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: 43450
Spatial ecology and recovery patterns of a translocated mammal community in southern Africa Spatial ecology and recovery patterns of a translocated mammal community in southern Africa
Conservation translocations are an increasingly common tool to restore wildlife populations within protected areas. Along with identifying and mitigating threats, post-release monitoring allows managers to evaluate recovery effectiveness and improve success rates. Multispecies translocations present challenges in monitoring design, data processing, and analysis. Camera traps coupled with...
Authors
Cara L. Appel, Damon B. Lesmeister, Alinafe Chibwana, Raymond J. Davis, Samuel Kamoto, John Kerkering, Marnet Ngosi, Dave Robertson, Charles B. Yackulic, Taal Levi
Diet and trophic ecology of invasive Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus in an eastern shore tributary of the Chesapeake Bay Diet and trophic ecology of invasive Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus in an eastern shore tributary of the Chesapeake Bay
Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus were first introduced to Virginia tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay in the 1970s and have greatly expanded in population size and distribution, prompting ecological and economic concerns. This study investigates the diet and trophic ecology of invasive Blue Catfish in tidal, low-salinity reaches of the Nanticoke River and Marshyhope Creek, on the...
Authors
Zachary Crum, Clayton D. Raines, Christine Densmore, Regina Trott, Rodney T. Richardson, Christina Bradley, Corbin David Hilling, Noah R. Bressman
Phenological flexibility in nesting grassland birds over a half century informs timing of management Phenological flexibility in nesting grassland birds over a half century informs timing of management
The timing of biological events for wildlife species reflects and influences ecological and evolutionary processes and helps guide management actions to meet conservation objectives. Climate change may cause phenological shifts across trophic levels and ecosystems, which can have broad ecological impacts. Shifts may also result in mistiming between management practices based on...
Authors
Kristen S. Ellis, Michael J. Anteau, Lawrence D. Igl, Garrett J. MacDonald, Neal D. Niemuth, Aaron T. Pearse, Jill A. Shaffer, Christine A. Ribic, Josh L. Vest, Masanori Abe, Daniel S. Ackerman, Marissa A. Ahlering, Johanna N. Alpert, Anahit Amiri, Kent Andersson, Jacqueline K. Augustine, Kristel K. Bakker, Jeffrey L. Beck, Adam C. Behney, Jacy S. Bernath-Plaisted, Todd R. Bogenschutz, Eric K. Bollinger, Lauren E. Bortolotti, Andrew J. Boyce, Jeffrey D. Brawn, Fred C. Bryant, Andrew J. Campomizzi, Jay D. Carlisle, J. Matthew Carroll, Rachel Carroll, John P. Carroll, Justin R. Clarke, Michael R. Conover, Reesa Y. Conrey, Jaime J. Coon, Kyle A. Cutting, Stephen K. Davis, Dawn M. Davis, Duane R. Diefenbach, Jonathan B. Dinkins, R. Andrew Dreelin, Victoria J. Dreitz, Courtney J. Duchardt, Michael W. Eichholz, Susan N. Ellis-Felege, Kevin S. Ellison, Bradley C. Fedy, Samantha R. Fino, Robert J. Fletcher, Dillon T. Fogarty, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf, Pamela R. Garrettson, Robert J. Gates, Erin L. Gelling, James J. Giocomo, Alex Glass, Cheri L. Gratto-Trevor, Kirsty E.B. Gurney, Ryan D. Haffele, Christian A. Hagen, Vanessa B. Harriman, Samuel W.H. Harryman, David A. Haukos, Robert Thomas Haynam, Heather A. Herakovich, James R. Herkert, Fidel Hernández, Jason M. Hill, H. Jeffrey Homan, Torre J. Hovick, Jonathan A. Jenks, William F. Jensen, Aaron N. Johnston, Sydney-Marie Jones, Carly S. Kelly, Kaylan M. Kemink, Silka L.F. Kempema, Dylan C. Kesler, Christopher P. Kirol, Robert W. Klaver, Page E. Klug, Jesse L. Kolar, Nicola Koper, Kyle J. Kuechle, Jonathan D. Lautenbach, Zoe M. Lebrun-Southcott, David W. Londe, Scott R. Loss, Cullen M. Mackenzie, Patrick A. Magee, Douglas L. Manzer, John P. McCarty, Gwyn McKee, Ann E. McKellar, Lance B. McNew, James R. Miller, Megan C. Milligan, Ashlee K. Minor, Rocco J. Murano, Les D. Murray, David E. Naugle, Clayton K. Nielsen, Christopher J. Norment, Sarah B. Ogden, Lindsey A. Parsons, Brian D. Peer, Noah G. Perlut, James C. Pitman, Christopher D. Pollentier, Larkin A. Powell, Aaron C. Pratt, John P. Pulliam, Nancy M. Raginski, Dan L. Reinking, Kaitlyn M. Reintsma, Terry Z. Riley, Kevin M. Ringelman, Joseph R. Robb, Scott K. Robinson, Andres N. Rosales, Charlotte L. Roy, Kayla A. Ruth, Brett K. Sandercock, Kevin K. Sedivec, Steve K. Sherrod, Justin J. Shew, Mason L. Sieges, Jenny L. Sika, Susan K. Skagen, Cassandra G. Skaggs, Joseph Smith, Jennifer A. Smith, Kurt T. Smith, Alex J. Solem, Joshua D. Stafford, Glenn E. Stauffer, Matthew D. Stephenson, Lee Sutcliffe, Amber E. Swicegood, Jason D. Tack, Evan P. Tanner, Catrina V. Terry, Wendy P. Tori, Ashley M. Unger, Kelly R. VanBeek, William E. Vetter, Jay A VonBank, Brett L. Walker, Michael D. Whitson, Maiken Winter, Kimberly A. With, Donald H. Wolfe, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Benjamin Zuckerberg
Fluvially-sourced sediment supply and climate modulate morphodynamics and state transitions in bistable aeolian dunefields Fluvially-sourced sediment supply and climate modulate morphodynamics and state transitions in bistable aeolian dunefields
Alternative stable state theory in aeolian geomorphology describes the occurrence of bare and vegetated aeolian dunes in response to long-term climatic and ecological drivers. Transitions between states, as well as their co-occurrence (bistability), can arise from perturbations to drivers, disturbance, and associated biophysical feedbacks. Here, we examine the role of upwind fluvial...
