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: 42884
Final report: Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) and Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis) surveys and habitat availability modeling on the Santa Clara River, California, 26 March 2020 Final report: Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) and Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis) surveys and habitat availability modeling on the Santa Clara River, California, 26 March 2020
Our project aimed to conduct population surveys for Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax trailii extimus; SWFL) and Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus; YBCU) in 2018 and 2019, apply existing habitat models to illustrate and predict past, current, and future habitat suitabilities for these two species, and update and standardize classification and mapping of riparian...
Authors
Linnea S. Hall, Bruce K. Orr, James Hatten, Adam Lambert, Tom L. Dudley
Multiple mechanisms determine the effect of warming on plant litter decomposition in a dryland Multiple mechanisms determine the effect of warming on plant litter decomposition in a dryland
In drylands, where soil fertility is typically low, plant litter decomposition provides particularly critical carbon and nitrogen inputs into soil. Although climate change is projected to increase the already large global extent of drylands, it is unknown how warmer temperatures will affect core ecosystem processes, such as plant litter decomposition, in these systems. To address this...
Authors
Peter F. Chuckran, Robin H. Reibold, Heather L. Throop, Sasha C. Reed
Transmitter effects on growth and survival of Forster’s tern chicks Transmitter effects on growth and survival of Forster’s tern chicks
Radio‐telemetry is a commonly used scientific technique that allows researchers to collect detailed movement, habitat use, and survival data of animals; however, evidence indicates that using telemetry can affect behavior and survival. Using multiple breeding colonies and years, we investigated the effects of attached radio‐transmitters on growth and survival of Forster's tern (Sterna...
Authors
Mark P. Herzog, Joshua T. Ackerman, C. Alex Hartman, Sarah H. Peterson
Climate-induced expansions of invasive species in the Pacific Northwest, North America: A synthesis of observations and projections Climate-induced expansions of invasive species in the Pacific Northwest, North America: A synthesis of observations and projections
Climate change may facilitate the expansion of non-native invasive species (NIS) in aquatic and terrestrial systems. However, empirical evidence remains scarce and poorly synthesized at scales necessary for effective management. We conducted a literature synthesis to assess the state of research on the observed and predicted effects of climate change on a suite of 398 aquatic and...
Authors
Jennifer Gervais, Ryan P. Kovach, Adam J. Sepulveda, Robert K. Al-Chokhachy, J. Joseph Giersch, Clint C. Muhlfeld
Movement-assisted localization from acoustic telemetry data Movement-assisted localization from acoustic telemetry data
Acoustic telemetry technologies are being increasingly deployed to study a variety of aquatic taxa including fishes, reptiles, and marine mammals. Large cooperative telemetry networks produce vast quantities of data useful in the study of movement, resource selection and species distribution. Efficient use of acoustic telemetry data requires estimation of acoustic source locations from...
Authors
Nathan J. Hostetter, J. Andrew Royle
High-throughput sequencing reveals distinct regional genetic structure among remaining populations of an endangered salt marsh plant in California High-throughput sequencing reveals distinct regional genetic structure among remaining populations of an endangered salt marsh plant in California
Conservation of rare species requires careful consideration to both preserve locally adapted traits and maintain genetic diversity, as species’ ranges fluctuate in response to a changing climate and habitat loss. Salt marsh systems in California have been highly modified and many salt marsh obligate species have undergone range reductions and habitat loss with concomitant losses of...
Authors
Elizabeth R. Milano, Margaret R Mulligan, Jon P. Rebman, Amy G. Vandergast
Scientific contributions of the Mangrove Macrobenthos and Management (MMM) conference series, 2000-2019 Scientific contributions of the Mangrove Macrobenthos and Management (MMM) conference series, 2000-2019
The conservation of mangrove forests has become an important international policy priority in recent decades, and is mirrored by a large increase in research interest. Multiple disciplines now use mangroves as a study system, from molecular biology to social science. The variety of research conducted in mangroves is exemplified by the Mangrove Macrobenthos & Management (MMM) conference...
Authors
Daniel A. Friess, Farid Dahdouh-Guebas, Behara Satyanarayana, Stefano Cannicci, Marco Vannini, Siew Chin Chua, Norman Duke, Ilka C. Feller, Zeehan Jaafer, L.P. Jayatissa, Nico Koedam, Ken Krauss, Shing Yip Lee, Jose Ernesto Mancera Pineda, Renison Ruwa, Erik S. Yando
Channel narrowing by inset floodplain formation of the lower Green River in the Canyonlands region, Utah Channel narrowing by inset floodplain formation of the lower Green River in the Canyonlands region, Utah
The lower Green River episodically narrowed between the mid-1930s and present day through deposition of new floodplains within a wider channel that had been established and/or maintained during the early twentieth century pluvial period. Comparison of air photos spanning a 74-yr period (1940−2014) and covering a 61 km study area shows that the channel narrowed by 12% from 138 ± 3.4 m to...
Authors
Alexander E. Walker, Johnnie N. Moore, Paul E. Grams, David J. Dean, John C. Schmidt
Framework for a long-term strategic plan for the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission Framework for a long-term strategic plan for the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission
The Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission oversees the use of groundwater in six parishes in Louisiana. In carrying out its statutory responsibilities and authorities, the Commission recognizes the complexity of its decisions: the long-term objectives it is seeking are multifaceted; the actions it can choose from are numerous and interdependent; and the understanding of the
Authors
Michael C. Runge, Ellen A Bean, Adrian McInnis, Ryan Clark, Alyssa Dausman
Intraspecific and biogeographical variation in foliar fungal communities and pathogen damage of native and invasive Phragmites australis Intraspecific and biogeographical variation in foliar fungal communities and pathogen damage of native and invasive Phragmites australis
Aim Recent research has highlighted that the relationship between species interactions and latitude can differ between native and invasive plant taxa, generating biogeographical heterogeneity in community resistance to plant invasions. In the first study with foliar pathogens, we tested whether co‐occurring native and invasive lineages of common reed (Phragmites australis ) exhibit non...
Authors
Warwick J. Allen, Aaron Devries, Nicholas J. Bologna, Wesley A. Bickford, Kurt P. Kowalski, Laura A. Meyerson, James T. Cronin
Hurricane sedimentation in a subtropical salt marsh-mangrove community is unaffected by vegetation type Hurricane sedimentation in a subtropical salt marsh-mangrove community is unaffected by vegetation type
Hurricanes periodically deliver sediment to coastal wetlands, such as those in the Mississippi River Delta Complex (MRDC), slowing elevation loss and improving resilience to sea-level rise. However, the amount of hurricane sediment deposited and retained in a wetland may vary depending on the dominant vegetation. In the subtropical climate of the MRDC, the black mangrove (Avicennia...
Authors
Karen L. McKee, Irving A. Mendelssohn, Mark W. Hester
Assessment of microscopic pathology in fishes collected at sites impacted by wood tar in Pennsylvania Assessment of microscopic pathology in fishes collected at sites impacted by wood tar in Pennsylvania
In an effort to determine whether fish populations in an area affected by wood tar waste exhibited health effects, fish were collected and analyzed with histopathology. Multiple species, including Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdii), Creek Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus), White Sucker (Catostumus commersonii), Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus), Common Shiner (Luxilus cornutus), and...
Authors
Heather L. Walsh, Vicki S. Blazer, Patricia M. Mazik, Adam J. Sperry, Diana Pavlick