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
Plant community patterns in unburned and burned blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) shrublands in the Mojave Desert Plant community patterns in unburned and burned blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) shrublands in the Mojave Desert
The blackbrush vegetation type is dominated by Coleogyne ramossisima, which is thought to preclude the coexistence of many other plant species. Fire can remove blackbrush cover and possibly increase plant species richness and evenness. Fire also may increase the frequency and cover of alien annual grasses, thereby intensifying landscape flammability. We tested these predictions in...
Authors
Matthew L. Brooks, John R. Matchett
The use of multi-temporal Landsat Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data for mapping fuels in Yosemite National Park, USA The use of multi-temporal Landsat Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data for mapping fuels in Yosemite National Park, USA
The objective of this study was to test the applicability of using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values derived from a temporal sequence of six Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) scenes to map fuel models for Yosemite National Park, USA. An unsupervised classification algorithm was used to define 30 unique spectral-temporal classes of NDVI values. A combination of graphical...
Authors
Jan W. Van Wagtendonk, Ralph R. Root
Individual variation in space use by female spotted hyenas Individual variation in space use by female spotted hyenas
Large carnivores range more widely than many other terrestrial mammals, and this behavior tends to bring them into frequent conflict with humans. Within any carnivore population, individual variation in patterns of space use should be expected to make some animals more vulnerable than others to risks of mortality from humans and other sources. In this study, our goal was to document...
Authors
Erin E. Boydston, Karen M. Kapheim, Micaela Szykman, Kay E. Holekamp
Species area relationships in mediterranean-climate plant communities Species area relationships in mediterranean-climate plant communities
Aim To determine the best-fit model of species–area relationships for Mediterranean-type plant communities and evaluate how community structure affects these species–area models. Location Data were collected from California shrublands and woodlands and compared with literature reports for other Mediterranean-climate regions. Methods The number of species was recorded from 1, 100 and 1000...
Authors
Jon E. Keeley, C. J. Fotheringham
White paper on post-fire effects, including physical and biological White paper on post-fire effects, including physical and biological
No abstract available at this time
Authors
M.L. Brooks, S.H. Cannon, N.B. Kotliar
Growth rate predicts mortality of Abies concolor in both burned and unburned stands Growth rate predicts mortality of Abies concolor in both burned and unburned stands
Tree mortality is often the result of both long-term and short-term stress. Growth rate, an indicator of long-term stress, is often used to estimate probability of death in unburned stands. In contrast, probability of death in burned stands is modeled as a function of short-term disturbance severity. We sought to narrow this conceptual gap by determining (i) whether growth rate, in...
Authors
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Nathan L. Stephenson, Linda S. Mutch, Veronica G. Johnson, Annie M. Esperanza, David J. Parsons
Status of amphibians at the Zoige Wetlands, Sichuan Province, China Status of amphibians at the Zoige Wetlands, Sichuan Province, China
No abstract available.
Authors
Gary M. Fellers, Yuezhao Wang, Liu Shaoyin
Advice for the Secretary of Agriculture about Management of the Giant Sequoia National Monument Advice for the Secretary of Agriculture about Management of the Giant Sequoia National Monument
No abstract available at this time
Authors
Scientific Advisory Board, J.N. Clarke, D.M. Graber, K.M. Nissen, D.D. Piirto, N.L. Stephenson, D.R. Tormey, P.E. Waggoner
Evolution of CAM and C4 carbon-concentrating mechanisms Evolution of CAM and C4 carbon-concentrating mechanisms
Mechanisms for concentrating carbon around the Rubisco enzyme, which drives the carbon-reducing steps in photosynthesis, are widespread in plants; in vascular plants they are known as crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) and C4 photosynthesis. CAM is common in desert succulents, tropical epiphytes, and aquatic plants and is characterized by nighttime fixation of CO2. The proximal selective...
Authors
Jon E. Keeley, Philip W. Rundel
Desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) survival at two eastern Mojave Desert sites: Death by short-term drought? Desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) survival at two eastern Mojave Desert sites: Death by short-term drought?
Survival of adult Desert Tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) appears related to site-specific variation in precipitation and productivity of annual plants. We studied adult tortoise survival rates at two closely situated, but physiographically different, sites in the eastern Mojave Desert over a nine-year period (spring 1992 to spring 2001). Survival rates were initially derived from...
Authors
Kathleen M. Longshore, Jef R. Jaeger, J. Mark Sappington
Marine reserve design for conservation and fisheries management: a case study from the California Channel Islands Marine reserve design for conservation and fisheries management: a case study from the California Channel Islands
Five races of cottontail rabbits belonging to three species occur in Virginia. One of them, the Mearns cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus mearnsi), is reported here for the first time. It occurs in six southwestern counties of the state, while the eastern cottontail (S. f. mallurus) occurs in the remainder of the state with the exception of Smith and Fishermans islands off the eastern...
Authors
S.J. Airame, E. Dugan, K. D. Lafferty, H.M. Leslie, D.A. McArdle, R.R. Warner
Composition of Suspended Load as a Measure of Stream Health Composition of Suspended Load as a Measure of Stream Health
No abstract available at this time
Authors
Mary Ann Madej, M.A. Wilzbach, K.W. Cummins, S.J. Hadden, C.C. Ellis