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: 42702
Chronic wasting disease—Research by the U.S. Geological Survey and partners Chronic wasting disease—Research by the U.S. Geological Survey and partners
Introduction Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is the only transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, a class of invariably fatal neurodegenerative mammalian diseases associated with a misfolded cellular prion protein found in wild free-ranging animals. Because it has a long incubation period, affected animals in Cervidae (the deer family; referred to as “cervids”) may not show signs of...
Authors
M. Camille Hopkins, Christina M. Carlson, Paul C. Cross, Christopher J. Johnson, Bryan J. Richards, Robin E. Russell, Michael D. Samuel, Glen A. Sargeant, Daniel P. Walsh, W. David Walter
Phenotypic plasticity or a reproductive dead end? Primnoa pacifica (Cnidaria: Alcyonacea) in the southeastern Alaska region Phenotypic plasticity or a reproductive dead end? Primnoa pacifica (Cnidaria: Alcyonacea) in the southeastern Alaska region
Red tree corals (Primnoa pacifica) are abundant in the eastern Gulf of Alaska, from the glacial fjords of Southeast Alaska where they emerge to as shallow as 6 m, to the continental shelf edge and seamounts where they are more commonly found at depths greater than 150 – 500 m. This keystone species forms large thickets, creating habitat for many associated species, including economically...
Authors
Rhian G. Waller, Robert P. Stone, Lauren Rice, Julia Johnstone, Ashley M. Rossin, Elise Hartill, Keri Feehan, Cheryl Morrison
Inoculation and habitat amelioration efforts in biological soil crust recovery vary by desert and soil texture Inoculation and habitat amelioration efforts in biological soil crust recovery vary by desert and soil texture
As dryland degradation continues, it is increasingly important to understand how to effectively restore biocrust communities. Potential techniques include the addition of biocrust inoculum to accelerate biocrust recovery. Enhanced erosion typical of degraded environments creates a challenge for these approaches, due to loss by wind or water and burial by saltating particles. To retain...
Authors
Akasha M. Faist, Anita J. Antoninka, Jayne Belnap, Matthew A. Bowker, Michael C. Duniway, Ferran Garcia-Pichel, Corey Nelson, Sasha C. Reed, Ana Giraldo Silva, Sergio Velasco-Ayuso, Nichole N. Barger
Could a freshwater fish be at the root of dystrophic crises in a coastal lagoon? Could a freshwater fish be at the root of dystrophic crises in a coastal lagoon?
Eutrophication has a profound impact on ecosystems worldwide. Grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella, an herbivorous fish, has been introduced to control aquatic plant overgrowth caused by eutrophication, but could have other, potentially detrimental, effects. We used the Po di Volano basin (south of the Po River delta, northern Italy) as a test case to explore whether grass carp effects on...
Authors
Marco Milardi, Elisa Soana, Duane Chapman, Elisa Anna Fano, Giuseppe Castaldelli
Multiple conceptualizations of nature are key to inclusivity and legitimacy in global environmental governance Multiple conceptualizations of nature are key to inclusivity and legitimacy in global environmental governance
Despite increasing scientific understanding of the global environmental crisis, we struggle to adopt the policies and practices science suggests we should. One of the reasons for this is the general absence of inclusive engagement and dialogue among a wide range of actors with distinct interactions with nature. Furthermore, there is little consideration of the role of language in...
Authors
Luca Coscieme, Hakon da Silva Hyldmo, Alvaro Fernandez-Llamazares, Ignacio Palomo, Tuyeni H. Mwampamba, Odirilwe Selomane, Nadia Sitas, Pedro Jaureguiberry, Yasuo Takahashi, Michelle Lim, Maria P. Barral, Juliana S. Farinaci, Julio Diaz-Jose, Sonali Ghosh, Joyce Ojino, Amani Alassaf, Bernard N. Baatuuwie, Lenke Balint, Zeenatul Basher, Fanny Boeraeve, Sugeng Budiharta, R. Chen, Maylis Desrousseaux, Gregory Dowo, Catherine M. Febria, Houda Ghazi, Zuzanna V. Harmackova, R. Jaffe, Mphatso M. Kalemba, Cosmas K. Lambini, Felicia P.S. Lasmana, Assem A. A. Mohammed, Aidin Niamir, Patricio Pliscoff, Rahat Sabyrbekov, Anna A. Sidorovich, Uttam B. Shrestha, Laura Thompson, Mireia Valle
Using integrated population models for insights into monitoring programs: An application using pink-footed geese Using integrated population models for insights into monitoring programs: An application using pink-footed geese
Development of integrated population models (IPMs) assume the absence of systematic bias in monitoring programs, yet many potential sources of systematic bias in monitoring data exist (e.g., under-counts of abundance). By integrating multiple sources of data, we can assess whether various sources of monitoring data provide consistent inferences about changes in population size and, thus...
