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: 42673
Rare milkvetch (Astragalus) persistence at a utility-scale solar energy facility in the Mojave Desert Rare milkvetch (Astragalus) persistence at a utility-scale solar energy facility in the Mojave Desert
Utility-scale solar energy (USSE) development is driving the projected growth in global renewable energy capacity but comes with environmental tradeoffs. New, alternative construction methods are promoted to minimize impacts to soils, vegetation, and hydrology; however, the disturbance created by these methods requires further investigation. We evaluated the population of a rare annual...
Authors
Tiffany Pereira, Claire Karban, Lara A. Kobelt, Seth Munson
The effects of carnivory and herbivory on the energy balance of Arctic grizzly bears The effects of carnivory and herbivory on the energy balance of Arctic grizzly bears
Omnivores often face tradeoffs between selecting for spatially dispersed energy-dense vertebrate prey versus densely distributed herbivorous resources that have limited energetic value per unit intake. Arctic grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) are large omnivores within a resource-limited ecosystem that are known to exhibit smaller body masses and occur at lower densities than grizzly bears in...
Authors
Anthony Pagano, Karyn Rode, Kerry Nicholson, William Leacock, Craig Stricker, Charles Robbins
Potential thiamine deficiency of phytoplankton across a productivity gradient and seasons in Ohio lakes Potential thiamine deficiency of phytoplankton across a productivity gradient and seasons in Ohio lakes
Although nitrogen and phosphorus deficiency of algal blooms have been the focus of substantial attention, organic nutrients can limit algal growth in aquatic systems. Growing evidence indicates thiamine (vitamin B1) can influence the community of primary producers in marine systems, but comparatively little is known about the effect of thiamine on freshwater algal productivity.We...
Authors
Freya Rowland, Michael Vanni, Nicole Hayes, Clifford Kraft
Evaluating the central–marginal hypothesis: Introgression and genetic variation at the trailing edge of Quercus bicolor Evaluating the central–marginal hypothesis: Introgression and genetic variation at the trailing edge of Quercus bicolor
The central–marginal hypothesis (CMH) predicts reduced genetic diversity and increased differentiation in range-edge populations due to ecological marginality and limited gene flow. Deviations from this pattern, however, can result from historical demographic processes, variation in reproductive strategies or interspecific hybridization. The genus Quercus, known for hybridization and...
Authors
Jesse B. Parker, Sean Hoban, Laura Thompson, Scott E. Schlarbaum
A monitoring framework to assess forest bird population response to landscape scale mosquito suppression using the Incompatible Insect Technique A monitoring framework to assess forest bird population response to landscape scale mosquito suppression using the Incompatible Insect Technique
The Birds, Not Mosquitoes Monitoring and Support Science Working Group detailed methods for monitoring the population response of Hawaiian forest birds during implementation of the Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT) on the islands of Maui and Kauaʻi. The group prioritized methods for measuring the influence of mosquito suppression on populations within IIT treatment and control areas...
Authors
Seth Judge, Christopher Warren, Amanda Navine, Richard Camp, Lisa Crampton, Hanna Mounce, John Vetter, Lauren K. Smith, Patrick Hart, Mona Bellinger, Katherine McClure
Hosts, pathogens and hot ponds: Thermal mean and variability contribute to spatial patterns of chytrid infection Hosts, pathogens and hot ponds: Thermal mean and variability contribute to spatial patterns of chytrid infection
Temperature is a primary driver of heterogeneity in host–pathogen dynamics and understanding how patch-scale temperature affects landscape-scale patterns of pathogen infection is key to effective monitoring and management. In field studies, both temperature variability and mean temperature are often related to infection of ectothermic animals by fungal pathogens, and although these...
Authors
Brendan Hobart, Daniel Grear, Megan Winzeler, Travis Mcdevitt-Galles, Timothy Korpita, Erin L. Muths, Valerie McKenzie
How high? Identifying elevation thresholds to guide coastal marsh restoration How high? Identifying elevation thresholds to guide coastal marsh restoration
Introduction Coastal marshes are highly valuable ecosystems facing threats from rising sea levels and intensifying storm events. To elevate marsh surfaces and prevent loss of ecosystem services, the beneficial use of dredged material (BUDM) is increasingly being implemented across the United States. Objectives The objective of this study was to aid decision-makers and restoration...
Authors
Emily Fromenthal, Camille Stagg, Jena Moon, Taylor Abshier, Omar Alawneh, Jack Cadigan, Daniel Gallegos, Brian Harris, Nia Hurst, Navid Jafari, Todd Merendino, Matthew Nelson, Michael Osland, Philip Pauling, Michael Rezsutek, Colt Sanspree, Rachel Villani
Groundwater structures fish growth and production across a riverscape Groundwater structures fish growth and production across a riverscape
Landscapes are composed of habitat patches and conditions that vary across space and time. While habitat variability and complexity can support important ecological processes and ecosystem services, the dynamic nature of habitats can also constrain organismal growth and production as optimal conditions are fleeting. In riverine ecosystems, groundwater discharge to streams stabilises...
Authors
Jeffrey Baldock, Robert Al-Chokhachy, Annika Walters
When do single-species occupancy models outperform multispecies models? When do single-species occupancy models outperform multispecies models?
Occupancy models have become increasingly popular for species monitoring and assessment, in part, because detection/non-detection data are readily obtained using a variety of methods. Multispecies occupancy models (MSOMs) can yield more accurate parameter estimates than single-species models (SSOMs) with less data through their hierarchical structure, making MSOMs an attractive option...
Authors
Gavin Cotterill, Douglas Keinath, Tabitha A. Graves
Drowned river mouth lakes are winter foraging habitats for the expanding Lake Michigan cisco Coregonus artedi population Drowned river mouth lakes are winter foraging habitats for the expanding Lake Michigan cisco Coregonus artedi population
Characterizing fish movements is required for understanding habitat use, energy flow, and trophic structure and can inform fisheries management. Drowned river mouth (DRM) lakes are productive inland habitats in the Laurentian Great Lakes basin used by migratory fishes. Despite recognition of their ecological connections to the Great Lakes, the value of DRM lakes as seasonal habitats is...
Authors
Ralph Tingley, Darryl Hondorp, Benjamin Turschak, Steven Pothoven, Amanda Ackiss, Jory Jonas, William Fetzer, Benjamin Leonhardt, Andrew Honsey, Jeff Elliott, Lindsie Ann Egedy, Cory Brant, Lynn Benes, Kendra Kozlauskos, Renee Renauer-Bova, Ann Ropp
Divergent responses of seed banks and aboveground vegetation to drought and deluge in grasslands across an elevational gradient Divergent responses of seed banks and aboveground vegetation to drought and deluge in grasslands across an elevational gradient
Increased variability in precipitation associated with climate change creates extreme conditions of drought and deluge that can have profound effects on the abundance and composition of plant communities. Responses to these extremes likely vary across climatic gradients and depend on local plant community composition, which includes the emergent, aboveground vegetation as well as...
Authors
Jennifer Gremer, Margaret Moore, Daniel Laughlin, Seth Munson
Bioclimatic, demographic, and anthropogenic correlates of grizzly bear activity patterns in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Bioclimatic, demographic, and anthropogenic correlates of grizzly bear activity patterns in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Plasticity of diel activity rhythms may be a key element for adaptations of wildlife populations to changing environmental conditions. In the last decades, grizzly bears Ursus arctos in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) have experienced notable environmental fluctuations, including changes in availability of food sources and severe droughts. Although substantial research has been...
Authors
A. Donatelli, Mark Haroldson, Justin Clapp, P. Ciucci, Frank van Manen