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: 42871
Changes in habitat availability for multiple life stages of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in Chesapeake Bay in response to sea level rise Changes in habitat availability for multiple life stages of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in Chesapeake Bay in response to sea level rise
Global sea level rise (SLR) will significantly alter coastal landscapes through inundation and erosion of lowlying areas. Animals that display area fidelity and rely on fringing coastal habitats during multiple life stages, such as diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin Schoepff 1793), are likely to be particularly vulnerable to SLR-induced changes. We used a combination of empirical...
Authors
Ryan J. Woodland, Christopher L. Rowe, Paula F. P. Henry
Downstream migration and multiple dam passage by Atlantic Salmon smolts Downstream migration and multiple dam passage by Atlantic Salmon smolts
The purpose of this study was to investigate behavior and survival of radio-tagged wild and hatchery-reared landlocked Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar smolts as they migrated past three hydropower dams equipped with fish bypass solutions in the Winooski River, Vermont. Among hatchery-reared smolts, those released early were more likely to initiate migration and did so after less delay than...
Authors
D. Nyqvist, Stephen D. McCormick, L. Greenberg, W.R. Ardren, E. Bergman, O. Calles, Theodore R. Castro-Santos
Climatic history of the northeastern United States during the past 3000 years Climatic history of the northeastern United States during the past 3000 years
Many ecosystem processes that influence Earth system feedbacks, including vegetation growth, water and nutrient cycling, and disturbance regimes, are strongly influenced by multi-decadal to millennial-scale variations in climate that cannot be captured by instrumental climate observations. Paleoclimate information is therefore essential for understanding contemporary ecosystems and their...
Authors
Jennifer R. Marlon, Neil Pederson, Connor Nolan, Simon Goring, Bryan Shuman, Ann Robertson, Robert K. Booth, Patrick J. Bartlein, Melissa A. Berke, Michael Clifford, Edward Cook, Ann Dieffenbacher-Krall, Michael C. Dietze, Amy Hessl, J. Bradford Hubeny, Stephen T. Jackson, Jeremiah Marsicek, Jason S. McLachlan, Cary J. Mock, David J. P. Moore, Jonathan M. Nichols, Dorothy M. Peteet, Kevin Schaefer, Valerie Trouet, Charles Umbanhowar, John W. Williams, Zicheng Yu
The effects of horizontally and vertically oriented baffles on flow structure andascent performance of upstream-migrating fish The effects of horizontally and vertically oriented baffles on flow structure andascent performance of upstream-migrating fish
Considerable effort has been expended to construct culverts and fishways that allow for fish passage. However, the designs have seldom considered behaviour, energetics, and biomechanics of fish. In this study, we performed controlled experiments, in which upstreammigrating Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were allowed to volitionally enter either one...
Authors
Eva Enders, Theodore R. Castro-Santos, Jay Lacey
Building capacity in biodiversity monitoring at the global scale Building capacity in biodiversity monitoring at the global scale
Human-driven global change is causing ongoing declines in biodiversity worldwide. In order to address these declines, decision-makers need accurate assessments of the status of and pressures on biodiversity. However, these are heavily constrained by incomplete and uneven spatial, temporal and taxonomic coverage. For instance, data from regions such as Europe and North America are...
Authors
Dirk S. Schmeller, Monika Böhm, Christos Arvanitidis, Shannon Barber-Meyer, Neil Brummitt, Mark Chandler, Eva Chatzinikolaou, Mark John Costello, Hui Ding, Jaime Garcia-Moreno, Michael J. Gill, Peter Haase, Miranda Jones, Romain Juillard, William E. Magnusson, Corinne S. Martin, Melodie A. McGeoch, Jean-Baptiste Mihoub, Nathalie Pettorelli, Vânia Proença, Cui Peng, Eugenie Regan, Ute Schmiedel, John P. Simsika, Lauren Weatherdon, Carly Waterman, Haigen Xu, Jayne Belnap
Assessment of adult pallid sturgeon fish condition, Lower Missouri River—Application of new information to the Missouri River Recovery Program Assessment of adult pallid sturgeon fish condition, Lower Missouri River—Application of new information to the Missouri River Recovery Program
During spring 2015, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) biologists noted that pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) were in poor condition during sampling associated with the Pallid Sturgeon Population Assessment Project and NGPC’s annual pallid sturgeon broodstock collection effort. These observations prompted concerns that reduced fish condition could compromise reproductive...
