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: 42905
NABat: A top-down, bottom-up solution to collaborative continental-scale monitoring NABat: A top-down, bottom-up solution to collaborative continental-scale monitoring
Collaborative monitoring over broad scales and levels of ecological organization can inform conservation efforts necessary to address the contemporary biodiversity crisis. An important challenge to collaborative monitoring is motivating local engagement with enough buy-in from stakeholders while providing adequate top-down direction for scientific rigor, quality control, and coordination
Authors
Brian E. Reichert, Mylea L. Bayless, Tina L. Cheng, Jeremy T.H. Coleman, Charles M. Francis, Winifred F. Frick, Benjamin Gotthold, Kathryn Irvine, Cori Lausen, Han Li, Susan C. Loeb, Jonathan D. Reichard, Thomas Rodhouse, Jordi L. Segers, Jeremy Siemers, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Theodore Weller
Assessing the feasibility of managed aquifer recharge in California Assessing the feasibility of managed aquifer recharge in California
With aquifers around the world stressed by over-extraction, water managers are increasingly turning to managed aquifer recharge (MAR), directly replenishing groundwater resources through injection wells, recharge basins, or other approaches. While there has been progress in understanding the geological and infrastructure-related considerations to make MAR more effective, critical...
Authors
Nicola Ulibarri, Nataly Escobedo Garcia, Rebecca L Nelson, Amanda E. Cravens, Ryan J McCarty
Habitat features predict carrying capacity of a recovering marine carnivore Habitat features predict carrying capacity of a recovering marine carnivore
The recovery of large carnivore species from over‐exploitation can have socioecological effects; thus, reliable estimates of potential abundance and distribution represent a valuable tool for developing management objectives and recovery criteria. For sea otters (Enhydra lutris), as with many apex predators, equilibrium abundance is not constant across space but rather varies as a...
Authors
M. Tim Tinker, Julie L. Yee, Kristin L. Laidre, Brian B. Hatfield, Michael D. Harris, Joseph A. Tomoleoni, Tom W. Bell, Emily Saarman, Lilian P. Carswell, A. Keith Miles
Movements of marine and estuarine turtles during Hurricane Michael Movements of marine and estuarine turtles during Hurricane Michael
Natural disturbances are an important driver of population dynamics. Because it is difficult to observe wildlife during these events, our understanding of the strategies that species use to survive these disturbances is limited. On October 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael made landfall on Florida’s northwest coast. Using satellite and acoustic telemetry, we documented movements of 6...
Authors
Margaret M. Lamont, Darren Johnson, Daniel J. Catizone
Seed production patterns of surviving Sierra Nevada conifers show minimal change following drought Seed production patterns of surviving Sierra Nevada conifers show minimal change following drought
Reproduction is a key component of ecological resilience in forest ecosystems, so understanding how seed production is influenced by extreme drought is key to understanding forest recovery trajectories. If trees respond to mortality-inducing drought by preferentially allocating resources for reproduction, the recovery of the stand to pre-drought conditions may be enhanced accordingly. We...
Authors
Micah C. Wright, Phillip J. van Mantgem, Nathan L. Stephenson, Adrian Das, Jon Keeley
Re-examination of population structure in Arctic ringed seals using DArTseq genotyping Re-examination of population structure in Arctic ringed seals using DArTseq genotyping
Although Arctic ringed seals Phoca hispida hispida are currently abundant and broadly distributed, their numbers are projected to decline substantially by the year 2100 due to climate warming. While understanding population structure could provide insight into the impact of environmental changes on this subspecies, detecting demographically important levels of exchange can be difficult...
Authors
Aimee R. Lang, Peter L. Boveng, L. Quakenbush, K. Robertson, M. Lauf, Karyn D. Rode, H. Ziel, B .L. Taylor
Water-quality change following remediation using structural bulkheads in abandoned draining mines, upper Arkansas River and upper Animas River, Colorado USA Water-quality change following remediation using structural bulkheads in abandoned draining mines, upper Arkansas River and upper Animas River, Colorado USA
Water-quality effects after remediating abandoned draining mine tunnels using structural bulkheads were examined in two study areas in Colorado, USA. A bulkhead was installed in the Dinero mine tunnel in 2009 to improve water quality in Lake Fork Creek, a tributary to the upper Arkansas River. Although bulkhead installation improved pH, and manganese and zinc concentrations and loads at...
Authors
Katherine Walton-Day, M. Alisa Mast, Robert L. Runkel
Monitoring wetland water quality related to livestock grazing in amphibian habitats Monitoring wetland water quality related to livestock grazing in amphibian habitats
Land use alteration such as livestock grazing can affect water quality in habitats of at-risk wildlife species. Data from managed wetlands are needed to understand levels of exposure for aquatic life stages and monitor grazing-related changes afield. We quantified spatial and temporal variation in water quality in wetlands occupied by threatened Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) at...
Authors
Kelly L. Smalling, Jennifer Rowe, Christopher Pearl, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Carrie E. Givens, Chauncey W. Anderson, Brome McCreary, Michael J. Adams
Widespread use of the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin: Assessing benefits and costs to agriculture, ecosystems, and environmental health Widespread use of the nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin: Assessing benefits and costs to agriculture, ecosystems, and environmental health
Agricultural production and associated applications of nitrogen (N) fertilizers have increased dramatically in the last century, and current projections to 2050 show that demands will continue to increase as the human population grows. Applied in both organic and inorganic fertilizer forms, N is an essential nutrient in crop productivity. Increased fertilizer applications, however...
Authors
Emily E. Woodward, Thea M. Edwards, Carrie E. Givens, Dana W. Kolpin, Michelle L. Hladik
Comparison of specimen- and image-based morphometrics in Cisco Comparison of specimen- and image-based morphometrics in Cisco
Morphometric data from fish are typically generated using one of two methods: direct measurements made on a specimen or extraction of distances from a digital picture. We compared data on 12 morphometrics collected with these two methods on the same collection of Cisco Coregonus artedi from Lake Ontario, North America, to assess the degree of bias in measurements made directly on a...
Authors
Brian O’Malley, Joseph Schmitt, Jeremy P. Holden, Brian Weidel
Historic population estimates for bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Aragua, Venezuela indicate monitoring need Historic population estimates for bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Aragua, Venezuela indicate monitoring need
This study reports historic capture-mark-recapture survival and abundance estimates of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) based on photo-identification surveys of coastal Venezuela (along the Aragua coast between Turiamo Bay and Puerto Colombia). We used the most recent data available: dolphins identified by unique dorsal fin marks during wet and dry season surveys conducted...
Authors
Sergio Cobarrubia-Russo, Shannon Barber-Meyer, Guillermo R. Barreto, Alimar Molero-Lizarraga
Exposure to domoic acid is an ecological driver of cardiac disease in southern sea otters Exposure to domoic acid is an ecological driver of cardiac disease in southern sea otters
Harmful algal blooms produce toxins that bioaccumulate in the food web and adversely affect humans, animals, and entire marine ecosystems. Blooms of the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia can produce domoic acid (DA), a toxin that most commonly causes neurological disease in endothermic animals, with cardiovascular effects that were first recognized in southern sea otters. Over the last 20 years...
Authors
Megan E. Moriarty, M. Tim Tinker, Melissa Miller, Joseph A. Tomoleoni, Michelle M. Staedler, Jessica A. Fujii, Francesca I. Batac, Erin M. Dodd, Raphael M. Kudela, Vanessa Zubkousky-White, Christine K. Johnson