Publications
This list of publications includes peer-review journal articles, official USGS publications series, reports and more authored by scientists in the Ecosystems Mission Area. A database of all USGS publications, with advanced search features, can be accessed at the USGS Publications Warehouse.
Filter Total Items: 42994
Decreased water transparency of nearshore Laurentian Great Lakes habitats is driven by increased dissolved organic carbon. Decreased water transparency of nearshore Laurentian Great Lakes habitats is driven by increased dissolved organic carbon.
Little is understood of lake browning (due to increased dissolved organic carbon; DOC) in large lakes such as the Laurentian Great Lakes. Lake browning can alter whole lake ecosystems, including decreasing exposure to damaging ultraviolet radiation (UV-B) which is strongly and selectively attenuated by DOC more so than photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). We compared the changes in...
Authors
Nicole Lynn Berry, David B. Bunnell, Thomas J. Fisher, Erin P. Overholt, Elizabeth M. Mette, Todd Howell, Craig E. Williamson
Action in uncertainty: Data-driven decisions that acknowledge emotional responses and transcendental connections Action in uncertainty: Data-driven decisions that acknowledge emotional responses and transcendental connections
The increasing uncertainty with global change often stifles action and results in calls for more data before moving beyond status quo environmental decisions (Mahapatra & Ratha 2017; Ripple et al. 2017; Montefalcone et al. 2025). Advancing science and collecting more data is crucial; however, science alone (i.e., “western” or “positivist” science, as described in Fuller, 2001; Reid et al...
Authors
Nicole K. Ward, Kelly G. Guilbeau, Amanda L. Sesser, Abigail J. Lynch
Rising atmospheric CO2 reduces nitrogen availability in boreal forests Rising atmospheric CO2 reduces nitrogen availability in boreal forests
Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) pollution has been emphasized as a cause of eutrophication globally. However, several recent datasets have suggested widespread oligotrophication may be occurring in some ecosystems, which is suggested to be a response to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (eCO2). Plant δ15N chronologies have served as primary evidence for oligotrophication, however, there has...
Authors
Kelley R. Bassett, Stefan F. Hupperts, Sandra Jämtgård, Lars Östlund, Jonas Fridman, Steven S. Perakis, Michael J. Gundale
Genomics reveals extensive population structure and undescribed phylogenetic relationships in the Cascade torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton cascadae) Genomics reveals extensive population structure and undescribed phylogenetic relationships in the Cascade torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton cascadae)
Aim Aims of the study are to examine patterns of range-wide genetic differentiation and population structure in a headwater obligate salamander living in a geologically rich region, to identify genetically distinct populations and areas of gene flow between them.Location Oregon and Washington in the Pacific Northwest, United States of America.Time Period Tissue samples were collected in...
Authors
Christopher D Cousins, Deanna H Olson, Lindsay S Millward, Michael J. Adams, Christopher Pearl, Jennifer Rowe, Tiffany S Garcia
Vulnerability of mangrove resources to sea-level rise on Sanibel Island, Florida, USA Vulnerability of mangrove resources to sea-level rise on Sanibel Island, Florida, USA
Accelerating sea-level rise (SLR) is poised to reshape coastal environments over the coming decades, providing a challenge to land managers who need actionable information. Mangroves have an innate ability to keep pace with some SLR but may drown under the higher rates projected by the end of the century. Understanding local mangrove resilience to SLR requires understanding of historic...
Authors
Kevin J. Buffington, Ken W. Krauss, Karen M. Thorne, Jeremy R. Conrad, Judith Z. Drexler, Zhiliang Zhu
Experimental translocation of a rare Hawaiian tree reveals disparity between remnant and potential habitat Experimental translocation of a rare Hawaiian tree reveals disparity between remnant and potential habitat
Translocation is implemented worldwide as a conservation strategy for rare and endangered plant species, yet the factors that influence long-term success remain poorly understood. Remnant wild populations are often used as indicators to model habitat preference and select translocation sites, but such populations may be refugia from past biological or anthropogenic stressors and...
Authors
Julia Douglas, Mingzhou Bai, Lucas Berio Fortini, Stephanie G. Yelenik, Nina Rønsted
Hierarchical mixture models and high-resolution monitoring data can inform siting and operational strategies to mitigate bat fatalities at wind turbines Hierarchical mixture models and high-resolution monitoring data can inform siting and operational strategies to mitigate bat fatalities at wind turbines
Bats provide critical ecosystem services, but bat fatalities due to wind energy development may imperil some bat populations. Statistical models are used to estimate the total fatalities that occur based on carcasses observed during monitoring surveys. Current models often estimate fatalities aggregated across species, time, and/or turbines, but fall short of reliably informing siting...