Authors
Fred Johnson, Guthrie S. Zimmerman, Gitte H. Jensen, Kevin K. Clausen, Morten Frederiksen, Jesper Madsen
Migratory divides coincide with reproductive barriers across replicated avian hybrid zones above the Tibetan Plateau Migratory divides coincide with reproductive barriers across replicated avian hybrid zones above the Tibetan Plateau
Migratory divides are proposed to be catalysts for speciation across a diversity of taxa. However, it is difficult to test the relative contributions of migratory behaviour vs. other divergent traits to reproductive isolation. Comparing hybrid zones with and without migratory divides offers a rare opportunity to directly examine the contribution of divergent migratory behaviour to...
Authors
Elizabeth Scordato, Christian A. Smith, Georgy A. Semenov, Liu Yu, Matthew R. Wilkins, Wei Liang, Alexander Rubtsov, Gombobaataar Sundev, Kazuo Koyama, Sheela P. Turbek, Michael B. Wunder, Craig A. Stricker, Rebecca Safran
Using morphological measurements to predict subspecies of Midcontinent sandhill cranes Using morphological measurements to predict subspecies of Midcontinent sandhill cranes
The Midcontinent population of sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) has historically been classified into 3 putative subspecies, but genetic analyses have identified only 2 genetically distinct subspecies. Previous studies have successfully used morphometrics in combination with an individual's sex to differentiate subspecies of sandhill cranes that had been inferred based on breeding...
Authors
Jay A VonBank, David A. Brandt, Aaron T. Pearse, David B. Wester, Bart M Ballard
Estimating population size with imperfect detection using a parametric bootstrap Estimating population size with imperfect detection using a parametric bootstrap
We develop a novel method of estimating population size from imperfectly detected counts of individuals and a separate estimate of detection probability. Observed counts are separated into classes within which detection probability is assumed constant. Within a detection class, counts are modeled as a single binomial observation X with success probability p where the goal is to estimate...
Authors
Lisa Madsen, Daniel Dalthorp, Manuela Huso, Andy Aderman
Gaps and hotspots in the state of knowledge of pinyon-juniper communities Gaps and hotspots in the state of knowledge of pinyon-juniper communities
Pinyon-juniper (PJ) plant communities cover a large area across North America and provide critical habitat for wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystem functions, and rich cultural resources. These communities occur across a variety of environmental gradients, disturbance regimes, structural conditions and species compositions, including three species of juniper and two species of pinyon. PJ
Authors
Jessica A. Hartsell, Stella M. Copeland, Seth M. Munson, Bradley J. Butterfield, John B. Bradford
Population ecology of Roosevelt elk: Conservation and management in Redwood National and State Parks. Butch Weckerly. 2017. University of Nevada Press, Reno, Nevada, USA. 224 pp. $54.95 hardback. ISBN 978- 1943859504. Population ecology of Roosevelt elk: Conservation and management in Redwood National and State Parks. Butch Weckerly. 2017. University of Nevada Press, Reno, Nevada, USA. 224 pp. $54.95 hardback. ISBN 978- 1943859504.
Long-term research on large ungulate populations typically conjures perceptions of extensive (and expensive) animal capture and telemetry work, and subsequent advanced modeling of resource selection and population dynamics that inform management decisions. In contrast, studies lacking a telemetry component are often limited to animal behavior or natural history. Although compelling from...
Authors
Mark A. Ricca
Post-fire aspen (Populus tremuloides) regeneration varies in response to winter precipitation across a regional climate gradient Post-fire aspen (Populus tremuloides) regeneration varies in response to winter precipitation across a regional climate gradient
Altered climate and changing fire regimes are synergistically impacting forest communities globally, resulting in deviations from historical norms and creation of novel successional dynamics. These changes are particularly important when considering the stability of a keystone species such as quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.), which contributes critical ecosystem services across...
Authors
Susan McIlroy, Douglas J. Shinneman