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: 43023
Accuracy of nest fate classification and predator identification from evidence at nests of least terns and piping plovers Accuracy of nest fate classification and predator identification from evidence at nests of least terns and piping plovers
For federally listed species such as Least Tern Sternula antillarum and Piping Plover Charadrius melodus, correct determination of nest fates and causes of nest failure is crucial for understanding population dynamics and improving monitoring programmes. We used video cameras to evaluate nest fate misclassification rate and to identify factors that may cause researchers monitoring nests...
Authors
Alicia K. Andes, Terry L. Shaffer, Mark H. Sherfy, Chantel M. Hofer, Colin M. Dovichin, Susan N. Ellis-Felege
Mapping Phragmites australis live fractional cover in the lower Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana Mapping Phragmites australis live fractional cover in the lower Mississippi River Delta, Louisiana
In response to a co-occurring non-native scale infestation and Phragmites australis dieback in southeast Louisiana, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) satellite mapping was implemented to track P. australis condition in the lower Mississippi River Delta. While the NDVI mapping successfully documented relative condition changes, identification of cause required a quantitative...
Authors
Amina Rangoonwala, Rebecca J. Howard, Elijah W. Ramsey III
Juvenile Coho and Chinook salmon growth, size, and condition linked to watershed-scale salmon spawner abundance Juvenile Coho and Chinook salmon growth, size, and condition linked to watershed-scale salmon spawner abundance
Anadromous Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. are semelparous, and resource subsidies from spawning adult salmon (marine-derived nutrients [MDN]) benefit juvenile salmonids while they rear in freshwater. However, it is unclear if juvenile salmon populations respond predictably to the abundance of spawning salmon at the watershed scale. To address whether hypothesized benefits to rearing...
Authors
Philip J. Joy, Craig A. Stricker, Renae Ivanoff, Shiao Y. Wang, Mark S. Wipfli, Andrew C. Seitz, Jiaqi Huang, Mathew B. Tyers
Management of the brown-headed cowbird: Implications for endangered species and agricultural damage mitigation Management of the brown-headed cowbird: Implications for endangered species and agricultural damage mitigation
The brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater; cowbird) is unique among North American blackbirds (Icteridae) because it is managed to mitigate the negative effects on endangered songbirds and economic losses in agricultural crops. Cowbird brood parasitism can further affect species that are considered threatened or endangered due to anthropogenic land uses. Historically, cowbirds have often...
Authors
Brian D Peer, Barbara E. Kus, Mary J. Whitfield, Linnea S. Hall, Stephen I Rothstein
Semiautomated process for enumeration of fishes from recreational-grade side-scan sonar imagery Semiautomated process for enumeration of fishes from recreational-grade side-scan sonar imagery
The use of hydroacoustic techniques is increasing as scientists search for less invasive ways to monitor fish populations, and using recreational side‐scan sonar (SSS) imagery for monitoring has become more common in aquatic resource management over the last 15 years due in part to its low cost and user‐friendly interface. The time‐consuming nature of manually counting fish targets has...
Authors
Katelyn M Lawson, Josey Lee Ridgway, Andrew T. Mueller, Jacob Faulkner, Robin D. Calfee
Quantifying microplastics in Indiana’s Lake Michigan watershed and submerged aquatic vegetation Quantifying microplastics in Indiana’s Lake Michigan watershed and submerged aquatic vegetation
Environmental breakdown of plastics produces synthetic microfibers, a class of microplastics that are most prevalent in surface waters. A main source of these pollutants is wastewater treatment plants which discharge into surface waters, including those that flow into Lake Michigan. Microplastics can settle into aquatic sediment or exist for lengths of time in the swash zone of the lakes...
Authors
Julie R. Peller, Meredith B. Nevers, Muruleedhara N. Byappanahalli, Mary Anne Evans
Evaluating catchability in a large-scale gillnet survey using hydroacoustics: Making the case for coupled surveys Evaluating catchability in a large-scale gillnet survey using hydroacoustics: Making the case for coupled surveys
Abundance estimates facilitate successful fisheries management. Fisheries agencies often monitor abundance through fishery independent standardized protocols generating relative measures such as catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE), where CPUE is assumed proportional to true abundance. Unfortunately, this assumption is rarely met as fish behavior and environmental conditions influence...
