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
Capture of environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples by flocculation Capture of environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples by flocculation
The analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) has become a widely used approach to problem solving in species management. The detection of cryptic species including invasive and (or) species at risk is the goal, typically accomplished by testing water and sediment for the presence of characteristic DNA signatures. Reliable and efficient procedures for the capture of eDNA are required...
Authors
W. Bane Schill
Pervasive shifts in forest dynamics in a changing world Pervasive shifts in forest dynamics in a changing world
Forest dynamics arise from the interplay of environmental drivers and disturbances with the demographic processes of recruitment, growth, and mortality, subsequently driving biomass and species composition. However, forest disturbances and subsequent recovery are shifting with global changes in climate and land use, altering these dynamics. Changes in environmental drivers, land use, and
Authors
Nate G. McDowell, Craig D. Allen, Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira, Brian H. Aukema, Ben Bond-Lamberty, Louise Chini, James S. Clark, Michael Dietze, Charlotte Grossiord, Adam Hanbury-Brown, George C. Hurtt, Robert B. Jackson, Daniel J. Johnson, Lara Kueppers, Jeremy W. Lichstein, Kiona Ogle, Benjamin Poulter, Thomas A. M. Pugh, Rupert Seidl, Monica G. Turner, Maria Uriarte, Anthony P. Walker, Chonggang Xu
Extreme arsenic and antimony uptake and tolerance in toad tadpoles during development in highly contaminated wetlands Extreme arsenic and antimony uptake and tolerance in toad tadpoles during development in highly contaminated wetlands
The effects of extreme concentrations of toxic metalloids, such as arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb), on larval amphibians are not well-understood. We sampled Western Toad tadpoles (Anaxyrus boreas) living in As- and Sb-contaminated wetlands throughout their development. Although the tadpoles completed metamorphosis, they accumulated among the highest concentrations of As and Sb ever...
Authors
Meghan A. Dovick, Thomas R Kulp, Robert S. Arkle, David S. Pilliod
Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) 20th anniversary postcard Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) 20th anniversary postcard
The Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) was established within the U.S. Geological Survey in 2000 as a result of Congressional funding for Department of the Interior agencies to study amphibians and provide information to help manage amphibians and address threats. As the research arm of the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Geological Survey is providing scientific...
Authors
Lianne C. Ball
Scaling responses of leaf nutrient stoichiometry to the lakeshore flooding duration gradient across different organizational levels Scaling responses of leaf nutrient stoichiometry to the lakeshore flooding duration gradient across different organizational levels
Most wetlands have been subject to changes in flooding regimes by climate change and human activities, resulting in widespread alteration of wetland plants at different organizational levels. However, scaling the responses of wetland plants to changes in flooding regimes is still challenging, because flooding could indirectly affect wetland plants through affecting environment factors (e...
Authors
Yasong Chen, Camille Stagg, Yongjiu Cai, Xiaotao Lü, Xiaolong Wang, Ruichang Shen, Zhichun Lan
Rethinking foundation species in a changing world: The case for Rhododendron maximum as an emerging foundation species in shifting ecosystems of the southern Appalachians Rethinking foundation species in a changing world: The case for Rhododendron maximum as an emerging foundation species in shifting ecosystems of the southern Appalachians
“Foundation species” are widespread, abundant species that play critical roles in structuring ecosystem characteristics and processes. Ecosystem change in response to human activities, climate change, disease introduction, or other environmental conditions may promote the emergence of new foundation species or the decline of previously important foundation species. We present...
Authors
Maura P. Dudley, Mary Freeman, Seth J. Wenger, C. Rhett Jackson, Catherine M. Pringle
Behavior and movement of adult winter steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the upper Cowlitz River Basin, Washington, 2017–18 Behavior and movement of adult winter steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the upper Cowlitz River Basin, Washington, 2017–18
Executive Summary A 2-year radiotelemetry study was completed to monitor the movements of adult winter steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the upper Cowlitz River Basin. A reintroduction program was established to restore healthy and harvestable populations of steelhead because volitional access to the area was blocked in the 1960s after construction of dams in the lower river. A trap-and...
Authors
Theresa L. Liedtke, Tobias J. Kock, Amy C. Hansen, Brian K. Ekstrom, Ryan G. Tomka
Evaluation of the analytical methods used to determine the elemental concentrations found in the stream geochemical dataset compiled for Alaska Evaluation of the analytical methods used to determine the elemental concentrations found in the stream geochemical dataset compiled for Alaska
A recent U.S. Geological Survey data compilation of stream-sediment geochemistry for Alaska contains decades of analyses collected under numerous Federal and State programs. The compiled data were determined by various analytical methods. Some samples were reanalyzed by a different analytical method than the original, resulting in some elements having concentrations reported by multiple...
Authors
Bronwen Wang, Karl J. Ellefsen, Matthew Granitto, Karen D. Kelley, Susan M. Karl, George N.D. Case, Douglas C. Kreiner, Courtney L. Amundson
A tropical cyclone-induced ecological regime shift: Mangrove forest conversion to mudflat in Everglades National Park (Florida, USA) A tropical cyclone-induced ecological regime shift: Mangrove forest conversion to mudflat in Everglades National Park (Florida, USA)
The ecological effects of tropical cyclones on mangrove forests are diverse and highly location- and cyclone-dependent. Ecological resistance, resilience, and enhancement are terms that describe most mangrove forest responses to tropical cyclones. However, in the most extreme cases, tropical cyclones can trigger abrupt and irreversible ecological transformations (i.e., ecological regime...
Authors
Michael Osland, Laura Feher, Gordon Anderson, William Vervaeke, Ken Krauss, Kevin R.T. Whelan, Karen S. Balentine, G. Tiling-Range, Thomas J. Smith, Donald R. Cahoon
Surface soil temperature seasonal variation estimation in a forested area using combined satellite observations and in-situ measurements Surface soil temperature seasonal variation estimation in a forested area using combined satellite observations and in-situ measurements
Surface soil temperature is the soil temperature from the surface to 10 cm in depth. Surface soil temperature plays a significant role in agricultural drought monitoring, ecosystem energy transfer modeling, and global carbon cycle evaluation. Studies have been proposed to estimate surface soil temperature, but surface soil temperature monitoring within forested areas still poses a...
Authors
Chenyang Xu, John J. Qu, Xianjun Hao, Zhiliang Zhu, Laurel Gutenberg
Valuing tourism to a historic World War II national memorial Valuing tourism to a historic World War II national memorial
This study contributes to the existing literature on valuing visitation to an important cultural heritage site. Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii remembers and honors those that served the United States in the Pacific battles of World War II. Although historic and cultural monuments and memorials comprise a substantial portion of the U.S. National Park System, there is little...
Authors
Wilson Sinclair, Christopher Huber, Leslie Richardson
Protecting the wildland-urban interface in California: Greenbelts vs thinning for wildfire threats to homes Protecting the wildland-urban interface in California: Greenbelts vs thinning for wildfire threats to homes
This study utilized native chaparral and sage scrub shrubs to evaluate the impact of light summer irrigation on live fuel moisture content (LFMC) and predicted fire behavior. As to be expected LFMC varied markedly throughout the year being over 100% in winter in all species and treatments but differed markedly by treatment in the summer and fall. For most species lightly irrigated plants...
Authors
Jon Keeley, Greg Rubin, Teresa J. Brennan, Bernadette Piffard