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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: 43029

Understanding ecosystem services adoption by natural resource managers and research ecologists Understanding ecosystem services adoption by natural resource managers and research ecologists

The ecosystem services (ES) paradigm has gained much traction as a natural resource management approach due to its comprehensive nature and ability to provide quantitative tools to improve decision-making. However, it is still uncertain whether and how practitioners have adopted the ES paradigm into their work and how this aligns with resource management information needs. To address...
Authors
Daniel Engel, Mary Anne Evans, Bobbi S. Low, Jeff Schaeffer

Genetic responses to rapid change in the environment during the anthropocene Genetic responses to rapid change in the environment during the anthropocene

Humans have greatly affected the genetic composition of many different organisms during the Anthropocene. Humans cause genetic changes by affecting the direction and magnitude of evolutionary forces that act to create the Earth's biota. In many cases, we expect the outcome of human actions to be extinction and hybridization of existing species, but other outcomes, such as adaptation...
Authors
David A. Tallmon, Ryan Kovach

Behavioral responses of Pacific lamprey to alarm cues Behavioral responses of Pacific lamprey to alarm cues

Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus), an anadromous ectoparasite, faces several challenges during adult migration to spawning grounds. Developing methods to address these challenges is critical to the success of ongoing conservation efforts. The challenges are diverse, and include anthropogenic alterations to the ecosystem resulting in loss of habitat, impassable barriers such as...
Authors
Laurie L. Porter, Michael C. Hayes, Aaron D. Jackson, Brian J. Burke, Mary L. Moser, R. Steven Wagner

Global synthesis of the documented and projected effects of climate change on inland fishes Global synthesis of the documented and projected effects of climate change on inland fishes

Although climate change is an important factor affecting inland fishes globally, a comprehensive review of how climate change has impacted and will continue to impact inland fishes worldwide does not currently exist. We conducted an extensive, systematic primary literature review to identify English-language, peer-reviewed journal publications with projected and documented examples of...
Authors
Bonnie Myers, Abigail Lynch, David B. Bunnell, Cindy Chu, Jeffrey A. Falke, Ryan Kovach, Trevor J. Krabbenhoft, Thomas J. Kwak, Craig P. Paukert

Seasonal movements of the Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) in western North America as revealed by satellite telemetry Seasonal movements of the Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) in western North America as revealed by satellite telemetry

The Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) is a widespread raptor whose abundance and distribution fluctuates in response to the varying amplitudes of its prey, which are predominately microtines. Previous efforts to describe the seasonal movements of Short-eared Owls have been hindered by few band recoveries and the species' cryptic and irruptive behavior. We attached satellite transmitters to...
Authors
James A. Johnson, Travis L. Booms, Lucas H. DeCicco, David C. Douglas

Quantile regression of microgeographic variation in population characteristics of an invasive vertebrate predator Quantile regression of microgeographic variation in population characteristics of an invasive vertebrate predator

Localized ecological conditions have the potential to induce variation in population characteristics such as size distributions and body conditions. The ability to generalize the influence of ecological characteristics on such population traits may be particularly meaningful when those traits influence prospects for successful management interventions. To characterize variability in...
Authors
Shane R. Siers, Julie A. Savidge, Robert Reed

Envisioning, quantifying, and managing thermal regimes on river networks Envisioning, quantifying, and managing thermal regimes on river networks

Water temperatures fluctuate in time and space, creating diverse thermal regimes on river networks. Temporal variability in these thermal landscapes has important biological and ecological consequences because of nonlinearities in physiological reactions; spatial diversity in thermal landscapes provides aquatic organisms with options to maximize growth and survival. However, human...
Authors
E. Ashley Steel, Timothy J. Beechie, Christian E. Torgersen, Aimee H. Fullerton

Uncertainties in forecasting the response of polar bears to global climate change Uncertainties in forecasting the response of polar bears to global climate change

Several sources of uncertainty affect how precisely the future status of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) can be forecasted. Foremost are unknowns about the future levels of global greenhouse gas emissions, which could range from an unabated increase to an aggressively mitigated reduction. Uncertainties also arise because different climate models project different amounts and rates of...
Authors
David C. Douglas, Todd C. Atwood

Is motivation important to brook trout passage through culverts? Is motivation important to brook trout passage through culverts?

Culverts can restrict movement of stream-dwelling fish. Motivation to enter and ascend these structures is an essential precursor for successful passage. However, motivation is challenging to quantify. Here, we use attempt rate to assess motivation of 447 brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) entering three culverts under a range of hydraulic, environmental, and biological conditions. A...
Authors
Elsa Goerig, Theodore R. Castro-Santos

A new mechanistic approach for the further development of a population with established size bimodality A new mechanistic approach for the further development of a population with established size bimodality

Usually, the origin of a within-cohort bimodal size distribution is assumed to be caused by initial size differences or by one discrete period of accelerated growth for one part of the population. The aim of this study was to determine if more continuous pathways exist allowing shifts from the small to the large fraction within a bimodal age-cohort. Therefore, a Eurasian perch population...
Authors
Lisa Heerman, Donald L. DeAngelis, Jost Borcherding

Ecological change drives a decline in mercury concentrations in southern Beaufort Sea polar bears Ecological change drives a decline in mercury concentrations in southern Beaufort Sea polar bears

We evaluated total mercury (THg) concentrations and trends in polar bears from the southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation from 2004 to 2011. Hair THg concentrations ranged widely among individuals from 0.6 to 13.3 μg g–1 dry weight (mean: 3.5 ± 0.2 μg g–1). Concentrations differed among sex and age classes: solitary adult females ≈ adult females with cubs ≈ subadults > adult males ≈...
Authors
Melissa A. McKinney, Todd C. Atwood, Sara Pedro, Elizabeth L. Peacock

Can wolves help save Japan's mountain forests? Can wolves help save Japan's mountain forests?

Japan’s wolves were extinct by 1905. Today Japan's mountain forests are being killed by overabundant sika deer and wild boars. Since the early 1990s, the Japan Wolf Association has proposed wolf reintroduction to Japan to restore rural ecology and to return a culturally important animal. In this article I discuss whether the return of wolves could help save Japan's mountain forests.
Authors
Shannon Barber-Meyer
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