Publications
Below is a list of WERC's peer-reviewed publications. If you are searching for a specific publication and cannot find it in this list, please contact werc_web@usgs.gov
Filter Total Items: 3710
A genetic warning system for a hierarchically structured wildlife monitoring framework A genetic warning system for a hierarchically structured wildlife monitoring framework
Genetic variation is a well-known indicator of population fitness yet is not typically included in monitoring programs for sensitive species. Additionally, most programs monitor populations at one scale, which can lead to potential mismatches with ecological processes critical to species' conservation. Recently developed methods generating hierarchically nested population units (i.e...
Authors
Shawna J Zimmerman, Cameron L. Aldridge, Michael S. O’Donnell, David R. Edmunds, Peter S. Coates, Brian G. Prochazka, Jennifer A. Fike, Todd B. Cross, Bradley C. Fedy, Sara J. Oyler-McCance
Habitat connectivity and host relatedness influence virus spread across an urbanising landscape in a fragmentation-sensitive carnivore Habitat connectivity and host relatedness influence virus spread across an urbanising landscape in a fragmentation-sensitive carnivore
Spatially heterogeneous landscape factors such as urbanisation can have substantial effects on the severity and spread of wildlife diseases. However, research linking patterns of pathogen transmission to landscape features remains rare. Using a combination of phylogeographic and machine learning approaches, we tested the influence of landscape and host factors on feline immunodeficiency...
Authors
Christopher P. Kozakiewicz, Christopher P. Burridge, Justin S. Lee, Simona J Kraberger, Nicholas M Fountain-Jones, Robert N. Fisher, Lisa M. Lyren, Megan K. Jennings, Seth P.D. Riley, Laurel E K Serieys, Meggan E. Craft, W Chris Funk, Kevin R. Crooks, Sue VandeWoude, Scott Carver
Black Abalone surveys at Naval Base Ventura County, San Nicolas Island, California—2021, annual report Black Abalone surveys at Naval Base Ventura County, San Nicolas Island, California—2021, annual report
The U.S. Geological Survey monitors a suite of intertidal black abalone sites at San Nicolas Island, California, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, which owns the island. The nine rocky intertidal sites were established in 1980 to study the potential effect of translocated sea otters on the intertidal black abalone population at the island. The sites were monitored from 1981 to 1997...
Authors
Michael C. Kenner, Julie L. Yee
State of the Regional Preserve System in western San Diego County State of the Regional Preserve System in western San Diego County
No abstract available.
Authors
Kristine L. Preston, Emily E. Perkins, Christopher W. Brown, Sarah Joelle McCutcheon, Annabelle E Bernabe, Emilie Luciani, Barbara E. Kus, Susan Wynn
A regionally varying habitat model to inform management for greater sage-grouse persistence across their range A regionally varying habitat model to inform management for greater sage-grouse persistence across their range
Identifying habitat needs for species with large distributions is challenging because species-habitat associations may vary across scales and regions (spatial nonstationarity). Furthermore, management efforts often cross jurisdictional boundaries, complicating the development of cohesive conservation strategies among management entities. The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus...
Authors
Gregory T. Wann, Nathan D. Van Schmidt, Jessica E. Shyvers, Bryan C. Tarbox, Megan M. McLachlan, Michael S. O’Donnell, Anthony J Titolo, Peter S. Coates, David R. Edmunds, Julie A. Heinrichs, Adrian P. Monroe, Cameron L. Aldridge
Harnessing island–ocean connections to maximize marine benefits of island conservation Harnessing island–ocean connections to maximize marine benefits of island conservation
Islands support unique plants, animals, and human societies found nowhere else on the Earth. Local and global stressors threaten the persistence of island ecosystems, with invasive species being among the most damaging, yet solvable, stressors. While the threat of invasive terrestrial mammals on island flora and fauna is well recognized, recent studies have begun to illustrate their...
