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: 3708
Giant sequoias: Drama on a grand scale Giant sequoias: Drama on a grand scale
No abstract available.
Authors
Nathan L. Stephenson
A range-wide model of contemporary, omnidirectional connectivity for the threatened Mojave desert tortoise A range-wide model of contemporary, omnidirectional connectivity for the threatened Mojave desert tortoise
As habitat destruction leads to species extinctions globally, conservation planning that accounts for population-level connectivity and gene flow is an urgent priority. Models that only approximate habitat potential are incomplete because areas of high habitat potential may be isolated, whereas intermixed areas of lower habitat potential may still be critical for maintaining connectivity...
Authors
Miranda E Gray, Brett G. Dickson, Kenneth Nussear, Todd Esque, Tony Chang
Factors associated with structure loss in the 2013–2018 California wildfires Factors associated with structure loss in the 2013–2018 California wildfires
Tens of thousands of structures and hundreds of human lives have been lost in recent fire events throughout California. Given the potential for these types of wildfires to continue, the need to understand why and how structures are being destroyed has taken on a new level of urgency. We compiled and analyzed an extensive dataset of building inspectors’ reports documenting homeowner...
Authors
Alexandra D. Syphard, Jon Keeley
Development and implementation of an empirical habitat change model and decision support tool for estuarine ecosystems Development and implementation of an empirical habitat change model and decision support tool for estuarine ecosystems
Widespread land use change in coastal ecosystems has led to a decline in the amount of habitat available for fish and wildlife, lower production of ecosystem goods and services, and loss of recreational and aesthetic value. This has prompted global efforts to restore the natural hydrologic regimes of developed shorelines, especially resource-rich estuaries, but the resilience of these...
Authors
Melanie J. Davis, Isa Woo, Susan E.W. De La Cruz
Social attraction used to establish Caspian tern nesting colonies in San Francisco Bay Social attraction used to establish Caspian tern nesting colonies in San Francisco Bay
Conservation of colonial waterbird breeding populations often includes restoring historic nesting habitat or establishing new nesting habitat in protected areas. However, colonization of new or restored nesting habitat may be hindered by the lack of social cues from nesting conspecifics to attract prospecting birds. Social attraction, whereby decoys and colony sound recordings are used...
Authors
C. Alex Hartman, Joshua T. Ackerman, Mark P. Herzog, Cheryl Strong, David A Trachtenbarg
Global positioning system tracking devices can decrease Greater Sage-Grouse survival Global positioning system tracking devices can decrease Greater Sage-Grouse survival
Reliable demographic estimates hinge on the assumption that marking animals does not alter their behavior, reproduction, or survival. Violations can bias inference and are especially egregious for species of high conservation concern. Global positioning system (GPS) devices represent a recent technological advancement that has contributed greatly to avian ecological studies compared with
Authors
John P. Severson, Peter S. Coates, Brian G. Prochazka, Mark A. Ricca, Michael L. Casazza, David J Delahunty
Current state of knowledge on biological effects from contaminants on arctic wildlife and fish Current state of knowledge on biological effects from contaminants on arctic wildlife and fish
Since the last Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) effort to review biological effects of the exposure to organohalogen compounds (OHCs) in Arctic biota, there has been a considerable number of new Arctic effect studies. Here, we provide an update on the state of the knowledge of OHC, and also include mercury, exposure and/or associated effects in key Arctic marine and...
