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: 42994
Drivers and impacts of water level fluctuations in the Mississippi River delta: Implications for delta restoration Drivers and impacts of water level fluctuations in the Mississippi River delta: Implications for delta restoration
This review synthesizes the knowledge regarding the environmental forces affecting water level variability in the coastal waters of the Mississippi River delta and relates these fluctuations to planned river diversions. Water level fluctuations vary significantly across temporal and spatial scales, and are subject to influences from river flow, tides, vegetation, atmospheric forcing...
Authors
Matthew R. Hiatt, Gregg Snedden, John W. Day, Robert V. Rohli, John A. Nyman, Robert R. Lane, Leigh A. Sharp
Efficacy of eDNA as an early detection indicator for Burmese pythons in the ARM Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Efficacy of eDNA as an early detection indicator for Burmese pythons in the ARM Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in the Greater Everglades Ecosystem
Environmental DNA (eDNA) detection of invasive species can be used to delimited occupied ranges and estimate probabilities to inform management decisions. Environmental DNA is shed into the environment through skin cells and bodily fluids and can be detected in water samples collected from lakes, rivers, and swamps. In south Florida, invasive Burmese pythons occupy much of the Greater...
Authors
Margaret Hunter, Gaia Meigs-Friend, Jason Ferrante, Brian Smith, Kristen Hart
Conducting and interpreting fish telemetry studies: Considerations for researchers and resource managers Conducting and interpreting fish telemetry studies: Considerations for researchers and resource managers
Telemetry is an increasingly common tool for studying the ecology of wild fish, with great potential to provide valuable information for management and conservation. For researchers to conduct a robust telemetry study, many essential considerations exist related to selecting the appropriate tag type, fish capture and tagging methods, tracking protocol, data processing and analyses, and
Authors
Jacob W Brownscombe, Elodie Ledee, Graham D. Raby, Daniel P Struthers, Lee F G Gutowsky, Vivian M. Nguyen, Nathan Young, Michael J W Stokesbury, Christopher M. Holbrook, Travis O. Brenden, Christopher Vandergoot, Karen J Murchie, Kim Whoriskey, Joanna Mills-Flemming, Steven T. Kessel, Charles C. Krueger, Steven J. Cooke
Evaluation of a Chicken 600K SNP genotyping array in non-model species of grouse Evaluation of a Chicken 600K SNP genotyping array in non-model species of grouse
The use of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays to generate large SNP datasets for comparison purposes have recently become an attractive alternative to other genotyping methods. Although most SNP arrays were originally developed for domestic organisms, they can be effectively applied to wild relatives to obtain large panels of SNPs. In this study, we tested the cross-species...
Authors
Piotr Minias, Peter O. Dunn, Linda A. Whittingham, Jeff A. Johnson, Sara J. Oyler-McCance
It’s about time: A synthesis of changing phenology in the Gulf of Maine ecosystem It’s about time: A synthesis of changing phenology in the Gulf of Maine ecosystem
The timing of recurring biological and seasonal environmental events is changing on a global scale relative to temperature and other climate drivers. This study considers the Gulf of Maine ecosystem, a region of high social and ecological importance in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean and synthesizes current knowledge of 1) key seasonal processes, patterns, and events; 2) direct evidence for...
Authors
Michelle Staudinger, Katherine E. Mills, Karen Stamieszkin, Nicholas R. Record, Christine A. Hudak, Andrew Allyn, Antony Diamond, Kevin Friedland, Walt Golet, Elisabeth Henderson, Christina M. Hernandez, Thomas G. Huntington, Rubao Ji, Catherine L. Johnson, David Samuel Johnson, Adrian Jordaan, John Kocik, Yun Li, Matthew Liebman, Owen C. Nichols, Daniel Pendleton, R. Anne Richards, Thomas Robben, Andrew C. Thomas, Harvey J. Walsh, Keenan Yakola
Adaptive Management and Monitoring Adaptive Management and Monitoring
This is a chapter in a technical report that is the second of two works describing longer-term actions to implement policies and strategies for preventing and suppressing rangeland fire and restoring rangeland landscapes affected by fire in the Western United States. The first part, Chambers et al 2017, "Science Framework for conservation and restoration of the sagebrush biome: Linking...
