient-poor water associated with El Niños to negatively impact giant kelp populations at some locations in southern and Baja...
Authors
Matthew S. Edwards, James A. Estes

Heterogeneity in fire severity within early season and late season prescribed burns in a mixed-conifer forest Heterogeneity in fire severity within early season and late season prescribed burns in a mixed-conifer forest

Structural heterogeneity in forests of the Sierra Nevada was historically produced through variation in fire regimes and local environmental factors. The amount of heterogeneity that prescription burning can achieve might now be more limited owing to high fuel loads and increased fuel continuity. Topography, woody fuel loading, and vegetative composition were quantified in plots within...
Authors
Eric E. Knapp, Jon E. Keeley

USGS science in Menlo Park -- a science strategy for the U.S. Geological Survey Menlo Park Science Center, 2005-2015 USGS science in Menlo Park -- a science strategy for the U.S. Geological Survey Menlo Park Science Center, 2005-2015

In the spring of 2004, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Menlo Park Center Council commissioned an interdisciplinary working group to develop a forward-looking science strategy for the USGS Menlo Park Science Center in California (hereafter also referred to as "the Center"). The Center has been the flagship research center for the USGS in the western United States for more than 50 years...
Authors
Thomas M. Brocher, Michael D. Carr, David L. Halsing, David A. John, Victoria E. Langenheim, Margaret T. Mangan, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, John Y. Takekawa, Claire R. Tiedeman

Food webs and parasites in a salt marsh ecosystem Food webs and parasites in a salt marsh ecosystem

No abstract available at this time
Authors
K. D. Lafferty, R. F. Hechinger, J.C. Shaw, K.L. Whitney, A. M. Kuris

Bufo californicus mortality Bufo californicus mortality

No abstract available.
Authors
Edward L. Ervin, D.A. Kisner, Robert N. Fisher

Tree mortality from fire and bark beetles following early and late season prescribed fires in a Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forest Tree mortality from fire and bark beetles following early and late season prescribed fires in a Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forest

Over the last century, fire exclusion in the forests of the Sierra Nevada has allowed surface fuels to accumulate and has led to increased tree density. Stand composition has also been altered as shade tolerant tree species crowd out shade intolerant species. To restore forest structure and reduce the risk of large, intense fires, managers have increasingly used prescription burning...
Authors
Dylan W. Schwilk, Eric E. Knapp, Scott Ferrenberg, Jon E. Keeley, Anthony C. Caprio

Fire decreases arthropod abundance but increases diversity: Early and late season prescribed fire effects in a Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forest Fire decreases arthropod abundance but increases diversity: Early and late season prescribed fire effects in a Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forest

Prior to fire suppression in the 20th century, the mixed-conifer forests of the Sierra Nevada, California, U.S.A., historically burned in frequent fires that typically occurred during the late summer and early fall. Fire managers have been attempting to restore natural ecosystem processes through prescription burning, and have often favored burning during the fall in order to mimic...
Authors
Scott Ferrenberg, Dylan W. Schwilk, Eric E. Knapp, Eric Groth, Jon E. Keeley

Home range characteristics of great gray owls in Yosemite National Park, California Home range characteristics of great gray owls in Yosemite National Park, California

We studied home range and habitat use of radio-tagged Great Gray Owls (Strix nebulosa) in Yosemite, California. From 1986–90 we made 5338 relocations on nine adult and three juvenile owls. Home-range size was not correlated with number of locations and was significantly different between breeding and nonbreeding periods. Breeding female summer home range averaged 61.47 ha and during the...
Authors
Charles van Riper, Jan W. van Wagtendonk
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