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: 3706
Intrinsic and environmental drivers of pairwise cohesion in wild Canis social groups Intrinsic and environmental drivers of pairwise cohesion in wild Canis social groups
Animals within social groups respond to costs and benefits of sociality by adjusting the proportion of time they spend in close proximity to other individuals in the group (cohesion). Variation in cohesion between individuals, in turn, shapes important group-level processes such as subgroup formation and fission–fusion dynamics. Although critical to animal sociality, a comprehensive...
Authors
John F. Benson, David A. Keiter, Peter J. Mahoney, Benjamin L. Allen, Lee R. Allen, Francisco Álvares, Morgan L. Anderson, Shannon M. Barber-Meyer, Adi Barocas, James C Beasley, Linda Behrendorff, Jerrold L. Belant, Dean Beyer, Luigi Boitani, Bridget L Borg, Stan Boutin, Erin E. Boydston, Justin L. Brown, Joseph K. Bump, Jonathon D. Cepek, Michael J Chamberlain, Yvette M. Chenaux-Ibrahim, Seth G. Cherry, Duško Ćirović, Paolo Ciucci, H. Dean Cluff, Susan M Cooper, Kevin R. Crooks, Daniel L.J. Dupont, Robert N. Fisher, Daniel Fortin, Thomas D. Gable, Emilio Garcia, Eli Geffen, Stanley D. Gehrt, Michael Gillingham, Douglas C. Heard, Mark Hebblewhite, Joseph W Hinton, Austin T. Homkes, Chris G. Howden, Djuro Huber, Pat J. Jackson, Kyle Joly, Allicia P Kelly, Marcella J. Kelly, Katrien A. Kingdon, Abhijeet Kulkarni, Josip Kusak, Gerald W. Kuzyk, Bryce C. Lake, Luis Llaneza, Jose Vicente Lopez-Bao, Daniel R. MacNulty, Ashley A.D. McLaren, Philip D. McLoughlin, Evelyn H. Merrill, Kenneth J. Mills, Numi Mitchell, Seth A. Moore, Matthew Mumma, Maureen H. Murray, Marco Musiani, Mónia Nakamura, Eric W. Neilson, Lalenia M. Neufeld, Thomas M Newsome, John K. Oakleaf, Vincente Palacios, Marlo M. Perdicas, Thomas Perry, Tyler R. Petroelje, Cyrenea B. Piper, Christina M. Prokopenko, Laura R. Prugh, Seth P.D. Riley, Helena Rio-Maior, Gretchen H. Roffler, Dale Rollins, Håkan Sand, Fiona K A Schmiegelow, Dale R. Seip, Mathew S Sorum, Colleen C. St. Clair, Robin Steenweg, Michael W. Strohbach, Jack Tatler, Maria Thaker, Connor A. Thompson, Julia W. Turner, Abi Tamim Vanak, Eric Vander Wal, Petter Wabakken, Scott E Walter, Sarah C Webster, Tyler J. Wheeldon, Camilla Wikenros, Steve K. Windels, Julie K. Young, Sana Zabihi-Seissan, Barbara Zimmermann, Brent R. Patterson
Drought before fire increases tree mortality after fire Drought before fire increases tree mortality after fire
Fire and drought are expected to increase in frequency and severity in temperate forests due to climate change. To evaluate whether drought increases the likelihood of post-fire tree mortality, we used a large database of tree survival and mortality from 32 years of wildland fires covering four dominant western North American conifers. We used Bayesian hierarchical modeling to predict...
Authors
C. Alina Cansler, Micah Wright, Phillip J. van Mantgem, Timothy M. Shearman, J. Morgan Varner, Sharon M. Hood
Distribution, abundance, breeding activities, and habitat use of the Least Bell's Vireo at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California—2023 annual report Distribution, abundance, breeding activities, and habitat use of the Least Bell's Vireo at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California—2023 annual report
Executive Summary The purpose of this report is to provide the Marine Corps with an annual summary of abundance, breeding activity, demography, and habitat use of endangered Least Bell’s Vireos (Vireo bellii pusillus) at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California (MCBCP or Base). Surveys for the Least Bell's Vireo were completed at MCBCP between April 11 and July 20, 2023. Core survey...
Authors
Suellen Lynn, Barbara E. Kus
Evaluation of the gap intercept method to measure rangeland connectivity Evaluation of the gap intercept method to measure rangeland connectivity
Characterizing the connectivity of materials, organisms, and energy on rangelands is critical to understanding and managing ecosystem response to disturbances. For over twenty years, scientists and rangeland managers have used the gap intercept method to monitor connectivity. However, using gap intercept measurements to infer ecosystem processes or inform management actions and...
