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: 42888
Relationship-centered engagement bridges the divide between science and management, and enhances climate adaptation Relationship-centered engagement bridges the divide between science and management, and enhances climate adaptation
The rapid pace of climate change demands changes in management practices. Despite abundant climate adaptation research, the implementation of climate adaptation can lag in the management space. In the present article, we argue that relationship-centered engagement—establishing and maintaining relationships among researchers and natural resource managers—is critical for bridging the...
Authors
Marissa Weiss, Addie Rose Holland, Anthony W. D’Amato, Linda A. Deegan, William H. Farmer, Christopher Hoving, Ambarish Karmalkar, Alexander W. Latzka, Madeline Magee, Peter B. McIntyre, Toni Lyn Morelli, Michael Notaro, Nancy Olmstead, Richard Palmer, Nancy Pau, Rosalind B. Renfrew, Christine A. Ribic, John Sheppard, Michelle D. Staudinger, Benjamin Zuckerberg, Bethany A. Bradley
Global terrestrial nitrogen fixation and its modification by agriculture Global terrestrial nitrogen fixation and its modification by agriculture
Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is the largest natural source of new nitrogen (N) that supports terrestrial productivity1,2, yet estimates of global terrestrial BNF remain highly uncertain3,4. Here we show that this uncertainty is partly because of sampling bias, as field BNF measurements in natural terrestrial ecosystems occur where N fixers are 17 times more prevalent than their...
Authors
Carla R. Reis Ely, Steven S. Perakis, Cory C. Cleveland, Duncan Menge, Sasha C. Reed, Benton Taylor, Sarah A. Batterman, Christopher M. Clark, Timothy E. Crews, Katherine A Dynarski, Maga G. Gei, Michael J. Gundale, David F. Herridge, Sarah E. Jovan, Sian Kou-Giesbrecht, Mark B. Peoples, Johannes Piipponen, Emilio Rodriguez-Caballero, Verity G. Salmon, Fiona M. Soper, Anika P. Staccone, Bettina Weber, Christopher A. Williams, Nina Wurzburger
Modeling current and future distribution of invasive tegu lizards along geopolitical boundaries in the contiguous United States: Implications for invasion threat Modeling current and future distribution of invasive tegu lizards along geopolitical boundaries in the contiguous United States: Implications for invasion threat
Historically, constrained temperature ranges limited the spread of invasive herpetofauna into temperate climates, but climate change is predicted to facilitate broader distributions. There are three species of tegu lizards native to South America and available in the pet trade that have a high risk of invasion and deleterious impacts to native ecosystems in the United States (US). There...
Authors
Amanda Marie Kissel, Catherine S. Jarnevich, Andrea F. Currylow, Amy A. Yackel Adams
Climate change impacts on plant communities in the sagebrush region—A science synthesis to inform Bureau of Land Management resource management Climate change impacts on plant communities in the sagebrush region—A science synthesis to inform Bureau of Land Management resource management
This report synthesizes current (2024) science-based knowledge related to the impacts of climate change on big sagebrush vegetation in Western North America. This effort was conducted through the U.S. Geological Survey working with the Bureau of Land Management as part of multiple science syntheses to aid management agencies developing environmental impacts assessments in response to...
Authors
Scott M. Carpenter, Martin C. Holdrege, Daniel Rodolphe Schlaepfer, Jessica Phillips, Paul Griffin, William K. Lauenroth, John B. Bradford
Evaluation of rapid DNA extraction methods to better enable point-of-use environmental DNA detection Evaluation of rapid DNA extraction methods to better enable point-of-use environmental DNA detection
Recent developments in molecular testing have created the opportunity for biologists and managers to detect environmental DNA (eDNA) of target species rapidly and without the requirement of a laboratory. These point-of-use protocols may be especially useful for early detection and rapid response for invasive species or surveillance for at-risk native species, where timely management...
Authors
Melisa E. Kozaczek, Stephen Frank Spear, Tyler J. Untiedt, Paul Albosta, Caden Jungbluth, Jared J. Homola, Elliott P. Barnhart, Christopher M. Merkes
Growth rate variation in Brown Treesnakes (Boiga irregularis): An invasive species of conservation concern Growth rate variation in Brown Treesnakes (Boiga irregularis): An invasive species of conservation concern
Somatic growth rate is a fundamental trait that influences metabolism, lifespan and reproductive maturity and is critical for understanding population dynamics and informing management actions. Brown Treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) introduced to Guam are highly invasive and can reproduce year-round without discrete cohorts. We compared snake size trajectories described by the...
