Publications
Find out more about Species Management Research Program through our publications. Browse the entire list below or by specific topics at the links below.
Filter Total Items: 664
Reply to the discussion by Pilfold “Polar bear mass change confirms hyperphagia follows ringed seal whelping” Reply to the discussion by Pilfold “Polar bear mass change confirms hyperphagia follows ringed seal whelping”
The spring is a critical period when polar bears (Ursus maritimus Phipps, 1774) are thought to have peak access to seals and acquire the majority of their annual energy requirements during a period of hyperphagia. Pagano et al. (Pagano A.M., Atkinson S.N., and Archer L.C. 2025. Arctic Science.11:1-14. doi:10.1139/as-2024-0051) examined the intra-seasonal changes in body mass of 31 polar...
Authors
Anthony Pagano, Stephen Atkinson, Louise Archer
Amphibian diversity of the western Colorado canyonlands including potential threats from nonnative bullfrogs and disease Amphibian diversity of the western Colorado canyonlands including potential threats from nonnative bullfrogs and disease
Throughout the canyons of the Colorado and Uncompahgre Plateaus, water is a limited resource for wildlife, with patchy distribution and seasonal availability. Tributary creeks within these canyons drain into mainstem rivers, providing habitat and breeding sites for native amphibians. Yet, little is known about the diversity and distribution of amphibians that live in these harsh, dynamic...
Authors
Denita M Weeks, David Pilliod, Madeline (Nikki) Grant-Hoffman, Anjelica F Quintana Spencer, Daniel Neubaum, Paul Hampton, Michaela Grossklaus, Matthew B Laramie, Erin L. Muths
U.S. Geological Survey Pollinator Science Strategy, 2025–35—A Review and Look Forward U.S. Geological Survey Pollinator Science Strategy, 2025–35—A Review and Look Forward
This “U.S. Geological Survey Pollinator Science Strategy, 2025–35—A Review and Look Forward” (“Pollinator Science Strategy”) describes the science vision of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to support management, conservation, and policy decisions on animal pollinators and their habitats. As the science arm of the Department of the Interior, the USGS has a primary role in providing...
Authors
Clint Otto, Tabitha A. Graves, Desi Robertson-Thompson, Ian Pearse, Wayne Thogmartin, Caroline Murphy, Elisabeth Webb, Sam Droege, Melanie Steinkamp, Ralph Grundel
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Cooperative Research Units, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Great Lakes Science Center, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, National Geospatial Technical Operations Center
Foundational science in flight—USGS bird programs support conservation, culture, and a thriving U.S. economy Foundational science in flight—USGS bird programs support conservation, culture, and a thriving U.S. economy
Birds are vital to our economy, ecosystems, and cultural heritage. Investing in bird conservation benefits communities, businesses, and working lands while reinforcing our nation’s legacy of stewardship and biodiversity. By valuing birds, we ensure a richer, healthier, and more vibrant future for all Americans. The USGS leads two national bird monitoring programs Thriving bird...
Authors
David Ziolkowski, Antonio Celis-Murillo, Jenn Malpass, Keith Pardieck, Julien Martin, Lauren Walker
North American Waterfowl Management Plan survey regional profile—Southeast region North American Waterfowl Management Plan survey regional profile—Southeast region
Executive SummaryGaining a better understanding of the human dimensions of waterfowl management to inform the North American Waterfowl Management Plan is a valuable but challenging goal for the future success of waterfowl management. Increasing engagement with key stakeholder groups will lead to more support and effective waterfowl management. Social systems are complex because...
Authors
Nicholas Cole, David Fulton
Maintenance of genetic diversity despite population fluctuations in the lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) Maintenance of genetic diversity despite population fluctuations in the lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus)
Assessments of genetic diversity, structure, history, and effective population size (N e) are critical for the conservation of imperiled populations. The lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) has experienced declines due to habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation in addition to substantial population fluctuations with unknown effects on genetic diversity. Our...
