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
Stability concepts in ecology Stability concepts in ecology
The term stability, as applied to ecological systems, whether populations, communities, or ecosystems, means the tendency either to stay either close to some initial state, or to stay within certain bounds, or to persist in the face of environmental disturbances or changes. Here, a historical overview of stability concepts in ecology is outlined and measures of stability are discussed...
Authors
Donald L. DeAngelis, Linhao Xu
Using mobile acoustic monitoring and false-positive N-mixture models to estimate bat abundance and population trends Using mobile acoustic monitoring and false-positive N-mixture models to estimate bat abundance and population trends
Estimating the abundance of unmarked animal populations from acoustic data is challenging due to the inability to identify individuals and the need to adjust for observation biases including detectability (false negatives), species misclassification (false positives), and sampling exposure. Acoustic surveys conducted along mobile transects were designed to avoid counting individuals more...
Authors
Bradley James Udell, Bethany Straw, Susan C. Loeb, Kathryn Irvine, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Cori Lausen, Jonathan D. Reichard, Jeremy T.H. Coleman, Paul M. Cryan, Winifred F. Frick, Brian Reichert
The effects of flow extremes on native and non-native stream fishes in Puerto Rico The effects of flow extremes on native and non-native stream fishes in Puerto Rico
Globally, freshwater fishes are among the taxa most vulnerable to climate change but are generally understudied in tropical island ecosystems where climate change is predicted to alter the intensity, frequency and duration of extreme flow events. These changes may impact stream ecosystems and native and non-native biota in complex ways.We compiled an extensive dataset of fish assemblages...
Authors
B. J. E. Myers, A. C. Engman, A. Ramírez, A. Torres-Molinari, Abigail Lynch, Mitchell J. Eaton, P. B. Cooney, T. J. Kwak
Tire-derived contaminants 6PPD and 6PPD-Q: Analysis, sample handling, and reconnaissance of United States stream exposures Tire-derived contaminants 6PPD and 6PPD-Q: Analysis, sample handling, and reconnaissance of United States stream exposures
The environmental ubiquity of tire and road wear particles (TRWP) underscores the need to understand the occurrence, persistence, and environmental effects of tire-related chemicals in aquatic ecosystems. One such chemical is 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-Q), a transformation product of the tire antioxidant 6PPD. In urban stormwater runoff 6PPD-Q can exceed acute toxicity thresholds for several...
Authors
Rachael F. Lane, Kelly Smalling, Paul M. Bradley, Justin Blaine Greer, Stephanie E. Gordon, John Hansen, Dana W. Kolpin, Andrew R. Spanjer, Jason R. Masoner
By
Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Central Plains Water Science Center, Central Midwest Water Science Center, New Jersey Water Science Center, Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center, Washington Water Science Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)
Interactive effects of salinity and hydrology on radial growth of bald cypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.) in coastal Louisiana, USA Interactive effects of salinity and hydrology on radial growth of bald cypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.) in coastal Louisiana, USA
Tidal freshwater forests are usually located at or above the level of mean high water. Some Louisiana coastal forests are below mean high water, especially bald cypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.) forests because flooding has increased due to the combined effects of global sea level rise and local subsidence. In addition, constructed channels from the coast inland act as conduits for...
Authors
Richard Day, Andrew From, Darren Johnson, Ken Krauss
Mitigating risk: Predicting H5N1 avian influenza spread with an empirical model of bird movement Mitigating risk: Predicting H5N1 avian influenza spread with an empirical model of bird movement
Understanding timing and distribution of virus spread is critical to global commercial and wildlife biosecurity management. A highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIv) global panzootic, affecting ~600 bird and mammal species globally and over 83 million birds across North America (Dec 2023), poses a serious global threat to animals and public health. We combined a large, long-term...
Authors
Fiona McDuie, Cory T. Overton, Austen Lorenz, Elliott Matchett, Andrea Mott, Desmond Alexander Mackell, Josh T. Ackerman, Susan E.W. De La Cruz, Vijay P. Patil, Diann Prosser, John Y. Takekawa, Dennis L. Orthmeyer, Maurice E. Pitesky, Samuel L. Diaz-Munoz, Brock M. Riggs, Joseph Gendreau, Eric T. Reed, Mark J. Petrie, Chris K. Williams, Jeffrey J. Buler, Matthew J. Hardy, Brian S. Ladman, Pierre Legagneux, Joel Bety, Philippe J. Thomas, Jean Rodrigue, Josee Lefebvre, Michael L. Casazza
Challenges of implementing a multi-agency monitoring and adaptive management strategy for federally threatened Chinook salmon and steelhead trout during and after dam removal in the Elwha River Challenges of implementing a multi-agency monitoring and adaptive management strategy for federally threatened Chinook salmon and steelhead trout during and after dam removal in the Elwha River
Adaptive management, a process of planning, implementing, and evaluating management strategies, is often recommended for monitoring ecological systems. However, few examples of successful implementation and retrospective case studies exist. We provide a case study of adaptively managing hatchery-assisted protection and recovery for Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and winter...