Authors
Bjorn Lardner, Brian S. Cade, Julie A. Savidge, Gordon H. Rodda, Robert Reed, Amy A. Yackel Adams
Sensitivity of mayfly Neocloeon triangulifer to a reference toxicant is significantly impacted by the age of the diatom feed species Navicula pelliculosa Sensitivity of mayfly Neocloeon triangulifer to a reference toxicant is significantly impacted by the age of the diatom feed species Navicula pelliculosa
The development of standardized toxicity tests is critical for assessing pollutants in aquatic ecosystems. The mayfly Neocloeon triangulifer offers advantages as a test species due to its asexual reproduction, short life cycle, and high sensitivity to pollutants. However, we identified variability in response sensitivity to pollutants, which may stem from the nutritional composition and...
Authors
Moira M. Ijzerman, Melanie J. Gallant, David J. Soucek, Rebecca A. Consbrock, Heather Roshon, Jacob Gawronski, Paul K. Sibley, Ryan S. Prosser
Nocardia cyriacigeorgica in a Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) from Arizona, USA Nocardia cyriacigeorgica in a Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) from Arizona, USA
Nocardia spp. are opportunistic pathogens of humans, domestic animals, and wildlife that can cause high levels of morbidity and mortality. Here, we present a unique case of nocardial airsacculitis in a free-ranging mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) from Arizona, USA, and compare it to the hosts, geographic distribution, diagnostic methodology, and infection site of known nocardiosis cases in...
Authors
Susan Knowles, Brenda M. Berlowski-Zier, Anne Justice-Allen, Barbara L. Bodenstein, Jeffrey M. Lorch
Differential responses of coolwater fishes to a whole-lake reduction of a warmwater thermal guild Differential responses of coolwater fishes to a whole-lake reduction of a warmwater thermal guild
Climate change is transforming the ecology of lakes at a rapid pace, shifting some lakes toward warmwater-dominant habitats. As a result, warmwater fishes are increasingly becoming more prevalent in lakes where they already existed, altering the patterning and strength of species interactions. Understanding shifting species interactions (e.g., competition, predation), and the role of...
Authors
Holly Susan Embke, Stephen R. Carpenter, Beard, Giancarlo Coppola, Daniel A. Isermann, Eric J. Pedersen, Andrew L. Rypel, Christopher J. Sullivan, Tyler D. Tunney, M. Jake Vander Zanden
Factors affecting short-term post-release survival probability of Lake Trout implanted with acoustic telemetry transmitters Factors affecting short-term post-release survival probability of Lake Trout implanted with acoustic telemetry transmitters
The use of acoustic telemetry is steadily expanding to help answer questions related to habitat use, movement, and behavior of fishes. Significant time and resources are invested to start acoustic telemetry studies; therefore, careful planning is needed to limit post-release mortality of tagged individuals. Deep, cold-water species present additional challenges to acoustic tagging...
Authors
Alexander James Gatch, Dimitry Gorsky, Kyle Morton, Josephine Johnson, Collin Farrell, Timothy B. Johnson, Emma Bloomfield, Brent Metcalfe, Jessica Goretzke, Michael Connerton, Sarah M. Larocque, Jonathan Midwood, Brian O’Malley, Brian Weidel, Steven J. Cooke, Stacy Furgal
Coelomic foreign bodies in wild-caught Python spp. in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA Coelomic foreign bodies in wild-caught Python spp. in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA
Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) and African rock pythons (Python sebae) have established invasive populations in southern Florida, severely disrupting local ecosystems. We analysed necropsy data from 2,179 pythons captured between 2006 and 2022, revealing nine cases of coelomic foreign bodies, primarily consisting of bird beaks, which presumably entered the coelom following
Authors
Gretchen E. Anderson, McKayla M. Spencer, Ray W. Snow, Andrea Currylow, Frank N. Ridgley, Bryan G. Falk, Amy A. Yackel Adams
Climate consideration in environmental effects analyses on federal public lands in the United States Climate consideration in environmental effects analyses on federal public lands in the United States
Effects of a changing climate, including drought, wildfire, and invasive species encroachment, are evident on public lands across the United States. Decision making on Federal public lands requires analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and there are guidelines for considering climate in NEPA analyses. To better understand how climate most recently has been...
Authors
Sarah E. Whipple, Sarah K. Carter, Tait K. Rutherford, Samuel E. Jordan, Richard J. Lehrter, Christopher T. Domschke, Megan A. Gilbert, Julian Reyes, Ella M. Samuel, Karen M. Schank, John C. Tull, David J.A. Wood