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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: 42686

Challenges and opportunities in mitigating sarcoptic mange in wild South American camelids Challenges and opportunities in mitigating sarcoptic mange in wild South American camelids

Vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) and guanacos (Lama guanicoe) are the two species of wild South American camelids whose distributions range from Peru to northern Argentina and southern Peru to southern Argentina, respectively. Listed as critically endangered in the 1960s due to poaching, vicuña numbers had been gradually recovering; however, new concerns about population stability have arisen...
Authors
Alynn Martin, Emiliana Isasi-Catalá, Marilia Salgado-Caxito, Ana Gallegos, Leonardo Hostos-Olivera, Paulo Colchao-Claux, Steven J. Smith, Fabian Beltran-Saavedra, Catherine Dougnac, Camila Germana, Mariana Montoya, Scott Carver, Paul C. Cross, Chris Walzer

Advancing climate adaptation for inland fish and fisheries Advancing climate adaptation for inland fish and fisheries

Climate change was barely a blip on the radar for inland fisheries management 20 years ago. Today, it's a central focus. A 2016 paper helped shift conversations, sparked adaptation efforts across fisheries management. The future is still uncertain, but adaptation is key to sustaining these important resources.
Authors
Abigail J. Lynch, T. Douglas Beard, Craig P. Paukert

Do bighorn sheep use desert tortoise burrow spoil piles as mineral licks in southern California? Do bighorn sheep use desert tortoise burrow spoil piles as mineral licks in southern California?

In a previous study, bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) were periodically photographed by trail cameras when they visited desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) burrows in the San Bernardino Mountains near Palm Springs, California, USA. The authors suggested that bighorn sheep may utilize the excavated spoil material from burrows as a mineral lick. To test that supposition, we collected soil...
Authors
Jeffrey E. Lovich, Danielle M. Cleveland, Charles Yackulic, Kristy L. Cummings, Michele R. Puffer, Molly J. Bechtel, Christopher R. Tracy, William J. Hoese, Gerardo Avila, Megan Peukert, Samantha Hubbard

Tracing invasion routes of Cuban treefrogs into Louisiana using mitochondrial DNA Tracing invasion routes of Cuban treefrogs into Louisiana using mitochondrial DNA

Understanding the origin and spread of invasive species is critical for predicting when and where new introductions will establish, and impact native species. However, due to the complexity of contributing factors such as multiple introductions, dispersal method, genetic admixture in founding populations, and variable propagule pressure, genetic patterns observed in invasive species may...
Authors
Erin B. Brosnan, Karen A. Paniagua Torres, Katerine R. Martin, Matthew S. Atkinson, Brad Glorioso, Hardin Waddle, Robert W. Mendyk, Anna E. Savage

Quantifying benthic flux of Mysis biomass through diel vertical migration at the ecosystem scale Quantifying benthic flux of Mysis biomass through diel vertical migration at the ecosystem scale

Mysis diluviana is a macroinvertebrate that couples benthic and pelagic habitats on a daily timescale through diel vertical migration (DVM). However, quantifying how much Mysis biomass is exchanged between benthic and pelagic habitats at an ecosystem scale is difficult because of sampling limitations and variability in Mysis DVM behavior related to light and depth. Although Mysis are...
Authors
Brian O’Malley, Georgia Wende Hoffman, Rosaura J. Chapina, Jason D. Stockwell, Collin J. Farrell

Re-oligotrophy in the Upper Mississippi River, USA, occurred in just a few years Re-oligotrophy in the Upper Mississippi River, USA, occurred in just a few years

Ecological systems can undergo large changes and regime shifts that are either catastrophic, neutral, or desirable. Rivers worldwide have recently undergone desirable regime shifts related to re-oligotrophy, which is a notable and ongoing reduction in concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS), total N, total P, or phytoplankton. For example, the Upper Mississippi River, USA, has...
Authors
Killian Davis, Wako Bungula, Danelle M. Larson

Variation in detection distance of Eastern Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis jamaicensis) vocalizations by autonomous recording units Variation in detection distance of Eastern Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis jamaicensis) vocalizations by autonomous recording units

