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: 42874
Modeling the impacts of Glen Canyon Dam operations on Colorado River resources Modeling the impacts of Glen Canyon Dam operations on Colorado River resources
At the time of this report, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is writing two supplemental Environmental Impact Statements (sEIS ) and a new Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will analyze the effects of changing water flow out of Glen Canyon Dam (GCD) (U.S. Department of Interior, 2024). These actions have the potential to affect downstream resources, including threatened...
Authors
Charles B. Yackulic, Lucas Bair, Drew Elliot Eppehimer, Gerard Lewis Salter, Bridget R. Deemer, Bradley J. Butterfield, Alan Kasprak, Joshua Caster, Helen C. Fairley, Paul E. Grams, Bryce Anthony Mihalevich, Emily C. Palmquist, Joel B. Sankey
Seasonal mortality of Wild Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) is caused by a virulent clone of Vibrio (Listonella) anguillarum; Implications for biosecurity along the Atlantic Coastal United States Seasonal mortality of Wild Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) is caused by a virulent clone of Vibrio (Listonella) anguillarum; Implications for biosecurity along the Atlantic Coastal United States
Atlantic menhaden are a highly migratory marine species in the Eastern United States that suffer from seasonal chronic mortality. Affected fish show neurologic signs referred to as spinning disease, including circling at the surface and erratic corkscrew swimming before death. We investigated three similar menhaden mortality events consistent with spinning disease in coastal New Jersey...
Authors
Jan Lovy, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Timothy J. Welch, Bassem Allem, Rodman G. Getchell, Sabrina Geraci-Yee, Christine L Goodale, Jeremy Snyder, Clayton D. Raines, Nilanjana Das
Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) case definition for wildlife Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) case definition for wildlife
Diagnostic laboratories receive carcasses and samples for diagnostic evaluation and pathogen/toxin detection. Case definitions bring clarity and consistency to the evaluation process. Their use within and between organizations allows more uniform reporting of diseases and etiologic agents. The intent of a case definition is to provide scientifically based criteria for determining (a) if...
Authors
Aine C. Hawthorn, Michelle Dennis, Yasu Kiryu, Jan Landsberg, Ester Peters, Thierry M. Work
Ungulate migrations of the Western United States, volume 4 Ungulate migrations of the Western United States, volume 4
Broadly distributed across the Western United States, ungulates (hooved mammals) play an important role in ecosystem function by affecting vegetation communities and forming the prey base for large carnivores. Additionally, ungulates provide economic benefits to regional communities through tourism and hunting and hold cultural significance for many Tribal communities. Many ungulates...
Authors
Matthew J. Kauffman, Blake Lowrey, Chloe J. Beaupre, Scott Bergen, Stefanie Bergh, Kevin Blecha, Samantha Bundick, Hunter Burkett, James W. Cain, Peyton Carl, David Casady, Corey Class, Alyson Courtemanch, Michelle Cowardin, Jennifer Diamond, Katie M. Dugger, Orrin Duvuvuei, Joanna R. Ennis, Michelle Flenner, Jessica Fort, Gary Fralick, Ian Freeman, Jeff Gagnon, David Garcelon, Kyle Garrison, Emily R. Gelzer, Evan Greenspan, Valerie D. Hinojoza-Rood, Pat Hnilicka, Andy Holland, Brian Hudgens, Bart Kroger, Art Lawson, Cody McKee, Jennifer L. McKee, Jerod Merkle, Tony W. Mong, Haley Nelson, Brendan Oates, Marie-Pier Poulin, Craig Reddell, Robert Ritson, Hall Sawyer, Cody Schroeder, Jessie Shapiro, Scott Sprague, Erik Steiner, Alethea Steingisser, Sam Stephens, Blair Stringham, Patrick Ryan Swazo-Hinds, Nicole Tatman, Cody F. Wallace, Don Whittaker, Benjamin Wise, Heiko U. Wittmer, Erin Wood
Global patterns of allochthony in stream–riparian meta-ecosystems Global patterns of allochthony in stream–riparian meta-ecosystems
Ecosystems that are coupled by reciprocal flows of energy and nutrient subsidies can be viewed as a single “meta-ecosystem.” Despite these connections, the reciprocal flow of subsidies is greatly asymmetrical and seasonally pulsed. Here, we synthesize existing literature on stream–riparian meta-ecosystems to quantify global patterns of the amount of subsidy consumption by organisms...
