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
Environmental factors influencing entry of fishes into a Great Lakes tributary during spring and summer Environmental factors influencing entry of fishes into a Great Lakes tributary during spring and summer
Stream entry of many fishes is influenced by environmental factors including water temperature, stream discharge, and photoperiod (Leggett 1977; Jonsson 1991). Environmental factors influence stream entry differently depending on the species and life stage of fish, likely because of varying physiologies and life histories (Lucas and Baras 2008). Many spring-run migratory fishes occupy...
Authors
Erin L. McCann, Nicholas S. Johnson, Daniel P. Zielinski
Study 11. Effects of Nanophyetus on the swimming performance and survival of steelhead smolts AND studies to understand and manage the Nanophyetus cercaria Study 11. Effects of Nanophyetus on the swimming performance and survival of steelhead smolts AND studies to understand and manage the Nanophyetus cercaria
Recent field surveillances indicated that outmigrating steelhead smolts in several south Puget Sound watersheds are infected with the digenean trematode Nanophyetus salmonicola at high prevalence and intensity (Chen et al Accepted). The apparent severity of these infections, especially in the Nisqually and Green / Duwamish Rivers, lead to the hypothesis that Nanophyetus may play a role...
Authors
Paul Hershberger
Introduction and dispersal of non-native bullseye snakehead Channa marulius (Hamilton, 1822) in the canal system of southeastern Florida, USA Introduction and dispersal of non-native bullseye snakehead Channa marulius (Hamilton, 1822) in the canal system of southeastern Florida, USA
An established population of bullseye snakehead (Channa marulius), a large predatory fish from southeastern Asia, was identified for the first time in North America from waters in southeastern Florida, USA, in the year 2000. Since then, it has dispersed throughout the extensive canal system in the area from West Palm Beach south to Miramar. Collection data were compiled to determine the...
Authors
Amy J. Benson, Pamela J. Schofield, Kelly B. Gestring
Terrestrial wetlands Terrestrial wetlands
1. The assessment of terrestrial wetland carbon stocks has improved greatly since the First State of the Carbon Cycle Report (CCSP 2007) because of recent national inventories and the development of a U.S. soils database. Terrestrial wetlands in North America encompass an estimated 2.2 million km2, which constitutes about 37% of the global wetland area, with a soil and vegetation carbon...
Authors
Randall Kolka, Carl Trettin, Wenwu Tang, Ken W. Krauss, Sheel Bansal, Judith Z. Drexler, Kimberly P. Wickland, Rodney A. Chimner, Dianna M. Hogan, Emily Pindilli, Brian Benscoter, Brian Tangen, Evan S. Kane, Scott D. Bridgham, Curtis J. Richardson
Effectiveness of shallow water habitat remediation for improving fish habitat in a large temperate river Effectiveness of shallow water habitat remediation for improving fish habitat in a large temperate river
Loss of shallow water riparian zones in the St. Clair River has reduced availability of nursery areas and refuge for fishes. To remediate habitat losses and provide fish nursery areas, five remediation projects were carried out along the river’s United States bank from 2012 to 2014, replacing seawalls with sloping banks and adding in-stream structure (e.g., root wads and boulders)...
Authors
Edward F. Roseman, Jason Fischer, Song Qian, Christine M Mayer
Gaps in kelp cover may threaten the recovery of California sea otters Gaps in kelp cover may threaten the recovery of California sea otters
Despite more than a century of federal protection, the California sea otter Enhydra lutris nereis remains threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA), and the population has not appreciably expanded its range in two decades. Here, we examine a novel dataset of 725 sea otter live strandings from 1984–2015 to gain insights into demographic and environmental factors underlying...