Authors
Rune Dietz, Robert J. Letcher, Jean-Pierre Desforges, Igor Eulaers, Christian Sonne, Simon Wilson, Emilie Andersen-Ranberg, Niladri Basu, Benjamin D. Barst, Jan Ove Bustnes, Jenny Bytingsvik, Tomasz M. Ciesielski, Paul E. Drevnick, Geir W. Gabrielsen, Ane Haarr, Ketil Hylland, Bjorn Munro Jenssen, Milton Levin, Melissa A. McKinney, Rasmus Dyrmose Norregaard, Kathrine E. Pedersen, Jennifer Provencher, Bjarne Styrishave, Sabrina Tartu, Jon Aars, Joshua T. Ackerman, Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid, Rob Barrett, Anders Bignert, Erik W. Born, Marsha Branigan, Birgit Braune, Colleen E. Bryan, Maria Dam, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Marlene S. Evans, Thomas J. Evans, Aaron T. Fisk, Mary Gamberg, Kim Gustavson, C. Alex Hartman, Bjorn Helander, Mark P. Herzog, Paul F. Hoekstra, Magali Houde, Katrin Hoydal, Allyson K. Jackson, John Kucklick, Elisabeth Lie, Lisa Loseto, Mark L. Mallory, Cecilie Miljeteig, Anders Mosbech, Derek C.G. Muir, Sanna Tuni Nielsen, Elizabeth Peacock, Sara Pedro, Sarah H. Peterson, Anuschka Polder, Frank F. Riget, Pat Roach, Halvor Saunes, Mikkel-Holger S. Sinding, Janneche U. Skaare, Jens Sondergaard, Garry Stenson, Gary Stern, Gabriele Treu, Stacy S. Schuur, Gisli Vikingsson
Eastern Pacific migration strategies of pink-footed shearwaters Ardenna creatopus: Implications for fisheries interactions and international conservation Eastern Pacific migration strategies of pink-footed shearwaters Ardenna creatopus: Implications for fisheries interactions and international conservation
The pink-footed shearwater Ardenna creatopus has a breeding range restricted to 3 central-Chilean islands and travels north in the eastern Pacific Ocean during the non-breeding period. Despite its Vulnerable IUCN status, the locations and relative importance of core non-breeding areas and migratory pathways of the species are not well understood. During 5 years between 2006 and 2015, we...
Authors
Jonathan J. Felis, Josh Adams, Peter Hodum, Ryan D. Carle, Valentina Colodro
A mosaic of estuarine habitat types with prey resources from multiple environmental strata supports a diversified foraging portfolio for juvenile Chinook salmon A mosaic of estuarine habitat types with prey resources from multiple environmental strata supports a diversified foraging portfolio for juvenile Chinook salmon
Estuaries provide vital nursery habitat for threatened Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) by promoting an ecological portfolio effect, whereby multiple habitat types and environmental strata maximize foraging opportunities for out-migrating salmon by varying the abundance and composition of prey through space and time. To study this portfolio effect, we evaluated the foraging...
Authors
Isa Woo, Melanie J. Davis, Christopher S. Ellings, Sayre Hodgson, John Y. Takekawa, Glynnis Nakai, Susan E.W. De La Cruz
Demographic factors affecting population growth in giant gartersnakes Demographic factors affecting population growth in giant gartersnakes
Demographic models provide insight into which vital rates and life stages contribute most to population growth. Integral projection models (IPMs) offer flexibility in matching model structure to a species’ demography. For many rare species, data are lacking for key vital rates, and uncertainty might dissuade researchers from attempting to build a demographic model. We present work that...
Authors
Jonathan P. Rose, Julia Ersan, Glenn D. Wylie, Michael L. Casazza, Brian J. Halstead
Wetland management strategy to reduce mercury export in water and bioaccumulation in fish Wetland management strategy to reduce mercury export in water and bioaccumulation in fish
Wetland environments provide numerous ecosystem services but also facilitate methylmercury (MeHg) production and bioaccumulation. We developed a wetland‐management technique to reduce MeHg concentrations in wetland fish and water. We physically modified seasonal wetlands by constructing open‐ and deep‐water treatment cells at the downstream end of seasonal wetlands to promote naturally...
Authors
Joshua T. Ackerman, Jacob Fleck, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Mark C. Marvin-DiPasquale, Lisamarie Windham-Myers, Mark P. Herzog, Harry L. McQuillen
The importance of simulation assumptions when evaluating detectability in population models The importance of simulation assumptions when evaluating detectability in population models
Population monitoring is important for investigating a variety of ecological questions, and N-mixture models are increasingly used to model population size (N) and trends (lambda) while estimating detectability (p) from repeated counts within primary periods (when populations are closed to changes). Extending these models to dynamic processes with serial dependence across primary periods...
Authors
Adrian P. Monroe, Gregory T. Wann, Cameron L. Aldridge, Peter S. Coates