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: 42871
Could changes in the agricultural landscape of northeastern China have influenced the long-distance transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5Nx viruses? Could changes in the agricultural landscape of northeastern China have influenced the long-distance transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5Nx viruses?
In the last few years, several reassortant subtypes of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAI H5Nx) have emerged in East Asia. These new viruses, mostly of subtype H5N1, H5N2, H5N6, and H5N8 belonging to clade 2.3.4.4, have been found in several Asian countries and have caused outbreaks in poultry in China, South Korea, and Vietnam. HPAI H5Nx also have spread over considerable...
Authors
Marius Gilbert, Diann J. Prosser, Geli Zhang, Jean Artois, Madhur S. Dhingra, Michael J. Tildesley, Scott H. Newman, Fusheng Guo, Peter Black, Filip Claes, Wantanee Kalpradvidh, YeunKyung Shin, Wooseog Jeong, John Y. Takekawa, Hansoo Lee, Xiangming Xiao
Size, growth, and density data for shallow-water sea urchins from Mexico to the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, 1956–2016 Size, growth, and density data for shallow-water sea urchins from Mexico to the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, 1956–2016
Size, growth, and density have been studied for North American Pacific coast sea urchins Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, S. droebachiensis, S. polyacanthus, Mesocentrotus (Strongylocentrotus) franciscanus, Lytechinus pictus, Centrostephanus coronatus, and Arbacia stellata by various workers at diverse sites and for varying lengths of time from 1956 to present. Numerous peer-reviewed...
Authors
Thomas A Ebert, Louis Barr, James L. Bodkin, Dirk Burcham, Dominique Bureau, Henry Carson, Nancy Caruso, Jennifer E. Caselle, Jeremy Claisse, Sabrina Clemente, Kathryn Davis, Paul Detwiler, John Dixon, David Duggins, John Engle, James Estes, Scott Groth, Benjamin Grupe, Peter Halmay, Kyle Hebert, Jose Carlos Hernandez, Laura J. Jurgens, Peter Kalvass, Michael C. Kenner, Brenda Konar, David Kushner, Lynn Lee, David Leighton, Gabriela Montano-Moctezuma, Eric Munk, Irma Olguin Espinoza, Ben Weitzman
Migration ecology and stopover population size of Red Knots Calidris canutus rufa at Mingan Archipelago after exiting the breeding grounds Migration ecology and stopover population size of Red Knots Calidris canutus rufa at Mingan Archipelago after exiting the breeding grounds
Populations of migratory birds present unique conservation challenges given the often vast distances separating critical resources throughout the annual cycle. Migration areas close to the breeding grounds represent a link between two key stages of the annual cycle, and understanding migration ecology as birds exit the breeding grounds may be particularly informative for successful...
Authors
James E. Lyons, Allan J. Baker, Patricia M. Gonzalez, Yves Aubry, Christophe Buidin, Yann Rochepault
Climate change refugia and habitat connectivity promote species persistence Climate change refugia and habitat connectivity promote species persistence
Background Climate change refugia, areas buffered from climate change relative to their surroundings, are of increasing interest as natural resource managers seek to prioritize climate adaptation actions. However, evidence that refugia buffer the effects of anthropogenic climate change is largely missing.Methods Focusing on the climate-sensitive Belding’s ground squirrel (Urocitellus...
Authors
Toni Lyn Morelli, Sean P. Maher, Marisa C. W. Lim, Christina Kastely, Lindsey M. Eastman, Lorraine E. Flint, Alan L. Flint, Steven R. Beissinger, Craig Moritz
Ecosystem classification and mapping of the Laurentian Great Lakes Ecosystem classification and mapping of the Laurentian Great Lakes
Owing to the enormity and complexity of the Laurentian Great Lakes, an ecosystem classification is needed to better understand, protect, and manage this largest freshwater ecosystem in the world. Using a combination of statistical analyses, published knowledge, and expert opinion, we identified key driving variables and their ecologically relevant thresholds and delineated and mapped...
