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: 42784
Do pharmaceuticals in the environment pose a risk to wildlife? Do pharmaceuticals in the environment pose a risk to wildlife?
The vast majority of knowledge related to the question of, “To what extent do pharmaceuticals in the environment pose a risk to wildlife?”, stems from the Asian vulture crisis (>99% decline of some species of old-world vultures on the Indian subcontinent related to the veterinary use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac). The hazard of diclofenac and other...
Authors
Thomas G. Bean, Elizabeth A. Chadwick, Marta Herrero-Villar, Rafael Mateo, Vinny Naidoo, Barnett A. Rattner
U.S.-Mexico Borderland & vegetation community map U.S.-Mexico Borderland & vegetation community map
People on both sides of the United States-Mexico border need a high-resolution, binational vegetation community map that spans the entire United States-Mexico borderlands. Traditionally, mapping efforts in this region were impeded by complex logistics related to the international border, differing national needs and plans, and resource allocations and priorities. To address this need...
Authors
Pamela L. Nagler
Estimates of Southern White-tailed Ptarmigan daily nest survival from multiple sites in the Southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado Estimates of Southern White-tailed Ptarmigan daily nest survival from multiple sites in the Southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado
Estimating vital rates of avian species is important to understand population dynamics and develop potential conservation strategies that target rates for management. Avian species have reduced potential for high annual fecundity in alpine ecosystems due to a short breeding window and harsh weather conditions. We located nests from Southern White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura...
Authors
Gregory T. Wann, Amy E. Seglund, Phillip A. Street, Nicholas J. Parker, Shelley L. Nelson, Jonathan P. Runge, Clait E. Braun, Cameron L. Aldridge
Individual-based ecological particle tracking model (ECO-PTM) for simulating juvenile chinook salmon migration and survival through the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta Individual-based ecological particle tracking model (ECO-PTM) for simulating juvenile chinook salmon migration and survival through the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta
Recovery of endangered salmon species in the Central Valley of California amidst prolonged drought and climate change necessitates innovative water management actions that balance species recovery and California's water demands. We describe an individual-based ecological particle tracking model (ECO-PTM) that can be used to assess the efficacy of proposed actions. Based on a random walk...
Authors
Xiaochun Wang, Russell W. Perry, Adam Pope, Doug Jackson, Dalton Hance
Estimating occupancy of focal bee species Estimating occupancy of focal bee species
Current bee monitoring efforts have a limited capacity for understanding factors affecting wild bee population changes, including the effects of management. To improve the effectiveness of wild bee monitoring, we first discuss principles of biological monitoring and provide a framework to design monitoring projects to estimate species occupancy, where occupancy is defined as the...
Authors
Clint Otto, Larissa L. Bailey, Brianne Du Clos, Tamara Smith, Elaine Evans, Ian S. Pearse, Saff Killingsworth, Sarina Jepsen, Hollis Woodard
The vegetation dynamics of the monsoonal wetland of the Keoladeo National Park, India: A reassessment The vegetation dynamics of the monsoonal wetland of the Keoladeo National Park, India: A reassessment
As a result of a field trip in 1980 to the monsoonal wetland of the Keoladeo National Park, India, which was organized by Dr. Brij Gopal, a study of the vegetation dynamics of this wetland was initiated. The original hypothesis for this study was that the seasonal vegetation changes caused by the annual summer monsoon was a compressed habitat cycle. Habitat cycles are a characteristic of...
Authors
Arnold G. van der Valk, Beth Middleton
Efficient mammal biodiversity surveys for ecological restoration monitoring Efficient mammal biodiversity surveys for ecological restoration monitoring
Efficient biodiversity surveys are critical for successful restoration monitoring and management. We studied the effect of varying sampling effort on the observed species richness of surveys of small mammals (trapping transects), bats (passive acoustic detection), and medium to large mammals (trail cameras). Field studies provided mammalian biodiversity data for 4 bottomland hardwood...
Authors
Nicholas S. Green, Mark L. Wildhaber, Janice L. Albers, Thomas W. Pettit, Michael J. Hooper
Autonomous samplers and environmental DNA metabarcoding: Sampling day and primer choice have greatest impact on fish detection probabilities Autonomous samplers and environmental DNA metabarcoding: Sampling day and primer choice have greatest impact on fish detection probabilities
Unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss and ecosystem function necessitate the use of rapid, efficacious, and cost-effective biomonitoring tools. The combination of autonomous samplers and high throughput sequencing (i.e., “metabarcoding”) of environmental DNA (eDNA) samples enables characterization of entire communities at high frequency and can be an important tool for conservation...
Authors
Devin Nicole Jones-Slobodian, Ben Augustine, Patrick Ross Hutchins, James M. Birch, Kevan Yamahara, Scott L. Jensen, Rodney T. Richardson, Regina Trott, James Campbell, Elliott P. Barnhart, Adam Sepulveda
Evaluation of fish passage for assessment of invasive carp deterrents at locks in the upper Mississippi River Evaluation of fish passage for assessment of invasive carp deterrents at locks in the upper Mississippi River
No abstract available.
Authors
Andrea K. Fritts, James T. Lamer, Joshua Abner, Mark W. Fritts, Mark Cornish, Marybeth K. Brey
Variable climate-growth relationships of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) among Sky Island mountain ranges in the Great Basin, Nevada, USA Variable climate-growth relationships of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) among Sky Island mountain ranges in the Great Basin, Nevada, USA
The Great Basin is an arid province located in the interior western United States. The region encompasses millions of hectares and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) forests comprise a minor portion of the total area. However, montane aspen forests play a disproportionately large role in providing ecosystem services in the region, including water retention, biodiversity, wildlife...
Authors
Martin Senfeldr, Douglas J. Shinneman, Susan McIlroy, Paul Rogers, R. Justin DeRose
Conservation plan for golden eagles in eastern North America Conservation plan for golden eagles in eastern North America
No abstract available.
Authors
Todd E. Katzner, Tricia A. Miller, Andrew J. Dennhardt, Maxwell Field, Thomas Wittig, Elizabeth Mojica, Michael J. Lanzone, Mark S. Martell, Richard M. Bailey, Andrew Berry, Renee Dillard, David Brandes, David F. Brinker, Bracken Brown, Erynn M. Call, Jeffrey Cooper, Adam E. Duerr, Christopher J Farmer, Shilo K. Felton, Julie Garvin, Rolf Gubler, Sergio R. Harding, Michael Jones, Christine A. Kelly, Hardy Kern, Netawn Kiogima, Craig A. Koppie, Jerome Lemaitre, Mercedes Maddox, Scott Mehus, Joel Merriman, Amy Mitchell, Bill Parsons, Evan Patrick, Nora P. Pennarola, Margaret Rheude, Casey Rucker, Scott Rush, Ryan Schmitz, Hank Seltzer, Vincent A. Slabe, Eric C. Soehren, Johnny Wills
The haunting raptor: Yellowstone’s golden eagles The haunting raptor: Yellowstone’s golden eagles
For many who live in North America, when picturing an eagle, the image of a large magnificent bird with a distinct white head and tail comes to mind. Rightfully, the bald eagle has garnered much attention as a national symbol of the United States (US), nearly brought to extinction from widespread organochlorine pesticide use (e.g., DDT, dichloro- diphenyl- trichloroethane; Anderson 1972...
Authors
David B. Haines, Douglas W. Smith, Todd E. Katzner, Victoria J. Dreitz