Authors
Andrew Lawrence, Scott A. Carleton, Sara Oyler-McCance, Randy DeYoung, Clay Nichols, Timothy F. Wright
Imperiled Great Basin terminal lakes: Synthesizing ecological and hydrological science gaps and research needs for waterbird conservation Imperiled Great Basin terminal lakes: Synthesizing ecological and hydrological science gaps and research needs for waterbird conservation
Terminal lakes are declining globally because of human water demands, drought, and climate change. Through literature synthesis and feedback from the resource and conservation community, we review the state of research for terminal lakes in the Great Basin of the United States, which support millions of waterbirds annually, to prioritize ecological and hydrologic information needs. From...
Authors
Garth Herring, Ashley Whipple, Cameron Aldridge, Bryce Pulver, Collin A. Eagles-Smith, Rich Inman, Elliott Matchett, Adrian P. Monroe, Elizabeth Orning, Benjamin Robb, Jessica Shyvers, Bryan Tarbox, Nathan Van Schmidt, Cassandra Smith, Matthew J. Holloran, Cory Overton, David O’Leary, Michael Casazza, Rebecca J. Frus
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Water Availability and Use Science Program, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Fort Collins Science Center, Nevada Water Science Center, Oregon Water Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Saline Lake Ecosystems Integrated Water Availability Assessment
Trophic transfer of fipronil residues to black-footed ferrets: Implications for ferret safety, flea control, and plague mitigation Trophic transfer of fipronil residues to black-footed ferrets: Implications for ferret safety, flea control, and plague mitigation
Sylvatic plague, caused by the flea-borne bacterium Yersinia pestis, is an invasive disease in North America that causes reductions of native fauna and transforms ecosystems. Fipronil baits have shown promise in reducing flea loads on prairie dogs Cynomys spp. for plague mitigation. Many species depend on prairie dogs and their ecological influences, including the black-footed ferret...
Authors
Tyler Tretten, David Eads, John Hughes, Gregory Dooley, Dean Biggins
A metapopulation strategy to support long term conservation of genetic diversity in Department of the Interior bison A metapopulation strategy to support long term conservation of genetic diversity in Department of the Interior bison
Once numbering in the tens of millions, plains bison (Bison bison bison) were nearly driven to extinction with only a few hundred individuals remaining by the late 19th century. Plains bison have since recovered to approximately 20,000 animals managed in conservation herds throughout North America, yet substantial challenges to their recovery remain. The Department of the Interior (DOI)...
Authors
Sara Oyler-McCance, Lee Jones, Blake McCann, Shawna Zimmerman, Kathryn A. Schoenecker, Paul Santavy, Brendan J Moynahan
Quantification of threats to bats at localized spatial scales for conservation and management Quantification of threats to bats at localized spatial scales for conservation and management
In a rapidly changing world, where species conservation needs vary by local habitat, concentrated conservation efforts at small spatial scales can be critical. Bats provide an array of value to the ecosystems they inhabit; many bat species are also of conservation concern. San Diego County, California, contains 22 of the 41 bat species that occur in the United States, 16 of which are on...
Authors
Brian Myers, Drew Stokes, Kristine Preston, Robert N. Fisher, A. Vandergast
Bison Shared Stewardship Strategy Bison Shared Stewardship Strategy
No abstract available.
Authors
Jason Baldes, Linda Cardenas, Gerald Cobbell, Wayne Frederick, Christina Justice, Ted Knife, Robert Magnan, Thomas Mendez, Brendan Moynahan, Paul Santavy, Kathryn A. Schoenecker, Brandon Small, Thomas Swecichowski
Conservation genetics of the endangered California Freshwater Shrimp (Syncaris pacifica): Watershed and stream networks define gene pool boundaries Conservation genetics of the endangered California Freshwater Shrimp (Syncaris pacifica): Watershed and stream networks define gene pool boundaries
Understanding genetic structure and diversity among remnant populations of rare species can inform conservation and recovery actions. We used a population genetic framework to spatially delineate gene pools and estimate gene flow and effective population sizes for the endangered California Freshwater Shrimp Syncaris pacifica. Tissues of 101 individuals were collected from 11 sites in 5...
Authors
Abdul Ada, A. Vandergast, Robert N. Fisher, Darren Fong, Andrew Bohonak