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: 42884
A shrubbier future: Forest transformation in the eastern Jemez Mountains A shrubbier future: Forest transformation in the eastern Jemez Mountains
No abstract available.
Authors
Craig D. Allen
Conservation decisions under pressure: Lessons from an exercise in rapid response to wildlife disease Conservation decisions under pressure: Lessons from an exercise in rapid response to wildlife disease
Novel outbreaks of emerging pathogens require rapid responses to enable successful mitigation. We simulated a 1‐day emergency meeting where experts were engaged to recommend mitigation strategies for a new outbreak of the amphibian fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans . Despite the inevitable uncertainty, experts suggested and discussed several possible strategies. However...
Authors
Stefano Canessa, Annemarieke Spitzen-van der Sluijs, Tariq Stark, Bryony E. Allen, Phillip J. Bishop, Molly Bletz, Cheryl J. Briggs, Dave Daversa, Matthew J. Gray, Richard Griffiths, Reid N. Harris, Xavier Harrison, Jason T. Hoverman, Phillip Jervis, Erin L. Muths, Deanna H. Olson, Stephen J Price, Corinne L. Richards-Zawacki, Jacques Robert, Goncalo M. Rosa, Ben C. Scheele, B. Schmidt, Trenton W. J. Garner
Coldwater periods in warmwater streams: Microhabitat shifts from autumn to winter by Smallmouth Bass Coldwater periods in warmwater streams: Microhabitat shifts from autumn to winter by Smallmouth Bass
Seasonal and life stage variation in microhabitat use is an important driver of fish survival and bioenergetics, but knowledge of microhabitat selection during colder periods is generally lacking in warmwater streams. Our objective was to examine changes in microhabitat selection by age‐0 (TL ≤ 85 mm) and age‐1+ (TL > 85 mm) Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu from autumn to winter in...
Authors
S. L. Wolf, Robert Mollenhauer, Shannon K. Brewer
Mathematical ecologists describe apparently long-stable dynamics that undergo sudden change to a different regime: Comment on “Long transients in ecology: theory and applications by Andrew Morozov et al.” Mathematical ecologists describe apparently long-stable dynamics that undergo sudden change to a different regime: Comment on “Long transients in ecology: theory and applications by Andrew Morozov et al.”
No abstract available.
Authors
Donald L. DeAngelis
Weed-suppressive bacteria have no effect on exotic or native plants in sagebrush-steppe Weed-suppressive bacteria have no effect on exotic or native plants in sagebrush-steppe
Approaches and techniques for control of exotic annual grasses are a high priority in rangelands including sagebrush steppe. Strains of the soil bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens have been proposed to be selectively pathogenic to multiple species of exotic annual grasses (“Pf,” weed-suppressive bacteria, “WSB”). However, defensible tests of the target and nontarget effects of these WSB...
Authors
Matthew Germino, Brynne E. Lazarus
Parasitic nematodes of marine fishes from Palmyra Atoll, East Indo-Pacific, including a new species of Spinitectus (Nematoda, Cystidicolidae) Parasitic nematodes of marine fishes from Palmyra Atoll, East Indo-Pacific, including a new species of Spinitectus (Nematoda, Cystidicolidae)
Here, we present the results of a taxonomic survey of the nematodes parasitizing fishes from the lagoon flats of Palmyra Atoll, Eastern Indo-Pacific. We performed quantitative parasitological surveys of 653 individual fish from each of the 44 species using the intertidal sand flats that border the atoll’s lagoon. We provide morphological descriptions, prevalence, and mean intensities of...
Authors
David Gonzalez-Solis, Lilia Catherinne Soler-Jimenez, M Leopoldina Aguirre-Macedo, John P. McLaughlin, Jenny C. Shaw, Anna K James, Ryan F. Hechinger, Armand M. Kuris, Kevin D. Lafferty, Victor Manuel Vidal-Martinez
Watershed geomorphology modifies the sensitivity of aquatic ecosystem metabolism to temperature Watershed geomorphology modifies the sensitivity of aquatic ecosystem metabolism to temperature
How carbon cycles are regulated by environmental temperature remains a substantial uncertainty in our understanding of how watersheds will respond to ongoing climate change. Aquatic ecosystems are important components of carbon flux to the atmosphere and ocean, yet we have limited understanding of how temperature modifies ecosystem metabolic processes and, therefore, aquatic...
Authors
Kathi Jo Jankowski, Daniel E. Schindler
Development of a genotyping protocol for Mojave desert tortoise scat Development of a genotyping protocol for Mojave desert tortoise scat
Noninvasive fecal genotyping can be a useful tool for population monitoring of elusive species. We tested extraction protocols on scat samples from the threatened Mojave Desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii, to evaluate whether scat-based mark–recapture and population genetic monitoring studies are feasible.We extracted DNA from G. agassizii scat samples collected in California and Nevada...
Authors
Anna Mitelberg, Amy G. Vandergast, Ken E Nussear, Kirsten E. Dutcher, Todd C. Esque
Spatially explicit models of seasonal habitat for greater sage‐grouse at broad spatial scales: Informing areas for management in Nevada and northeastern California Spatially explicit models of seasonal habitat for greater sage‐grouse at broad spatial scales: Informing areas for management in Nevada and northeastern California
Defining boundaries of species' habitat across broad spatial scales is often necessary for management decisions, and yet challenging for species that demonstrate differential variation in seasonal habitat use. Spatially explicit indices that incorporate temporal shifts in selection can help overcome such challenges, especially for species of high conservation concern. Greater sage‐grouse
Authors
Peter S. Coates, Brianne E. Brussee, Mark A. Ricca, John Severson, Michael L. Casazza, K. Benjamin Gustafson, Shawn P. Espinosa, Scott C. Gardner, David J Delahunty
Dispersal asymmetry in a two-patch system with source–sink populations Dispersal asymmetry in a two-patch system with source–sink populations
This paper analyzes source–sink systems with asymmetric dispersal between two patches. Complete analysis on the models demonstrates a mechanism by which the dispersal asymmetry can lead to either an increased total size of the species population in two patches, a decreased total size with persistence in the patches, or even extinction in both patches. For a large growth rate of the...
Authors
Hong Wu, Yuanshi Wang, Yufeng Li, Donald L. DeAngelis
Antibiotic resistant bacteria in wildlife: Perspectives on trends, acquisitions and dissemination, data gaps, and future directions Antibiotic resistant bacteria in wildlife: Perspectives on trends, acquisitions and dissemination, data gaps, and future directions
The proliferation of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the environment has potential negative economic and health consequences. Thus, previous investigations have targeted wild animals to understand the occurrence of antibiotic resistance in diverse environmental sources. In this critical review and synthesis, we summarize important concepts learned through the sampling of wildlife for...
Authors
Andrew M. Ramey, Christina Ahlstrom
The future of barriers and trapping methods in the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) control program in the Laurentian Great Lakes The future of barriers and trapping methods in the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) control program in the Laurentian Great Lakes
A major duty of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC), created in 1955, was the development a program of eradication or management of sea lamprey populations in the Great Lakes for the protection of the Great Lakes fishery. Beginning in the 1980s the GLFC shifted sea lamprey control to an integrated pest management model seeking to deploy control measures which target multiple life...
Authors
Scott M. Miehls, Paul Sullivan, Michael Twohey, Jessica Barber, Rodney McDonald