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: 42712
2021 Tinian Island forest bird abundance estimates 2021 Tinian Island forest bird abundance estimates
The U.S. Navy, through Micronesian Environmental Services, surveyed landbirds in the Military Lease Area on Tinian Island in May and June 2021 using point-transect distance sampling methods. There were 2,074 individuals of 14 species detected during 123 point counts. Six species were detected during >50% of the counts and were observed at relatively high abundances, while eight species...
Authors
Richard J. Camp, Trevor Bak, Ayesha Genz
Lake Barkley BioAcoustic fish fence effectiveness study project status update Lake Barkley BioAcoustic fish fence effectiveness study project status update
No abstract available.
Authors
Rob Simmonds, Brent C. Knights, Andrea K. Fritts, Jessica C. Stanton, Marybeth K. Brey, Jonathan M. Vallazza
Variability in marsh migration potential determined by topographic rather than anthropogenic constraints in the Chesapeake Bay region Variability in marsh migration potential determined by topographic rather than anthropogenic constraints in the Chesapeake Bay region
Sea level rise (SLR) and saltwater intrusion are driving inland shifts in coastal ecosystems. Here, we make high-resolution (1 m) predictions of land conversion under future SLR scenarios in 81 watersheds surrounding Chesapeake Bay, United States, a hotspot for accelerated SLR and saltwater intrusion. We find that 1050–3748 km2 of marsh could be created by 2100, largely at the expense of...
Authors
Grace Molino, Joel A. Carr, Neil K. Ganju, Matthew Kirwan
Spatially explicit management of genetic diversity using ancestry probability surfaces Spatially explicit management of genetic diversity using ancestry probability surfaces
1. Ecological restoration and conservation efforts are increasing worldwide and the management of intraspecific genetic variation in plants and animals, an important component of biodiversity, is increasingly valued. As a result, tailorable, spatially explicit approaches to map genetic variation are needed to support decision-making and management frameworks related to the recovery of...
Authors
Robert Massatti, Daniel E. Winkler
Stream size, temperature, and density explain body sizes of freshwater salmonids across a range of climate conditions Stream size, temperature, and density explain body sizes of freshwater salmonids across a range of climate conditions
Climate change and anthropogenic activities are altering the body sizes of fishes, yet our understanding of factors influencing body size for many taxa remains incomplete. We evaluated the relationships between climate, environmental, and landscape attributes and the body size of different taxa of freshwater trout (Salmonidae) in the USA. Hierarchical spatial modeling across a gradient...
Authors
Robert K. Al-Chokhachy, Benjamin Letcher, Clint C. Muhlfeld, Jason B. Dunham, Timothy Joseph Cline, Nathaniel P. Hitt, James Roberts, David Schmetterling
Plant pathogens provide clues to the potential origin of bat white-nose syndrome Pseudogymnoascus destructans Plant pathogens provide clues to the potential origin of bat white-nose syndrome Pseudogymnoascus destructans
White-nose syndrome has killed millions of bats, yet both the origins and infection strategy of the causative fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, remain elusive. We provide evidence for a novel hypothesis that P. destructans emerged from plant-associated fungi and retained invasion strategies affiliated with fungal pathogens of plants. We demonstrate that P. destructans invades bat...
Authors
Carol Meteyer, Julien Yann Dutheil, M. Kevin Keel, Justin G. Boyles, Eva Holtgrewe Stukenbrock
N and P constrain C in ecosystems under climate change: Role of nutrient redistribution, accumulation, and stoichiometry N and P constrain C in ecosystems under climate change: Role of nutrient redistribution, accumulation, and stoichiometry
We use the Multiple Element Limitation (MEL) model to examine responses of twelve ecosystems to elevated carbon dioxide (CO2), warming, and 20% decreases or increases in precipitation. Ecosystems respond synergistically to elevated CO2, warming, and decreased precipitation combined because higher water-use efficiency with elevated CO2 and higher fertility with warming compensate for...
Authors
Ed Rastetter, Bonnie Kwiatkowski, David Kicklighter, Audrey Barker Plotkin, Helene Genet, Jesse Nippert, Kimberly O’Keefe, Steven Perakis, Stephen Porder, Sarah Roley, Roger W. Ruess, Jonathan R. Thompson, William Wieder, Kevin WIlcox, Ruth Yanai
Global environmental changes more frequently offset than intensify detrimental effects of biological invasions Global environmental changes more frequently offset than intensify detrimental effects of biological invasions
Human-induced abiotic global environmental changes (GECs) and the spread of nonnative invasive species are rapidly altering ecosystems. Understanding the relative and interactive effects of invasion and GECs is critical for informing ecosystem adaptation and management, but this information has not been synthesized. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate effects of invasions, GECs...
Authors
Bianca Lopez, Jenica Allen, Jeffrey Dukes, Jonathan Lenoir, Montserrat Vila, Dana Blumenthal, Evelyn M. Beaury, Emily J. Fusco, Brittany B. Laginhas, Toni Lyn Morelli, Mitchell W. O’Neill, Cascade J.B. Sorte, Alberto Maceda-Veiga, Raj Whitlock, Bethany A. Bradley
Monitoring the movements of juvenile Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) in the Yakima River, Washington, using acoustic telemetry, 2019–20 Monitoring the movements of juvenile Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) in the Yakima River, Washington, using acoustic telemetry, 2019–20
Anthropogenic barriers to main-stem and tributary passage are one of the primary threats associated with declining populations of Pacific Lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) in the Columbia River Basin. Juvenile lamprey are of special interest because their downstream migration to the ocean may be affected by barriers such as dams or water diversions. Telemetry studies that describe the...
Authors
Theresa L. Liedtke, Ralph T. Lampman, Patrick Monk, Amy C. Hansen, Tobias J. Kock, Tyler E. Beals, Daniel Z. Deng, Michael S. Porter
Revised taxonomy of rhabdoviruses infecting fish and marine mammals Revised taxonomy of rhabdoviruses infecting fish and marine mammals
Rhabdoviridae is a large family of negative-sense (-) RNA viruses that includes important pathogens of ray-finned fish and marine mammals. As for all viruses, the taxonomic assignment of rhabdoviruses occurs through a process implemented by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). A recent revision of taxonomy conducted in conjunction with the ICTV Rhabdoviridae Study...
Authors
Peter J. Walker, Laurent Bigarre, Gael Kurath, Laurent Dacheux, Laurane Pallandre
Reducing uncertainty in climate change responses of inland fishes: A decision-path approach Reducing uncertainty in climate change responses of inland fishes: A decision-path approach
Climate change will continue to be an important consideration for conservation practitioners. However, uncertainty in identifying appropriate management strategies, particularly for understudied species and regions, constrains the implementation of science-based solutions and adaptation strategies. Here, we share a decision-path approach to reduce uncertainty in climate change responses...
Authors
Abigail Lynch, Bonnie Myers, Jesse P. Wong, Cindy Chu, Ralph W. Tingley, Jeffrey A. Falke, Thomas J. Kwak, Craig P. Paukert, Trevor J. Krabbenhoft
Association of antler asymmetry with hoof disease in elk Association of antler asymmetry with hoof disease in elk
Treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD) is an emergent disease of elk (Cervus canadensis) in the Pacific West of the United States. Although lesions are usually restricted to the feet, anecdotal reports suggested increased prevalence of abnormal antlers in affected elk. We used hunter harvest reports for 1,688 adult male elk harvested in southwestern Washington, USA, during 2016-2018...
Authors
Glen A. Sargeant, Margaret A. Wild, Kyle Garrison, Dylan Conradson