Authors
Stuart A. Sandin, Penny A. Becker, Ceiba Becker, Kate Brown, Natalia G. Erazo, Cielo Figuerola, Robert N. Fisher, Alan M. Friedlander, Tadashi Fukami, Nicholas A. J. Graham, Daniel S. Gruner, Nick D. Holmes, Wieteke A. Holthuijzen, Holly P. Jones, Mariela Rios, Araceli Samaniego, Wes Sechrest, Brice X. Semmens, Hazel E. Thornton, Rebecca Vega Thurber, Christy Wails, Coral A. Wolf, Brian J. Zgliczynski
Magma storage and transport timescales for the 1959 Kīlauea Iki eruption and implications for diffusion chronometry studies using time-series samples versus tephra deposits Magma storage and transport timescales for the 1959 Kīlauea Iki eruption and implications for diffusion chronometry studies using time-series samples versus tephra deposits
Complex crystal cargo in basaltic eruptions has the potential to yield diverse insights on pre- and syn-eruptive timescales of magma storage and transport. Research on eruption products from the 1959 eruption from Kīlauea Iki Crater at Kīlauea volcano (Hawai‘i) demonstrates that time-series samples collected during an eruption can yield a wealth of information not accessible by studying...
Authors
Kendra J. Lynn, Rosalind L. Helz
Using landscape genomics to delineate future adaptive potential for climate change in the Yosemite toad (Anaxyrus canorus) Using landscape genomics to delineate future adaptive potential for climate change in the Yosemite toad (Anaxyrus canorus)
An essential goal in conservation biology is delineating population units that maximize the probability of species persisting into the future and adapting to future environmental change. However, future-facing conservation concerns are often addressed using retrospective patterns that could be irrelevant. We recommend a novel landscape genomics framework for delineating future “Geminate
Authors
Paul A. Maier, Amy G. Vandergast, Andrew J. Bohonak
Maladaptive nest-site selection and reduced nest survival in female sage-grouse following wildfire Maladaptive nest-site selection and reduced nest survival in female sage-grouse following wildfire
Increased wildfire frequency and associated replacement of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) with invasive annual grasses contribute to declines of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, sage-grouse) populations across the Great Basin. However, little is known about wildfire effects on sage-grouse nest-site selection and nest survival, which can influence population...
Authors
Ian F. Dudley, Peter S. Coates, Brian G. Prochazka, Dawn M. Davis, Scott C. Gardner, David J. Delehanty
Defining biologically relevant and hierarchically nested population units to inform wildlife management Defining biologically relevant and hierarchically nested population units to inform wildlife management
Wildlife populations are increasingly affected by natural and anthropogenic changes that negatively alter biotic and abiotic processes at multiple spatiotemporal scales and therefore require increased wildlife management and conservation efforts. However, wildlife management boundaries frequently lack biological context and mechanisms to assess demographic data across the multiple...
Authors
Michael S. O’Donnell, David R. Edmunds, Cameron L. Aldridge, Julie A. Heinrichs, Adrian P. Monroe, Peter S. Coates, Brian G. Prochazka, Steve E. Hanser, Lief A. Wiechman
Distribution and demography of Southwestern Willow Flycatchers in San Diego County, 2015–19 Distribution and demography of Southwestern Willow Flycatchers in San Diego County, 2015–19
We surveyed for Southwestern Willow Flycatchers (Empidonax traillii extimus; flycatcher) at 33 locations along multiple drainages in San Diego County, including portions of Agua Hedionda Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Escondido Creek, Los Penasquitos Creek, Otay River, San Diego River, San Dieguito River, San Luis Rey River, Sweetwater River, and Tijuana River. Resident flycatchers were only...
Authors
Scarlett L. Howell, Barbara E. Kus, Shannon M. Mendia
Dabbling duck eggs hatch after nest abandonment in the wild Dabbling duck eggs hatch after nest abandonment in the wild
In most birds, parental incubation of eggs is necessary for embryo development and survival. Using a combination of weekly nest visits, temperature dataloggers, infrared video cameras, and GPS tracking of hens, we documented several instances of duck eggs hatching after being abandoned by the incubating female. Of 2826 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and Gadwall (Mareca strepera) nests...
Authors
Carley Rose Schacter, Brady Lynn Fettig, Sarah H. Peterson, C. Alex Hartman, Mark P. Herzog, Michael L. Casazza, Joshua T. Ackerman