Authors
Teri E. Nicholson, Karl A. Mayer, Michelle M. Staedler, Jessica A. Fujii, Michael J. Murray, Andrew B. Johnson, M. Tim Tinker, Kyle S. Van Houtan
Adapting management to a changing world: Warm temperatures, dry soil, and interannual variability limit restoration success of a dominant woody shrub in temperate drylands Adapting management to a changing world: Warm temperatures, dry soil, and interannual variability limit restoration success of a dominant woody shrub in temperate drylands
Restoration and rehabilitation of native vegetation in dryland ecosystems, which encompass over 40% of terrestrial ecosystems, is a common challenge that continues to grow as wildfire and biological invasions transform dryland plant communities. The difficulty in part stems from low and variable precipitation, combined with limited understanding about how weather conditions influence...
Authors
Robert K. Shriver, Caitlin M. Andrews, David S. Pilliod, Robert Arkle, Justin L. Welty, Matthew J. Germino, Michael C. Duniway, David A. Pyke, John B. Bradford
Challenges and opportunities developing mathematical models of shared pathogens of domestic and wild animals Challenges and opportunities developing mathematical models of shared pathogens of domestic and wild animals
Diseases that affect both wild and domestic animals can be particularly difficult to prevent, predict, mitigate, and control. Such multi-host diseases can have devastating economic impacts on domestic animal producers and can present significant challenges to wildlife populations, particularly for populations of conservation concern. Few mathematical models exist that capture the...
Authors
Kathryn P. Huyvaert, Robin E. Russell, Kelly A. Patyk, Meggan E. Craft, Paul C. Cross, M. Graeme Garner, Michael K. Martin, Pauline Nol, Daniel P. Walsh
Evaluating flow management as a strategy to recover an endangered sturgeon species in the Upper Missouri River, USA Evaluating flow management as a strategy to recover an endangered sturgeon species in the Upper Missouri River, USA
In the Upper Missouri River, Fort Peck and Garrison Dams limit the length of free‐flowing river available to the endangered pallid sturgeon. These barriers restrict the upstream migration of adults and downstream larval dispersal. A one‐dimensional (1D) modelling framework is currently in use to evaluate reservoir operation alternatives and to simulate drift of dispersing free embryos...
Authors
Susannah O. Erwin, Edward A. Bulliner, Craig J Fischenich, Robert B. Jacobson, Patrick Braaten, Aaron J. DeLonay
Hidden cost of disease in a free‐ranging ungulate: brucellosis reduces mid‐winter pregnancy in elk Hidden cost of disease in a free‐ranging ungulate: brucellosis reduces mid‐winter pregnancy in elk
Demonstrating disease impacts on the vital rates of free‐ranging mammalian hosts typically requires intensive, long‐term study. Evidence for chronic pathogens affecting reproduction but not survival is rare, but has the potential for wide‐ranging effects. Accurately quantifying disease‐associated reductions in fecundity is important for advancing theory, generating accurate predictive...
Authors
Gavin G. Cotterill, Paul C. Cross, Arthur D. Middleton, Jared D. Rogerson, Brandon Scurlock, Johan T. Du Toit
Flooding tolerance of Sagittaria latifolia and Sagittaria rigida under controlled laboratory conditions Flooding tolerance of Sagittaria latifolia and Sagittaria rigida under controlled laboratory conditions
Pool‐scale growing‐season water‐level reductions (drawdowns) have been implemented on the Upper Mississippi River in an effort to improve fish and wildlife habitat. Aquatic vegetation is a key habitat component, with perennial emergent species, such as Sagittaria latifolia and Sagittaria rigida, especially important. River managers have assumed the need for continuous drawdown during the...
Authors
Kevin P. Kenow, Brian R. Gray, James E. Lyons
Resiliency of biological soil crusts and vascular plants varies among morphogroups with disturbance intensity Resiliency of biological soil crusts and vascular plants varies among morphogroups with disturbance intensity
Background and aims Disturbance affects the ability of organisms to persist on a site, and disturbance history acts as a filter of community composition. This is true for vascular plants and morphological groups of biocrusts, which respond differently to disturbance. Although functioning arid ecosystems include both groups, filtering of morphological groups of biocrusts has not...
Authors
Lea A. Condon, David A. Pyke