Authors
Mark R. DuFour, Song S. Qian, Christine M Mayer, Christopher Vandergoot
When portfolio theory can help environmental investment planning to reduce climate risk to future environmental outcomes - and when it cannot When portfolio theory can help environmental investment planning to reduce climate risk to future environmental outcomes - and when it cannot
Variability among climate change scenarios produces great uncertainty in what is the best allocation of resources among investments to protect environmental goods in the future. Previous research shows Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) can help optimize environmental investment targeting to reduce outcome risk with minimal loss of expected level of environmental benefits, but no work has yet
Authors
Amy W. Ando, Jennifer M. Fraterrigo, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, Aparna Howlader, Mindy L. Mallory, Jennifer H. Olker, Samuel Stickley
Outside the box: Working with wildlife in biocontainment Outside the box: Working with wildlife in biocontainment
Research with captive wildlife in Animal Biosafety Level 2 (ABSL2) and 3 (ABSL3) facilities is becoming increasingly necessary as emerging and re-emerging diseases involving wildlife have increasing impacts on human, animal, and environmental health. Utilizing wildlife species in a research facility often requires outside the box thinking with specialized knowledge, practices, facilities...
Authors
Elizabeth Falendysz, Dana Marie Calhoun, Carrie Alison Smith, Jonathan M. Sleeman
Asian carp population modeling to support an adaptive management framework Asian carp population modeling to support an adaptive management framework
This Monitoring and Response Plan provides the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) with updates on FWS and USGS modeling efforts for the Spatially Explicit Asian carp Population (SEAcarP) model. For FY2020, efforts are underway to parameterize and analyze the SEAcarP model. Themes: invasive species; Asian carp; Great Lakes.
Authors
Jahn L. Kallis, Richard A. Erickson, Mark W. Fritts
Council monitoring and assessment program (CMAP) compilation of existing habitat and water quality monitoring and mapping assessments for the Gulf of Mexico Region Council monitoring and assessment program (CMAP) compilation of existing habitat and water quality monitoring and mapping assessments for the Gulf of Mexico Region
This report is a deliverable to the RESTORE Council for Task 7: Document the existing baseline habitat and water quality conditions prior to implementation of the restoration projects; these baseline conditions will serve as a basis for measuring change/progress after restoration. It is the second in a series of CMAP reports. The first report describes the process and development of the...
Authors
Julie Bosch, Heidi Burkart, Bogdan Chivoiu, Randy Clark, Chris Clement, Nicholas Enwright, Steve Giordano, Chris Jeffrey, Ed Johnson, Rheannon M. Hart, Sarah Davidson Hile, Jacob Howell, Claudia Laurenzano, Michael T. Lee, Terrence A. McCloskey, Terry McTigue, Michelle B. Meyers, Scott V. Mize, Mark E. Monaco, Kevin Owen, Richard A. Rebich, Samuel H. Rendon, Ali Robertson, Thomas Sample, Gregory D. Steyer, Kevin J. Suir, Christopher M. Swarzenski, Katie Watson
Monitoring boreal avian populations: How can we estimate trends and trajectories from noisy data? Monitoring boreal avian populations: How can we estimate trends and trajectories from noisy data?
Substantial effort has been dedicated to developing reliable monitoring schemes for North American bird populations, but our ability to monitor bird populations in the boreal forest remains limited because of the sparsity of long-term data sets, particularly in northerly regions. Given the importance of the boreal forest for many migratory birds, we set out to (1) summarize the main...
Authors
Christian Roy, Nicole L Michel, Colleen M. Handel, Steven Van Wilgenburg, Curtis Burkhalter, Kirsty A B Gurney, David Messmer, Karine Prince, Clark S Rushing, James E Saracco, Richard Schuster, Adam C. Smith, Paul A Smith, Peter Solymos, Lisa A Venier, Benjamin Zuckerberg