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: 42765
Using environmental DNA to assess the response of steelhead/Rainbow Trout and Coastrange Sculpin populations to postfire debris flows in coastal streams of Big Sur, California Using environmental DNA to assess the response of steelhead/Rainbow Trout and Coastrange Sculpin populations to postfire debris flows in coastal streams of Big Sur, California
Objective Debris flows are among the most extreme disturbances to streams and are predicted to become more frequent under climate change. We assessed the response of steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss (anadromous Rainbow Trout)/Rainbow Trout (hereafter, collectively referred to as O. mykiss) and Coastrange Sculpin Cottus aleuticus populations to major postfire debris flows in two small...
Authors
David E. Rundio, Brian C. Spence, Dorothy M. Chase, Carl O. Ostberg
A guide to environmental DNA extractions for non-molecular trained biologists, ecologists, and conservation scientists A guide to environmental DNA extractions for non-molecular trained biologists, ecologists, and conservation scientists
Ecologists, biologists, and conservation scientists are increasingly interested in the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) data for research and potentially decision-making. While commercial DNA extraction kits are typically user-friendly and accessible, they may fail to deliver the desired results with inherently complex eDNA samples, necessitating protocol optimization or educated...
Authors
Jessica Marie Rieder, Eliane Jemmi, Margaret Hunter, Irene Adrian-Kalchhauser
Characterizing variability in geochemistry and mineralogy of western US dust sources Characterizing variability in geochemistry and mineralogy of western US dust sources
Dust events originate from multiple sources in arid and semi-arid regions, making it difficult to quantify source contributions. Dust geochemical/mineralogical composition, if the sources are sufficiently distinct, can be used to quantify the contributions from different sources. To test the viability of using geochemical and mineralogical measurements to separate dust-emitting sites, we...
Authors
Abby L. Mangum, Gregory T. Carling, Barry R. Bickmore, Nicholas P. Webb, DeTiare L. Leifi, Janice Brahney, Diego P. Fernandez, Kevin A. Rey, Stephen T. Nelson, Landon Burgener, Joshua J. LeMonte, Alyssa N. Thompson, Beth A. Newingham, Michael C. Duniway, Zachary T. Aanderud
North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center regional science plan—2023–28 North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center regional science plan—2023–28
The U.S. Geological Survey North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (NC CASC), established in 2012, is part of a national network supporting climate-informed decisions that benefit wildlife and habitats. The NC CASC provides climate science for the U.S. Department of the Interior, State agencies, and Tribal nations to support effective resource management. Collaborating with the...
Adaptation and Response in Drylands (ARID): Community insights for scoping a NASA terrestrial ecology field campaign in drylands Adaptation and Response in Drylands (ARID): Community insights for scoping a NASA terrestrial ecology field campaign in drylands
Dryland ecosystems cover 40% of our planet's land surface, support billions of people, and are responding rapidly to climate and land use change. These expansive systems also dominate core aspects of Earth's climate, storing and exchanging vast amounts of water, carbon, and energy with the atmosphere. Despite their indispensable ecosystem services and high vulnerability to change...
Authors
Andrew F. Feldman, Sasha C. Reed, Cibele Amaral, Alicja Babst-Kostecka, Flurin Babst, Joel A. Biederman, Charles Devine, Zheng Fu, Julia K. Green, Jessica Guo, Niall P. Hanan, Raymond F. Kokaly, Marcy Litvak, Natasha MacBean, David Moore, Dennis S. Ojima, Benjamin Poulter, Russell L. Scott, William K. Smith, Robert Swap, Compton J. Tucker, Lixin Wang, Jennifer D. Watts, Konrad Wessels, Fangyue Zhang, Wen Zhang
Modeling the effects of temperature and limiting nutrients on the competition of an invasive floating plant, Pontederia crassipes, with submersed vegetation in a shallow lake Modeling the effects of temperature and limiting nutrients on the competition of an invasive floating plant, Pontederia crassipes, with submersed vegetation in a shallow lake
The potential for a non-native plant species to invade a new habitat depends on broadscale factors such as climate, local factors such as nutrient availability, and the biotic community of the habitat into which the plant species is introduced. We developed a spatially explicit model to assess the risk of expansion of a floating invasive aquatic plant species (FAV), the water hyacinth...