Authors
C.M. Riseng, K. Wehrly, L. Wang, E. Rutherford, James E. McKenna, L. Johnson, L. Mason, C. Castiglione, T. Hollenhorst, Beth L. Sparks-Jackson, Scott P. Sowa
Community distance sampling models allowing for imperfect detection and temporary emigration Community distance sampling models allowing for imperfect detection and temporary emigration
Recent developments of community abundance models (CAMs) enable us to analyze communities subject to imperfect detection. However, existing CAMs assume spatial closure, that is, that individuals are always present in the sampling plots, which is often violated in field surveys. Violation of this assumption, such as in the presence of spatial temporary emigration, can lead to the...
Authors
Yuichi Yamaura, J. Andrew Royle
Model-based scenario planning to inform climate change adaptation in the Northern Great Plains—Final report Model-based scenario planning to inform climate change adaptation in the Northern Great Plains—Final report
Public Summary We worked with managers in two focal areas to plan for the uncertain future by integrating quantitative climate change scenarios and simulation modeling into scenario planning exercises. In our central North Dakota focal area, centered on Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, managers are concerned about how changes in flood severity and growing conditions...
Authors
Amy J. Symstad, Brian W. Miller, Jonathan M. Friedman, Nicholas A. Fisichelli, Andrea J. Ray, Erika Rowland, Gregor W. Schuurman
Forecasting stream habitat and Brook Trout responses to climate change in Catoctin Mountain Park Forecasting stream habitat and Brook Trout responses to climate change in Catoctin Mountain Park
Anticipating and mitigating the effects of climate change is a fundamental challenge for natural resource conservation. In this report, we respond to research needs identified by Catoctin Mountain Park (CATO) for native Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) conservation and management as part of the US Geological Survey (USGS) Natural Resources Preservation Program in FY15-16. We addressed...
Authors
Nathaniel P. Hitt, Craig D. Snyder, Erin Snook, Zachary Johnson, Matthew Morgan
Microsatellite marker development from next-generation sequencing in the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) and cross-amplification in the eastern cottontail (S. floridanus) Microsatellite marker development from next-generation sequencing in the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) and cross-amplification in the eastern cottontail (S. floridanus)
Objective The New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) is a species of high conservation priority in the Northeastern United States, and was a candidate for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act until a recent decision determined that conservation actions were sufficient to preclude listing. The aim of this study was to develop a suite of microsatellite loci to guide...
Authors
Tim L. King, Michael S. Eackles, Aaron W. Aunins, Thomas J. McGreevy, Thomas P. Husband, Anthony Tur, Adrienne I. Kovach
Lessons from the past: isotopes of an endangered rail as indicators of underlying change to tidal marsh habitats Lessons from the past: isotopes of an endangered rail as indicators of underlying change to tidal marsh habitats
Introduction: Tidal marsh systems along the Pacific coast of the United States have experienced substantial stress and loss of area and ecosystem function, which we examined by using the endangered California Ridgway’s Rail, Rallus obsoletus obsoletus (‘rail’) as an indicator of its tidal marsh habitat in the San Francisco Estuary. We organized a collection of historical (1885-1940) and...
Authors
Angela M. Merritt, Michael L. Casazza, Cory T. Overton, John Y. Takekawa, Thomas P. Hahn, Joshua M. Hull
A case study examining the efficacy of drainage setbacks for limiting effects to wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region, USA A case study examining the efficacy of drainage setbacks for limiting effects to wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region, USA
The enhancement of agricultural lands through the use of artificial drainage systems is a common practice throughout the United States, and recently the use of this practice has expanded in the Prairie Pothole Region. Many wetlands are afforded protection from the direct effects of drainage through regulation or legal agreements, and drainage setback distances typically are used to...
Authors
Brian Tangen, Raymond Finocchiaro
Case studies of capacity building for biodiversity monitoring Case studies of capacity building for biodiversity monitoring
Monitoring the status and trends of species is critical to their conservation and management. However, the current state of biodiversity monitoring is insufficient to detect such for most species and habitats, other than in a few localised areas. One of the biggest obstacles to adequate monitoring is the lack of local capacity to carry out such programs. Thus, building the capacity to do...
Authors
Dirk S. Schmeller, Christos Arvanitidis, Monika Bohm, Neil Brummitt, Eva Chatzinikolaou, Mark John Costello, Hui Ding, Michael J. Gill, Peter Haase, Romain Juillard, Jaime Garcia-Moreno, Nathalie Pettorelli, Cui Peng, Corinna Riginos, Ute Schmiedel, John P. Simaika, Carly Waterman, Jun Wu, Haigen Xu, Jayne Belnap