Authors
Roger J. Peters, Joseph H. Anderson, Jeffrey J. Duda, Michael L. McHenry, George Pess, Samuel J. Brenkman, Jeffery R. Johnson, Martin C. Liermann, Keith Denton, Matthew M. Beirne, Patrick Crain, Heidi A. Connor
Biodiversity promotes urban ecosystem functioning Biodiversity promotes urban ecosystem functioning
The proportion of people living in urban areas is growing globally. Understanding how to manage urban biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and ecosystem services is becoming more important. Biodiversity can increase ecosystem functioning in non-urban systems. However, few studies have reviewed the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in urban areas, which differ in...
Authors
Sarah R. Weiskopf, Susannah B. Lerman, Forest Isbell, Toni Lyn Morelli
Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus Rafinesque) population trends and demographics in the Upper Mississippi River System Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus Rafinesque) population trends and demographics in the Upper Mississippi River System
Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus Rafinesque) are a large-bodied fish highly valued and commercially exploited across most of their range. Despite this, relatively little is known of their population demographics compared to other exploited species. To fill these knowledge gaps, we analyzed two independent long-term datasets (30 and 57 years, respectively) and population demographic...
Authors
Kristopher A. Maxson, Levi E. Solomon, Taylor A. Bookout, Steven A. DeLain, Andrew Bartels, Melvin C. Bowler, Eric J. Gittinger, Eric N. Ratcliff, John L. West, Seth A. Love, Jason A. DeBoer, Andrya L. Whitten-Harris, Michael J. Spear, Brian Ickes, Andrew F. Casper, James T. Lamer
Spatial and seasonal variability in trophic relationships and carbon sources of two key invertebrate species in Lake Ontario Spatial and seasonal variability in trophic relationships and carbon sources of two key invertebrate species in Lake Ontario
Mysids (Mysis diluviana) and dreissenids (Dreissena polymorpha and mostly D. bugensis) are important invertebrate taxa in the food webs of the Laurentian Great Lakes but there are uncertainties about the seasonal and spatial variability in their stable isotope signatures. We quantified δ13C and δ15N in 304 mysid and 366 dreissenid samples across five spatial ecoregions, varying site...
Authors
Donald R. Uzarski, Aaron T. Fisk, Cecilia E. Heuvel, Brian O’Malley, Brian Weidel, Sarah M. Larocque, Timothy B. Johnson
Infection–nutrition feedbacks: Fat supports pathogen clearance but pathogens reduce fat in a wild mammal Infection–nutrition feedbacks: Fat supports pathogen clearance but pathogens reduce fat in a wild mammal
Though far less obvious than direct effects (clinical disease or mortality), the indirect influences of pathogens are difficult to estimate but may hold fitness consequences. Here, we disentangle the directional relationships between infection and energetic reserves, evaluating the hypotheses that energetic reserves influence infection status of the host and that infection elicits costs...
Authors
Rachel A. Smiley, Brittany L. Wagler, William H. Edwards, Jessica Jennings-Gaines, Katie Luukkonen, Kara Robbins, Marguerite Johnson, Alyson B. Courtemanch, Tony W. Mong, Daryl Lutz, Douglas E. McWhirter, Jennifer L. Malmberg, Blake Lowrey, Kevin L. Monteith
Predicting Lake Huron Dreissena spp. spatial distribution patterns from environmental characteristics Predicting Lake Huron Dreissena spp. spatial distribution patterns from environmental characteristics
Invasive dreissenid mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) have altered Great Lakes ecosystems through a multitude of effects on benthic habitats, food web structure, and nutrient cycling. This study explores whether spatially continuous geographic data of environmental factors can be utilized to predict Dreissena spp. spatial distributions on a lake-wide...
Authors
Jennifer M. Morrison, Peter C. Esselman, Catherine M. Riseng, Ashley K. Elgin, Mark D. Rowe