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: 42905
Disease‐structured N‐mixture models: A practical guide to model disease dynamics using count data Disease‐structured N‐mixture models: A practical guide to model disease dynamics using count data
Obtaining inferences on disease dynamics (e.g., host population size, pathogen prevalence, transmission rate, host survival probability) typically requires marking and tracking individuals over time. While multistate mark–recapture models can produce high‐quality inference, these techniques are difficult to employ at large spatial and long temporal scales or in small remnant host...
Authors
Graziella V. DiRenzo, Christian Che-Castaldo, Sarah P. Saunders, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Elise F. Zipkin
Landscape and organismal factors affecting sagebrush-seedling transplant survival after megafire restoration Landscape and organismal factors affecting sagebrush-seedling transplant survival after megafire restoration
Larger and more frequent disturbances are motivating efforts to accelerate recovery of foundational perennial species by focusing efforts into establishing island patches to sustain keystone species and facilitate recovery of the surrounding plant community. Evaluating the variability in abiotic and biotic factors that contribute to differences in survival and establishment can provide...
Authors
Bill Davidson, Matthew J. Germino, Bryce Richardson, David Barnard
Toxicokinetics of imidacloprid-coated wheat seeds in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) and an evaluation of hazard Toxicokinetics of imidacloprid-coated wheat seeds in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) and an evaluation of hazard
Birds are potentially exposed to neonicotinoid insecticides by ingestion of coated seeds during crop planting. Adult male Japanese quail were orally dosed with wheat seeds coated with an imidacloprid (IMI) formulation at either 0.9 mg/kg body weight (BW) or 2.7 mg/kg BW (~3 and 9% of IMI LD50 for Japanese quail, respectively) for 1 or 10 days. Quail were euthanized between 1 and 24 h...
Authors
Thomas G. Bean, Michael S. Gross, Natalie Karouna-Renier, Paula F. P. Henry, Sandra L. Schultz, Michelle L. Hladik, Kathryn Kuivila, Barnett A. Rattner
Effects of nest exposure and spring temperatures on golden eagle brood survival: An opportunity for mitigation Effects of nest exposure and spring temperatures on golden eagle brood survival: An opportunity for mitigation
We examined Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) brood survival in relation to spring temperatures and exposure of nests to afternoon sun in southwestern Idaho from 1970 through 2012. Most (77%) nests classified as shaded in a subset of 96 nests had northwest to east aspects, and most (71%) nests classified as exposed had south to west aspects. We analyzed survival of 1154 Golden Eagle...
Authors
Michael N. Kochert, Karen Steenhof, Jessi L. Brown
Spatial distribution of band recoveries of black brant Spatial distribution of band recoveries of black brant
On average, band recovery rates of adult black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) more than doubled between the 2000s and 2010s. However, the spatial distribution of band recoveries of black brant has not been reported. Our objective was to describe the spatial distribution of band recoveries of black brant since 1990. We found that Alaska, California, and Mexico accounted for ≥89% of...
Authors
Alan G. Leach, David H. Ward, James S. Sedinger, Thomas V. Riecke, Jerry W. Hupp, Robert J. Ritchie
Using motion-activated cameras to study diet and productivity of cliff-nesting Golden Eagles Using motion-activated cameras to study diet and productivity of cliff-nesting Golden Eagles
Studies of cliff-nesting raptors can be challenging because direct observations of nest contents are difficult. Our goals were to develop a protocol for installing motionactivated trail cameras at Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) nests to record diet information and productivity, and to estimate prey detection probability using different diet study methods. In 2014 and 2015, we installed...
Authors
Jordan Harrison, Michael N. Kochert, Benjamin P. Pauli, Julie A. Heath
Optimizing historic preservation under climate change: Decision support for cultural resource adaptation planning in national parks Optimizing historic preservation under climate change: Decision support for cultural resource adaptation planning in national parks
Climate change poses great challenges for cultural resource management, particularly in coastal areas. Cultural resources, such as historic buildings, in coastal areas are vulnerable to climate impacts including inundation, deterioration, and destruction from sea-level rise and storm-related flooding and erosion. However, research that assesses the trade-offs between actions for...
Authors
Xiao Xiao, Erin Seekamp, Max Post van der Burg, Mitchell J. Eaton, Sandra Fatoric, Allie McCreary
Modeling δ18O as an early indicator of regime shift arising from salinity stress in coastal vegetation Modeling δ18O as an early indicator of regime shift arising from salinity stress in coastal vegetation
In many important coastal habitats, a combination of increasing soil salinization due to sea level rise, reduced precipitation and storm surges may induce regime shift from salinity-intolerant glycophytic vegetation to salinity-tolerant halophytic species. Early detection of regime shift due to salinity stress in vegetation may facilitate conservation efforts. It has been shown that the...
Authors
Su Yean Teh, Hock Lye Koh, Donald L. DeAngelis, Clifford I. Voss, Leonel da Silveira Lobo Sternberg
Diel activity of newly metamorphosed juvenile sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) Diel activity of newly metamorphosed juvenile sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)
Timing of activity, especially for juvenile anadromous fishes undertaking long migrations can be critical for survival. River-resident larval sea lamprey metamorphose into juveniles and migrate from their larval stream habitats in fall through spring, but diel timing of this migratory behavior is not well understood. Diel activity was determined for newly metamorphosed sea lamprey using...
Authors
Scott M. Miehls, Christopher M. Holbrook, J. Ellen Marsden
Can’t see the random forest for the decision trees: Selecting predictive models for restoration ecology Can’t see the random forest for the decision trees: Selecting predictive models for restoration ecology
Improving predictions of restoration outcomes is increasingly important to resource managers for accountability and adaptive management, yet there is limited guidance for selecting a predictive model from the multitude available. The goal of this paper was to identify an optimal predictive framework for restoration ecology using eleven modeling frameworks (including, machine learning...
Authors
David Barnard, Matthew Germino, David S. Pilliod, Robert Arkle, Cara Applestein, Bill Davidson, Matthew Fisk
Factors affecting species richness and distribution spatially and temporally within a protected area using multi-season occupancy models Factors affecting species richness and distribution spatially and temporally within a protected area using multi-season occupancy models
Exploring trends in species richness and the distribution of individual species over time as well as the factors affecting these trends informs conservation priorities in protecting species and ecosystems as a whole. We used data from 41 park-wide line transect surveys in 2009 and 2014 and multi-season occupancy models with multi-species data to explore trends in species richness and...
Authors
Jennifer F. Moore, James E. Hines, Michel K. Masozera
Associations between environmental pollutants and larval amphibians in wetlands contaminated by energy-related brines are potentially mediated by feeding traits Associations between environmental pollutants and larval amphibians in wetlands contaminated by energy-related brines are potentially mediated by feeding traits
Energy production in the Williston Basin, located in the Prairie Pothole Region of central North America, has increased rapidly over the last several decades. Advances in recycling and disposal practices of saline wastewaters (brines) co-produced during energy production have reduced ecological risks, but spills still occur often and legacy practices of releasing brines into the...
Authors
Kelly L. Smalling, Chauncey W. Anderson, R. Ken Honeycutt, Isabelle M. Cozzarelli, Todd M. Preston, Blake R. Hossack