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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: 42700

High-throughput sequencing reveals distinct regional genetic structure among remaining populations of an endangered salt marsh plant in California High-throughput sequencing reveals distinct regional genetic structure among remaining populations of an endangered salt marsh plant in California

Conservation of rare species requires careful consideration to both preserve locally adapted traits and maintain genetic diversity, as species’ ranges fluctuate in response to a changing climate and habitat loss. Salt marsh systems in California have been highly modified and many salt marsh obligate species have undergone range reductions and habitat loss with concomitant losses of...
Authors
Elizabeth R. Milano, Margaret R Mulligan, Jon P. Rebman, Amy G. Vandergast

Scientific contributions of the Mangrove Macrobenthos and Management (MMM) conference series, 2000-2019 Scientific contributions of the Mangrove Macrobenthos and Management (MMM) conference series, 2000-2019

The conservation of mangrove forests has become an important international policy priority in recent decades, and is mirrored by a large increase in research interest. Multiple disciplines now use mangroves as a study system, from molecular biology to social science. The variety of research conducted in mangroves is exemplified by the Mangrove Macrobenthos & Management (MMM) conference...
Authors
Daniel A. Friess, Farid Dahdouh-Guebas, Behara Satyanarayana, Stefano Cannicci, Marco Vannini, Siew Chin Chua, Norman Duke, Ilka C. Feller, Zeehan Jaafer, L.P. Jayatissa, Nico Koedam, Ken Krauss, Shing Yip Lee, Jose Ernesto Mancera Pineda, Renison Ruwa, Erik S. Yando

Channel narrowing by inset floodplain formation of the lower Green River in the Canyonlands region, Utah Channel narrowing by inset floodplain formation of the lower Green River in the Canyonlands region, Utah

The lower Green River episodically narrowed between the mid-1930s and present day through deposition of new floodplains within a wider channel that had been established and/or maintained during the early twentieth century pluvial period. Comparison of air photos spanning a 74-yr period (1940−2014) and covering a 61 km study area shows that the channel narrowed by 12% from 138 ± 3.4 m to...
Authors
Alexander E. Walker, Johnnie N. Moore, Paul E. Grams, David J. Dean, John C. Schmidt

Framework for a long-term strategic plan for the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission Framework for a long-term strategic plan for the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission

The Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission oversees the use of groundwater in six parishes in Louisiana. In carrying out its statutory responsibilities and authorities, the Commission recognizes the complexity of its decisions: the long-term objectives it is seeking are multifaceted; the actions it can choose from are numerous and interdependent; and the understanding of the
Authors
Michael C. Runge, Ellen A Bean, Adrian McInnis, Ryan Clark, Alyssa Dausman

Intraspecific and biogeographical variation in foliar fungal communities and pathogen damage of native and invasive Phragmites australis Intraspecific and biogeographical variation in foliar fungal communities and pathogen damage of native and invasive Phragmites australis

Aim Recent research has highlighted that the relationship between species interactions and latitude can differ between native and invasive plant taxa, generating biogeographical heterogeneity in community resistance to plant invasions. In the first study with foliar pathogens, we tested whether co‐occurring native and invasive lineages of common reed (Phragmites australis ) exhibit non...
Authors
Warwick J. Allen, Aaron Devries, Nicholas J. Bologna, Wesley A. Bickford, Kurt P. Kowalski, Laura A. Meyerson, James T. Cronin

Hurricane sedimentation in a subtropical salt marsh-mangrove community is unaffected by vegetation type Hurricane sedimentation in a subtropical salt marsh-mangrove community is unaffected by vegetation type

Hurricanes periodically deliver sediment to coastal wetlands, such as those in the Mississippi River Delta Complex (MRDC), slowing elevation loss and improving resilience to sea-level rise. However, the amount of hurricane sediment deposited and retained in a wetland may vary depending on the dominant vegetation. In the subtropical climate of the MRDC, the black mangrove (Avicennia...
Authors
Karen L. McKee, Irving A. Mendelssohn, Mark W. Hester

Assessment of microscopic pathology in fishes collected at sites impacted by wood tar in Pennsylvania Assessment of microscopic pathology in fishes collected at sites impacted by wood tar in Pennsylvania

In an effort to determine whether fish populations in an area affected by wood tar waste exhibited health effects, fish were collected and analyzed with histopathology. Multiple species, including Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdii), Creek Chub (Semotilus atromaculatus), White Sucker (Catostumus commersonii), Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus), Common Shiner (Luxilus cornutus), and...
Authors
Heather L. Walsh, Vicki S. Blazer, Patricia M. Mazik, Adam J. Sperry, Diana Pavlick

Human dimensions considerations in wildlife disease management Human dimensions considerations in wildlife disease management

In 1943, Aldo Leopold observed that the real problem of wildlife management is not how to handle wildlife, but how to manage humans. As with any other aspect of wildlife management, social sciences can improve understanding the human dimensions of wildlife disease management (WDM). Human activities have accelerated the emergence of wildlife diseases, and human concerns about the...
Authors
Kirsten Leong, Daniel J. Decker

Low stand density moderates growth declines during hot droughts in semi-arid forests Low stand density moderates growth declines during hot droughts in semi-arid forests

Increasing heat and aridity in coming decades is expected to negatively impact tree growth and threaten forest sustainability in dry areas. Maintaining low stand density has the potential to mitigate the negative effects of increasingly severe droughts by minimizing competitive intensity.However, the direct impact of stand density on the growing environment (i.e. soil moisture), and the...
Authors
Caitlin M. Andrews, Anthony W. D’Amato, Shawn Fraver, Brian Palik, Michael A. Battaglia, John B. Bradford

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Merlin (Falco columbarius) The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Merlin (Falco columbarius)

The key to Merlin (Falco columbarius) management is maintaining an interspersion of groves of deciduous or coniferous trees for nesting and open grasslands for hunting. Merlins do not build their own nests but rather use former nests of other bird species, including those of corvids (crows, ravens, and magpies) and accipitrids (hawks). In recent decades, Merlins have established breeding
Authors
Paul M. Konrad, Jill A. Shaffer, Lawrence D. Igl

The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii) The effects of management practices on grassland birds—Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii)

Keys to Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii) management include providing suitable grassland habitat, especially native prairie, with intermediate vegetation height and low visual obstruction, and controlling succession therein. Sprague’s Pipits have been reported to use habitats with no more than 49 centimeters (cm) average vegetation height, 4–14 cm visual obstruction reading, 15–53...
Authors
Jill A. Shaffer, Lawrence D. Igl, Douglas H. Johnson, Marriah L. Sondreal, Christopher M. Goldade, Melvin P. Nenneman, Travis L. Wooten, Jason P. Thiele, Betty R. Euliss

Juvenile Lost River and shortnose sucker year-class formation, survival, and growth in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon and Clear Lake Reservoir, California—2017 Monitoring Report Juvenile Lost River and shortnose sucker year-class formation, survival, and growth in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon and Clear Lake Reservoir, California—2017 Monitoring Report

Executive Summary Populations of federally endangered Lost River (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose suckers (Chasmistes brevirostris) in Upper Klamath Lake, Oregon, and Clear Lake Reservoir (hereinafter referred to as Clear Lake; fig. 1), California, are experiencing long-term declines in abundance. Upper Klamath Lake populations are decreasing because juvenile suckers are not surviving...
Authors
Ryan J. Bart, Summer M. Burdick, Marshal S. Hoy, Carl O. Ostberg
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