Authors
Lief A. Wiechman, David A. Pyke, Michele R. Crist, Seth Munson, Matthew Brooks, Jeanne C. Chambers, Mary M. Rowland, Emily J Kachergis, Zoe Davidson
Temporal and abiotic fluctuations may be preventing successful rehabilitation of soil-stabilizing biocrust communities Temporal and abiotic fluctuations may be preventing successful rehabilitation of soil-stabilizing biocrust communities
Land degradation is a persistent ecological problem in many arid and semi-arid systems globally (drylands hereafter). Most instances of dryland degradation include some form of soil disturbance and/or soil erosion, which can hinder vegetation establishment and reduce ecosystem productivity. To combat soil erosion, researchers have identified a need for rehabilitation of biological soil...
Authors
Kristina E. Young, Matthew A. Bowker, Sasha C. Reed, Michael C. Duniway, Jayne Belnap
Risks of hydroclimatic regime shifts across the western United States Risks of hydroclimatic regime shifts across the western United States
Paleohydrologic reconstructions of water-year streamflow for 105 sites across the western United States (West) were used to compute the likelihood (risk) of regime (wet/dry state) shifts given the length of time in a specific regime and for a specified time in the future. The spatial variability of risks was examined and indicates that regime shift risks are variable across the West. The...
Authors
Subhrendu Gangopadhyay, Gregory J. McCabe, Gregory T. Pederson, Justin T. Martin, Jeremy S. Littell
Seasonal patterns in hydrochemical mixing in three Great Lakes rivermouth ecosystems Seasonal patterns in hydrochemical mixing in three Great Lakes rivermouth ecosystems
Rivermouth ecosystems in the Laurentian Great Lakes represent complex hydrologic mixing zones where lake and river water combine to form biologically productive areas that are functionally similar to marine estuaries. As urban, industrial, shipping, and recreational centers, rivermouths are the focus of human interactions with the Great Lakes and, likewise, may represent critical habitat...
Authors
Martha Carlson-Mazur, Jeff Schaeffer, Jennifer E. Granneman, Natalie Goldstrohm, Faith A. Fitzpatrick, James H. Larson, Paul Reneau, Kurt P. Kowalski, Paul W. Seelbach
Demonstrating the value of Earth observations—methods, practical applications, and solutions—group on Earth observations side event proceedings Demonstrating the value of Earth observations—methods, practical applications, and solutions—group on Earth observations side event proceedings
Executive Summary The U.S. Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the European Association for Remote Sensing Companies, and the European Space Agency in coordination with the GEOValue Community hosted a side event to the Group on Earth Observations Plenary on October 23–24, 2017, in Washington, D.C. The workshop, entitled “Demonstrating the Value of...
Authors
Francoise Pearlman, Collin B. Lawrence, Emily Pindilli, Denna Geppi, Carl D. Shapiro, Monica Grasso, Jay Pearlman, Jeffery Adkins, Geoff Sawyer, Alessandra Tassa
Use of high-throughput screening results to prioritize chemicals for potential adverse biological effects within a West Virginia Watershed Use of high-throughput screening results to prioritize chemicals for potential adverse biological effects within a West Virginia Watershed
Organic chemicals from industrial, agricultural, and residential activities can enter surface waters through regulated and unregulated discharges, combined sewer overflows, stormwater runoff, accidental spills, and leaking septic-conveyance systems on a daily basis. The impact of point and nonpoint contaminant sources can result in adverse biological effects for organisms living in or...
Authors
Levi D. Rose, Denise Akob, Shea Tuberty, Jeff Colby, Derek Martin, Steven Corsi, Laura A. DeCicco
Soil warming effects on tropical forests with highly weathered soils Soil warming effects on tropical forests with highly weathered soils
The tropics are a region encircling the equator, delineated to the north by the Tropic of Cancer (23°26′14.0″N) and to the south by the Tropic of Capricorn (23°26′14.0″S). While we often think of the tropics as consistently warm and wet throughout the year, in reality, the tropics maintain a myriad of climates. Of the 116 Holdridge life zones (a global bioclimatic classification scheme)...
Authors
Tana E. Wood, Molly A. Cavaleri, Christian P. Giardina, Shafkat Khan, Jacqueline Mohan, Andrew T. Nottingham, Sasha C. Reed, Martijn Slot