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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: 42701

Navigating the possibilities and pitfalls of biocrust recovery in a changing climate Navigating the possibilities and pitfalls of biocrust recovery in a changing climate

Biological soil crusts are complex communities composed of lichens, mosses, bacteria, and cyanobacteria that create a living skin on the soil surface across drylands worldwide. Although small in size, the vast area that biocrusts cover and the critical functions they provide make them a cornerstone of dryland health and resiliency. In addition to being important, biocrusts are...
Authors
Michala Lee Phillips, Kristina E. Young, Cara Marie Lauria, Sierra Jech, Ana Giraldo-Silva, Sasha C. Reed

Mixed natal origins present management challenges for a non-native fish established throughout a modified river network Mixed natal origins present management challenges for a non-native fish established throughout a modified river network

Expansion of non-native brown trout (Salmo trutta) in the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam motivated reevaluation of suppression strategies to minimize potential impacts to native fishes in the Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA. Brown trout are one of several non-native fish species of management concern in this river reach, and understanding their natal sources and movement patterns may...
Authors
Michael K. Akland, Karin E. Limburg, Brian D. Healy, William E. Pine

Fine-scale spatial risk models to predict avian collisions with power lines Fine-scale spatial risk models to predict avian collisions with power lines

1. Avian fatalities caused by collisions with overhead power lines are an important conservation issue worldwide. Although mitigation strategies can help reduce mortalities, given their considerable cost and the vast scale of power line infrastructure, cost-effective action requires that these efforts be prioritised to areas with the highest potential risk to birds. To date, this risk...
Authors
James M. Pay, Elissa Z. Cameron, Clare E. Hawkins, Christopher Johnson, Amelia J. Koch, Jason M. Wiersma, Todd E. Katzner

Combining ecological and genomic diversity surveys to inform conservation and restoration of an endangered wetland plant, soft salty bird’s-beak (Chloropyron molle ssp. molle) Combining ecological and genomic diversity surveys to inform conservation and restoration of an endangered wetland plant, soft salty bird’s-beak (Chloropyron molle ssp. molle)

Emergent tidal wetlands are declining globally as a result of sea level rise and land use change. This habitat loss can keenly affect rare plant species within wetlands, and may require restoration to meet species recovery goals related to retaining populations throughout species' ranges. Soft salty bird’s-beak (Chloropyron molle ssp. molle) is a federally- and state-endangered hemi...
Authors
Amy G. Vandergast, Scott F. Jones, Lyndsay L. Rankin, McKenna Leigh Bristow, Dustin Wood, Karen M. Thorne

Scoping decision-maker needs and science availability to support regional natural capital accounting in the U.S. Colorado River Basin Scoping decision-maker needs and science availability to support regional natural capital accounting in the U.S. Colorado River Basin

Natural capital accounting has the potential to yield important policy insights at multiple scales, but there remains a disconnect between regional-scale natural capital accounts and their use for informing policy. In this paper, we propose a roadmap that could lead to the creation of policy-relevant regional accounts, with steps split across an initial scoping phase and a subsequent...
Authors
Aaron Joey Enriquez, Kenneth J. Bagstad, Katharine G. Dahm, Alicia A. Torregrosa, Rudy Schuster

Drought and deluge— Opportunities for climate-change adaptation in US national parks Drought and deluge— Opportunities for climate-change adaptation in US national parks

In a changing climate, resource management depends on anticipating changes and considering uncertainties. To facilitate effective decision making on public lands, we regionally summarized the magnitude and uncertainty of projected change in management-relevant climate variables for 332 national park units across the contiguous US. Temperature, frequency of extreme precipitation events...
Authors
Meagan Ford Oldfather, Amber N. Runyon, Kyra Clark-Wolf, Wynne Emily Moss, Imtiaz Rangwala, Anthony Ciocco, Aparna Bamzai-Dodson, Helen Sofaer, Brian W. Miller

Long-term geomorphic response of a southwestern USA river following establishment and removal of an invasive riparian tree Long-term geomorphic response of a southwestern USA river following establishment and removal of an invasive riparian tree

Invasion of non-native riparian vegetation along southwestern USA rivers is associated with channel narrowing and simplification, prompting numerous and varied removal efforts. Channel width and migration rate often, but not always, increase following treatment. The cause of this variability and the duration of response is poorly understood. Using flow records and aerial imagery we...
Authors
Michael L. Scott, Erin Williams, Jonathan M. Friedman, John R. Spencer, Phoebe B. McNeally

Canopy and surface fuels measurement using terrestrial lidar single-scan approach in the Mogollon highlands of Arizona Canopy and surface fuels measurement using terrestrial lidar single-scan approach in the Mogollon highlands of Arizona

Background Fuel monitoring data are essential to evaluate wildfire risk, plan management activities and evaluate fuel treatment effects. Terrestrial light detection and ranging (lidar) is a field-based 3D scanning technology with great potential to reduce labor-intensive field measurements and provide new depths of vegetation structure data. Aims To facilitate the integration of...
Authors
Johnathan T. Tenny, Temuulen Tsagaan Sankey, Seth M. Munson, Andrew J. Sánchez Meador, Scott J. Goetz

Diamondback terrapin resource use in a seagrass-dominated coastal bay varies by life stage Diamondback terrapin resource use in a seagrass-dominated coastal bay varies by life stage

Diamondback terrapins, hereafter referred to as terrapins, are the only estuarine turtle species native to North America. However, terrapins are also occasionally found in marine habitats, such as seagrass beds, and yet little is known about how they use those marine habitats. We sampled epidermis from terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin macrospilota) inhabiting a seagrass-dominated coastal...
Authors
Margaret Lamont, Carson L. Arends, Daniel J. Catizone, Hannah B. Vander Zanden

Black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) population density, recruitment, size structure, and population growth at Naval Base Ventura County, San Nicolas Island, California, 2013–22 Black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) population density, recruitment, size structure, and population growth at Naval Base Ventura County, San Nicolas Island, California, 2013–22

The range of the endangered black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) is divided into the North Central California region, the Central California region, the Southern California Mainland region, the Channel Islands region, and the Baja California region by the National Marine Fisheries Service for management purposes. San Nicolas Island is one of eight subregions of the Channel Islands region...
Authors
Michael C. Kenner, Julie L. Yee
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