Authors
Sarah E. McCord, Joseph R. Brehm, Lea A. Condon, Leah Dreesmann, Lisa M. Ellsworth, Matthew J. Germino, Jeffrey E. Herrick, Brian K. Howard, Emily Kachergis, Jason W. Karl, Anna C. Knight, Savannah Meadors, Aleta Nafus, Beth A. Newingham, Peter J. Olsoy, Nicole Pietrasiak, David S. Pilliod, Anthony Schaefer, Nicholas P. Webb, Brandi E. Wheeler, C. Jason Williams, Kristina E. Young
Using structural causal modeling to infer the effects of wildfire on foothill yellow-legged frog occurrence Using structural causal modeling to infer the effects of wildfire on foothill yellow-legged frog occurrence
Sierra Nevada ecosystems have been influenced by fire for millennia; however, increasing wildfire size and frequency may yield unforeseen consequences on wildlife populations and their distribution. Foothill yellow-legged frogs Rana boylii have declined in portions of their range and are considered a species of conservation concern. We surveyed streams for foothill yellow legged frogs in...
Authors
Brian J. Halstead, Patrick M. Kleeman, Jonathan P. Rose
Most random-encounter-model density estimates in camera-based predator-prey studies are unreliable Most random-encounter-model density estimates in camera-based predator-prey studies are unreliable
Population estimates are often required for identifying relationships between predators and their prey and to inform conservation and management actions. The random encounter model (REM) estimates population density of wildlife lacking individually unique markings, based on photographs or videos from remote camera-traps. However, the REM has strict sampling and input requirements that...
Authors
Sean M. Murphy, Benjamin S. Nolan, Felicia Chen, Kathleen Longshore, Matthew T. Simes, Gabrielle A. Berr, Todd Esque
Amphibian richness, rarity, threats, and conservation prospects across the U.S. National Park System Amphibian richness, rarity, threats, and conservation prospects across the U.S. National Park System
We assessed amphibian diversity, rarity, and threats across the National Park System (U.S.A.), which covers 3.5% of the country and 12% of federal lands. At least 230 of 354 (65%) amphibian species documented in the country occur on National Park Service lands. Of species in parks, 17% are at-risk globally and 20% are uncategorized, reflecting still-widespread data deficiencies. National...
Authors
Benjamin J. LaFrance, Andrew M. Ray, Michael T. Tercek, Robert N. Fisher, Blake R. Hossack
Potentially toxic elements in wild Agassiz’s desert tortoises: Tissue concentrations and association with disease Potentially toxic elements in wild Agassiz’s desert tortoises: Tissue concentrations and association with disease
Background: Desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) populations have continued to decline due to infectious and other diseases, predation, and habitat alteration. The potential contribution of minerals and heavy metals to tortoise health and susceptibility to disease remains uncertain. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of elemental analysis of trace minerals...
Authors
Kristin H. Berry, Mary M. Christopher, Elliiott Jacobson
Surveying waterfowl broods in wetlands using aerial drones Surveying waterfowl broods in wetlands using aerial drones
Effective waterfowl management relies on the collection of relevant demographic data to inform land management decisions; however, some types of data are difficult to obtain. For waterfowl, brood surveys are difficult to conduct because wetland habitats often obscure ducklings from being visually assessed. Here, we used Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS) to assess what wetland habitat...
Authors
Desmond Alexander Mackell, Michael L. Casazza, Cory T. Overton, Kevin Buffington, Chase M. Freeman, Josh T. Ackerman, Karen M. Thorne
Bird habitat value and management priorities of the California Winter Rice Habitat Incentive Program Bird habitat value and management priorities of the California Winter Rice Habitat Incentive Program
Flooding rice (Oryza sativa) agricultural fields during winter to facilitate rice straw decomposition has mitigated the loss of some of the natural wetlands in California’s Central Valley. We conducted bird surveys in 253 rice checks (2,158 ha) within 177 rice fields in the Sacramento Valley during the fall and winter of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to evaluate factors influencing bird use of...
Authors
Sarah H. Peterson, Josh T. Ackerman, Carley R. Schacter, C. Alex Hartman, Mark P. Herzog
Ceanothus: Taxonomic patterns in life history responses to fire Ceanothus: Taxonomic patterns in life history responses to fire
Premise: Ceanothus (Rhamnaceae) is a large genus of shrubs that dominate California chaparral and are resilient to fires. Persistence is ensured by resprouting and/or seedling recruitment from dormant seed banks. Some species do both and others, the obligate seeders, are entirely dependent on seedling recruitment. The distribution of these two modes within the genus is poorly documented...
Authors
Jon Keeley, V. Thomas Parker, Paul H. Zedler, R. Brandon Pratt
Effect of invasive plant removal on the density of Peromyscus sonoriensis (western deer mice) in Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA. Effect of invasive plant removal on the density of Peromyscus sonoriensis (western deer mice) in Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA.
Non-native plants can affect communities through direct competition, and by providing refuge to seed predators, creating apparent competition with native plants. Ammophila arenaria (European beachgrass) has been introduced to coastal dune habitats throughout the western United States where it forms dense monocultures, stabilizes dunes, and alters abiotic and biotic conditions. The...
Authors
Jonathan P. Rose, Lorraine S Parsons, Patrick M. Kleeman, Brian J. Halstead