Authors
Michael T. Randall, Michael E. Colvin, Kirk D. Steffensen, Timothy L. Welker, Landon L. Pierce, Robert B. Jacobson
Experimental test of genetic rescue in isolated populations of brook trout Experimental test of genetic rescue in isolated populations of brook trout
Genetic rescue is an increasingly considered conservation measure to address genetic erosion associated with habitat loss and fragmentation. The resulting gene flow from facilitating migration may improve fitness and adaptive potential, but is not without risks (e.g., outbreeding depression). Here, we conducted a test of genetic rescue by translocating ten (five of each sex) brook trout
Authors
Zachary L. Robinson, Jason A. Coombs, Mark Hudy, Keith H. Nislow, Benjamin H. Letcher, Andrew R. Whiteley
Emerging fungal pathogen Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in wild European snakes Emerging fungal pathogen Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola in wild European snakes
Snake fungal disease (SFD) is an emerging disease of conservation concern in eastern North America. Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, the causative agent of SFD, has been isolated from over 30 species of wild snakes from six families in North America. Whilst O. ophiodiicola has been isolated from captive snakes outside North America, the pathogen has not been reported from wild snakes elsewhere...
Authors
Lydia H. V. Franklinos, Jeffrey M. Lorch, Elizabeth A. Bohuski, Julia Rodriguez-Ramos Fernandez, Owen Wright, Liam Fitzpatrick, Silviu Petrovan, Chris Durrant, Chris Linton, Vojtech Balaz, Andrew A Cunningham, Becki Lawson
Linear and nonlinear effects of temperature and precipitation on ecosystem properties in tidal saline wetlands Linear and nonlinear effects of temperature and precipitation on ecosystem properties in tidal saline wetlands
Climate greatly influences the structure and functioning of tidal saline wetland ecosystems. However, there is a need to better quantify the effects of climatic drivers on ecosystem properties, particularly near climate-sensitive ecological transition zones. Here, we used climate- and literature-derived ecological data from tidal saline wetlands to test hypotheses regarding the influence...
Authors
Laura C. Feher, Michael J. Osland, Kereen T. Griffith, James B. Grace, Rebecca J. Howard, Camille L. Stagg, Nicholas M. Enwright, Ken W. Krauss, Christopher A. Gabler, Richard H. Day, Kerrylee Rogers
2016 National Park visitor spending effects: Economic contributions to local communities, states, and the Nation 2016 National Park visitor spending effects: Economic contributions to local communities, states, and the Nation
The National Park Service (NPS) manages the Nation’s most iconic destinations that attract millions of visitors from across the Nation and around the world. Trip-related spending by NPS visitors generates and supports a considerable amount of economic activity within park gateway communities. This economic effects analysis measures how NPS visitor spending cycles through local economies
Authors
Catherine Cullinane Thomas, Lynne Koontz
Biological and ecological science for Nevada—The Silver State Biological and ecological science for Nevada—The Silver State
Nevada is rich in minerals, energy, rangelands, mountains, deserts, lakes, fish, and wildlife. Many enterprises critical to Nevada's economy are based on natural resources including solar energy, livestock production, hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation. Nevada is a national leader in both geothermal and solar utility-scale energy production, and invested more than $1.2...
Authors
Short-term and long-term evapotranspiration rates at ecological restoration sites along a large river receiving rare flow events Short-term and long-term evapotranspiration rates at ecological restoration sites along a large river receiving rare flow events
Many large rivers around the world no longer flow to their deltas, due to ever greater water withdrawals and diversions for human needs. However, the importance of riparian ecosystems is drawing increasing recognition, leading to the allocation of environmental flows to restore river processes. Accurate estimates of riparian plant evapotranspiration (ET) are needed to understand how the...
Authors
Margaret Shanafield, Hugo Gutierrez Jurado, Jesus Eliana Rodriguez Burgueno, Jorge Ramirez Hernandez, Christopher Jarchow, Pamela L. Nagler