Autonomous recording units (ARUs) are an emerging technology that allows for passive monitoring of soniferous animals and soundscapes. Over the past decade, ARUs have become a popular tool for monitoring birds for their potential to reduce the labor and costs of traditional in-person sampling procedures. However, uncertainty surrounding factors affecting detection of avian taxa using...
Authors
Blake D. Lamb, Heather E. Levy, Elizabeth A. Beilke, Chelsea S. Kross, Peter J. Kappes, Matt J. Sukiennik, James A. Cox, Jennifer K. Wilson, Jarrett O. Woodrow, Matthew J. Butler, Theodore J. Zenzal, Auriel M.V. Fournier, Mark S. Woodrey

Lake depth and light conditions alter Mysis vertical distributions Lake depth and light conditions alter Mysis vertical distributions

Light regulates the vertical migration of many aquatic organisms. Mysis species couple pelagic and benthic habitats in lakes by diel vertical migrations (DVM), transporting energy and nutrients through the water column and food web. Although Mysis are generally assumed to remain on the bottom during the day, some have been observed in the pelagic zone during the day, indicating...
Authors
Rosaura J. Chapina, Brian O’Malley, Kelly L. Bowen, Martta L.M. Viljanen, Zachary A. Bess, Daniel L. Yule, Jens C. Nejstgaard, Stella A. Berger, Michael D. Rennie, Michael J. Paterson, Steven A. Pothoven, James M. Watkins, Lars G. Rudstam, Sudeep Chandra, Jason D. Stockwell

Exploring the exploitation of migratory moths by radio-marked grizzly bears in Wyoming Exploring the exploitation of migratory moths by radio-marked grizzly bears in Wyoming

Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) feeding on migratory army cutworm moths (Euxoa auxiliaris) was first documented by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) during the early 1980s in the southeastern portion of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). Since those initial observations, use of this seasonally available food resource by grizzly bears has grown substantially. As of 2023...
Authors
Justin Clapp, Mark Haroldson, Justin A. Dellinger, Daniel D. Bjornlie, Daniel J. Thomposon, Frank T. van Manen

Summer roost site suitability analyses for 4 special status bat species in the Eastern United States Summer roost site suitability analyses for 4 special status bat species in the Eastern United States

Data describing habitat suitability are crucial for implementing effective conservation planning but are often lacking at regional and continental scales. We address this gap for 4 bat species that are listed, proposed for listing, or under Endangered Species Act listing review by highlighting a framework for estimating summer roost suitability with a presence-background approach to aid
Authors
Richard D. Inman, Andrea Nichole Schuhmann, Sarah Sawyer, Sarah Mccrimmon Gaulke, Frank (Contractor) Charles Tousley, Helen Trice Davis, Bradley James Udell, Bethany Straw, Jonathan D. Reichard, Brian Reichert

Does tidal marsh restoration lead to the recovery of trophic pathways that support estuarine fishes? Does tidal marsh restoration lead to the recovery of trophic pathways that support estuarine fishes?

Evaluation of tidal marsh restoration success is typically based on the recovery of habitat size and target species. However, food-web structure may provide valuable insight into ecosystem functioning trajectories. Here, we studied restored tidal marshes of different ages (new, young, old; spanning 1–150 years) in comparison with nearby reference sites along the San Francisco Estuary. We...
Authors
Megan D. Pagliaro, Susan E.W. De La Cruz, Isa Woo, Jake Sousa, Natalie Rich, Lenny Grimaldo, Denise Colombano, Albert Ruhí

Non-native prey availability and over-compensatory density dependence drive population dynamics of a native fish predator Non-native prey availability and over-compensatory density dependence drive population dynamics of a native fish predator

Understanding the factors that regulate population dynamics is crucial for conserving imperiled species. Bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), a piscivorous salmonid and one of North America's most threatened cold-water species, has declined significantly due to habitat loss, overfishing, invasive species, and climate change. While recovery efforts have primarily targeted these threats...
Authors
Madaline Cochrane, Timothy Cline, Travis S. Schmidt, James Dunnigan, Will Warnock, Clint C. Muhlfeld
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