Authors
Charles J. Labuzzetta, Arnold (Contractor) Johnsen, Amber Andress, Teresa Bohner, Alejandro Grajal-Puche, Megan Seymour, Bethany R. Straw, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Bradley James Udell, Ashton M. Wiens, James E. Diffendorfer
Growth form and lifespan of herbaceous species mediate the role of traits in short-term drought response Growth form and lifespan of herbaceous species mediate the role of traits in short-term drought response
Increased climate variability is expected to intensify short-term drought events. Plants have evolved stress tolerance strategies involving trade-offs in resource conservation, mycorrhizal collaboration and plant size, yet how these strategies promote drought resistance across different herbaceous plant groups remains unknown. Leveraging 63 globally distributed grassland and shrubland...
Authors
Samantha J. Worthy, Justin C. Luong, Brooke E. Wainwright, Jonathan Aguiñaga, Harald Auge, Anca C. Barcu, Amgaa Batbaatar, Karen H. Beard, Edward W. Bork, Katherine E. Brafford, Kerry M. Byrne, James F. Cahill, Michele Carbognani, Cameron N. Carlyle, Karen Castillioni, Manjunatha H. Chandregowda, Scott X. Chang, Jeff Chieppa, Amber C. Churchill, Jennifer E. Cribbs, Thomas Deola, Jeffrey S. Dukes, Anne Ebeling, Nico Eisenhauer, Elise C. Elwood, Regina A. Fairbanks, T'ai G.W. Forte, Flavia A. Funk, Anjum K. Gujral, Siri V. Haugum, Yann Hautier, Hugh A. L. Henry, Forest Isbell, Anke Jentsch, Samuel E. Jordan, Sally E. Koerner, Juergen Kreyling, György Kröel-Dulay, Andrew Kulmatiski, Eric G. Lamb, Michael E. Loik, María G. Longo, Alejandro Loydi, Dylan J. MacArthur-Waltz, Clara Milano, John W. Morgan, Akira S. Mori, Seth M. Munson, Gregory S. Newman, Uffe N. Nielsen, Rory C. O'Connor, Timothy J. Ohlert, Brooke Bossert Osborne, Rafael Otfinowski, Meelis Pärtel, Guadalupe Peter, Pablo L. Peri, Alessandro Petraglia, Juan M. Piñeiro-Guerra, Laura W. Ploughe, Cristy Portales-Reyes, Sally A. Power, Suzanne M. Prober, Yolanda Pueyo, Christiane Roscher, Bráulio A. Santos, Melinda D. Smith, Lara A. Souza, Andreas Stampfli, Rachel J. Standish, Marie Sünnemann, Michelle J. Tedder, Pål Thorvaldsen, Katja Tielbörger, Alejandro Valdecantos, Liesbeth van den Brink, Vigdis Vandvik, Liv G. Velle, Jennifer L. Williams, Amelia A. Wolf, Laura Yahdjian, Alyssa L. Young, Juan M. Zeberio, Michaela Zeiter, Richard P. Phillips, Jennifer L. Funk
Prince William Sound Herring Program, fiscal year 2024 Prince William Sound Herring Program, fiscal year 2024
Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) were collected from three sites in Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska (Table 1) during the spring pre-spawn period from March 29 – April 1, 2024, to test for viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), viral erythrocytic necrosis (VEN), and Ichthyophonus prevalence (Table 1). Ichthyophonus was detected in 33% (59/180) of heart cultures from all sites...
Authors
Paul Hershberger, David James Páez
Ecogeomorphic feedbacks influence elevation change across microtidal wetland settings of coastal Louisiana Ecogeomorphic feedbacks influence elevation change across microtidal wetland settings of coastal Louisiana
No abstract available.
Authors
Carol Wilson, Tracy Quirk, Donald R. Cahoon, Gregg A. Snedden, Leigh Anne Sharp
Day-roost use by ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus) Day-roost use by ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus)
The ‘ōpe‘ape‘a, also known as the Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus; family Vespertilionidae), is a solitary, insectivorous, foliage-roosting endemic species. Over a three-year period, we investigated day-roost lability and fidelity of 35 bats at 52 roosts (for a total of 544 days of observation), and roost emergence and return patterns of 46 bats at 50 roosts (for a total of 277 days...
Authors
P. Marcos Gorresen, Kristina Montoya-Aiona, Karen Courtot, Amy L. Vievard, Josephine L. Tupu
Variation in pathogen load and the pathogen load–infectiousness relationship broaden avian malaria’s distribution Variation in pathogen load and the pathogen load–infectiousness relationship broaden avian malaria’s distribution
Two aspects of host infectiousness shape pathogen transmission and distribution but are underappreciated: the relationship between pathogen load and infectiousness, and variability in pathogen load within species. We quantified the relationship between host pathogen load (parasitemia) for avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) and infectiousness for biting Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes...
Authors
Christa Seidl, Katy L. Parise, Isaiah Ipsaro, Sarah Leach, Delson Hays, Ranger Morimoto, Kelsey Banister, Francisco Ferreria, Elizabeth C. Abraham, Jeffrey T. Foster, Eben H. Paxton, A. Marm Kilpatrick