Authors
Joshua Caster, Joel B. Sankey, Temuulen Sankey, Taylor Joyal, Matthew A. Bowker
Characterization of the native freshwater mussel assemblage across a reach of the Rappahannock River, Virginia Characterization of the native freshwater mussel assemblage across a reach of the Rappahannock River, Virginia
Native freshwater mussels occur in rivers of all sizes, yet much of the literature focuses on small- to medium-sized rivers, likely because of logistic challenges of sampling deep, fast, and turbid large rivers. As large-river surveys become more common, the information resulting from a systematic sampling design can provide baseline data on population sizes to inform decision making by...
Authors
Traci P. DuBose, Jason J. Rohweder, Catherine M Gatenby, Brian Watson, Teresa J. Newton
Range-wide population trend analysis for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)—Updated 1960–2025 Range-wide population trend analysis for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)—Updated 1960–2025
Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) are at the center of State and national land-use policies largely because of their unique life-history traits as an ecological indicator for the health of sagebrush ecosystems. This updated population analysis provides State and Federal land and wildlife managers with the best available science to help guide...
Authors
Brian G. Prochazka, Peter S. Coates, Cameron L. Aldridge, Michael S. O’Donnell, Adrian P. Monroe, Steve E. Hanser, John C. Tull, Lief A. Wiechman, Michael P. Chenaille, Michael T. Atamian, Kathy A. Griffin, Heather F. Harris, Jesse L. Kolar, Katherine S. Miller, Michael A. Schroeder, Justin R. Small, Alex J. Solem, Jennifer L. Struthers, Heather L. Talley, Skyler T. Vold
Duck nesting response to experimental management of upland habitats in California Duck nesting response to experimental management of upland habitats in California
Habitat loss and limited upland nesting cover likely constrain waterfowl productivity in intensively managed wetland landscapes in California, USA. We evaluated whether experimental manipulations of upland habitats, including the seeding of native plants, dense nesting cover, or cereal grains, could enhance nesting vegetation and improve duck nest density and nest survival in a...
Authors
Mark P. Herzog, Joshua T. Ackerman, Robert Eddings
Arctic Grayling, scared to death: Are Brown Trout an impediment to Arctic Grayling reintroduction success in Michigan? Arctic Grayling, scared to death: Are Brown Trout an impediment to Arctic Grayling reintroduction success in Michigan?
Introduction: Arctic Grayling Thymallus arcticus were extirpated from Michigan in 1936. Their demise was caused by over-fishing, habitat destruction from large-scale logging, and Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis and Brown Trout Salmo trutta. Subsequently, Brook and Brown trout have become the dominant salmonid species in Michigan streams. Past attempts to restore Grayling to Michigan...
Authors
Nicole M. Watson, Daniel B. Hayes, Troy G. Zorn
From transcriptomic dysregulation to behavioral impairment: Mechanistic effects of weathered Brazilian oil on early life stage fish From transcriptomic dysregulation to behavioral impairment: Mechanistic effects of weathered Brazilian oil on early life stage fish
The 2019–2020 oil spill along the northeastern coast of Brazil affected coastal reef ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit these environments. To characterize the toxicity of persistent weathered oil residues to early life stage fish, embryonic zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of a water-accommodated fraction (WAF) prepared from...
Authors
Célio F. Mariz, Jason Tyler Magnuson, Paul S.M. Carvalho
Water quality improvements and hydrogeomorphic change over 20 years contributed to macrophyte community recovery in the Upper Mississippi River Water quality improvements and hydrogeomorphic change over 20 years contributed to macrophyte community recovery in the Upper Mississippi River
Several large rivers across the globe have recently undergone noticeable improvements to water quality. Yet, the cascading ecological consequences for aquatic life, including macrophytes, are largely unknown, owing to the lack of suitable long-term data and the difficulty of modelling community-level responses. Our study leveraged multiple big datasets from 1998 to 2019 within a 400-km...
Authors
Danelle M. Larson, Mirkka Jones, Benjamin Weigel, Brian R. Gray, Otso Ovaskainen
Human factors used to estimate and forecast water supply and demand in the Delaware River Basin Human factors used to estimate and forecast water supply and demand in the Delaware River Basin
The objective of this report by the U.S. Geological Survey is to identify cultural and economic determinants of water demand, supply, and access, and to locate associated datasets of those determinants. Although climate and its influence on hydrology are important components of water availability, this study focused only on the components of the human system. The Delaware River Basin...
Authors
Nicole M. Herman-Mercer, Veronica Y. Romero, Diana L. Restrepo-Osorio, Megan K. Hines, Lucas S. Bair
Movement mechanisms explain current animal density patterns and predict their reorganization under global change Movement mechanisms explain current animal density patterns and predict their reorganization under global change
Aim: To test whether individual movement mechanisms inferred from animal tracking data can be scaled up to explain landscape-scale patterns of population density and improve predictions of population redistribution under future environmental change. Location: Texas Gulf Coast, USA Time Period: 2009-2018 Major Taxa Studied: Whooping Crane (Grus americana) Methods: We parameterized...
Authors
Robin Bauknecht, Will Rogers, Aaron T. Pearse, Walter Jetz