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: 3743
Parasitism, productivity, and population growth: response of Least Bell's Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus) to cowbird (Molothrus spp.) control Parasitism, productivity, and population growth: response of Least Bell's Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus) to cowbird (Molothrus spp.) control
Cowbird (Molothrus spp.) control is a major focus of recovery-oriented management of two endangered riparian bird species,the Least Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus). During the past 20 years, annual trapping of cowbirds at Least Bell's Vireo and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher breeding sites has eliminated or reduced...
Authors
Barbara E. Kus, Mary J. Whitfield
Bufo exsul (Myers, 1942): Black toad Bufo exsul (Myers, 1942): Black toad
No abstract available.
Authors
Gary M. Fellers
Rana draytonii Baird and Girard 1852, California Red-legged Frog Rana draytonii Baird and Girard 1852, California Red-legged Frog
No abstract available at this time
Authors
Gary M. Fellers
Influence of water temperature on acetylcholinesterase activity in the pacific tree frog (Hyla regilla) Influence of water temperature on acetylcholinesterase activity in the pacific tree frog (Hyla regilla)
This investigation evaluated whether acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in Pacific tree frogs (Hyla regilla) from different geographical locations was influenced by different temperatures during early aquatic life stages, independent of pesticide exposure. Tadpoles were collected from both a California coastal pond and a Sierra Nevada mountain range pond, USA. Groups of frogs from each location...
Authors
Catherine S. Johnson, Steven E. Schwarzbach, John D. Henderson, Barry W. Wilson, Ronald S. Tjeerdema
Laser ablation ICP-MS profiling and semiquantitative determination of trace element concentrations in desert torotise shells: Documenting the uptake of elemental toxicants Laser ablation ICP-MS profiling and semiquantitative determination of trace element concentrations in desert torotise shells: Documenting the uptake of elemental toxicants
The outer keratin layer (scute) of desert tortoise shells consists of incrementally grown laminae in which various bioaccumulated trace elements are sequestered during scute deposition. Laser ablation ICP-MS examination of laminae in scutes of dead tortoises revealed patterns of trace elemental distribution from which the chronology of elemental uptake can be inferred. These patterns may...
Authors
M. D. Seltzer, Kristin H. Berry
Fuel reduction and woody debris dynamics with early season and late season prescribed fire in a Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forest Fuel reduction and woody debris dynamics with early season and late season prescribed fire in a Sierra Nevada mixed conifer forest
Fire exclusion has led to an unnatural accumulation and greater spatial continuity of organic material on the ground in many forests. This material serves both as potential fuel for forest fires and habitat for a large array of forest species. Managers must balance fuel reduction to reduce wildfire hazard with fuel retention targets to maintain other forest functions. This study reports...
Authors
E. E. Knapp, Jon E. Keeley, E. A. Ballenger, T. J. Brennan
Flight speeds of northern pintails during migration determined by satellite telemetry Flight speeds of northern pintails during migration determined by satellite telemetry
Speed (km/hr) during flight is one of several factors determining the rate of migration (km/ day) and flight range of birds. We attached 26-g, back-mounted satellite-received radio tags (platform transmitting terminals; PTTs) to adult female Northern Pintails (Anas acuta) during (1) midwinter 2000–2003 in the northern Central Valley of California, (2) fall and winter 2002–2003 in the...
Authors
Michael R. Miller, John Y. Takekawa, Joseph P. Fleskes, Dennis L. Orthmeyer, Michael L. Casazza, David A. Haukos, William M. Perry
Forest turnover rates follow global and regional patterns of productivity Forest turnover rates follow global and regional patterns of productivity
Using a global database, we found that forest turnover rates (the average of tree mortality and recruitment rates) parallel broad-scale patterns of net primary productivity. First, forest turnover was higher in tropical than in temperate forests. Second, as recently demonstrated by others, Amazonian forest turnover was higher on fertile than infertile soils. Third, within temperate...
Authors
Nathan L. Stephenson, Phillip J. van Mantgem
Post-Cedar Fire Arroyo Toad (Bufo californicus) Monitoring Surveys at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, 2004. Final Report Post-Cedar Fire Arroyo Toad (Bufo californicus) Monitoring Surveys at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, 2004. Final Report
No abstract available at this time
Authors
M.B. Mendelsohn, M. C. Madden-Smith, Robert N. Fisher
Host diversity begets parasite diversity: Bird final hosts and trematodes in snail intermediate hosts Host diversity begets parasite diversity: Bird final hosts and trematodes in snail intermediate hosts
An unappreciated facet of biodiversity is that rich communities and high abundance may foster parasitism. For parasites that sequentially use different host species throughout complex life cycles, parasite diversity and abundance in ‘downstream’ hosts should logically increase with the diversity and abundance of ‘upstream’ hosts (which carry the preceding stages of parasites)...
Authors
Ryan F. Hechinger, Kevin D. Lafferty
Taricha torosa torosa (Coast Range Newt): Overwintering larvae Taricha torosa torosa (Coast Range Newt): Overwintering larvae
We present observations of overwintering behavior in Taricha torosa torosa larvae at two independent sites. We define overwintering larvae as newts that spend the entire winter season in the larval form. The winter season (December, January, and February) represents the average three coldest months for the southern California coastal region (Felton 1965. California’s Many Climates...
Authors
Steven L. Carroll, Edward L. Ervin, Robert N. Fisher
Behavior, ecology, and detection surveys of mammalian carnivores in the Presidio Behavior, ecology, and detection surveys of mammalian carnivores in the Presidio
No abstract available at this time
Authors
E. E. Boydston