Authors
Daniel C. Allen, James H. Larson, Christina Amy Murphy, Erica A. Garcia, Kurt E. Anderson, Michelle H. Busch, Alba Argerich, Alice M. Belskis, Kierstyn T. Higgins, Brooke E Penaluna, Veronica Saenz, Jay E. Jones, Matt R. Whiles
Integrating social-ecological outcomes into invasive species management: The Tamarix case Integrating social-ecological outcomes into invasive species management: The Tamarix case
Incorporating societal considerations into decisions related to invasive species management is desirable, but can be challenging because it requires a solid understanding of the ecological functions and socio-cultural and economic benefits and values of the invaded environment before and after invasion. The ecosystem service (ES) concept was designed to facilitate such decision-making by
Authors
Eduardo Gonzalez-Sargas, Patrick B. Shafroth, Francesc Baro
Contribution of host species and pathogen clade to snake fungal disease hotspots in Europe Contribution of host species and pathogen clade to snake fungal disease hotspots in Europe
Infectious diseases are influenced by interactions between host and pathogen, and the number of infected hosts is rarely homogenous across the landscape. Areas with elevated pathogen prevalence can maintain a high force of infection and may indicate areas with disease impacts on host populations. However, isolating the ecological processes that result in increases in infection prevalence...
Authors
Gaelle Blanvillain, Jeffrey M. Lorch, Nicolas Joudrier, Stanislaw Bury, Thibault Cuenot, Michael Franzen, Fernando Martinez-Freiria, Gaetan Guiller, Balint Halpern, Aleksandra Kolanek, Katarzyna Kurek, Olivier Lourdais, Alix Michon, Radka Musilova, Silke Schweiger, Barbara Szulc, Sylvain Ursenbacher, Oleksandr Zinenko, Joseph R. Hoyt
Patterns of marsh surface accretion rates along salinity and hydroperiod gradients between active and inactive coastal deltaic floodplains Patterns of marsh surface accretion rates along salinity and hydroperiod gradients between active and inactive coastal deltaic floodplains
High subsidence rates are inherent to coastal deltas worldwide, contributing to rapid rates of relative sea-level rise and compromising the sustainability of coastal wetlands. Different parts of river deltas, however, experience accretion or erosion, depending on the coupling between ecological and morphological processes. Wetland expansion occurs in active deltaic coastal basins that...
Authors
Andy F. Cassaway, Robert R. Twilley, Andre S. Rovai, Gregg A. Snedden
Breeding population size of the Pink-footed Shearwater Ardenna creatopus on Isla Mocha, Chile Breeding population size of the Pink-footed Shearwater Ardenna creatopus on Isla Mocha, Chile
Species population estimates are a fundamental component of conservation planning, but there are deficiencies in reliable data for many seabirds. The Pink-footed Shearwater Ardenna creatopus is a seabird that breeds on three islands worldwide, with the largest population on Isla Mocha, Chile. We aimed to update the breeding population estimate of Pink-footed Shearwaters on Isla Mocha...
Authors
Ryan D. Carle, Tiare Varela, Valentina Colodro, T.J. Clark-Wolf, Jonathan J. Felis, Peter Hodum, Francisco Javier Astete Castillo, Veronica Lopez
Rainfall reduces the potential for competitive suppression of a globally endangered ungulate by livestock Rainfall reduces the potential for competitive suppression of a globally endangered ungulate by livestock
Protected areas often are too small to house populations of wide-ranging species. Viability of wildlife populations therefore depends on whether interactions with humans and their land uses are negative, neutral, or positive. In central Iran, we measured interactions between globally endangered onagers (Equus hemionus onager) and livestock by analyzing remotely-sensed vegetation metrics...
Authors
Saeideh Esmaeili, Mahmoud-Reza Hemami, Petra Kaczensky, Kathryn A. Schoenecker, Sarah R.B. King, Bahareh Shahriari, Chris Walzer, Jake Goheen
Eutrophication saturates surface elevation change potential in tidal mangrove forests Eutrophication saturates surface elevation change potential in tidal mangrove forests
Coastal mangrove forests are at risk of being submerged due to sea-level rise (SLR). However, mangroves have persisted with changing sea levels due to a variety of biotic and physical feedback mechanisms that allow them to gain and maintain relative soil surface elevation. Therefore, mangrove’s resilience to SLR is dependent upon their ability to build soil elevation at a rate that...
Authors
Jeremy R. Conrad, Ken Krauss, Brian W. Benscoter, Ilka C. Feller, Nicole Cormier, Darren Johnson
Using climate-fire analog mapping to inform climate change adaptation strategies for wildland fire in protected areas of the conterminous US Using climate-fire analog mapping to inform climate change adaptation strategies for wildland fire in protected areas of the conterminous US
Potential changes in wildland fire regimes due to anthropogenic climate change can be projected using data from climate models, but directly applying these meteorological variables to long-term planning and adaptive management activities may be difficult for decision makers. Analog mapping, in contrast, creates more intuitive assessments of changing fire regimes that also recognize the...
Authors
Adam Terando, Peng Gao, John A. Kupfer, Kevin S. Young, J. Kevin Hiers