Authors
Linhao Xu, Don DeAngelis
Immunotoxic response of bio-based plastic on early life stage zebrafish (Danio rerio): A safe alternative to petroleum-based plastics? Immunotoxic response of bio-based plastic on early life stage zebrafish (Danio rerio): A safe alternative to petroleum-based plastics?
Bio-based plastics are marketed as environmentally friendly alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, although they require specific composting conditions for degradation, which leads to their accumulation in the environment and potential risks to aquatic organisms. We hypothesized that the accumulation of bio-based plastics may induce immunotoxic responses in fish. Our research focused...
Authors
Haodong Cheng, Yao Zou, Bin Lu, Jiazhen Wang, Rongrong Xuan, Jason Tyler Magnuson, Chunmiao Zheng, Wenhui Qiu
Survey effort and targeted landbird community metrics at Indiana lowland forest restoration sites Survey effort and targeted landbird community metrics at Indiana lowland forest restoration sites
Many sampling and analytical methods can estimate the abundance, distributions, and diversity of birds and other wildlife. However, challenges with sample size and analytical capacity can make these methods difficult to implement for resource-limited monitoring programs. To apprise efficient and attainable sampling designs for landbird monitoring programs with limited observational data...
Authors
Benjamin M West, Mark L. Wildhaber, Nicholas S. Green, John P. Isanhart, M. Victoria McDonald, Michael J. Hooper
Free-roaming horses exceeding appropriate management levels affect multiple vital rates in greater sage-grouse Free-roaming horses exceeding appropriate management levels affect multiple vital rates in greater sage-grouse
Since the passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, federal agencies have been responsible for managing free-roaming equids in the United States. Over the last 20 years, management has been hampered by direct opposition from advocacy groups, budget limitations, and a decline in the public’s willingness to adopt free-roaming horses (Equus caballus). As a result, free...
Authors
Jeffrey L. Beck, Megan C. Milligan, Kurt T. Smith, Phillip A. Street, Aaron C. Pratt, Christopher P. Kirol, Caitlyn P. Wanner, Jacob D. Hennig, Jonathan B. Dinkins, J. Derek Scasta, Peter S. Coates
Climate, hydrology, and nutrients control the seasonality of Si concentrations in rivers Climate, hydrology, and nutrients control the seasonality of Si concentrations in rivers
The seasonal behavior of fluvial dissolved silica (DSi) concentrations, termed DSi regime, mediates the timing of DSi delivery to downstream waters and thus governs river biogeochemical function and aquatic community condition. Previous work identified five distinct DSi regimes across rivers spanning the Northern Hemisphere, with many rivers exhibiting multiple DSi regimes over time...
Authors
Keira Johnson, Kathi Jo Jankowski, Joanna C. Carey, Lienne R. Sethna, Sidney A. Bush, Diane M. McKnight, William H. McDowell, Adam S. Wymore, Pirkko Kortelainen, Jeremy B. Jones, Nicholas Lyon, Hjalmar Laudon, Amanda Poste, Pamela L. Sullivan
Nitrogen fixation and fertilization have similar effects on biomass allocation in nitrogen-fixing plants Nitrogen fixation and fertilization have similar effects on biomass allocation in nitrogen-fixing plants
Plants adjust their allocation to different organs based on nutrient supply. In some plant species, symbioses with nitrogen-fixing bacteria that live in root nodules provide an alternate pathway for nitrogen acquisition. Does access to nitrogen-fixing bacteria modify plants' biomass allocation? We hypothesized that access to nitrogen-fixing bacteria would have the same effect on...
Authors
DNL Menge, A. P. Wolfe, J. Funk, Steven S. Perakis, K.A. Carreras Pereira
Quantifying the importance of ontogeny and prey type in modeling top-down and bottom-up effects of an ectothermic predator Quantifying the importance of ontogeny and prey type in modeling top-down and bottom-up effects of an ectothermic predator
Dietary decisions by predators can affect prey abundance and overall food web dynamics. Many predators do not forage on the same prey at the same frequency throughout their lives. Ontogenetic shifts in prey preference are not, however, often accounted for when modeling food web relationships, despite growing literature that suggests that stage specific dietary relationships may be an...
Authors
Melia Gail Nafus, Levi Gray